Minor Issue with Client PC

[andrew_macaluso]

I have a computer somewhat lacking in performance running GBPVR in client mode over a wireless network. Overall the performance is pretty good, but I get some stuttering from time to time. Lately it seems to be getting worse.

The symptoms are strange and I haven't been able to pin down the problem. It will play a recording fine, stutter and stop for a second, then play fine, then stutter some more, then it may play fine for the rest of the video. It might stutter the entire time and make it practically unwatchable. It may pause for a few seconds (not quite sure if I would call this a stutter), then stutter, then play fine. Or, strangely enough, it might never have any problems and I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Either way, you get the picture.

I can't really get a handle on whether this is a network problem, or a system performance problem. The problems are so inconsistent and fleeting for me to get a chance to trouble shoot it. Worse yet, I really can't reproduce the problem reliably. This leads me to think its associated with the wireless network. Other times, however, i get the impression that the network is fine and the computer is too slow. The lack of information seems to annoy me more than the actual problem does!

Do any of you maybe recognize this problem off-hand? Does anyone have some pointers on how I can track down the real cause and take it from there. The two solutions would either be optimize the settings on my system to compensate for a slow computer or run some CAT5 to compensate for a bad wireless signal. Some help would be much appreciated.

[garymeds]

i had same problem and to verify it was the wireless network, i just ran a ping alongside the video being played and the stuttering timed in with a loss of packets.

in the end, i set up robocopy scripts to synchronise my videos locally (you can use a mirror switch so it removes files which have been removed from the source).

or invest in a wireless access point - think are quite cheap...

[andrew_macaluso]

Yeah, I started leaning more towards a network issue when it seemed to be worse when I used an RF remote that used a 2.4 GHz frequency.

[andrew_macaluso]

BTW, I'm not that great with networking. What's the story on that ping you were talking about, and how can I run that?

[garymeds]

in that case (remote) try changing the channel on the wireless router - might help...

as for the ping, open a command prompt and type ping <other pc ip or name> -t then open a recording from the other pc and see how it goes..

there are a few wireless tools out there too, to test strength etc (depends what wireless card and router you have), for example netmeter, netstumbler...

here's a decent article to read