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SquireDude's avatar
SquireDude
Aspirant
Oct 19, 2016
Solved

What WiFi ROuter to get that has USB 3.0 port(s)

I have been searching and trying several different WiFi Routers in my motor-home to use as the Media Server with no success...

Let me elatorate on why all the devices I have tried failed... I have come up agains a couple of different issues

  • File Limitations per folder
  • Folder limitations
  • Inability to read files meta-data
  • Unreliable server load
  • Does not read Meta-Deta from files
  • Requires Genre broken into folders

I am using the native DLNA service as it is clean and works on ALL TV's and devices that have WiFi capability.

I painstakingly made sure that every movie and music album has its Meta-Deta included (added using Windows File Properties)

I currently have 2x 3TB Western Digital External HDD that are USB 3.0 with seperate power supplies.

 

Most WiFiRouters have either a reliability (load time) issue or file number limitation (usually 400 per folder).  As you can see I have several thousand movies and music Albums installed on these HDD's and would like to be able to make watch/listen from any of my 3 TV's on my rig.

NOTE: The 120VAC power is sturned off when traveling or when Dry-camping (no shore power).  So load or re-indexing time is important.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on what WiFi Router I can use that will NOT have these limitations and will work as a Media Server.

NOTE: I am not always conencted to or have access to the Internet.

 

Thanks

 

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  • michaelkenward's avatar
    michaelkenward
    Oct 20, 2016
    SquireDude wrote:

    It is a pity that I still have to use a WiFi Router as it has been the weak link... range, reliability of recreating connections when turned off and on, 2nd WiFi connection to an iPad or RV Park's WiFi.

     

     

    You do not need a wifi router to use an NAS. You just plug it into the router/modem you use now.

     

    This is where to find out about NAS.

     

    Network Storage | Home | NETGEAR

     

    You think of it as a USB drive on steroids. You just buy one that will hold enough discs to meet your needs. Then you configure it to provide a system that suits you. For example, you can just turn two or four drives into one big drive, or you can have an array of single drive or you can set it up so that you have a spare copy of everything just in case one of the drives dies on you.

     

    It is more complicated, and expensive, than just buying USB drives, although you will have trouble getting an 8TB USB drive. (One of my NAS boxes holds that much – 2 X 4TB.)

     

    In return for the cost you get what is in effect a pared down computer. You can get at it when your PC is turned off, even from the other side of the world. And it can work as a media server.

     

    But NAS can take a bit of setting up. So read the manuals carefully and get to know what they do.

     

     

     

     

     

11 Replies

  • Retired_Member's avatar
    Retired_Member
    Oct 19, 2016

    In My opinion what you're looking for doesn't exits. Use a NAS or build a small tower PC and add those drives to it.

    • michaelkenward's avatar
      michaelkenward
      Guru
      Oct 20, 2016
      @searay wrote:

      Use a NAS ....

       

       

      That's the way to do it. You can even plug USB drives into an NAS.

       

       

  • NicholasB's avatar
    NicholasB
    NETGEAR Expert
    Oct 19, 2016

    Thanks for the post on the NETGEAR Commuity.

     

    the NETGEAR nighthawk R7000 has USB 3.0 connectivity, and when an external harddrive is connected you can gain access to ReadyCLoud, the NETGEAR portal, allowing you to log on to the harddrive connected to the router.

     

    However as mentioned earlier, with the amount of files and data you are looking to store - a NAS device will have much better perfromance, i would reccommend looking at an RN212.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Nick

    • SquireDude's avatar
      SquireDude
      Aspirant
      Oct 20, 2016

      Thanks for the suggestions of a NAS... I have a couple of issues with that, Cost (living on a SS income), space, connecting to a TV NOT any other device.

       

      What is wrong with the DLNA transport?  When I connect my HDD to a WiFi router my movies show up using DLNA.  Depending on the devices engine it uses depicts the level or sorting or use of Meta-Data.  I have had suggestions of using Plex or other such software on a NAS but when I tried Plex on my home server it still showed up on the TV as a list of video, music, or photo files.  So why should I use additional software that produces no value, axcept of the server side which I never see!

       

      • I have media stored on HDD's that needs to be WiFi to the RV. 
      • I am ONLY recieving the media on local TV's. 
      • TV's only seem to recognise DLNA
      • What benifit would a NAS provide? 

      Thanks

      • Retired_Member's avatar
        Retired_Member
        Oct 20, 2016
        A USB port on a router has limited resources unlike a USB on PC. A good nas should be able to stream multiple streams with out the folder and file limits.