FAQ: Networking 101 and your Roku Player

[mkiker2089]

I have a linksys WRT400N which created two SSIDs. One is linksys, which is configured to use the 2.4GHz band, and linksys_media which is supposed to use the 5GHz band.

My connection speeds are totally fine, but nonetheless I would like to specifically assign my soundbridge and my roku video player to the 5GHz SSID. At this point I don't know if it's being used at all.

linksys_media has its own config on the router, and I have a password set for it. But it doesn't appear to broadcast itself, and if I try to attach to it by name it fails.

I realize this is a question for linksys but I've found almost nothing on this topic and was wondering if any roku users were using this feature or had any suggestions.

5gig is the n band, 2.4 is the g band. Most wireless devices are G and as far as I know N isn't locked down yet spec wise. You'll simply have to rely on G.

[edvalson]

OK, thanks very much.

[ParkerRoku]

People would have a lot less problems with their Roku, or pick whatever other internet requiring video player you want, if they set up their router and modem behind the TV.
I am not sure why everyone has their computer, which requires the least amount of feed from the router, directly connected, while all the video players require a huge feed, and need the most stable connection, are sitting 50, 60 feet across the house and relying on a constant stable speed feed.

mkiker, if you want to get the Soundbridge and the Roku on the 5ghz, use a N Duo bridge, like the DLink DAP-1522, approx. $90, and wire both devices directly to it. This is assuming both items are in the same spot. If not, you would need two bridges which would get a little pricey.

[brunson]

People would have a lot less problems with their Roku, or pick whatever other internet requiring video player you want, if they set up their router and modem behind the TV.
I am not sure why everyone has their computer, which requires the least amount of feed from the router, directly connected, while all the video players require a huge feed, and need the most stable connection, are sitting 50, 60 feet across the house and relying on a constant stable speed feed.

Probably because people locate their network connections close to the computer before they have a streaming device.

[devrdander]

5gig is the n band, 2.4 is the g band. Most wireless devices are G and as far as I know N isn't locked down yet spec wise. You'll simply have to rely on G.

Sorry can't stand wrong information.

5ghz is the A radio, 2.4ghz is the B/G radio, N can run on both (depending on gear) and most consumer gear actually still uses the 2.4ghz radios since they are cheaper. N just means that the gear uses MIMO (Multi in Multi out, or multiple antenna's and a wider frequency). Also 802.11N is suppose to be ratified this month and the final spec published in November. Currently 802.11 gear is all "Draft" but all still follows a fairly standard spec. However I don't recommend mixing manufacturers (Note that dlink, linksys, etc, don't make their own chips and often use the same chipsets, but they do write their own drivers usually and so I suggest you don't mix there either).

[Netflix_Fanatic_420]

My Roku and router are not in the same room. Is there any way to runna speed test on my Roku player to see how fast it is actually working?

[Mark12547]

My Roku and router are not in the same room. Is there any way to runna speed test on my Roku player to see how fast it is actually working?

There is a diagnostic message you can turn on. When the Roku Digital Video Player begins playing a Netflix stream, it displays the speed of the bitstream and an estimate of how fast it thinks the network is.

I don't know if it works with other streams or if it is just with the Netflix streams.

To get to the screen, on the remote (or the rokuRemote.exe computer remote control), do Home Home Home Home Home Rewind Rewind Rewind FastForward FastForward, each keypress spaced out about half a second. (That's 5 Homes, 3 Rewinds, 2 FastForwards). If timing is successful, you will be shown a screen where you can pick a specific bitstream, but also on that screen, near the bottom, is an option to turn on diagnostics (or if the diagnostics are already on, will show an option to turn off diagnostics).

The diagnostic message seems to remain on the screen forever, but it is probably 10 to 15 seconds.

[emcwiz]

Ok, I've read some of the threads and see that Texas (I am in Michigan) slows down the traffic quite a bit...I've experimented with 'internet speed tests' which do show that Texas is at 1MB and 0.1MB while local is 15MB and 1.5MB, Seattle is 6MB and 0.6MB...

using cmd..traccert to moviecontrol.netflix does show that in Texas the ping speed is over 100ms THREE different servers...ARG....

So, what is the solution?

Call Roku?
Call Netflix?
Call Texas (just kidding)?

Help!

Thank you.

[vmps]

I'd suggest reading through http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... 911f077252

[emcwiz]

thanks vmps, I did review and attempted to apply what I learned...but...

