Discussion:
HD Over WiFi: Inherant Limitations?
(too old to reply)
(PeteCresswell)
2012-12-16 18:55:00 UTC
Permalink
Assuming WiFi G, 720 or 1080.

Is there some inherent limitation bandwidth-wise for smooth
playback?

It *seems* like my little Android device was playing this stuff
smoothly until a few days ago, and not it stutters intermittently
when the source is 720 or 1080.

"Seems" because I never kept track of this stuff and it is
entirely possible that I had always been watching 480.
--
Pete Cresswell
Elmo P. Shagnasty
2012-12-16 19:18:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by (PeteCresswell)
Assuming WiFi G, 720 or 1080.
Is there some inherent limitation bandwidth-wise for smooth
playback?
It *seems* like my little Android device was playing this stuff
smoothly until a few days ago, and not it stutters intermittently
when the source is 720 or 1080.
"Seems" because I never kept track of this stuff and it is
entirely possible that I had always been watching 480.
probably you were watching 480.

HD over WiFi is at best a crapshoot, but overall is like alchemy. You
really, really want it to work but it just can't.
RickMerrill
2013-01-14 00:00:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by Elmo P. Shagnasty
Post by (PeteCresswell)
Assuming WiFi G, 720 or 1080.
Is there some inherent limitation bandwidth-wise for smooth
playback?
It *seems* like my little Android device was playing this stuff
smoothly until a few days ago, and not it stutters intermittently
when the source is 720 or 1080.
"Seems" because I never kept track of this stuff and it is
entirely possible that I had always been watching 480.
probably you were watching 480.
HD over WiFi is at best a crapshoot, but overall is like alchemy. You
really, really want it to work but it just can't.
Well, "can't " is a strong word. It "can" if you accept that
the frame rate may be down to 14 frames per second.
QN
2012-12-16 20:13:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by (PeteCresswell)
Assuming WiFi G, 720 or 1080.
Is there some inherent limitation bandwidth-wise for smooth
playback?
It *seems* like my little Android device was playing this stuff
smoothly until a few days ago, and not it stutters intermittently
when the source is 720 or 1080.
"Seems" because I never kept track of this stuff and it is
entirely possible that I had always been watching 480.
--
Pete Cresswell
My Netflix box did HD (720) just fine over wifi.
Ant
2012-12-16 21:07:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by QN
My Netflix box did HD (720) just fine over wifi.
What about 1080(p and i)?
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J G Miller
2012-12-16 20:43:46 UTC
Permalink
On Sunday, December 16th, 2012, at 13:55:00h -0500,
Post by (PeteCresswell)
Is there some inherent limitation bandwidth-wise for smooth
playback?
The quality of the WiFi connection. Just like ATSC if there
are too many errors in the data stream, you will get stuttering
and macroblocks.
Post by (PeteCresswell)
It *seems* like my little Android device was playing this stuff
smoothly until a few days ago, and not it stutters intermittently
when the source is 720 or 1080.
Can your Android device play back 720p or 1080i material from
a local storage medium without stuttering? Does it have an
ethernet, preferably gigabit (1000 Mbps) rather than fast (100 Mbps)?

If you check your router, does that give any indication of the
throughput to the Android WiFi device?

One possibility is to try better orienting the antennas on the
router to match the alignment of the Android device's internal antenna.
(PeteCresswell)
2012-12-17 01:01:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by J G Miller
Can your Android device play back 720p or 1080i material from
a local storage medium without stuttering?
Yes: copied the test file to external SD and no problem - so I
think the CPU horsepower is there.
Post by J G Miller
Does it have an
ethernet, preferably gigabit (1000 Mbps) rather than fast (100 Mbps)?
I'm working on that. Have always used WiFi for all Android LAN
business, but now I'm trying to dope out if/how I can get a
hardwired Ethernet connection via the USB connector.
Post by J G Miller
If you check your router, does that give any indication of the
throughput to the Android WiFi device?
Haven't gotten as far as figuring out how to determine
throughput, but the distinction between G (54 Mbps max) N (100+
Mbps with the right set-up) has finally dawned on me - and led me
to believe that my recollections of earlier connections at over
100 Mbps per Windows XP were not wistful thinking.

