PATA to USB drive over network

[ackoman]

Hi,

I've got an old ish PATA drive in a USB enclosure, connected to one of the USB ports on my TD-W8970 router.

As such, I can access the files on it using either SMB or DLNA (the router provides a basic media server functionality).

I use Localcast on my android phone to play films on this hard drive onto my TV using Chromecast.

Most of the time, this works fine. But occasionally I get really poor performance - the video stutters, and sometimes freezes completely. But the same film might have worked perfectly the day before.

I don't think it is a WiFi signal issue, because Chromecast always works perfectly when I'm streaming off the internet. The issues are only ever when I stream from this drive.

My confusion arises from the fact that sometimes it works well and sometimes it doesnt. If the transfer rate from the drive is insufficient (which I wouldn't be surprised about) then surely it would always not work? However, it actually works more often than it doesn't.

I'm contemplating getting a NAS drive, on the assumption that a better transfer rate between the drive and the router is what is needed, but I was wondering whether anyone can think of something else being at play here which might mean that even a new NAS drive would not be the solution?

Thanks,
Ackoman

 

[BuddhaSkoota]

I'm contemplating getting a NAS drive, on the assumption that a better transfer rate between the drive and the router is what is needed, but I was wondering whether anyone can think of something else being at play here which might mean that even a new NAS drive would not be the solution?

I've had similar issues with a USB drive connected to a router. After switching to a NAS, the streaming problems disappeared.

The only suggestion might be to check that your router has the latest firmware installed. Otherwise, a NAS will likely solve your streaming issues.

 

[kanewolf]

Routers don't have enough CPU resources to be a great NAS. As stated above, if you want GREAT network storage you need to buy hardware that is optimized for that role. The PATA drive could be connected to the USB port on a dedicated NAS but the internal drive(s) have to be SATA.

 

[ackoman]

I'm contemplating getting a NAS drive, on the assumption that a better transfer rate between the drive and the router is what is needed, but I was wondering whether anyone can think of something else being at play here which might mean that even a new NAS drive would not be the solution?

I've had similar issues with a USB drive connected to a router. After switching to a NAS, the streaming problems disappeared.

The only suggestion might be to check that your router has the latest firmware installed. Otherwise, a NAS will likely solve your streaming issues.

Thanks for your reply. Did you find it sometimes worked and sometimes didn't? Or did it always not work for you?

 

[ackoman]

Routers don't have enough CPU resources to be a great NAS. As stated above, if you want GREAT network storage you need to buy hardware that is optimized for that role. The PATA drive could be connected to the USB port on a dedicated NAS but the internal drive(s) have to be SATA.

Thanks for your reply. I'm a bit confused though. Isn't a NAS drive connected to the router? In which case, is the router still not the bottleneck?

 

[kanewolf]

Routers don't have enough CPU resources to be a great NAS. As stated above, if you want GREAT network storage you need to buy hardware that is optimized for that role. The PATA drive could be connected to the USB port on a dedicated NAS but the internal drive(s) have to be SATA.

Thanks for your reply. I'm a bit confused though. Isn't a NAS drive connected to the router? In which case, is the router still not the bottleneck?

When I say NAS, I am thinking of a unit, like a Synology, Q-Nap or Thecus. They have CPU, RAM and an OS that is optimized for serving files. You would want to connect a dedicated NAS to your router via an ethernet cable for maximum performance. The router has enough CPU to handle the data passing through it but not enough CPU to serve the data and pass it through.

 

[ackoman]

Routers don't have enough CPU resources to be a great NAS. As stated above, if you want GREAT network storage you need to buy hardware that is optimized for that role. The PATA drive could be connected to the USB port on a dedicated NAS but the internal drive(s) have to be SATA.

Thanks for your reply. I'm a bit confused though. Isn't a NAS drive connected to the router? In which case, is the router still not the bottleneck?

When I say NAS, I am thinking of a unit, like a Synology, Q-Nap or Thecus. They have CPU, RAM and an OS that is optimized for serving files. You would want to connect a dedicated NAS to your router via an ethernet cable for maximum performance. The router has enough CPU to handle the data passing through it but not enough CPU to serve the data and pass it through.

Would a Western Digital My Cloud come into the same category as the others you mentioned?

 

[kanewolf]

Routers don't have enough CPU resources to be a great NAS. As stated above, if you want GREAT network storage you need to buy hardware that is optimized for that role. The PATA drive could be connected to the USB port on a dedicated NAS but the internal drive(s) have to be SATA.

Thanks for your reply. I'm a bit confused though. Isn't a NAS drive connected to the router? In which case, is the router still not the bottleneck?

When I say NAS, I am thinking of a unit, like a Synology, Q-Nap or Thecus. They have CPU, RAM and an OS that is optimized for serving files. You would want to connect a dedicated NAS to your router via an ethernet cable for maximum performance. The router has enough CPU to handle the data passing through it but not enough CPU to serve the data and pass it through.

Would a Western Digital My Cloud come into the same category as the others you mentioned?

Yes a MyCloud is in the same category.