iboum.com : Future Entertainment Technology : Networking in Media Players

Networking in Media Players
Networking speed in Media Players is a contentious issue and one that will be of varying importance depending on how you plan on using the player.

Gigabit LAN in Sigma 864x Players - (LAN 100*)
Many players based on the Sigma 864x chipset (8642, 8643) claim that they are capable of 1000 Mbit/s LAN (Gigabit LAN). We believe that this is simply not the case. If you look at the Sigma 864x chipset specification (here) you will see that the only 864x chip capable of Gigabit LAN is the SMP8647, which is not used by any Media Player. For the sake of accuracy we have changed the specifications on all 864x players to LAN 100* as we feel this more accurately reflects true capabilities.

The highest bitrate files you are likely to come across for HD video are around 50 Mbit/s so a decent 100 Mbit/s connection is more than adequate and therefore the only area in which a Gigabit LAN connection will make a difference is in transferring files across the network.

In 2011 the next generation of chipsets will be released by Realtek and Sigma. All of these chips are expected to be capable of Gigabit ethernet.

Wireless Networking
Wireless networking is generally not reliable enough for streaming HD video, therefore it is not recommended for Media Players. We are not saying that it won't work, just that you may encounter stuttering / lag problems. Of course, using Wi-Fi to copy files across a network will work fine. For this reason most Media Players omit Wi-Fi from their specifications and instead offer optional support via a USB dongle.

The maximum data transfer rate for Wi-Fi(g) is 54 Mbit/s with actual achievable rates usually being less than half of this. Wi-Fi(n) can achieve higher data transfer rates of up to 300 Mbit/s but, again, actual rates will be lower.

Page last updated: 08-Apr-11

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There are 7 comments

Petir K – Sweden

May 18, 2011 - 07:14

Hi
Something that is of great intrest for me ( and many other ), but where i cant find info is, how good the file transfer actually are on mediaplayers with Gigabit port.
( Mediaplayer with Hdd )

Beeing a port capable of 125Mb/s is not the same as you getting that bandwidth, if you get atleast 30-50Mb/s it is good
( i have about 80Mb/s on my gbit lan home ) but if its only 5-15Mb then there is no point in that part of the newer chips with Gigabit lan.

have anyone tested file transfers or know where i can find test results i would be very greateful

Petir

Francesco – Italy

January 04, 2011 - 20:48

I bought a DUNE HD SMART D1 and an USB wireless D-Link DWA 140 (version 2.1) that's the one adviced (the most tested) by the producer, but I am not able to install it on the DUNE.
I tried it in many ways, with the wireless function on and than off, with the Dune connected and not connected to my network. When i try to run the Install CD on the PC it doesn't recognize the DWA-140 connected on the Dune, the installation program wants I connect the DWA to the PC. I did it but, obviously in this way I install the DWA on my PC and not on the DUNE.
Is there someone that can advice me how to do it?
Thanks

Visor – Canada

December 06, 2010 - 21:51

The following comment in the above article is incorrect:

"The maximum data transfer rate for Wi-Fi(n) is 54 Mbit/s"

Wi-Fi *G* is the version that has a max tranfer rate of 54 Mbit/s.

Wi-Fi *N* starts at 150 Mbit/s and can go up to 600 Mbit/s, depending on the hardware you're using.

I have no problems when streaming HD material using wireless N @ 150 Mbit/s. That said, there are a few factors to keep in mind:

- Use a media server (e.g. Mezzmo, Twonky, etc.) instead of standard Windows file sharing. For some reason, the latter method restricts the streaming rate to about 30-35 Mb/s. Streaming via media server opens it up to 75 Mb/s and beyond.

- Use dual channels, if possible. Streaming became much more reliable for me when I did this. For heavy urban areas, you may need to get a router that supports the 5 GHz band.

- For the setup in my apartment, the router is in the next room. If you have a big house where the router is on another floor, you may need to look into broader range routers (i.e. N+, etc.) for more reliable performance.

Regards,
Visor

Reply to Visor

iboum

December 08, 2010 - 16:39

Thanks for pointing that out. There were a couple of other problems in the page which have also been sorted. Really this page needs a complete re-write, which no doubt it will soon get.

Gilad H – London

November 08, 2010 - 14:38

The Boxee Box support only 100Mbit Ethernet, and not Gigabit Ethernet...

pmcd – Canada

July 10, 2010 - 21:13

This player has wireless N (Draft 2). It is faster than 54 Mbit/s when used wirelessly.

philip

ding

June 10, 2010 - 20:04

Re: LAN100 being enough for 50Mbits/s.

First, maximum LAN utilization is far below 100%, so given 100Mbits/s you probably have about 70Mbits/s.

More importantly, if you want any advanced features like buffering you want it to be faster then actual playback rate. Video transfer over network is perfect for jumbo frames which can be utilized only in Gigabit LAN.