Gaming adapter or Access point for VP

I just got a D-Link DWL-G820 (version A) wireless gaming adapter from friend as a "thankyou" gift for fixing their car LOL. She told me gaming adapter tend to overheat when in use (I was the original guy who installed D-Link gaming adapter at her place several years ago). I suspect there's no heatsink inside of it. I decided to crack case open and found that there's none. So I decided to add heatsink (ripped off from southbridge chipset of old mobo ) which is small enuf to fit nicely. I reconfigured it to reconized my Belkin N Router SSID. Newer D-Link DWL-G820 can be a "bridge" for your laptop or PC...

It worked nicely on my VP100 (Plugging Ethernet jack from Dlink wirless gaming adapter to VP100). I tested it with Sorenson's Callback, it works!! I would be able to take it anywhere in my house as long as there's TV in the room. VP ran smoothly on it. BUT It get slow and choppy if wireless signal are weak in some areas of house. Be aware of it.. Closer to wireless router, better it gets... I recalled asking Sorenson support years ago about that in past and they said it's not possible (I knew it worked anyway). AAh c'mon they need to try it!! LOL

IF anyone wanting to use VP in another room but don't want to rig wires by drilling hole or snake thru the walls, under floors, use Wireless Gaming Adapter or Access Point.

Be aware that older gaming adapter may overheats while in use (just like mine) due to lack of heat dissapation.. Access point would be the best option cuz it's bigger and have better heat dissapation. I know Belkin 54G router or newer have option to switch it to Acess Point through firmware setting. Depend on what make or model, You need to be aware about wireless distance limitation (typically 30 to 200 feet). Don't assume that you can take it to park w/ TV & VP (as long as it have plugs for it) unless you live just next door to park.

ANYONE own a D-Link gaming adapter can be tricky to setup if you are not using D-link router and it's product. You must set Static IP address on ur computer and HARD WIRED it from PC (or laptop) to D-Link Gaming adapter in order to get into it's setting.

Be sure to use it's setting as:

On "HOME" tab, click "LAN" button on left side, be sure it's set to "Static (Manual) and leave rest of it alone!!.

On "ADVANCED" tab, click "MODE" button, You will see wireless routers on list which may belongs to you and your neighbor. It looked like text BUT you can use mouse and click on your router in it's list. You will see "Root AP MAC address" and "SSID" boxes filled with your wireless router's MAC address and SSID.

On "ADVANCED" tab, click "PERFORMANCE" button. See "Transmit power", There are "full, half, quarter, eigth". That's only IF you are using older D-link DWL-820 "version A" that I have tend to overheats. Please set it to "half" power to keep it cool as possible as long as it can transmits signal from distance (That's only if you don't know how to install little heatsink inside of it). For "Super G Mode, it's for those who have Dlink Router w/ Super G, use it!!
But rest of the settings, leave it alone..

Last thing, On same "ADVANCED" tab, click "Encryption" button. IF you are using WEP or other wireless security, set it up. Be sure the WEP key are the same as your router!!!

That's all and it's ready to go!! Unplug the gaming adapter and bring it to your VP100 or 200 then plug it in. You'll be suprise how good it runs on VP and tempt you to put VP100 and TV in your favorite spot!

Good Luck!!
Catty

If you have any QQ's about it. Please feel free to ask me..

PS: Be sure the wireless router located close to where you want to put ur wireless adatper or Acess point to get better signal and smoother VP. Or use taller antenna for it too.

Here's pix of what I did and it works nicely.

Pix of VP100, TV and Wireless gaming adapter sitting on top of freezer (You'll see my friend's 74' Harley Sportster lol). Other pix is my game adapter modding by adding blue heatsink (I put Antec silver paste and super glued on corner of Atheros chipset where it tend to be the hottest one).

I changed the Gaming Adapter's setting (transmit power to Full and Super G to Dynamic Turbo). MY friend told me VP ran like slick and pix are very clear. I chatted with my friend through VP for 30 min without any hitch!!

Thanks
Catty

PS: Excuse my mess on workbench

Just be aware that wireless are in the 2.4Ghz range which is same to many devices out there like wireless phone etc.

VP will work fine but once a while it can happen that interference cuz it to disconnect and reconnect to the wireless router.

Even mircowave when someone cook something in it my laptop get disconnected and reconnected from wireless router when press START button on it.

Yes it true that closer to router less chance of disconnections or interference from other wireless devices to interrupt the signal.


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TechBill said:

Just be aware that wireless are in the 2.4Ghz range which is same to many devices out there like wireless phone etc.

VP will work fine but once a while it can happen that interference cuz it to disconnect and reconnect to the wireless router.

