Wi-fi broadband signal for Blu-ray player

[Stanfordian]

On my digital televison I want to watch the ‘Berliner Philharmoniker Digital Concert Hall’ and also watch other internet streamed programmes such as YouTube and the BBC iPlayer etc. I have bought a Blu-ray player for my digital television and connected the Blu-ray player by wi-fi to my Sky Broadband router which is located near to my main computer by cable. The Sony Blue-ray player allows me to connect to the internet and specifically contains the Berliner Philharmoniker Digital Concert Hall as part of the ‘Sony Entertainment Network’. I have successfully connected it all up and can obtain and watch all of those items that I want. However, the problem is that intermittently the stream breaks up into annoying buffering. I reckon that my wi-fi broadband signal is not strong enough. You see my router is about 12 metres and three rooms/walls away from the Blu-ray player. I spoke to Sky technical services and they sent me an ‘improved’ micro filter, which, if anything, the signal strength seems slightly worse.

[johnb]

You might find that the combination of WiFi's inherent limitations for high band-width streaming and the distance/walls between the Blu-ray player and your router will mean continued problems.

If possible I would first make sure that it is a WiFi problem (the most likely culprit), and not due to your internet connection. It's a bit of a hassle but I would move your TV and player to where your router is, just in order to do a test. Connect the player direct to the router using an ethernet cable and see if the problem disappears. If the DCH streams without any problem then the issue is your WiFi.

If it is a WiFi problem then, assuming you don't want to install ethernet cabling between the router and player, the easiest solution is to buy a pair of powerline (also called homeplug) adapters. These plug into the mains (one near your router and the other near your Blu-ray player). You link these to your router and player using standard ethernet cables. Job done.

They are easily available either online or from high street stores such as PC World and Maplins, etc. To get an idea of the sort of things available this is a link to the range stocked by BroadbandBuyer (who have always been very helpful when I have bought from them).

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/default_ShopGroup.asp?ShopGroupID=61

PS There seems to be some confusion about operating these type of adaptors across different ring main circuits. If the two mains sockets are on the same fuse/circuit breaker in your consumer unit they will be on the same ring main circuit. If they aren't, it would be worth checking with the people at BroadbandBuyer that the adapters are suitable - just to be on the safe side.

[Petrushka]

You might find that the combination of WiFi's inherent limitations for high band-width streaming and the distance/walls between the Blu-ray player and your router will mean continued problems.

If possible I would first make sure that it is a WiFi problem (the most likely culprit), and not due to your internet connection. It's a bit of a hassle but I would move your TV and player to where your router is, just in order to do a test. Connect the player direct to the router using an ethernet cable and see if the problem disappears. If the DCH streams without any problem then the issue is your WiFi.

If it is a WiFi problem then, assuming you don't want to install ethernet cabling between the router and player, the easiest solution is to buy a pair of powerline (also called homeplug) adapters. These plug into the mains (one near your router and the other near your Blu-ray player). You link these to your router and player using standard ethernet cables. Job done.

I contacted the DCH direct about continued technical trouble and they came up with advice very similar to what johnb says here. It proved domestically impossible to do and I haven't tried the DCH for many months now. I'll try again soon as I've since had a new router.

[johnb]

I contacted the DCH direct about continued technical trouble and they came up with advice very similar to what johnb says here. It proved domestically impossible to do and I haven't tried the DCH for many months now. I'll try again soon as I've since had a new router.

If you don't mind me asking, why was it impossible to use home plug adapters?

[Dave2002]

There can be a few reasons why home plug adapters won't work. Already mentioned is that the circuits should be on the same consumer unit. I have found that even this is not a guarantee of success, as our upstairs circuits won't link to anything on the downstairs circuits. I've never quite figured why - I'll have to look into this further. I think some parts of our system are on a higher level of protection than others - the electrician who installed the consumer unit did explain why it was done that way.

There are also wireless repeaters which can be placed between the router and the destination device, though these will probably halve the maximum possible data rate because of the way they work - but nevertheless that may still be better than trying to make things work through several walls. Wi-Fi connections deteriorate significantly with distance and barriers.

