WDTV Live + DIR-655 + DWA-131 + My Book Essential 2TB

Community Archives WD TV Live Networking
1

Hi all,

I must say that I have certainly learnt a lot from reading all your comments on this forum. 

I’ve recently tested 2 configuration as per below but am still having wireless connectivity issues with the WDTV Live.

Current Configuration:

WDTV Live - Firmware 1.02.21

D-Link DWA-131 Wireless N Nano USB Adapter

D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router - Firmware 1.30

WD My Book Essential 2TB, connected via USB to PC running on Vista (upgrade to W7 imminent)

-Accessing Media via Network Shares

Previous Configuration

WDTV Live - Firmware 1.02.21

D-Link DWA-131 Wireless N Nano USB Adapter

Netgear DG834G ADSL2+ Modem Router

WD My Book Essential 2TB, connected via USB to PC running on Vista

-Accessing Media via Network Shares

While I was using the Netgear router, I would say that 70% of the time I had no issues connecting to the network or streaming 720p MKV files.  There were occasional delays (sometimes 20 seconds) to start playing the MKV files.

The remaining 30% of the time, it was losing the network connection.  When going to the Network status screen, it would show Full signal strength, then no signal, full signal, no signal, changing every second or two from full to nothing.

After contacting WD Support, they said it was likely because I was using the G router, and that I should get a N router listed on the supported devices list for the WDTV Live.  So I went out and bought myself the D-Link DIR-655.

Since setting it all up as per the above current configuration, the streaming performance is much worse… the network still changes from full strength to no strength as before.  When it does manage to hold on to the network it will give an error saying unable to connect to device when trying to connect to my PC via the Network Shares.  And when it does on the rare occassions connect, MKV files dont start playing at all, and the less intensive 480p AVI files begin stuttering almost immediately.

I tested the same wireless connection using my laptop and its inbuilt WiFi Link 5100 AGN in the exact same location and the streaming worked like magic.

So, is it the Nano that’s the problem?  Is it the old 1.30 firmware of the DIR-655 that’s struggling with the Nano?

Unfotunately the version needed for the Nano on the supported devices list shows as “not listed”.

Should I get a different adapter?

Is there maybe something in the configuration of the DIR-655 that I’m missing?

It streams Mp3 files to the WDTV with no problems.  Could it be that its struggles with the high load of the 720p mkv’s is causing it to lose the network?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

2

If there are other devices connecting to the network at G (or even B) speeds, then your wireless N will also only be running at similar speeds, despite being N-capable.

Are you sure that all connections to the router are N-capable, and running at N speeds?

On the other hand, the “signal strength” aspect, immediately brings signal strength, signal path and interference, all to mind… the laptop may only stream better in this test by being more immune to whatever the problem is.

If you’re still within the return/exchange window for the USB N-adaptor, you could see if switching to a different one would make a difference… but until it’s more clear exactly what the problem is, I personally wouldn’t just run out and buy adaptor after adaptor to see if any work better, because you could be barking up the wrong tree.

3

I’ve got 2 PC’s wired to the router and my laptop connecting wirelessly.

The laptop supports N and I’m pretty sure both PC’s do as well, though I have to check the older of the two which I will do later today.

Although I would assume that since the streaming is working wirelessly to my laptop with no issues, then the speeds of the throughput should not be the issue here?

4

It shouldn’t be… but I wasn’t there during the tests to know for sure that they were under identical conditions.:wink:

We’re reasonably sure that the router can stream at the necessary throughput when the laptop was connected, so it doesn’t seem to be the router… but, as I said, if something else was connecting wirelessly during the WDTV tests that wasn’t connected during the laptop test, then that can be the cause of your problems right there, so I had to ask. :smileyvery-happy:

5

Fair enough :smiley:  Conditions were the same for all tests.

Either I have a faulty WDTV Live or its the Nano.  I just dont think it can be the router based on the laptop’s performance, unless the 1.30 firmware somehow conflicts with either the nano or the wdtv.

i’m gonna borrow a long ethernet cable (probably need about 20 metres) to hardwire the wdtv to the router and see the result.  if it works perfect then i guess it will be safe to assume that the Nano is the problem?  In which case, any usb adapter you or anyone else recommend for this combo?

I’ll eventually get a NAS and ditch accessing the media from HDD’s attached via USB to my PC.  it’s a pretty ugly and awkward setup at the moment.

6

I’ll have to let others chime in on what other adaptors they suggest… I’m still running a WDTV HD Gen1, and there’s no WIFI in my house – it’s all wired.

I know you said the PCs are wired, but one suggestion you might get from others is to consider a simultaneous dual-band N router if you’re going to use other wifi devices that might drag your WDTV-Router connection down.  But if the laptop’s your only WIFI device that you’re connecting, that’s not high on the priority list at the minute I don’t think, as long as it is connecting at N-speeds and you’re not trying to stream to it at the same time you’re trying to stream to the WDTV.

7

The laptop is the only other device connecting via wi-fi, and that’s only on rare occassions.  usually it’s only the wdtv.

I started on the Gen 1, with a HDD connected via USB.  Life was simpler then…

I’d go back to it just to stop dealing with this networking hassle, except that having to detach the HDD to load new media onto it can be time consuming.

Though I’ve probably spent much more time dealing with this bloody network issue than I ever did loading media via USB! :smileyvery-happy:

8

Though I’ve probably spent much more time dealing with this bloody network issue than I ever did loading media via USB! :smileyvery-happy:

:smileyvery-happy:

having to detach the HDD to load new media onto it can be time consuming.

Ya… I quickly moved to 2 HDDs… One’s usually connected to the WDTV, and the other’s connected to the PC for either adding media, or adding moviesheets to the existing media… I swap 'em back and forth as the need arises, but it’s much less swapping than when I only had a single drive. :wink:

9

Oh and another point of interest, when attaching a HDD to the Gen 1 via USB, it only scans it after connecting it.  So every time I would detach it to load files and then reattch it, i would need to wait for it to finish scanning, but no real issue there.

With the WDTV Live, it scans whatever USB drive is attached each time you turn it on!$#@  Am I the ■■■■■ here or is there a reason for this?

10

No, there’s a reason.

The Gen1, the old Gen2, and the old Lives would stay on when “off”.  The standby mode kept everything intact for when you went to turn it back on.  But they did (do) get a little warm, if you only leave them “off” and not unplugged.

The Live Plus, the new Gen2 and the New Lives, were designed to meet EU power standards… they basically shut off completely, so it has to do a fresh boot and a fresh scan every time you turn it on.

A little bit of non-volatile RAM would have been a nice touch, when they switched the powering, but can’t do anything about that now.

11

Done a bit more searching around the boards.  Gonna pick up a Netgear WNCE2001 Universal WiFi Adapter/Bridge on my way home and see if that makes a difference.  It connects through the LAN instead of the USB so that alone fills me with confidence.  Never been a fan of usb adapters.