I'm new to this so no expert but now running the following.
Late 2006 iMac acting as iTunes server which is also a desktop for wife's studies. This is connected by cat6 to a TP Link gigabit LAN 450Mbps 5ghz wireless N router. That provides the wireless for 2 ATV3's, a late 2010 Macbook and a mid 2012 Macbook Pro. This can provide video/music/photos to the ATV's, allow the Macbook to browse and the Macbook Pro to browse/download /convert all at the same time with perfect speed and convenience unless the MBP is doing some serious downloading in which case the initial ATV buffer is a bit longer. This is in a reasonable size house with thick stone walls.
The iMac cost £300 and the replacement network bits and pieces about £60 within the last 2 weeks. Pretty good value I think for the infrastructure which is also very simple to keep running so far. The only addition in the near future will be a WD Studio Firewire 800 drive for the iMac to move the iTunes library onto.
Late 2006 iMac acting as iTunes server which is also a desktop for wife's studies. This is connected by cat6 to a TP Link gigabit LAN 450Mbps 5ghz wireless N router. That provides the wireless for 2 ATV3's, a late 2010 Macbook and a mid 2012 Macbook Pro. This can provide video/music/photos to the ATV's, allow the Macbook to browse and the Macbook Pro to browse/download /convert all at the same time with perfect speed and convenience unless the MBP is doing some serious downloading in which case the initial ATV buffer is a bit longer. This is in a reasonable size house with thick stone walls.
The iMac cost £300 and the replacement network bits and pieces about £60 within the last 2 weeks. Pretty good value I think for the infrastructure which is also very simple to keep running so far. The only addition in the near future will be a WD Studio Firewire 800 drive for the iMac to move the iTunes library onto.