Home Network - PowerLine?

[Allen]

I'm having some problems with my ADSL connection, and it seems like it may be linked to internal telephone wiring. I currently have the master socket in the living room (with 1 filtered telephone plugged into it) and a telephone extension lead running through the living room, upstairs into my bedroom (with my filtered router plugged into it). I then have my computer attached to the router using a short CAT5 cable and my flat mate's PC plugged in using a long CAT5 cable from her room into mine. It's all a bit messy.

Now, it's been like this for some time and has always had connection problems due to the telephone extension cable running from the master socket to my bedroom, along the way the cable actually leads into another socket which is not used and ends, another cable is attached to it and runs up into my bedroom. Obviously this connection is dodgy and I would like to sort it out, maybe replace the whole cable, but I'm lazy and not a DIY person.

So I'm looking at alternatives. I don't fancy wireless as the router would be downstairs and both computers upstairs (mine being the opposite side of the house too) and came across this PowerLine thing where you use the houses power cables to transfer data.

I have read into it a bit and searched on the forums already, but no-one really gives any opinions of it. Does it work, and if so, how well?

I don't transfer huge data over the network, so it will only be used for normal web traffic and gaming up to the limit of my ADSL connection, which with the router plugged into the master socket was about 6Mbps. I know that having the upstairs and downstairs on different rings will affect the data transfer, but will it be that bad to drop from 200Mbps (if I used the Netgear HDXB101 adaptors) to at max 8Mbps?

Any input would be appreciated, for now I think I might just for the moment plug my router in downstairs and make up some new CAT5 cables to go to the PC's upstairs...

[i4000]

I'm using a couple of Av200 powerline adators to connect my PS3 up to my PC / the internet, I just got fed up with the flakey wireless connection (internet feed is in an extension so double thickness walls). I've never looked back, I'm streaming HD video from my PC to the PS3 with no issues. I've done some speed tests (just transferring large files) and appear to be getting somewhere in the region of a 75Mbps transfer rate. I would thoughly recommend it.

One caveat, the Homeplugs need to be plugged directly into the socket at each end, if I try and run them off of a 4 way adaptor or similar the speed drops drastically (<10Mbps)

[3xH]

I'm having some problems with my ADSL connection, and it seems like it may be linked to internal telephone wiring. I currently have the master socket in the living room (with 1 filtered telephone plugged into it) and a telephone extension lead running through the living room, upstairs into my bedroom (with my filtered router plugged into it). I then have my computer attached to the router using a short CAT5 cable and my flat mate's PC plugged in using a long CAT5 cable from her room into mine. It's all a bit messy.

Now, it's been like this for some time and has always had connection problems due to the telephone extension cable running from the master socket to my bedroom, along the way the cable actually leads into another socket which is not used and ends, another cable is attached to it and runs up into my bedroom. Obviously this connection is dodgy and I would like to sort it out, maybe replace the whole cable, but I'm lazy and not a DIY person.

So I'm looking at alternatives. I don't fancy wireless as the router would be downstairs and both computers upstairs (mine being the opposite side of the house too) and came across this PowerLine thing where you use the houses power cables to transfer data.

I have read into it a bit and searched on the forums already, but no-one really gives any opinions of it. Does it work, and if so, how well?

I don't transfer huge data over the network, so it will only be used for normal web traffic and gaming up to the limit of my ADSL connection, which with the router plugged into the master socket was about 6Mbps. I know that having the upstairs and downstairs on different rings will affect the data transfer, but will it be that bad to drop from 200Mbps (if I used the Netgear HDXB101 adaptors) to at max 8Mbps?

Any input would be appreciated, for now I think I might just for the moment plug my router in downstairs and make up some new CAT5 cables to go to the PC's upstairs...

If you already run a cable upstairs for the ADSL, swapping it out for an Ethernet cable is not only the cheapest, but will also be the fastest and most reliable soultion. Personally, I'd go for that

[Allen]

If you already run a cable upstairs for the ADSL, swapping it out for an Ethernet cable is not only the cheapest, but will also be the fastest and most reliable soultion. Personally, I'd go for that

The problem with that would be if I had the router downstairs I would need TWO ethernet cables running upstairs to the computers. They aren't exactly thin cables and would look terrible. Unless I buy a hub or for upstairs, but that's added cost I don't need.

I think I might just buy a new telephone extension cable, one that's long enough to reach upstairs and see how I can lay it down. That and new filters and see how I go. I would love to try this PowerLine thing, BUT if it's no good it would be a waste of money...

[3xH]

The problem with that would be if I had the router downstairs I would need TWO ethernet cables running upstairs to the computers. They aren't exactly thin cables and would look terrible. Unless I buy a hub or for upstairs, but that's added cost I don't need.

I think I might just buy a new telephone extension cable, one that's long enough to reach upstairs and see how I can lay it down. That and new filters and see how I go. I would love to try this PowerLine thing, BUT if it's no good it would be a waste of money...

If you must run an extension, make sure it is twisted-pair copper! If possible, make one from a length of cat 5e. Just beware if you ever have an intermittent fault on your DSL line, the first this you will need to do is leave you router plugged into the master socket for a day or so to rule out the extension as the issue (99% of intermittent DSL Max faults are caused by internal wiring in my experience, and working for an ISP, I have seen quite a few )

Ethernet switches can be found for under £10, new filters and an extension would cost more than that anyway surely? Plus easily cheaper than any home-plug set you may have been looking at.

[malice19]

Can't go wrong, best thing i ever did to setup my home network!
WiFi was crap with lots of connection problems dropping out but with the home plugs its been Great!

http://www.solwise.co.uk/net-powerline-pl-85pe.htm

[Bluecube]

I bagged two 200Mbit Homeplugs from eBay for &#163;40 as my PS3 wireless connection was pants. Coudn't believe how simple it was. Plug in next to the PS3, plug in next to my router and that was it. No more problems... I also got two which have a pass through plug so you don't have to sacrifice a socket to use them.