Need help/suggestions with Powerline adapters and setup

[theproman23]

First of all just wanted to point out that I'm a newbie at this so please bare with me.

I recently moved in to a new apartment and the way the setup for cable is, I've had to put the modem and router upstairs, while pulling out the old powerline adapters to be able to stream movies and play on my xbox downstairs.

I've used powerline adapters before with minimal issues but the new place doesn't seem to be geared towards to providing me with the best bandwith to stream MKV's and watching content on my Xbox one. Since the adapters are almost 5 years old I figured it's time for an upgrade.

Here's the current setup:

1. Optimum Modem upstairs with an wired connection to the router (Net gear WNR3500U, Wireless N Gigabit Router)

2. Router to Powerline adapter (Net gear Powerline Av200 XAV2001) , plugged directly into wall socket

3. Downstairs - Powerline adapter (Netgear Powerline XAV1004 with Ethernet Switch), plugged directly into wall socket

4. Wired connections to Xbox one, Harmon Kardon receiver, Western Digital Media Player, Netgear NAS

5. HDMI from Xbox one and also WD Media Player to HK Receiver

6. HDMI Out from HK receiver to Samsung UNC6500 TV - HDMI 1

I use my receiver to control everything and can browse my NAS using my WD media player and can stream MKV's on my NAS to my TV. Similarly I can stream content and play online games from Xbox One on to the TV.

The streaming from the media player has lately been choppy and at times has completely stopped. Similarly, content from Xbox One, Hulu, NHL GameCenter Live seem to be choppy at best and at times crash the app as they can retrieve the necessary content.

I'd greatly appreciate it if someone could suggest how I can improve my setup and upgrade or add different accessories to not have to worry about the choppiness and stopping.

I'm a newbie at the tech speak for sure but know my way around the gadgets I'm using for the most part.

PS performed some speed tests on my laptop, connected wirelessly to my router upstairs, at 11:15 PM. Download speed shows 39.84 Mbps download and 9.57 Upload.

 

[bigdaddycool99]

Could be a problem within your lines. You will need to test few things. I am assuming you 2 power line adapters. steps to figure out solution, do these when you are getting choppy signals or everything stop working
1) Does power cycling your router solve the issue? If not does power cycling the power line solves the issue?
1) disconnect all devices and just test the speed from your router, to see its not the internet. You will be surprised how the companies rob you of the bandwidth you pay for to share your bandwidth with neighbors. Personally I think its your power line devices (too many of them on network, but we gotta test that). Do this when
2) what happens if you just stream on one device, disconnect everyone else. The device which used to be choppy, is it still choppy?
3) If there is no issue, add 1 more device and test things , keep doing till you start getting choppy signal? By this

I can offer you more advice, but it depends if you want to upgrade your network. From your setup, it seems you don't use wireless functionality almost at all, its mostly wired.

 

[theproman23]

Could be a problem within your lines. You will need to test few things. I am assuming you 2 power line adapters. steps to figure out solution, do these when you are getting choppy signals or everything stop working
1) Does power cycling your router solve the issue? If not does power cycling the power line solves the issue?
1) disconnect all devices and just test the speed from your router, to see its not the internet. You will be surprised how the companies rob you of the bandwidth you pay for to share your bandwidth with neighbors. Personally I think its your power line devices (too many of them on network, but we gotta test that). Do this when
2) what happens if you just stream on one device, disconnect everyone else. The device which used to be choppy, is it still choppy?
3) If there is no issue, add 1 more device and test things , keep doing till you start getting choppy signal? By this

I can offer you more advice, but it depends if you want to upgrade your network. From your setup, it seems you don't use wireless functionality almost at all, its mostly wired.

Hi there,

Thank you for this. I've tried power cycling the router and than the adapters and still running into issues as before. I checked the bandwidth directly from the router and it seems like the download and upload speeds are pretty consistent and as expected.

I did notice that the upstairs power line adapter is indicating a poor signal, showing blinking red for the middle LED light, and shows orange when the signal is "ok", not as choppy of a signal.

I think it's time to upgrade my accessories and am willing to spend some money so I'm open to any and all suggestions. Thank you in advance for your help!!

Update: So, after posting this I took your suggestion and tried to install the setup utility but had some errors installing but I was able to successfully install the upgrade tool and upgrade the firmware on the upstairs adapter (XAV2001). After a few power cycle the adapter still showed a red blinking signal. I figured may be it's the outlet and started plugging the adapter into different outlets in the room, I still got the red blinking light so I figured I'd try an outlet outside of the bedroom, in the hallway, wallah I now have a green light and the choppiness isn't there anymore. i'm now watching a amazon instant video show that was barely playing earlier with a crappy signal with no choppiness and the signal is crystal clear.

I'd still like to upgrade my accessories so please feel free to suggest any and all upgrades. Thanks again!