Video buffering on WDTV Live via WiFi

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dafman

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#223791 17-Oct-2017 15:44

I have Spark VDSL broadband and I use the wireless router supplied by Spark, plus

a Synology DiskStation connected to the Spark router by ethernet cable, plus
a WDTV Live media player connected to the router via wifi.

Recently, I’ve experienced significant buffering when trying to play some video files from the DiskStation through the WDTV – which surprised me as it’s all within my home LAN, so I expected the router would be able to cope transferring wireless to the WDTV (they are in the same room, only 4 metres apart). Any ideas why this is occuring?

I’m keen to eliminate the buffering, so am thinking of either:

running a separate ethernet between the Spark router and the WDTV live (ie. DiskStation – ethernet – router – ethernet - WDTV), or
purchasing a quality router capable of sending via wifi without buffering.

Any feedback on why buffering might be occurring, and appropriate fix is appreciated.

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#1885175 17-Oct-2017 15:50

Use Ethernet - End of story

Buffering might be happening as more Wi-Fi AP's are around so of course less bandwidth to go around as this is a shared public resource

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hio77

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#1885176 17-Oct-2017 15:54

For HT, i'd certainly recommend Ethernet.

Wireless could be anything, Neighbour just bought a modem thats sending trash. Wireless b device connected, tongue being held in the wrong position.

If you have the HG630, I'd recommend switching to the HG659b and using 5GHz if WiFi is a must, Purchasing another router for Wireless issues is basically flushing money down the toilet in this situation.

a Better Router Could improve things, but it's a gamble.

A cable Will improve things.

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dafman

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#1885323 17-Oct-2017 22:27

hio77:

For HT, i'd certainly recommend Ethernet.

Wireless could be anything, Neighbour just bought a modem thats sending trash. Wireless b device connected, tongue being held in the wrong position.

If you have the HG630, I'd recommend switching to the HG659b and using 5GHz if WiFi is a must, Purchasing another router for Wireless issues is basically flushing money down the toilet in this situation.

a Better Router Could improve things, but it's a gamble.

A cable Will improve things.

Thanks for both replies, appreciated. After reading these, I went out and purchased an ethernet cable from PB Tech and connected it to the WDTV and router. In hindsight, it was so simple, and works so well, I wonder why I didn't do it sooner. And at around $10, way less than a third party replacement router.

Jase2985

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#1885847 18-Oct-2017 17:30

are you using a wireless dongle with your WDTV? if so whats the specs of it?

and is the content thats buffering, any higher definition than you normally watch?

dafman

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#1885879 18-Oct-2017 18:41

Jase2985:

are you using a wireless dongle with your WDTV? if so whats the specs of it?

and is the content thats buffering, any higher definition than you normally watch?

The WDTV Live had built in wifi and it was generally the larger files that buffered. All fixed now as have connected via ethernet.

hio77

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#1885927 18-Oct-2017 19:46

dafman:

Thanks for both replies, appreciated. After reading these, I went out and purchased an ethernet cable from PB Tech and connected it to the WDTV and router. In hindsight, it was so simple, and works so well, I wonder why I didn't do it sooner. And at around $10, way less than a third party replacement router.

Sometimes we overthink these things, cables will be so hard!

Reminds me of the last time a family member moaned streaming was not working too well over wifi to the TV.

They were streaming straight BD (who has time for changing disks, much easier to store the image) over 2.4ghz.

Now i live rurally, with a great wifi setup with near perfect proformance...

So the moans went on, "you need to upgrade the wifi" i eventually got fed up and said right, here is a box of cable. Go run it between the living room and comms cabinet.

The real laugh was when i came back half an hour later with 100M of excess cable sitting on the floor waiting to crimp....

Overall, Gbit is fed to that point now and i'm yet to get a single complaint.

I would have ran the cable myself, but under the house is kinda low even for my slim build! more entertaining to watch others do it...

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tdgeek

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#1885929 18-Oct-2017 19:50

hio77:

For HT, i'd certainly recommend Ethernet.

Wireless could be anything, Neighbour just bought a modem thats sending trash. Wireless b device connected, tongue being held in the wrong position.

If you have the HG630, I'd recommend switching to the HG659b and using 5GHz if WiFi is a must, Purchasing another router for Wireless issues is basically flushing money down the toilet in this situation.

a Better Router Could improve things, but it's a gamble.

A cable Will improve things.

You need to up skill Troy. I always face Mecca when playing over wifi! :-)

Jase2985

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#1885933 18-Oct-2017 19:59

so the WDTV live has 802.11n upto 300mbps (40mhz channel) so likely its connected on a 20mhz channel which would put the actual throughput about 40mbps with out any interference.

hio77

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#1885935 18-Oct-2017 20:00

tdgeek:

You need to up skill Troy. I always face Mecca when playing over wifi! :-)

ha, trust someone to pick out on the joke in there!

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JimmyH

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#1886247 19-Oct-2017 12:58

I used an earlier model WD Live with a USB WiFi dongle for streaming. Same issues, fixed by upgrading the connection.

However, it wasn't easily feasible to run cable. I went for an intermediate solution and used ethernet over powerline. Which is still streaming my media today, and has been rock solid for over 5 years now. Relatively cheap and well worth considering where proper cabling is difficult (or impossible - eg in a rental).

The WD Live was pensioned off some time ago, and I have now moved to a Plex server arrangement, but the original ethernet over powerline adapters are still working fine with this.

Footnote - I still use the old WD Live when I travel, like when I was overseas in a place with no internet connectivity at all last week. 128GB USB with some movies & TV, and a short HDMI cable for the room I am staying in. Its a small easily portable setup. Works well when the local TV/media options are expensive and/or lousy.