Connected to the router, changed fro G-only to N-only and kicked
the channel width up from 20 to 40 MHz. Rebooted an XP netbook,
and the netbook, at least, claimed 135 Mbps.

I'm still fooling around - hoping that XP isn't lying about the
135 and that I'll be able to get it on the Android device.

First step will be finding an Android utility that tells me the
connection speed...
Post by J G Miller
One possibility is to try better orienting the antennas on the
router to match the alignment of the Android device's internal antenna.
My Cisco E3000's antenna(s?) is (are?) internal, so I don't
know... but I tried holding the Android device right next to the
router
--
Pete Cresswell
J G Miller
2012-12-17 15:13:24 UTC
Permalink
On Sunday, December 16th, 2012, at 20:01:08h -0500,
Post by (PeteCresswell)
Yes: copied the test file to external SD and no problem - so I
think the CPU horsepower is there.
Okay sounds good -- always best to eliminate these type of
problems from the ground upwards.
Post by (PeteCresswell)
Have always used WiFi for all Android LAN
business, but now I'm trying to dope out if/how I can get a
hardwired Ethernet connection via the USB connector.
Well if it does not have an ethernet socket, the only possibility
is some USB to ethernet socket device which will of course need
to have the appropriate kernel level software installed on the
Android device to make it work and the USB socket speed will
limit the data rate, so perhaps this avenue is not going to
be worthwhile.
Post by (PeteCresswell)
Haven't gotten as far as figuring out how to determine
throughput
Well on one router I have seen, going to the WiFi
configuration/information page there was some information
about the quality and data throughput on each wireless
connection. This will of course all depends on the
make and model (and often price level) of the router.

, but the distinction between G (54 Mbps max) N (100+
Post by (PeteCresswell)
Mbps with the right set-up) has finally dawned on me
Yes, whenever possible, ie provided both the router and
the client support it, choose N over G for the configuration.
Post by (PeteCresswell)
Connected to the router, changed fro G-only to N-only and kicked
the channel width up from 20 to 40 MHz. Rebooted an XP netbook,
and the netbook, at least, claimed 135 Mbps.
That sounds pretty good.
Post by (PeteCresswell)
I'm still fooling around - hoping that XP isn't lying about the
135 and that I'll be able to get it on the Android device.
It could be that the WiFi interface of the Android device is
not as good as it could or should be in terms of throughput.

I would recommend doing a web search on the particular model
and and with the term WiFi to see if you can find any information
that others have determined on the quality and throughput.
Post by (PeteCresswell)
My Cisco E3000's antenna(s?) is (are?) internal, so I don't
know... but I tried holding the Android device right next to the
router
Did you try positioning the Android device in different orientations
to see if it made any difference -- just think of a TV antenna and
polarisation -- the rods must face the transmitter and be either
positioned horizontal or vertical for vertical polarization.

The other issue related to WiFi is interference, usually because
there are too many devices competing for too few channels including
the neighbors next door or upstairs or even across the street.

(Talking of which am I correct in thinking that all terrrestrial
broadcast TV transmissions in North America horizontal polarization only?)
jetgraphics
2013-01-14 14:58:40 UTC
Permalink
Post by (PeteCresswell)
Assuming WiFi G, 720 or 1080.
Is there some inherent limitation bandwidth-wise for smooth
playback?
It *seems* like my little Android device was playing this stuff
smoothly until a few days ago, and not it stutters intermittently
when the source is 720 or 1080.
FWIW - your video server may need to be rebooted. I have a PVR running under Win7. After several days of 24/7, playback suddenly starts stuttering. Reboot, and the problem goes away. Good ole M$ Windoze.
Elmo P. Shagnasty
2013-01-14 22:45:30 UTC
Permalink
Post by jetgraphics
Post by (PeteCresswell)
Assuming WiFi G, 720 or 1080.
Is there some inherent limitation bandwidth-wise for smooth
playback?
It *seems* like my little Android device was playing this stuff
smoothly until a few days ago, and not it stutters intermittently
when the source is 720 or 1080.
FWIW - your video server may need to be rebooted. I have a PVR running under
Win7. After several days of 24/7, playback suddenly starts stuttering.
Reboot, and the problem goes away. Good ole M$ Windoze.
Never an issue here. 7MC. Good old Windows. Keep the machine clean,
and you'll never have to worry about it.

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