I have some questions, mainly based around a need for accessing additional file storage available on my home network, accessible from multiple computers.

Current home network setup is:

> a Vodafone Station (SHG1500) router, ADSL2+. Current internet status (are these specific to internet, or include home network wifi?):

 

 

Downlink speed 15.16 MBit/s

 

Uplink speed 0.63 MBit/s

 

 
> Samsung Ultrabook, running Win10, about 10 metres from router, accessed by in-built Wifi adapter. Great machine but very limited disk space on SSD, hence need for external/network options.

 

 

> Desktop PC, a few years old (AMD Dual Core; USB 2.0 only, not 3.0), running Win10, connected to router by plug-in D-Link Wireless USB adapter as I don't have a network cable that will reach the router (12 metres cable required, although only about 5 metres away). D-Link wireless adapter is 2.4ghz only. PC has a recent SSD internal.

> External Hard Drive: Western Digital 1TB 'Elements' connected to Desktop via USB2.0. A few years old (I think it's this : http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002QEBMB4/ref=twister_B002YK5OX2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 )

> Additional: Chromecast connected to non-smart HDTV, smartphones (LG G3 & Samsung S3)

> Other: house is large single storey with double brick internal walls. Both Desktop & Ultrabook have a couple of walls between them and router.



General network performance: Internet via Wifi from all devices is decent - occasional drop-outs etc, but nothing too major.


I've just bought a fancy new camera, so transferring a lot of jpeg files (avg 8MB each) via USB 2.0 to the External HDD on the Desktop PC. I want to be able to access, and edit etc, these photos from the Ultrabook, via the Windows Homegroup. However, this is practically impossible as transferring or opening each image takes ages (i.e. can take minutes).

I know that accessing files like this over Wifi is never going to offer great performance, however i'm also certain it shouldn't be this bad. I'm trying to establish if there's a bottleneck, but it seems to be a network issue.

Accessing images etc that are on the Desktop's SSD while using the Ultrabook is slightly quicker than accessing images on the External HDD, but still too slow.

Initially I had the External HDD connected directly via USB to the Vodafone Station - however that was actually even slower still to access.


I guess after all that - my main question is that if I connect my Desktop to the Station router via Ethernet cable, would you expect quicker file access from the wifi Ultrabook than if they were both connected via wifi?

Sorry for not being more concise but I'm exhausted from trying to ascertain what I can do to improve this - any feedback, ideas, etc are greatly appreciated  - thanks.