Since setting up my HTPC the idea was to have a folder to copy videos to to play on the device, and to allow streaming via media centre of the recorded tv

Unfortunately the connection speed has made this impossible

It's a 54g network, both machines have good to excellent connection strength, no other software running on the machines and I'm struggling to get over 100kb/s transfer. This means streaming the Scotland/Fiji game to my PC upstairs is impossible.

Anyone know how to fix it? I know the network is fast enough, streamed wirelessly from pc to 360 without issue. And the internet download speed is faster than this (again wireless)

I'm stumped for what it could be

in the network setup page for the wireless connection within the router is

or something similar enabled ? …

I'm not seeing anything for that option, I'm using a Netgear DG834G

There is however a firewall set up to the default settings, is it worth trying to disable it to see if it makes a difference?

most routers have a multi broadcast setting as streamed media can take a lot of band width on/from the network
you may have too drill down into the settings/configuration files to enable this option

try disabling the FW and see if that helps but unless that connection address is limited by the FW settings i doubt that it will give any improvement

i will check out the config files for your router and post back …

it very well maybe the firewall settings that are slowing the connection down
http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/8219

or allow a DMZ for that connection
http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1140

or restricted MTU for that device/connection
http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1153

I think all your devices are talking on the LAN not over the internet so firewall rules shouldn't really be getting in the way. (btw i have this router too!)

I did almost exactly the same thing you are doing but wifi never settled down enough for it to be a truly vaible solution. And the wife was never very forgiving when halfway through a film it would start stuttering and breaking up and most of the time needed to be completely reset!

For me I justy bought 3 home plug devices - 1 for the switch upstairs one the the HTPC in the lounge and one for the xbox360. Never had a problem since. I get a rock steady 5-6MB/ps throughput with no drops.

You might find switching to Wireless N sorts this out for you but IMHO homeplug is the way to go.

Homeplugs aren't practical as I know my neighbours use them and we are on the same electrical loop so can get inteference or cross chatter.

Replacing the router with a Draft N router, and re purposing a Linksys WRT54G as a receiver/bridge in order to wire up devices where possible in order to try to increase speeds

Same loop - do you share bills then?

I would still recommend them - I ran a homeplug into my garage different ring but still got 5MB solid.

What's your neighbour experience with them?

No, but electrical loops can be common between semi detached houses given design/construction and suffer from interference with other homeplugs

Their experience has been fine, but when I borrowed a set to use they had problems too

Better run a CAT5 then.

Hope wireless-N works out for you, I would be interested to know if it is reliable though.