A lot depends on the protocol.  Check out the stats posted in the most
recent Amazon review for this Netgear powerline adapter:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004DVEW8I/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Quite a huge difference between file transfers using SMB and NFS.  It is
really making me consider going with NFS when I rebuild my media server.


---
Brian


On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 8:52 AM, Anthony Q. Martin <[email protected]>wrote:

> I'm currently copying a 13GB recording of Dancing with the Stars that I
> grabbed off of my TIVO.  I'm just doing a file copy in windows, mind you,
> from my PC upstairs to my laptop downstairs. The laptop is on the powerline
> network.
>
> I'm getting a sustained 5.67 MB/s...roughly 45 Mbps file copy.
>
> I believe that most HD streaming can be done with that bandwidth....anyone
> know for sure?  I'm not sure that HD streaming is the same as a simple file
> copy, also.
>
>
> On 6/13/2011 7:56 AM, Anthony Q. Martin wrote:
>
>> Simple. Use a port of the back of your router...cable from there to an
>> adapter...plug into a power socket...now your network is put into the power
>> lines in your house...then plug another adapter near the location where you
>> need Ethernet connectivity...then use a cable from that adapter to your
>> device.  Bingo.
>>
>> The netgear AV kit i mentioned gives you a little box that has 4 ports on
>> the back...so, with that, you can connect upto four devices on that one
>> line...so you are in effect sharing that pipe...not a problem in a living
>> room as you typically only use one or two devices at a time. WD kits are a
>> bit different in terms of how they make the adapters and port arrangements,
>> but they work the same way. Since they devices are Homeplug compatible (the
>> homeplug spec), you can use them together. So right now, I have a netgear AV
>> kit (with the 4-port in downstairs at the other end of the house).  And I'm
>> using one adapter from the WD kit upstairs in another room.  I just plug the
>> adapter into a power socket and plug an Ethernet cable into the device and
>> am good to go.
>>
>> All of your wireless stuff exists outside of this...this is just an
>> extension of your Ethernet over the powerlines inside your house.  Dirt
>> simple.
>>
>> The gotchas are 1) you probably wont' get the speed ratings listed on the
>> box.  But as others has said, if your house wiring is ok you can stream
>> 1080p. 2) It is possible that other devices that hook into your power system
>> could spew crap onto your powerlines and thus ruin your data rates.  I have
>> not noticed this in my house, but it might be possible. 3) your house might
>> have crappy powerlines...or things on different circuits that so that there
>> isn't a good signal path between your sockets, so you might have to
>> experiment with which sockets you use. Also, the instructions all say never
>> to plug the adapter into a powerstrip or surge protector.  I have ignore
>> that and have always found it to work.  Oh, one more advantage of powerline
>> is that it is travel friendly...when I go to my mom's house I take my WD
>> powerline kit because her wireless wont reach from front to back of her
>> house. Powerline solves this instantly and they don't even know I plugged it
>> in.
>>
>> The netgear and WD kits I have now claim 200 Mbps, but I think those are
>> bi-directional rates, so expect 100 Mbps (max) one way.  That's like 12
>> MB/s. So, in terms of bytes, expect that to be best case, ideal world
>> performance.  If you can get 4 or 5 MB/s, then you should be good.  The main
>> advantage over wireless is that once you determine that this system works in
>> your house, you get consistent performance...no drop outs, no weather
>> related slow downs, no competition from neighbors, etc.
>>
>> I just ordered netgear's 500 Mbps kit.   I want it has fast as possible
>> because that is shared bandwidth to that box...and I might later want to add
>> a new receiver with networking features and Google TV is supposed to upgrade
>> to Honeycomb this summer, so I want all the goodness I can get.  So, one I
>> get this, I'll test it out hard...they have 30-day return with a restock
>> fee, so if I see no speed increase I will send it back.  I think paying the
>> restock fee is worth it.
>>
>> BTW, downstairs I have Tivo, two Blu-ray players, and google TV all
>> connected up with the AV kit.  It's a good think my TV down there doesn't do
>> internet, or I'd have to get some other port. Of course, I don't really need
>> all that, as a lot of functionality is duplicated (how many different ways
>> can you watch netflix???).
>>
>> Aside: BTW, how many different ways can list members stream netflix?
>>  Anyone ever done a count like that?
>>
>> Anyway, you can read up a bit and add to the collective knowledge. As I
>> said, I posted on this list the kinds of transfer rates I was getting when I
>> first when powerline. Before that, folks here were a bit indifferent to
>> powerline. the tech has improved (thank goodness).  Running real Cat5/6 is
>> still your best option, but this is becoming a close second and in terms of
>> ease of use & WAF in an existing house, might be best.
>>
>> On 6/13/2011 2:32 AM, Brian Weeden wrote:
>>
>>> So how does the powerline stuff work?  Do you need a special powerline
>>> router that does both wireless and the wired?  Can you have everything on
>>> the same network?
>>>
>>>
>>> ---
>>> Brian
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sun, Jun 12, 2011 at 9:07 PM,<[email protected]>  wrote:
>>>
>>>  I would definitely do powerline.   It I've used the wd av, and handled
>>>> bd
>>>> iso.  No way will that happen over any wireless
>>>> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Brian Weeden<[email protected]>
>>>> Sender: [email protected]
>>>> Date: Sun, 12 Jun 2011 21:06:21
>>>> To:<[email protected]>
>>>> Reply-To: [email protected]
>>>> Subject: Re: [H] Building a wireless network to support video streaming
>>>>
>>>> Completely agree that wired is better.  But as I said, in this case I
>>>> probably don't have a choice.  With two toddlers running around (1 and 3
>>>> years old) I can't really afford to have cables lying around everywhere.
>>>>  So
>>>> it's either powerline or Wifi.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for the tips on the Powerline - I'll look into it.  You say you
>>>> have
>>>> had good experience with it?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ---
>>>> Brian
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, Jun 12, 2011 at 8:12 PM, Anthony Q. Martin<[email protected]
>>>>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>> Here is the Amazon product:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> http://www.amazon.com/review/R1RFORI4QGV7UE/ref=cm_cr_dp_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B004PA9PBQ&nodeID=172282&tag=&linkCode=#wasThisHelpful
>>>>
>>>>> Note the reviewer claim they stream HD (whatever that means).
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 6/12/2011 6:45 PM, Brian Weeden wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>  Next month we're moving to a new house, one that we will be renting
>>>>>> for
>>>>>>
>>>>> a
>>>>
>>>>> few years.  I'm looking at how to stream content from our home media
>>>>>> server
>>>>>> around the house.  It looks like running LAN cables will not be an
>>>>>>
>>>>> option
>>>>
>>>>> so
>>>>>> we will have to do it wirelessly
>>>>>>
>>>>>> We will be streaming everything from 480p xvid to 1080p Blu Ray rips,
>>>>>>
>>>>> but
>>>>
>>>>> generally to no more than one device at a time (perhaps worst case two,
>>>>>> although not likely both 1080p).  My initial thought is to setup two
>>>>>> separate Wifi networks - one on 5 Ghz dedicated to the HTPCs and media
>>>>>> server, and a separate 2.4 Ghz network for everything else.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Has anyone tried that before and run into problems?  I think I can
>>>>>> still
>>>>>> have all the devices on both networks on the same LAN as long as they
>>>>>>
>>>>> are
>>>>
>>>>> all on the same subnet, right?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ---
>>>>>> Brian
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>

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