Wifi, UnRaid, and XBMC

Just wondering if anyone uses wifi to watch movies on xbmc, where the movies are hosted on a unRaid server.
Emphasis on WiFi

Pros, Cons,..hardware concerns?

Wi-Fi adapter on the UnRAID server ... or UnRAID attached to Wi-Fi router via ethernet then Wi-Fi adapter on XBMC box?

WiFi everywhere.

Like I said on a recent post: AVOID WIRELESS = RUN CABLES

I don't want to go into many details, but wireless transmission is affected by home phones, microwave ovens (yours or your neighbours' ), and the bandwidth is shared across all endpoints... 'nuff said.

I'm a network engineer by day, so please just believe me...

While everything that jackh said is 100% true, it's also situational. I run gigabit to everything stationary, and dual mode g/n to everything mobile. My wife and I can both watch 1080p Youtube without trouble.

You're going to hate life if you try to run everything wifi, but if you have 1 or 2 places you just can't get a cable to, don't sweat it too much, you'll probably be ok.

My main pc connects to my router via wifi. My NAS drive connects to my router via cable, and my second pc connects via wifi. Both pc's accessing the same NAS drive and both playing movies at same time with XBMC.

I have no issues with play back at all.

(2012-04-27 04:48)Jooney Wrote:  My main pc connects to my router via wifi. My NAS drive connects to my router via cable, and my second pc connects via wifi. Both pc's accessing the same NAS drive and both playing movies at same time with XBMC.

I have no issues with play back at all.

I agree that it's situational, and the interference patterns vary wildly from location to location, but one thing is certain: wireless interference is there.

I propose a little test: watch 1080p video on as many devices as possible over wifi, and then put the microwave oven to work for 1 minute. Check your video while the oven is working, still smooth?

I may look into buying a pair of PowerLines and seeing how they work.

(2012-05-01 15:26)GortWillSaveUs Wrote:  I may look into buying a pair of PowerLines and seeing how they work.

In my experience, in my apartment, wifi was unreliable past 480p content from my UnRaid server to XBMC. Bought a couple of 200mbps powerline adapters, and I was streaming 1080p without issue (including ff and rew). If you can find a pair of 500mbps units for near the same price as the 200mbps, you should get a bit better performance then the 200mbps.

Here's a good article article.

lol, I'd use two cans and a string before powerline adapters =)

Fun fact: I can connect to two neighbor's networks from work. If you're electrically inclined, they can be pressed into service, but it's definitely an ideal solution. Everything you have plugged into your wall outlets becomes a source of interference. Normal home connections to the grid don't filter the signal either, which is why I can connect to my neighbor's networks.

If you're in an apartment, your only serviceable option is wireless N at 5ghz or bite the bullet and run cat 6 around under your baseboards. If you're in a single dwelling, and don't use cable TV but have jacks ran, look into MoCA.

At the end of the day, run cat6 unless it's absolutely impossible, then fall back to wireless N