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  • #1

    PowerLine products - recommendations?

    Anyone with experience of 'Ethernet over Mains' adaptors? Any brands to avoid, or situations where they won't work?

    Ideally I want one connected to a router and then one for each of two remote PCs on different floors (and thus different rings). As longs as they work as fast as the broadband conenction (upto 8MB) speed isn't as important as reliability.

    Cheers,

    T.
    FT.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Wouldn't wireless network be more sure? If they are on different rings there is no guarantee that a mains system would work, in my opinion.
    Brian (the devil incarnate)

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    • #3
      He already has a wireless connection to one machine, and it is somewhat flaky. I'm about to supply him another machine that will be even further away from the router. I've tried suggesting cabling before (and a decent backup strategy, but that's another story) but can't persuade him.

      It's a shame if you are right Brian.
      FT.

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      • #4
        Get... better antennae. Or a better router.

        Wireless is much less flaky than it used to be.
        The Internet - where men are men, women are men, and teenage girls are FBI agents!

        I'm the least you could do
        If only life were as easy as you
        I'm the least you could do, oh yeah
        If only life were as easy as you
        I would still get screwed

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        • #5
          I haven't looked into network over power in years but it was terrible and slow when I looked into it a few years ago. This is akin to using your house's wiring for a TV antenna.. Neat in idea.. terrible in application. There is to much going on in the power line and interference is basically a given.

          Saying that I have to agree with Jason. Wireless has come a long way and if its old tech just buy some new Linksys routers. Put DD-WRT on them and start using a Wireless Bridge or Repeater Bridge. I've done both and they both work really well. The Router hooked up to the modem doesn't even have to be a linksys or run DD-WRT. The beauty of the repeater bridge is that they can all use the same wireless name and you seamlessly jump from one to another depending on signal strength. $2-300 could get you 4 WRT54GL's and you could have one in each corner of the house (remember that signal travels down better than up).
          Wikipedia and Google.... the needles to my tangent habit.
          ________________________________________________

          That special feeling we get in the cockles of our hearts, Or maybe below the cockles, Maybe in the sub-cockle area, Maybe in the liver, Maybe in the kidneys, Maybe even in the colon, We don't know.

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          • #6
            Cabling obviously would be the better bet for speed and security but it sounds like he doesn't want the hassle of a snake and installation? I've done my fair share of ghetto wiring in apartments where I just using a cable stapler and follow the top of the molding and use a cable color that blends in with the walls (white mostly). Most wiring in Boston for phones follows this method sadly.
            Wikipedia and Google.... the needles to my tangent habit.
            ________________________________________________

            That special feeling we get in the cockles of our hearts, Or maybe below the cockles, Maybe in the sub-cockle area, Maybe in the liver, Maybe in the kidneys, Maybe even in the colon, We don't know.

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            • #7
              My parents had cheapo netgear adapter connecting their set top box to their switch. It worked ok but slow until it crapped out (was common!!).
              It was replaced by I think Belkin gear.

              They only connect 2 low speed devices so I don't know how well more complex nets work.

              Jörg
              pixar
              Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die tomorrow. (James Dean)

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              • #8
                Devolo are good here.

                But as Gurm said. The new-ish Draft n routers are quite good.
                There's an Opera in my macbook.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by az View Post
                  Devolo are good here.

                  But as Gurm said. The new-ish Draft n routers are quite good.

                  Even the latest-gen Mimo G's are good. You just might need more than one for full coverage.
                  The Internet - where men are men, women are men, and teenage girls are FBI agents!

                  I'm the least you could do
                  If only life were as easy as you
                  I'm the least you could do, oh yeah
                  If only life were as easy as you
                  I would still get screwed

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Gurm what was the cheap G router you just got that uses the same chip as Linksys but at a much lower price point?
                    Wikipedia and Google.... the needles to my tangent habit.
                    ________________________________________________

                    That special feeling we get in the cockles of our hearts, Or maybe below the cockles, Maybe in the sub-cockle area, Maybe in the liver, Maybe in the kidneys, Maybe even in the colon, We don't know.

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                    • #11
                      Buffalo's G-series equipment all run DD-WRT. The DD-WRT wiki has a lot of compatibility info, there are a ton of routers - some cheap as all get-out - that run really well.

                      But I actually just got a LINKSYS G with MIMO for $30. Massive price reduction.
                      The Internet - where men are men, women are men, and teenage girls are FBI agents!

                      I'm the least you could do
                      If only life were as easy as you
                      I'm the least you could do, oh yeah
                      If only life were as easy as you
                      I would still get screwed

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Update:

                        Well for £40 I couldn't resist trying; If it worked, great, if not, its no great loss.

                        I picked up a pair of these which are Peak, two in a pack (sadly out of stock right now, but available elsewhere).

                        I just plugged in at both ends (it's a short ethernet cable to a small brick then a short lead to the main socket) and it instantly worked. No drivers required. Connection to the bricks is at 100/full.

                        I have just done a test where I connected the adaptor for the remote PC to a very long mains extension lead and tried www.speedtest.net via every spare socket in the house, making sure I included a different ring to the router-end. Every time it connected in well under 10s and saturated my broadband link (4mpbs down, 400k up).

                        I even plugged it in right next to an operating microwave and it didn't blink!

                        I haven't tested maximum transfer rates between PCs yet, but that really isn't important for these people.

                        If this doesn't work in their house then I'll consider upgrading the wifi, but that's gonna cost much more than £40.
                        FT.

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