Thanks to all for answers on the "Stone Age Videophyte" thread. Just FYI, I ended up with the Denon AVR-3312CI A/V Receiver, a Panasonic Viera 42" HDTV (yes, it seems small already -- but not as small as my bank account), and some true vintage-osity in the speaker department -- a pair of 1979 DCM Time Window 1's, a 1993 DCM Sub-712 powered subwoofer:
Frequency Range: 28 hz to 80 hz
Crossover: Fixed @75 hz, 12 db per octave
Sensitivity: User Adjustable from 0 db to 112 db
Input level: Low Level: 500mW, High Level: 1 watt minimum input / 200 watt max input
maximum impedance: 1k ohms using speaker level inputs
Drivers: 8" front-firing active woofer and a 12" downward firing passive radiator
Amplifier: Designed and Manufactured by B&K Components, Ltd.
Dimensions: 16" (h) x 14-1/2" (w) x 15-3/8 (d)
...an early '90s Yamaha center speaker, and a pair of circa 2000 Pinnacle 2s filling in the 5-speaker surround (I have a highly modified pair of late '80s Micro-Acoustics MA-1s that I'm trying to work into the space for side speakers, which I guess -- probably incorrectly -- would eat up all 7 channels: 2 TW1s, 1 Sub, 1 Center, 2 Pinnacle2 rears. Everything was set up with Denon's Audyssey speaker set-up mike. Again, any advice welcomed
So here's my router question/dilemma:
I have a Roku 2 XS, and have just bought a Roku 3 (waiting for it to arrive). I'm wondering how to optimize my streaming for a better picture.
I currently have a Motorola Surfboard SB6141 DocSIS 3 IPV6 cable modem* connected to a 2nd Generation** Apple Airport Extreme Airbase by ethernet, and my Roku 2 XS is also connected by ethernet to the Airport Extreme Airbase, and then the Roku 2 XS is connected by HDMI to my Denon AVR-3312CI A/V Receiver.
I was watching some Roku 2 XS-streamed episodes of "Flashpoint" the other night, at 1080p, and noticed a fair amount of what I call "the 720P staggers" -- almost like frame dropouts in a video game, especially noticeable when the action is quick and/or the camera is panning -- it's almost like stop-motion animation at times -- though not to Ray Harryhousen levels!) and not very smooth.
Besides getting the Roku 3 (I'll keep the 2 XS for my old, but still good, CRT Panasonic which has component video in), is there anything I can do to smooth this out? I'm getting relatively decent bandwidth on the "Blast!" Comcast bandwidth tier (for which I pay what I think is a ludicrous and usurious $90/mo). Speed tests have shown numbers like:
New York, NY: Snap Studio Design Server through ISP Comcast:
D/L 11910.6 KB/s (11.9106 MB/s)
Ping 55ms
Faster than 91% of US
----------------------------------------------
Speakeasy Speedtest (NY, NY):
D/L 9481.25 KB/s (9.48125 MB/s)
Ping 55ms
----------------------------------------------
Xfinity (Comcast) Speed Test (Boston, MA):
D/L 7490 KB/s to 10588 KB/s (7.49 MBps to 10.588 MBps)
Ping 11ms
----------------------------------------------
Xfinity (Comcast) Speed Test (Plainfield, NJ):
D/L 10487.5 KB/s (10.4875 MBps)
Ping 25ms
Are these decent speeds?
Would I do better with a newer router than the 2nd Gen Airport Extreme Airbase? Since my important stuff is all ethernet hard-wired (my only wireless device is a Kindle Fire HD 8.9"), I don't know how much difference I can make.
Thanks!
Bart Brown
*Motorola SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem
Features
DOCSIS 3.0 Compatible, featuring:
Channel bonding of up to eight downstream channels and four upstream channels increasing data rates of over 300 Mbps for received data and over 100 Mbps when sending data
Supports IPv4 and IPv6 to expand network addressing capabilities
Enhanced security: supports AES traffic encryption
Enhanced network management
Ability to provision and manage IP multicast
GigE (RJ-45) data port with Auto Negotiate and Auto MDIX
User-friendly online diagnostics
Optional Mid-Split support for cable plants that can utilize the advantages of a 5-85 MHz upstream spectrum
The SB6141 includes an internal filter to eliminate potential interference from MoCA signals’ intermodulation beats
Optional USB Device Port available
**AirPort Extreme 802.11n (2nd Generation) - Technical Specifications
Airport Extreme: MB053LL/A Apple Model: A1143
Wireless protocols
802.11a/b/g
Draft 802.11n2
Frequency bands
2.4GHz or 5GHz
Radio output power
20 dBm (nominal)
Compatibility
AirPort Extreme is Wi-Fi certified for 802.11n draft 2.0 (Firmware version 7.2.1)
Interoperable with Wi-Fi Certified 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g Mac computers and Windows-based PCs
NAT, DHCP, PPPoE, VPN Passthrough (IPSec, PPTP, and L2TP), DNS Proxy, SNMP
Security
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2)3
Wireless security (WEP) configurable for 40-bit and 128-bit encryption
MAC address filtering
NAT firewall
Support for RADIUS authentication
802.1X, PEAP, LEAP, TTLS, TLS, FAST
Time-based access control
Interfaces
One Gigabit Ethernet WAN port for connecting a DSL or cable modem
Three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports for connecting computers or network devices
USB port for connecting a USB printer or USB external hard drive
802.11n wireless
Agency approvals
FCC Part 15 Class B, Canada RSS-210, EN 300-328, EN 301-489, EN 301 893, ARIB STD-T66, RCR STD-T33, AS/NZS 4268: 2003, UL 60950, CSA-C22.2 No. 60950
Channels 1-11, 36-48, and 149-165 approved for use in the United States and Canada.
*AirPort Extreme 802.11n (2nd Generation) - Technical Specifications
Airport Extreme: MB053LL/A Apple Model: A1143
Size and weight
Length: 6.5 inches (165 mm)
Width: 6.5 inches (165 mm)
Height: 1.3 inches (34 mm)
Weight: 1.66 pounds (753 grams)
Wireless protocols
802.11a/b/g
Draft 802.11n2
Frequency bands
2.4GHz or 5GHz
Radio output power
20 dBm (nominal)
Compatibility
AirPort Extreme is Wi-Fi certified for 802.11n draft 2.0 (Firmware version 7.2.1)
Interoperable with Wi-Fi Certified 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g Mac computers and Windows-based PCs
NAT, DHCP, PPPoE, VPN Passthrough (IPSec, PPTP, and L2TP), DNS Proxy, SNMP
Full disclosure: I sat and stared at all my A/V components in bewilderment, for a couple months, but, as luck would have it, my daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren visited last week from Kansas City on their way to a wedding, and my son-in-law, who's been doing this A/V stuff for 25+ years, sorted everything out and did all the hookups.
Working within a limited (and how!) budget, I'm trying to get this setup to work as well as possible. Many thanks again for everyone's help!
Bart
