Wireless Issues Resolved–AE1000 to the Rescue
I finally resolved a nagging wireless issue with a simple inexpensive wireless adapter from Linksys. Sometimes those aging built-in wireless adapters could benefit from an upgrade.
I have a HP Touchsmart 504 in the kitchen. It had been in the same location running wirelessly without issue for over a year. However, I needed more speed. I enabled wireless N in the adapter driver so that I could get N speeds for streaming live TV from the HDHomeRun tuner. This configuration is not the default for the Touchsmart. You will only get G speeds from the built-in adapter unless you enable it. The Touchsmart began to have wireless issues a few weeks after that change. It would lose connection to the router. I could not reconnect with my passphrase. The passphrase was correct but it was not accepted. Moving backwards in speed was not an option so I had to find a solution.
I found to correct the issue I had to open the Network and Sharing Center, select Manage Connections and delete my current connection. Sometimes rebooting the router was also required. Most times I could not reconnect with the correct passphrase. It simply was not accepted. The Linksys router’s push button setup did get the Touchsmart back online. Things would work for hours or days then the problem would return. I could not establish root cause or find a consistent workaround/recovery. Things got so bad I suspected the Touchsmart’s on-board wireless adapter/driver was just not capable of Wireless-N.
I had all the latest drivers from HP so I had to look for other solutions. Pulling a wire was going to be too difficult. Given the adapter’s release was at the early days of wireless-N, I decided to disable the on-board wireless adapter and use a new USB based adapter.
I’m happy to report that the Linksys AE1000 High Performance Wireless-N USB Adapter has been working flawlessly for over a month with the Linksys WRT160N Router. I have the best wireless connection speeds I have ever been able to achieve(144–161 Mbs). Signal strength is also much improved(>90%). Streaming live TV is acceptable with only occasional, slight, picture breakup. This is fine for my application but I still recommend a wired connection for critical viewing. Perhaps a Dual-Band router would boast my throughput enough for flawless viewing using the 5Ghz ability of the AE1000. That upgrade will have to wait for later in 2011.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )My Media Eco-system on ‘Geek Your Rig’ Microsoft Video
Earlier this year The Green Button asked local Seattle-area Windows 7 Media Center enthusiasts to show off their rigs. I responded with photos and the blurb below. Microsoft sent a video crew out to our home to shoot for a day.
The shoot was back in June. The videos were produced and resulted in two shorts that Microsoft is now using as Windows 7 Help videos. During the holidays, the videos give some shopping ideas for the PC/Media Center enthusiasts.
There have been some upgrades since the video was shot. In the ease-of-use category I have added Logitech’s Harmony One Remote. This remote sorts out all the hard work of powering ON/OFF the right amps, A/V pre-amps, TV, and setting various inputs on the TV and pre-amp. The remote just presents “Watch TV”, Play “Xbox”, “Play DVD”.
The Windows Home Server has grown to 5TB of storage for photos, music, and recorded TV.
I have added an Xbox 360 4Gb console and Kinect Sensor. I love this as a workout assist. I’m not much of a gamer but the Xbox may change that. I have noticed that the Netflix Xbox Gold membership streaming options are different than what is available on the web. I my case I had added content on the Xbox.
Not mentioned in the video is the Remote Potato software installed on the HTPC for remote streaming. This provides sling-box type capability to you HTPC for no cost. With this software, I can can watch my recorded or live TV anywhere in the world with a internet connection, all served up from my HTPC setting at home.
Microsoft’s finally videos are found here.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/videos
My original post to the The Green Button.
I’d love to tell you more about our WMC networked home.
We have 4 Win7 WMC machines in the house: HTPC in the family room, Wall-mounted touch panel in the kitchen, Desktop for home office, and a mobile netbook. All of these use a WHS as a file server and backup manager. Live Mesh keeps them all in sync.
The family room serves as the movie lounge. The HTPC serves up Comcast digital cable, MyMovies, Boxee, and Weather, along with Photos & Music from the WHS. The Plasma and 5.1 sound system make for a great CD/DVD/Blu-ray playback experience. This system is also a favorite Playto target for other home PCs. This room shines for HD slideshows when friends bring over media from their latest adventures. We love the ability to "split-screen" WMC with IE or Bing maps, etc. to look up facts about the subject, location, and actors.
The kitchen is the entertaining hub for dinner parties. I love to cook and everyone gatherers here. The TouchSmart display rolls thru our photos using Windows Live Photo Gallery. These provide for lively conversation as friends see themselves and remember past adventures we share. We also playback Recorded TV from the HTPC, watch Hulu, Netflix, and play internet radio depending on what context the kitchen is in. We lookup recipes, IM, and email. The Zune Player gets allot of play time here.
The Netbook is used to play DVDs and blog during flights, share video calls using Messenger and check email.
My music and video can be streamed just about anywhere in or out of the home making me seem never far away. HomeGroup and Libraries make quick work of finding the information I need.
Dave's Geek Adventures 