Topic: Streaming High Def over a Wireless Network: use 802.11a (Read 98 times)

Xbox-Scene · « **on:** November 01, 2006, 07:36:00 PM »

Streaming High Def over a Wireless Network: use 802.11a
Posted by XanTium | November 1 21:36 EST

Quote

Streaming High Definition Video over a Wireless Network
With the Xbox 360 Flash Fall 2006 System Update, we've added support for WMV video playback from new sources. If you've read the video format post, you'll see that your Xbox has the ability to playback high definition (HD) video encoded in the Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile (VC1) codec. This means that you'll not only be able to watch High Definition video from external sources like a USB drive, CD, DVD, but also PC.
However, when you decide to stream HD content over your home wireless network, you might see performance degradation in the form of choppiness. This post is to provide you with some workarounds and suggestions to fix the choppiness.

* Workarounds
Generally the performance degradation happens due to issues like interference, assuming you have an 802.11g router. The easiest, most cost-effective way to get around this is to wire your Xbox to your router via a LAN cable. Doing so will provide the best streaming quality bar none; although that probably was not the answer you wanted to hear.
A second (albeit more expensive) workaround is to purchase a router capable of 802.11a. Choppy video performance is likely due to either too much interference on your wireless' operating frequency due to home appliances (i.e. the microwave, the cordless phone, or Bluetooth devices) or too much interference on overlapping g wireless channels.
802.11a has clear (non-overlapping channels) and operates on 5Ghz, a frequency that doesn't have as many home appliances running within it, which makes it a better mode to stream anything that requires a lot of bandwidth. For more information on the differences between 802.11a and g, jump down to "802.11a vs. 802.11g."
Through testing done by the Windows Media Center Team, it was determined that 802.11a is almost on par with 802.11g in terms of barrier penetration and range. Even so, it's advised that you should only pass 802.11a through at most one wall for the best performance. If you still run into problems, even with 802.11a, you can read more about 802.11a drawbacks and an optimal environment by jumping down to "An optimal wireless streaming environment"

* How do I know what wireless mode my 360 is connected to?
Start up your 360 without a game and it will boot to the dashboard. Go to the System Blade and scroll down to Network settings. Press A to see your Basic settings and you should see what 802.11 Wireless Mode your 360 is connected on be it a, b, or g.

Read More Q&A about this on the Team Xbox Blog

K-Naledge · « **Reply #1 on:** November 01, 2006, 06:57:00 PM »

good thing 802.11a has enough total bandwidth upstream/downstream to support unilateral 480Kbps streams... oh wait it only broadcasts at 1 Mbps to 2Mbps... whoops!

Hooray for research!

HD wireless = 2nd draft 802.11n MIMO or wait till Jan/Feb for ratified 802.11n final draft spec.

PERIOD.

Rustmonkey · « **Reply #2 on:** November 01, 2006, 07:28:00 PM »

Interesting... I didn't know the wireless adapter for the 360 was capable of 802.11a...

gainpresence · « **Reply #3 on:** November 01, 2006, 07:28:00 PM »

QUOTE(K-Naledge @ Nov 1 2006, 09:04 PM)

good thing 802.11a has enough total bandwidth upstream/downstream to support unilateral 480Kbps streams... oh wait it only broadcasts at 1 Mbps to 2Mbps... whoops!

What? 802.11a is 54Mbps, 802.11 is 1-2Mbps.

Sure, 802.11n will be faster, but the 360 will only be able to use it in backwards compatibility mode (with g, b, or a), so it won't make a difference as far as the xbox goes.

QUOTE(Rustmonkey @ Nov 1 2006, 09:35 PM)

Interesting... I didn't know the wireless adapter for the 360 was capable of 802.11a...

check again, http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox3...ter/default.htm

This post has been edited by gainpresence: Nov 2 2006, 03:33 AM

xboxexpert · « **Reply #4 on:** November 01, 2006, 07:33:00 PM »

High Def porno here I come!

JohnnyVegas · « **Reply #5 on:** November 01, 2006, 07:39:00 PM »

Wow like this is new or somthing. This information was posted on LIVE at release. Look it up under XBOX videos.

Only took a year for everyone to notice? I watched it the first week I got the 360 at release.

ir0nw0lf · « **Reply #6 on:** November 02, 2006, 08:00:00 AM »

The Xbox 360 wireless adapter mentioned in a link above can do 802.11a b and g, meaning it can operate on BOTH freqs. However, in order to get it to work in 802.11a mode, you have to have a wireless router than can handle 802.11a, which a 802.11b or g wireless router can't do. A tri-mode wireless router that can do a/b/g or a pre-n/n wireless router is needed. Most home users don't have a wireless router that is either tri-mode or pre-n/n, so the original article is kind of funny -- almost trying to get people to go out and buy the expensive wireless routers.

Just making sure some of the info presented above was clarified.

spankbot · « **Reply #7 on:** November 02, 2006, 11:50:00 PM »

This is great news. Now! How do I transcode divx movies I'v downloaded from bittorrent to WMV9?

Author Topic: Streaming High Def over a Wireless Network: use 802.11a (Read 98 times)