Network whizzkid required!!

[ukmgranger]

I have just freed up a wireless USB adapter (11g) by hardwiring two of my computers together.

can I connect the two adapters to one PC thus doubling the data it can get from the wireless router? The 1 USB network adapter sits at around 24mbps, so my thinking is that if I get 2 of them on the same PC I could get closer to 54mbps.

Thoughts?

[DynamoBen]

Unfortunatly this would not be possible. Why do you need so much through put?

To be honest Sage video streams well on a standard 802.11g (wireless) system.

There are a few companys that have such a device (DLink) that essentially has two wireless adapters built into one.

What are you trying to do?

[ukmgranger]

As I said, a single adapter only seems to reach on average 24mbps. This is not fast enogh to stream max quality mpegs. I was thinking that being as the server is hard-wired to the router, two adapters on the same computer could draw twice the data that one could.
I know DLink use a device that gets the signal using two channels, but can I do a simillar thing using two adapters?

[DynamoBen]

Nope impossible. Sorry

[bluenote]

On the contrary ben, teaming is very possible with wired adapters, through several methods -- low on the tcp/ip stack with support from your switch (needs a switch that supports it and can't be a hub), higher up on the stack done through the driver for your NIC's not requiring switch support, but not being *true* two-way teaming (I won't go into specific details), and then you can have high up on the stack teaming done through IP bonding.

Having said all that, for an end user who isn't too terribly technical, the best bet is to check your manufacturer's web site and/or try installing the second card *with* all ancilliary software--XP will not give you a teaming option generally speaking. If you get lucky, it will be there and you'll be set. I've never done this with wireless, but I have done it in many different configs with 802.1ad and FEC (fast etherchannel), both switch supported, NIC-only driver supported, and I've done IP bonding.

To the user -- try installing the 2nd adapter if you're adventurous, along with the extra s/w that lets you do diagnostics and so forth, and see if the help gives you any options around "teaming", "FEC or fast ether-channel", or 802.1ad (I could have that slightly wrong). If your drivers don't give you the option don't mess with it any further, and make sure you backup and so forth first since you could end up with no connectivity and/or crash your system.

Anyways, had to jump in. Teaming for the home user is very doable, but I've never done it specifically with wireless. You could make it happen through the O/S but that would be beyond the DIY.

thx

Cory

[DynamoBen]

Fair enough however I really think in the end he is barking up the wrong tree.

Wired is the way to go. The only media I stream is music, everything video is running 100 meg wired in my system.

[mikejaner]

Agreed,

Teaming and Trunking are the two ways to do it today, and you pretty much need the drivers to be written for support that way, or in the case of trunking, you need support for that in your switch/router.

[kny3twalker]

I used the registry edit to increase the buffer and finally got over my stuttering of wireless video
as long as I do not use the microwave
I am fine
hehe

I increased the buffer from 20 to 200

[Lucas]

ukmgranger,

if you really "need" to do it, should be possible with the right equipment and/or software.

This is not unlike using 2 ISDN 64k channels to get an aggregate 128 connection and companies use load sharing to route traffic over additional channels to satisfy peaks.
For example think of two routers connecting two remote networks together via a 2Mbit leased line connected to one of their serial ports. Additionally, they may have an ISDN PRI line connected to another port that serves as an extra dial on demand 2Mbit channel when the bandwidth of the primary is saturated. This functionality is enabled by the routers' software usually at the IP level.

It depends on what protocols your kit supports.

List your network topology and network components so that we can see what can be done.

[ukmgranger]

Thanks for the help so far - there is a glimmer of hope yet!

My server is my main HTPC in the lounge. This is then hardwired to my wireless ADSL router (http://www.netgear.com/products/details/DG834G.php Netgear DG834G) off of which my MVP is also hardwired in my main bedroom.

In my second bedroom I have a client PC that has a wireless USB adapter on it (Netgear WG121 http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WG121.php). I now have the option to add a second WG121 as I have now hardwired the lounge server to the ADSL router, freeing up a USB adapter.

On average the connection speed of the USB adapter sits at 24mbps. I have tried forcing (through the software) the adapter to stay at 54mbps but this does not seem to have much af an effect.

below is a very rough layout of my flat:

[mdmint]

If you're running WinXP (Pro, don't know about Home) it supports bridging network adapters (built in WinXP Pro software not an add on). I haven't tried bridging wireless, but know 10/100 & 1Gb nics bridge no problem. Was just playing with it tonight (morning ) My router assigned the bridge a different IP than either the two nics had and the nics no longer had there own IPs. (still in the router, not on the computer itself)

[Cayars]

Yes, can be done pretty easily. If you're going to do this you should try and use different types of networks. The best bet would be to use one "G" network and one "A" network.

[lovingHDTV]

As Cayars alluded to, different networks would really be best. You can bridge nics, but for a single wireless hub the frequency/bandwidth used by them is still shared and you will not get the 100% increase you are hoping for. Could be you don't get any increase at all.

The G and B networks share the same carrier hence the G and A suggestion.

[Lucas]

That's a valid point by dave. The bandwidth is shared by all devices.

After looking at docs as I mentioned earlier and I think someone else did as well, from a configuration point of view you can run 2 adapters on your bedroom PC but unless you create a second parallel network on which you connect the HTPC as well, you will not get any benefit.

What you could do is have a second Netgear WG121s on your bedroom pc and add another Netgear WG121 on the main HTPC. With these you can create a second network.

The using built-in XP functionality you will be able to route traffic through either or both connections.

[kny3twalker]

OK I will try to mention this once more
I use to have serious issues with video playback via wireless g
then I increase the amount of buffer used
and I am not saying the buffer is now 5 seconds or something
it is still almost instantaneous
and but increasing the buffer maybe a cheaper more reasonable solution
if you even bother reading my post

[IKK]

kny3walker
The buffer is in the Sage client right. Are you using a Media MVP or a Computer for the client. I have some ocassional stutter not much. My setup is as followed.

Sage server downstairs in livingroom connected with Netgear USB wireless adaptor.
Sage Client running on Server
wireless hub located in office
Wierd MVP to hub in bedroom upstairs

[kny3twalker]

yeah you change the buffer for the client
and mine is a computer but you should be able to do this for the MVP as well
it is just a registry setting and you are running a client for the MVP
so you would simply edit the registry for that client
and increase the buffer

but I have only changed it for a separate pc
I could never in the past get to play smoothly

[Matt]

Originally Posted by IKK

I have some ocassional stutter not much.

If this is the MVP, increasing the buffer sizes in the SageTV Client will not help (it's the MVP doing the buffering in this case). If it's only w/ LiveTV, then it's the MVP playing videos faster than realtime causing it to catch up with LiveTV. Just pause LiveTV for a short time and the stuttering should go away (until the MVP catches up again ;-)

-Matt

[falchulk]

The best thing I ever did was upgrade from my linksys 54g to the 54gs speed booster and buy new usb speedbooster nics. I get speeds over 100mbs between PC's now.

[Ja'Man]

kny3twalker, can you point me to the registry setting you changed? TIA