The symptoms I am having appears to be a caused by an ISP turning off the valve. The connection begins as four (4) dots, remains at four (4) dots for about 5-10 seconds, then degrades to 1 or 2 dots.

This is true for both the Roku box and when I use any of the computers to view 'watch it now' on Netflix.

I have Broadstripe as an ISP in Michigan, they claim they are not limiting the download speed (16MB/1.6MB, typical).

I typically use OpenDNS, this morning I tried two local DNS servers as well as all zero's (rely on Broadstripe's DNS)...no changes in performance.

I even used this, which was recommended by Netflix tech support last night, and I too throttles down from 2MB to 0.3MB after 10 seconds or so:
www.iis.net/media/experiencesmoothstreaming

So, I remain fustrated...is there anything I am missing?

Thanks again!

[brunson]

Welcome to the duplicitous world of ISP marketing. Comcast does something similar touting it as a feature called "SpeedBurst(tm)" or some such nonsense. Notice a correlation to the length of the "speed burst" and the amount of data in an online bandwidth test like SpeakEasy or DSLReports? Psst... It's not a coincidence.

[emcwiz]

I spent over 10hrs trying to find the source of my problems, that being four (4) dot connection speeds for the first 10 seconds, then less than two (2) dots for the remainder...ARG!

Here is what I did (thanks to all of the help from this site, not Netflix or my cable supplier tech support).

1) Always reboot all three devices after this change; wireless router; cable modem from cable company and Roku box...restart in this order 1) cable modem, 2) wireless router and finally 3) Roku box, making sure to wait for each to go through their start up scripts.

2) Disable QOS (Quality of Service) option in your wireless router (mine is dLink 615 revB)

3) Set you router DNS settings to your local cable provider, I was suscribed to OpenDNS, this i may have been routing my connections through too many and slower ISP's betwixt Michigan and the closest Netflix server. I read that for the fastest connection speed, Netflix needs to know where your from.

I pinged, tracroute'd, called, prayed...none of it worked...it was the QOS setting, using local DNS provider (my cable company) and rebooting that did it for me.

Thanks to all of you for your help.

[robertm]

People would have a lot less problems with their Roku, or pick whatever other internet requiring video player you want, if they set up their router and modem behind the TV.
I am not sure why everyone has their computer, which requires the least amount of feed from the router, directly connected, while all the video players require a huge feed, and need the most stable connection, are sitting 50, 60 feet across the house and relying on a constant stable speed feed.

mkiker, if you want to get the Soundbridge and the Roku on the 5ghz, use a N Duo bridge, like the DLink DAP-1522, approx. $90, and wire both devices directly to it. This is assuming both items are in the same spot. If not, you would need two bridges which would get a little pricey.

1) It is not necessary. I have 3 roku boxes and 2 of them are on opposite corners of the house from their WAPs and I never have speed problems unless my ISP is having problems.

2) You are assuming that people will just have one Roku or similiar device in a single location.

3) The main selling point for Roku was its wireless capabilities. I would not own any of them had that not been offered.

[vmps]

People would have a lot less problems with their Roku, or pick whatever other internet requiring video player you want, if they set up their router and modem behind the TV.
I am not sure why everyone has their computer, which requires the least amount of feed from the router, directly connected, while all the video players require a huge feed, and need the most stable connection, are sitting 50, 60 feet across the house and relying on a constant stable speed feed.

Actually, my video player requires a small fraction of my 20+Mbps connection; I'm far more likely to max out the connection using my computer than my dvp.

[danstl]

I think the issue that many people may have as well is that if you do not run your WAP in pure G mode, and instead run it in mix-mode (b/g) that if any B device connects to your wifi network that all your G connections drop to 11Mbs, and if the B client is far from the WAP - IE only able to get a 1 or 2Mbs signal than that is the speed for all other connected devices on your WAP B or G.

Many people do not realize this. 802.11G is much better at this, but only if all your devices are 802.11G, and your WAP is set to 802.11G only. A G client that is far from the WAP and only able to get a 11Mbs connection will not effect any other 802.11G devices.

N is a whole new picture depending on why type of N WAP you have. A single radio N wap (most consumer products) you will have the option to operate on the 5Ghz or 2.4Ghz, using the 5Ghz will mean only N clients can attach to your WAP, but this will eliminate much of the 802.11b/g interference caused by cell phones, microwaves, and well any wireless consumer electronic. But obviously operating in the 5Ghz range means ALL your clients have to be 802.11N radios.