[Resurrection Man]

Before you all rush out and buy these Home Plug Adapters please spare a thought, for a moment, for any local radio hams or DXers who live near you.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/realworld/384133/homeplug-adapters-why-its-worth-going-upmarket/2

[Dave2002]

Before you all rush out and buy these Home Plug Adapters please spare a thought, for a moment, for any local radio hams or DXers who live near you.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/realworld/384...ing-upmarket/2

I do have experience of home plug adapters, and some are good. For TV applications it's best to use the newer AV models with data rates of 200 Mbps, 500 Mbps or higher. Indeed I have several more or less permanently wired in to provide the higher data rates for driving the TV, even across a relatively short distance. I also make use of a few TP Link ethernet switches to allow more than one device at each end - http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page...Cp_4%3ATP-Link Previously I tried routers, but they are often not necessary, and complicate things and require software setup. The switches are just plug in and run.

I don't have any experience of radio ham kit or DXing, but my guess is that unless you have a radio ham next door there will be no problems from using home plug equipment, and even then I rather doubt it.

[johnb]

I have found that even this is not a guarantee of success, as our upstairs circuits won't link to anything on the downstairs circuits. I've never quite figured why - I'll have to look into this further.

It might well be that the upstairs and downstairs are on different ring main circuits. I think this is a fairly normal arrangement.

It appears that very many people have no trouble, even across ring main circuits, but there are others who have found problems in that circumstance. It might depend on the particular circuit breaker arrangements in the cunsumer unit.

If the two homeplug/powerline adapters are to be on different ring mains I would use someone like Broadbandbuyer and ask for advice. That way you should be able to return them if they don't work.

Anyway, the devices are relatively cheap to try out.

Following up on what Dave wrote, I too use a network switch (to link my PC, Server, at 1000Mbps whereas my older router only supports 100Mbps). They can be very useful but make sure you get one that supports the speed you need. I've found these very reliable:

http://www.misco.co.uk/product/40297/NETGEAR-5-Port-10-100-Ethernet-Unmanaged-Compact-Switch

http://www.misco.co.uk/product/45081/NETGEAR-5-Port-Gigabit-Compact-Switch

PS It also appears that Homeplug adapters work best if plugged directly into the mains socket rather than being plugged into multisocket adaptors or multiplug extension leads.

[Resurrection Man]

.....

I don't have any experience of radio ham kit or DXing, but my guess is that unless you have a radio ham next door there will be no problems from using home plug equipment, and even then I rather doubt it.

Plenty of evidence to suggest that they do. In the link I posted and also here....http://www.theguardian.com/technolog.../2008/oct/20/1

Google Home Plug adapter Radio Interference and you'll come up with some demonstrations on Youtube.

[Stanfordian]

You might find that the combination of WiFi's inherent limitations for high band-width streaming and the distance/walls between the Blu-ray player and your router will mean continued problems.

If possible I would first make sure that it is a WiFi problem (the most likely culprit), and not due to your internet connection. It's a bit of a hassle but I would move your TV and player to where your router is, just in order to do a test. Connect the player direct to the router using an ethernet cable and see if the problem disappears. If the DCH streams without any problem then the issue is your WiFi.

If it is a WiFi problem then, assuming you don't want to install ethernet cabling between the router and player, the easiest solution is to buy a pair of powerline (also called homeplug) adapters. These plug into the mains (one near your router and the other near your Blu-ray player). You link these to your router and player using standard ethernet cables. Job done.

They are easily available either online or from high street stores such as PC World and Maplins, etc. To get an idea of the sort of things available this is a link to the range stocked by BroadbandBuyer (who have always been very helpful when I have bought from them).

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/default_ShopGroup.asp?ShopGroupID=61

PS There seems to be some confusion about operating these type of adaptors across different ring main circuits. If the two mains sockets are on the same fuse/circuit breaker in your consumer unit they will be on the same ring main circuit. If they aren't, it would be worth checking with the people at BroadbandBuyer that the adapters are suitable - just to be on the safe side.

Hiya johnb,

Thank you and everyone else so much who has shown an interest in my wi-fi problem. I will obtain 2 powerline (homeplug adaptors) 200/500 Mbps or higher and 2 ethernet cables. I was wondering if it is obvious how each ethernet cables connect to the Router and to the Blu-ray player connect?

[Dave2002]

Hiya johnb,

Thank you and everyone else so much who has shown an interest in my wi-fi problem. I will obtain 2 powerline (homeplug adaptors) 200/500 Mbps or higher and 2 ethernet cables. I was wondering if it is obvious how each ethernet cables connect to the Router and to the Blu-ray player connect?

