first time streamer-multicast ip question

[jackson]

I read in another post by markfm that the average person can`t access multicast ip adresses due to the fact that internet routers block the ip`s.
My question is -- does this mean that the only resolve I have is to pay someone lots of money to multicast? I have a static ip and does it matter? I`m working for a non-profit org that would like to mutlicast an event in October and I was hoping to get it up live on the net. Any pointers in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Jack Appel

[markfm]

A starting point, to se if your ISP has multicast-enabled equipment, is to try:
http://www.multicasttech.com/?main=mt/index2002.php3

[jackson]

Ah, this helped. I also spoke to serveral ISP`s tech support and I think there is hope for us.
Thanks for the help.

Jack

[richardkfk]

Ah, this helped. I also spoke to serveral ISP`s tech support and I think there is hope for us.
Thanks for the help.

Jack

I seems to have problems using multicast on a 802.11g wireless router

[richardkfk]

I use a P3 (800Mhz) and VLC to multicast a 700kbits/s MPEG4 DIVX encoded movie, I connect the P3 10/100BT to a 802.11g wireless router's LAN port.

Then I use a PentiumM (1.5Ghz) 512MB notebook with Intel builtin 802.11g mini PCI adaptor and the vlc client to access this multicast stream over 802.11g wireless connection. The link connection speed reported by notebook is 54mbps and in excellent condition.

However, it come out that the picture is broken in blocks and the sound is jerky on my notebook !
The VLC message log tells me there are lots of packet lost on PID67 , PID68 (I suspect PID 67 is video steam and PID 68 is audio stream).

I ping the server from my notebook and it also gives me a result of approx. 25% packet lost.

I look at the wireless interface's statistics, it also reports that there are 37% packet lost.

I finally have to change the Multicast stream to Unicast stream from the streaming server.

There are no more packet lost once u use Unicast over the 802.11g link.
And the movie can be played on my notebook in a very good conditon.

Is there any comment why the 802.11g link does not support 700kbits/s well in multicast broadcast (note : I have tried different 802.11g routers eg. linksys wrt54g or dlink di624) ?

I have not got time to test lower multicast speed (eg. 100kbps or 300kbps).


cheers,

-ricky321-

[markfm]

37% ping failure means the link really isn't that good or the server is loaded, most likely.

You can get in-band interference, from other sources on the wireless' frequencies. Try changing the channel plan on the WiFi.

[richardkfk]

I think it is not caused by interference. Basically I am using channel 6 and no other access points are using this channel.
I have continuous pings from my notebook to the server as well when I play the multicast stream.

My observation is that once I enable the multicast stream from the streaming server, ping packet lost starts appear.
If I turn off the multicast stream , or I change the multicast stream to unicast stream from the streaming server, no ping packet lost any more.

I wonder whether the 801.11b/g standard has a bandwidth limitation for multicast or broadcast packets.


cheers,

-ricky321-