Windows Media Center Slow

Discussion in 'Computer and Technology Discussion' started by Dark Scyth, Apr 22, 2009.

  1. Dark Scyth

    Dark Scyth Moderator

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    On my 360 I recently got Windows Media Center running. I got a wireless router and have my 360 hooked with Ethernet from the back of the router and have the Laptop wireless hook up with the router. An hour or so after I installed the router it said Windows Media Extenders available so I clicked on it to see what it was, it basically said it found my 360 and could connect it to Windows Media Center.

    So I set it all up and what not, whenever I use Windows Media Center it goes the menu very slow (when I scroll through everything). When I play a video for the online TV beta is plays the video quick with no lag and when I stream music there is no lag in the music, only when I'm scrolling through the menu (whether or not I'm streaming music it still lags the same).

    The Wireless router I have is a horrible Belkin G Wireless Router (which is the worst one, I was low on money and wanted wireless) The thing is on the Belkin Router box it says this wireless router can't even stream music or video (which it obviously does)! Could this be the problem? If it is, is there anything I can do to the Firmware of my Belkin router or some type of mod to allow it to be quicker?

    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

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    What signal strength and connection speed do you get on your laptop for the wireless connection?

    If it’s a low signal the network connection probably isn’t fast enough, hence why the menu goes slow. You can probably stream over the internet ok as the stream will be optimised and not take up a lot of bandwidth.

    What about if you stream a movie or video file from your pc?

    As for the routers firmware see if it’s supported by DD-WRT, a 3rd party replacement firmware. You can increate the wireless transmission power on DDWRT which will give you a better signal.
     
  3. Dark Scyth

    Dark Scyth Moderator

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    [​IMG]
    My connection is about 3MB/s with 500KB/s upload.

    I really don't know why it is slow, unless the router has limitations put on it like the box basically says, although I can stream music even though it says I can't. I'm going to stream a video right now. I can't stream videos, they are AVI format, which apperently Windows Media Center does not support. I need to find a video to download.
     

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  4. Dark Scyth

    Dark Scyth Moderator

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    Well, I played a video...after several attempts. When I got to the point to select the video, multiple times it said disconnected for some unknown reason, or when I was at the selecting screen the cursor would remain still and do nothing, the system itself was not frozen though I could hit the guide button and do everything in the guide button regularly without any slowdowns. I did finally get something to play. I downloaded a Dream Scene (since it was WMV) and it played without any type of lag (although this has no audio).

    I can only assume it is this wretched wireless router.
     
  5. Dark Scyth

    Dark Scyth Moderator

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    [​IMG]

    Should I turn on Extend Range or Turbo Mode?
     

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  6. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

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    I would have said its the router but the signal is perfect on it, the router doesn’t decide if you can stream or not over you network. Its all down to the programs the computers on the network run. I think turbo mode enables netgear wireless cards to operate at better speeds than standard wireless g cards. Enabling either option shouldn’t hurt.

    I’m not sure as to why your media canter lags, it’s usually related to a bandwidth problem.

    Just to rule the wireless out can you connect both the 360 and your computer to the router using a network cable and not wireless?
     
  7. Dark Scyth

    Dark Scyth Moderator

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    My friend is having the same problem as me. In the Windows media center menu it runs slow but he can watch a video with audio in it with no lag.
     
  8. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

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    Has your friend got the same setup as you? I.e. same router and a wireless pc?

    Did you ever try having both the 360 and PC wired up to the router?

    I’m honestly not too sure as you can actually stream videos alright :S
     
  9. Dark Scyth

    Dark Scyth Moderator

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    I can't find my other Ethernet cable. I know his router is way better then mine. He has a 15MB/s connection, although there are four people running off of the one wireless router. It just doesn't make since that it'll run the menu slow but not vids and music. We are both currently using Windows 7 RC 7100 bulid, but this problem also happened when I used Vista.
     

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