Sharing media via wireless connection

Devhux · 05-14-2004, 05:37 PM

I know 802.11b should be able to handle this, but for some reason I'm having troubles using Winamp (and Windows Media Player, for that matter) to play MP3's stored on another computer on my network via wireless.

Whenever I try, my media player of choice will freeze up randomly, and then I can't access any part of my network. I can still access the Internet just fine however.

Relevant info:

Wireless Router: Siemens Speedstream 2623 (802.11b router)
Driver: 1.20.007 (latest -- although this router is fairly old)
WEP Encryption: 128-bit

Wifi Network Card:
Intel Pro/Wireless 2100B (the one found in original Centrino laptops)

Any ideas to try would be appreciated.

[UPDATE]

Before anyone asks (since I never did post this), I am quite far from any microwave ovens, nor do I have any other 2.4GHz wireless devices that could be interfering with the signal. Also, I am getting Excellent signal strength at 11mbps.

DarkFury · 05-14-2004, 06:39 PM

For starters... an 11Mbps connection is generally "very slow" to share multimedia files wirelessly... I'd highly recommend going "G" network or faster if you want smooth file transmission.

Pretty much what is happening to you is that your router is "buffering" the information to try to feed that file to the PC that is calling it wirelessly... however since your "b" network can't handle the speed of the data feed... it is pretty much "freezing" your transmission.

Honestly, "b" networks really suck at "data transmission" (i.e. too slow)... they are great for viewing the internet though.

kei2 · 05-14-2004, 06:42 PM

DF's explanation makes a lot of sense. Assuming that is indeed the case, your best bet might be to copy the media files over to your comp and then just play them locally. The initial data transfer might take a while, and of course it would consume some hard drive space, but it would solve the media playing problem.

Devhux · 05-14-2004, 09:11 PM

Good suggestions regarding upgrading to an 802.11g setup -- although I haven't a clue what router would be good (I'm avoiding Linksys due to problems I've had before with them). For the notebook, I'd simply replace the MiniPCI card with an Intel Pro/Wireless 2200BG.

In the meantime, after a fair amount of troubleshooting, I think I've narrowed down the problem. It turns out that I only have a 10mbps network card installed on my desktop machine (the onboard NIC died so I grabbed a spare network card I had without noticing what speed it was), and I'm assuming it runs in half-duplex mode only. It also turned out that at the time, one of the other machines was accessing the desktop PC quite a bit (remote desktop-like mode).

Now that everything's quiet on the network, things are performing much better. As for the laptop losing all network connections, I'm guessing something was messing up when Winamp was continuously trying to access the desktop.

DarkFury · 05-14-2004, 11:11 PM

Personally, I generally recommend Netgear products... just stay away from D-Link if you can.

ribitch · 05-15-2004, 07:43 AM

yes, g is fast, but b should not be the problem here. b averages about 5.5Mbps with all error checking features turned on. This is still more than enough for streaming MP3's. The router does buffer transmissions, but this should not effect your network like you say it is. Have you tried recieving at both workstations? Have you tried a third computer? Is the router firmwar up to date?

DarkFury · 05-15-2004, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribitch

yes, g is fast, but b should not be the problem here. b averages about 5.5Mbps with all error checking features turned on. This is still more than enough for streaming MP3's. The router does buffer transmissions, but this should not effect your network like you say it is. Have you tried recieving at both workstations? Have you tried a third computer? Is the router firmwar up to date?

Pretty much I gave him MY experiences when I used a B wireless network.

Streaming mulitmedia files was UNACCEPTABLE using the b format... but as always, your mileage may vary.

ski · 05-16-2004, 03:35 PM

YMMV, agreed.... I gotta put in one more voice for 802.11b networks being ample to stream a 4MB mp3 file, up to 250 files (should work no matter how many files, but that was what's on my playlist for my jukebox PC)

Devhux · 05-17-2004, 11:37 PM

....and I shall put in a word that 802.11b can indeed buffer some videos -- I just tried a bunch of AMV's (Anime Music Videos) that were shared from another computer on my network, and the laptop played them over the wireless connection with no problems.

(In other words, I blame my original problem on a crappy network card in my desktop where all the MP3's are being stored).

