I want to buy an additional router for my WDTV Live.

[Stealth3si]

I already have a Netgear WNDR3300 as my main router and a Netgear WNDA3100 Wi-Fi adapter plugged into the WDTV Live unit. Since there seems to be network interference from surrounding neighbors affecting playback, I'm thinking that buying an additional router to replace the WiFi adapter would give a stronger dedicated "connection" between the WDTV Live and the main router, thus strengthening the signal or extending the range (?) which I assume would probably improve 1080p playback experience significantly.

Basically, I'm considering replacing the WNDA3100 Wi-Fi adapter with 'a wireless bridge' by getting another WNDR3300 to plug into the WDTV Live (as a wireless bridge/access point) to further improve 1080p playback.

I've decided to go this route because I've heard positive experiences from people online who were able to flawlessly stream 1080p using (at least) two routers, where one router (Router A) is directly wired to the WDTV Live's Ethernet port and is configured as a wireless bridge/AP and the other router (Router B) acts as the main router, which is wirelessly connected to Router A.

I intend to improve my wireless playback for 1080p with this setup. Please let me know if this isn't a good idea or worth trying.

If someone here has had experience with this type of setup, could you please recommend me a good router to add to my 'WDTV Live network' or tell me whether the following routers (that I found from research) are good choices?

They are:

1.) Netgear WNDR3300
2.) Linksys E1000
3.) Asus RT-N12

Thanks and appreciate all your help!

[redwudz]

I use a Netgear WNDR3500 and don't have any major problems streaming HD MKVs to my WDTV or my other computers. I normally use a wired connection for everything except my laptop, but I've experimented with a couple of USB adapters on the WDTV and other PCs here. The latest is a tiny Buffalo adapter that works really well for it's size. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162030

You might try adding a second router just for the streaming if you use the existing wireless for other PCs. Put it on a different address setup, such as 10.0.0.X if you are using 192.168.1.X or similar and just plug it into one of your existing router outputs. I do have problems if I DL a large file with my laptop at the same time as I try streaming to the WDTV or other devices hooked to the single router I use. Using N configurations may help as there is a bit less interference if you use the 5Ghz band.

I would also check to see which channels are the least used in your area. Wirelessmon is a good program to check with.
It has a trial version: http://www.passmark.com/products/wirelessmonitor.htm

Wireless streaming is always a bit problematic. Wired is much better if you can do it. WiFi was really designed to distribute discrete packets without loss, not a steady stream of data. But look to tweaking some of your router/adapter settings and you may get some improvements.

[Seeker47]

I use a Netgear WNDR3500 and don't have any major problems streaming HD MKVs to my WDTV or my other computers. I normally use a wired connection for everything except my laptop, but I've experimented with a couple of USB adapters on the WDTV and other PCs here.

. . .

Wireless streaming is always a bit problematic. Wired is much better if you can do it. WiFi was really designed to distribute discrete packets without loss, not a steady stream of data. But look to tweaking some of your router/adapter settings and you may get some improvements.

Still using a single router here, but I've added Netgear WET610N bridges for wireless streaming. They have an ultra-simple, nearly-no-tech setup, and seem to work quite well. But they are single port only. I bought a WDTV Live a while back, but haven't gotten around to even opening the box yet. (Too many other things going on around here.) That WDTV model does its own networking ? If so, I probably just need to add its Mac address to the network's Mac Filter List. Or do I need to add a switch to one or more of those bridges, in order to provide additional port connections ? (I gather there are ones around that do not require any extra configuration -- you just attach them and they handle the rest ?)

All this wireless stuff is definitely convenient, but I can still envision situations where a wired connection might be required, even just temporarily. It's worth having a 50' or 100' length of ethernet cable on hand. I also keep one in the trunk of my car. (They come even much longer, of course, but then things start getting unwieldy.) I picked up this hollow, plastic flying-saucer-shaped thing at Fry's that lets you unwind / rewind / store it. It would be so much better if it was on a retracting real, though -- like the power cord on a vacuum cleaner. I have a cigarette-pack-size version of that idea, with flat-ribbon ethernet cable, but it is intended to be carried around with other laptop accessories, and only gives you about 9'. There may exist something like that, with much longer lengths, but I'm thinking it would be rather pricey.

[redwudz]

Usually CAT5E or CAT6 is too stiff to wind up easily unless you use the more expensive stranded wire. But you could use a electrical cable retractable storage device, though it would take up quite a bit of space for a 100' cable.

My LAN system is all wired as it was originally the phone system in my house, but used CAT5E cabling. I just changed the outlets, so I didn't have to string any cable. I use a cell phone, so didn't need the phone outlets. My laptop is the only wireless connection I use most of the time.

The HDTV works fine with a USB Ethernet adapter, but high definition video can be a problem over wireless. Wired is definitely the way to go. Either way, you can set up the WDTV to work as a DHCP device with automatic addresses or use a fixed Ethernet address.

[Stealth3si]

I can't have any long wires in my setup.

I think I've found my optimum wireless settings and may just additional hardware to 'boost' the connection/signal.

I'm thinking about a NETGEAR WNHDE111. Would that work in my current setup and make it better?