Problem with WL-500gP V2 + 500GB external WD My Book on USB

[belial]

Hello there. I have the WL-500gP V2 router and I connected via USB a Western Digital My Book 500GB external hdd.

The hdd came formatted in FAT32. I formatted all of it in one whole partition (ext3).
I connected the hdd directly to the laptop on Ubuntu and copied a file of about 1.1 GB with 23 mb/s which is great.

On Windows XP I configured the router with all the necessary settings to run a FTP server (even a dyndns account). I can connect to the FTP server and get access to the directories it automatically created (video, pictures, music, etc.).

So the problem is that the transfer speed is only ~1.5 mb/s. I believe that 3.5 mb/s should be the maximum speed, which would be great for me. That speed is over the wireless network AND even if i connect the laptop to the router with a cable i only get 1.5 mb/s.
Something is obviously limiting the transfer speed but i don't know what.

Also it would be nice if someone suggested me an alternative to FTP transfer as for example if I want to listen to an mp3 file or watch a movie from the external drive, first it will copy that file to my laptop's hdd and only after that it will play it. I want to be able to play a movie directly from the external hdd. It should be possible.

I use the default firmware (2.0.1.2).

[belial]

Fortunately I have managed to add the hdd with windows networking and now I am able to view pictures, listen to music and watch movies directly from the external hdd which is great. Also now I know how much available space I have on the drive.
The remaining problem is now the low speed transfer: 1.5 mb/s.

[Serpent]

It seems to me you are using Samba server right now, not FTP server from the router! ;)
To map a FTP drive in windows you need additional software, like FTPdrive (http://www.killprog.com/fdrve.html), NetDrive or WebDrive.

Low speed transfer problem can't be solved using ASUS FW. Oleg has done a great work, and his FW has one of the greatest USB transfer speed.
So, it's your choice... :D

[belial]

Ok. FTP isn't by far a viable solution for my needs. All that I need is to play some media files from the hdd without needing to copy them on my local hdd. That I have managed. Unfortunately the transfer speed even by cable is only 1.5 mb/s. I will try to have another look at the configuration as I recall seeing some options that allowed me to set the primary priority of the router: gaming, ftp, internet, etc.
After that if it won't work only then I will try oleg's firmware to obtain a 3.5 mb/s transfer speed.

[Serpent]

Ok, as I said, it's your choice. We have a word, you are trying to discover warm water... :p
"After that if it won't work only then I will try oleg's firmware..." :eek:
Hmm, only then! Good luck!!!

[vrobin]

Fortunately I have managed to add the hdd with windows networking and now I am able to view pictures, listen to music and watch movies directly from the external hdd which is great. Also now I know how much available space I have on the drive.
The remaining problem is now the low speed transfer: 1.5 mb/s.

Hello! I even can't add the hdd with windows networking (can't find computer); FTP works fine. Any suggestion? THX, Vasja

[avberk]

A lot of us have no standard firmware and therfor can help you better if you are on non standard firmware as well..


Did you put a hostname into the webinterface and activate samba?