05-14-2004, 05:37 PM	#1
Devhux Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Calgary Alberta Canada Posts: 2,511	Sharing media via wireless connection I know 802.11b should be able to handle this, but for some reason I'm having troubles using Winamp (and Windows Media Player, for that matter) to play MP3's stored on another computer on my network via wireless. Whenever I try, my media player of choice will freeze up randomly, and then I can't access any part of my network. I can still access the Internet just fine however. Relevant info: Wireless Router: Siemens Speedstream 2623 (802.11b router) Driver: 1.20.007 (latest -- although this router is fairly old) WEP Encryption: 128-bit Wifi Network Card: Intel Pro/Wireless 2100B (the one found in original Centrino laptops) Any ideas to try would be appreciated. [UPDATE] Before anyone asks (since I never did post this), I am quite far from any microwave ovens, nor do I have any other 2.4GHz wireless devices that could be interfering with the signal. Also, I am getting Excellent signal strength at 11mbps. Last edited by Devhux : 05-14-2004 at 05:46 PM.

05-14-2004, 06:39 PM	#2
DarkFury Secretary of the Navy Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood Posts: 34,997	For starters... an 11Mbps connection is generally "very slow" to share multimedia files wirelessly... I'd highly recommend going "G" network or faster if you want smooth file transmission. Pretty much what is happening to you is that your router is "buffering" the information to try to feed that file to the PC that is calling it wirelessly... however since your "b" network can't handle the speed of the data feed... it is pretty much "freezing" your transmission. Honestly, "b" networks really suck at "data transmission" (i.e. too slow)... they are great for viewing the internet though. __________________ DarkFury's Pimptopia - Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game! Home of the Original OG Pimp (accept NO imitations)

05-16-2004, 03:35 PM	#8
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	YMMV, agreed.... I gotta put in one more voice for 802.11b networks being ample to stream a 4MB mp3 file, up to 250 files (should work no matter how many files, but that was what's on my playlist for my jukebox PC) __________________ And closer...

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05-14-2004, 06:42 PM	#3
kei2 Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,102	DF's explanation makes a lot of sense. Assuming that is indeed the case, your best bet might be to copy the media files over to your comp and then just play them locally. The initial data transfer might take a while, and of course it would consume some hard drive space, but it would solve the media playing problem.

05-14-2004, 09:11 PM	#4
Devhux Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Calgary Alberta Canada Posts: 2,511	Good suggestions regarding upgrading to an 802.11g setup -- although I haven't a clue what router would be good (I'm avoiding Linksys due to problems I've had before with them). For the notebook, I'd simply replace the MiniPCI card with an Intel Pro/Wireless 2200BG. In the meantime, after a fair amount of troubleshooting, I think I've narrowed down the problem. It turns out that I only have a 10mbps network card installed on my desktop machine (the onboard NIC died so I grabbed a spare network card I had without noticing what speed it was), and I'm assuming it runs in half-duplex mode only. It also turned out that at the time, one of the other machines was accessing the desktop PC quite a bit (remote desktop-like mode). Now that everything's quiet on the network, things are performing much better. As for the laptop losing all network connections, I'm guessing something was messing up when Winamp was continuously trying to access the desktop.

05-14-2004, 11:11 PM	#5
DarkFury Secretary of the Navy Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood Posts: 34,997	Personally, I generally recommend Netgear products... just stay away from D-Link if you can.

05-15-2004, 07:43 AM	#6
ribitch Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,672	yes, g is fast, but b should not be the problem here. b averages about 5.5Mbps with all error checking features turned on. This is still more than enough for streaming MP3's. The router does buffer transmissions, but this should not effect your network like you say it is. Have you tried recieving at both workstations? Have you tried a third computer? Is the router firmwar up to date?

05-17-2004, 11:37 PM	#9
Devhux Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Calgary Alberta Canada Posts: 2,511	....and I shall put in a word that 802.11b can indeed buffer some videos -- I just tried a bunch of AMV's (Anime Music Videos) that were shared from another computer on my network, and the laptop played them over the wireless connection with no problems. (In other words, I blame my original problem on a crappy network card in my desktop where all the MP3's are being stored).

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