Depending on the homeplug unis you get there are likely to be ethernet cables (x1) in each box (or 2 if you get a twin pack). These tend to be about 0.7-1.5 metres in length, so you may still need to order extra if you need longer caBle runs to your router and to your Blu-Ray. The cables just plug in at each end - really no problem. If you do need more connections the switches I mentioned earlier may be useful, and could perhaps use shorter cable, depending where the switch goes. It's possible to get gold plated and virgin stroked ethernet cabe, but I have found firms such as cables4less - http://www.cabling4less.co.uk/category.php?cat_id=158 - to be perfectly satisfactory.

[Resurrection Man]

Hiya johnb,

Thank you and everyone else so much who has shown an interest in my wi-fi problem. I will obtain 2 powerline (homeplug adaptors) 200/500 Mbps or higher and 2 ethernet cables. I was wondering if it is obvious how each ethernet cables connect to the Router and to the Blu-ray player connect?

It will depend on your router. Most routers have four identical sockets for your Ethernet cable. You can plug your Blu-Ray box into any of them. Your Blu-Ray box will only have one Ethernet socket (in all probability).

Looking at the cable prices in Dave2002's post I'd be tempted to for the longest cable they do (assuming it will reach from your router to where your Blu-Ray player is currently located). A heck of a lot less hassle then uncabling and moving your TV, player etc.

[Dave2002]

Looking at the cable prices in Dave2002's post I'd be tempted to for the longest cable they do (assuming it will reach from your router to where your Blu-Ray player is currently located). A heck of a lot less hassle then uncabling and moving your TV, player etc.

Not a bad idea if it can be done neatly - under carpets, or with not too many holes in the wall. I have some 20 metre cables, but the distances in my own house are still too great for this to be a neat/workable solution for me.

If that does work for our OP here, then it would certainly be significantly cheaper than buying any homeplug units. In my case I tend to buy these cables, check that they work, but then Mrs D. complains about the wires which have to be carefully avoided while walking around, so I still have to install the mains or wireless solutions. One of my friends tried wireless, which didn't work, then spent a day or two one weekend drilling holes in walls, lifting floorboards etc., to get cables close to his computer. It was only at the last stage when it was all about to be linked that he noted that the wireless adapter or its aerial were not plugged in or initialised. Needless to say he was then able to get both wired and wireless working, but perhaps needn't have bothered with the wired, and maybe also the need to fill the holes in the walls for neatness, or to stop mice fast tracking round his house.

For higher data rate video applications wired connections will nearly always be significantly better than wireless connections, and avoid any buffering/stuttering problems, and of course there's less chance of data interception.

[Resurrection Man]

Not a bad idea if it can be done neatly - under carpets, or with not too many holes in the wall. I have some 20 metre cables, but the distances in my own house are still too great for this to be a neat/workable solution for me.

If that does work for our OP here, then it would certainly be significantly cheaper than buying any homeplug units. In my case I tend to buy these cables, check that they work, but then Mrs D. complains about the wires which have to be carefully avoided while walking around, so I still have to install the mains or wireless solutions. One of my friends tried wireless, which didn't work, then spent a day or two one weekend drilling holes in walls, lifting floorboards etc., to get cables close to his computer. It was only at the last stage when it was all about to be linked that he noted that the wireless adapter or its aerial were not plugged in or initialised. Needless to say he was then able to get both wired and wireless working, but perhaps needn't have bothered with the wired, and maybe also the need to fill the holes in the walls for neatness, or to stop mice fast tracking round his house.

For higher data rate video applications wired connections will nearly always be significantly better than wireless connections, and avoid any buffering/stuttering problems, and of course there's less chance of data interception.

You make a good point. I was thinking though to get the cable as a means of testing whether the problem was wifi or a broader system related problem. The ethernet cable being a temporary solution for fault diagnosis/elimination although I do agree that a wired solution is much better than wi-fi.

[johnb]

Providing the cost is acceptable getting a long ethernet cable for testing purposes/fault diagnosis is a good idea. It will probably come in handy at some point in the future anyway.

Incidentally, just for Standfordian's benefit, ethernet cables are widely available from high street stores such as Currys, PC World, Maplin, etc, etc though they are usually more expensive (sometimes much more expensive) than what you can get online. Also I wouldn't bother with the more expensive Cat6 cables, the Cat5e ones should be fine.