Recommend a WiFi network switch / router, for audio streaming

[Grant]

this is for the study / office at home.

music is streamed via wifi from one of 2 macbook pros to wifi router.
router connected to apple tv via ethernet cable.
apple to connected to yamaha av receiver via hdmi cable.

distance between macbook pros and wifi router is about 3m (line of sight).
wifi router set to 5ghz only (2.4ghz is disabled)

ethernet cable between router and apple tv is a cat6 cable (2m long)
hdmi cable between apple tv and yamaha is a 8k cable (2m long)
macbook pro has wifi 7
apple tv has wifi 6
however - router is ancient - huawei B525 (wifi 5)

the problem (or irritation) is from time to time when scanning back or forward in a track the wifi sometimes freezes or stutters.
** there is no other activity on the router (ie internet browsing etc).
the macbook pros have massive "headroom" in terms of cpu / ram / storage - so no bottlenecks there.
some tracks are fairly big in size - below for example, a 5 min track, size = 114MB.

i'm assuming the old router is the weak link in the chain - so what router would be best for this job ?
for the more technical amongst us:

 

[SauRoNZA]

What does WiFi speed look like when you hold Option down and click on the WiFi icon in MacOS?

File sizes are really nothing for even 2.4Ghz WiFi so something is off…and it may very well be that you turned 2.4Ghz off because 5ghz doesn’t work well at range.

It should be fine at 3m…but let’s see the actual numbers.

Of course Ethernet to the MacBooks would sort it out…but another solution could be dedicated network storage for this purpose rather than a MacBook. Or even a dedicated steaming and cut out both the Apple TV and MacBook.

Nobody really needs more than WiFi 5 for streaming as long as it’s performing at full capacity.

 

[Sapphiron]

You might be dealing with WiFi interference

something like wifiman on android of iOS. you might just be dealing with a lot of interference from the neighbours.

Also check if your WiFi is not set to one of the DFS (radar) channels, in which case, the router will automatically change channels when detecting a radar, so it will result in your clients getting disconnected. Setting it to a fixed channel or lowering the power output might help with both of these problems.

If you do find the router to still be a problem, going with something business grade for wifi is always better than consumer grade, even if you keep the Huawei just for the LTE.

https://scoop.co.za/ubiquiti-unifi-express-wifi-7-tri-band-10gbps-cloud-gateway-ux7.html

this is a decent all in one device for internet and Wi-Fi

 

[Grant]

What does WiFi speed look like when you hold Option down and click on the WiFi icon in MacOS?

File sizes are really nothing for even 2.4Ghz WiFi so something is off…and it may very well be that you turned 2.4Ghz off because 5ghz doesn’t work well at range.

It should be fine at 3m…but let’s see the actual numbers.

Of course Ethernet to the MacBooks would sort it out…but another solution could be dedicated network storage for this purpose rather than a MacBook. Or even a dedicated steaming and cut out both the Apple TV and MacBook.

i'm more inclined to run a aux cable between mbp & yamaha than ethernet cable

 

[Grant]

You might be dealing with WiFi interference

something like wifiman on android of iOS. you might just be dealing with a lot of interference from the neighbours.

Also check if your WiFi is not set to one of the DFS (radar) channels, in which case, the router will automatically change channels when detecting a radar, so it will result in your clients getting disconnected. Setting it to a fixed channel or lowering the power output might help with both of these problems.

If you do find the router to still be a problem, going with something business grade for wifi is always better than consumer grade, even if you keep the Huawei just for the LTE.

https://scoop.co.za/ubiquiti-unifi-express-wifi-7-tri-band-10gbps-cloud-gateway-ux7.html

this is a decent all in one device for internet and Wi-Fi

ta

 

[Grant]

but another solution could be dedicated network storage for this purpose rather than a MacBook.

of "network storage" type devices - i have a sony hdd dvd recorder.
it's got a 250gb drive & hdmi out - years of music on it, the thing works rather well.
so i'm thinking dust it off, pull out the existing drive & replace it with a ssd drive

*i need to steer clear of sound shops - bit of a compulsive spender

 

[Sapphiron]

View attachment 1921708

ta

Channel 112 is a DFS channel. You might be better off changing the channel to 36 on the router.

 

[B-1]

of "network storage" type devices - i have a sony hdd dvd recorder.
it's got a 250gb drive & hdmi out - years of music on it, the thing works rather well.
so i'm thinking dust it off, pull out the existing drive & replace it with a ssd drive

*i need to steer clear of sound shops - bit of a compulsive spender

Just get a WiiM mini and a small NAS with dlna it will make your life much easier. Music, even lossless uses very little network bandwidth and disk space so you dont need anything fancy.

 

[SauRoNZA]

View attachment 1921710

i'm more inclined to run a aux cable between mbp & yamaha than ethernet cable

Hmm that connection is rock solid and should not be a problem.

Your underlying streaming method/platform may be at fault here or simply the way it works.

 

[SauRoNZA]

View attachment 1921708

ta

Those stats are very good.

Ignore the top bits, it’s basically going “oh no you are still on WiFi5 you need to buy our new kit” even though you don’t need it in this application.

 

[Grant]

Channel 112 is a DFS channel. You might be better off changing the channel to 36 on the router.

switched to 36 - quite a lot busier




what is the better bandwidth for this purpose:

 

[websquadza]

switched to 36 - quite a lot busier
View attachment 1921730



what is the better bandwidth for this purpose:
View attachment 1921732

drop to 40 Mhz. That's 1 5 Ghz Channel width. 80 Mhz is 2 channels, and assumes you have two adjacent open channels.

 

[Sapphiron]

switched to 36 - quite a lot busier
View attachment 1921730



what is the better bandwidth for this purpose:
View attachment 1921732

You can ignore the utilization for the most part. Its a "moment in time" reading and won't inform much if you don't log and graph it.

What would help is doing a channel scan on the next panel in the app. It tells you what channels your neighbours are using. Its useful in finding "clear air" for your WiFi to operate it.

The MHz setting is basically trading performance for possibly avoiding interference. In practice, outside of some niche situation, its normally fine to leave it on 80Mhz. 40Mhz could be a good compromise, but you will need to be able to recognize when to use it. You are welcome to post the channel scan results here and people will let you know if its a good idea.

 

[Grant]

You can ignore the utilization for the most part. Its a "moment in time" reading and won't inform much if you don't log and graph it.

What would help is doing a channel scan on the next panel in the app. It tells you what channels your neighbours are using. Its useful in finding "clear air" for your WiFi to operate it.

The MHz setting is basically trading performance for possibly avoiding interference. In practice, outside of some niche situation, its normally fine to leave it on 80Mhz. 40Mhz could be a good compromise, but you will need to be able to recognize when to use it. You are welcome to post the channel scan results here and people will let you know if its a good idea.

After some fiddling about yesterday - no more lags, stuttering, freezes etc !!