Even mircowave when someone cook something in it my laptop get disconnected and reconnected from wireless router when press START button on it.

Yes it true that closer to router less chance of disconnections or interference from other wireless devices to interrupt the signal.


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Get A + G band would solve the signal issue?

Pacman said:

Get A + G band would solve the signal issue?

Click to expand...

It will be fine with 2.4 Ghz but just won't be always flawless. Purplecatty is correct on that closer to router better the signal and it will be less chance happen disconnection.

Example many walls in between = weak signal can happen get disconnection or lost signal in often because other devices in other room can defeat it strenght and interference it.

I never tried the A band which is 5 Ghz and there will always be something interference devices if more the distance and the signal is weak between two then more chance of diesconnections etc.

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TechBill said:

It will be fine with 2.4 Ghz but just won't be always flawless. Purplecatty is correct on that closer to router better the signal and it will be less chance happen disconnection.

Example many walls in between = weak signal can happen get disconnection or lost signal in often because other devices in other room can defeat it strenght and interference it.

I never tried the A band which is 5 Ghz and there will always be something interference devices if more the distance and the signal is weak between two then more chance of diesconnections etc.

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Click to expand...

Yes, I agree with you about signal interference.. There's always interference everywhere. I have 2.4ghz cordless phone too. It didn't interfere as long as it's in different channel. Example, my Belkin set channel 6 while 2.4ghz cordless phone set to different channel automatically BUT who knows neighbor have 2.4 ghz signal that may interfer my router's signal. Even with 5ghz signal, you STILL will get interference. Currently, there are new 5Ghz cordless phone. It's keeping up with signal competition. So Hopefully your neighbor not getting 5Ghz phone while u got 5Ghz router LOL.

So Most importanly is that move wireless router to location IF POSSIBLE where you will be using "wireless" VP. It's your risk IF you want to chat all day on "wireless" VP. Be sure that you let your friend know you're on wireless VP and be expect interruption cause by signal. It's your responsibilty tho.

Unless IF you have Billions of dollars to buy fequency section from FCC to own it. It will be very nice to have own signal that no one will use. LOL.

Be aware that when placing wireless router and adapter or Access Point in house or Apt. Signal can pass through few inch thick wall or ceiling except anything metal (A/C ducts, kitchen appliance like refrigidator, stove ect). If you put it in "angle" instead of "direct", router and wireless device signal would not penerate cuz some degree of angle will make wireless device think it's a several feet thick wall while it's just only few inches thick. So use your common sense tho.

If you are experiencing signal interference, another option are that you can TRY change 2.4ghz channel. Or adjust Bandwidth like 20hz or 40hz depend if adapter and router have same thing to work with.. So I cannot promise it'll improve. It's rare that if you are lucky enuf to find wireless router and Access Point or adapter that will allow you to adjust fequency. I know none of these. D-Link wireless gaming adapter have one but it's greyed out.

Good Luck
Catty

Pacman said:

Get A + G band would solve the signal issue?

Click to expand...

LOL Be nice to have one but they're expensive LOL. I saw 5Ghz routers. they're pretty steeply priced. Wish I had those $$'s to buy 5Ghz router, adapter or acess point. LOL. So what we have now is what we have to live with. We all have to tweak around setting till we get it right.

Catty

Today, the gaming adapter somehow crashed during vp chat. I found out the heatsink that I modded previously came apart (superglue doesn't hold at all due to heat and heatsink fell into chipset and shorted it but luckily it didn't do any damage. I unplug and shook the adapter and felt rattling ). The superglue doesn't hold it very well. On my last straw, I cut out small section of sponge (old sponge from kitchen) and placed it on top of heatsink fins and put it's cover back on and held it down tight while I snapped front and rear benzel in. It held heatsink really well and snug so it won't come off even if it fell to the floor or any accidential bumps. (I also cut front benzel sticker in half and peeled it out revealing a grille to allow better air flow.

I had to do factory reset the gaming adapter and restore all the settings. Now it's working great and smooth again. Sheesh! luckily loose heat sink DID NOT fried any chipset inside of it. Whew!!

So whenver you plan to add heatsink inside wireless gaming adaptor or Access Point, PLEASE use sponge or any good meduim cushions (no metals) and put shell over it to secure it (Don't force it if it doesn't fit. You'll damage the board so use your common sense). There are heatsink glue instead of paste. I didn't have it that time and didn't feel like driving 10 miles to get couple dollars of heatsink glue in syring. Be sure sponge isn't wet and doesn't sink deep down to heatsink fins.. It's your responsibilty, don't blame me for this if you breaks it!!