Broadband through your plug sockets

[Fnaar]

A friend was telling me about this the other day. I'm looking to upgrade our broadband at home to a faster connection... quite interested in the idea of this... can you get reasonably fast connections? Will it make my toaster blow up? Will I be able to put my washing in the computer?

 

[numbnuts]

I think that is shocking

 

[Hacienda71]

Do you mean networking via the electricity sockets in your house rather than using a wifi router? A colleague does this and seems happy with it.

 

[yello]

Internet-over-power; I use it in my place where stone walls prevent wireless connections.

Works well, though I've read somewhere that it helps if the two plugs are on the same circuit. Connections are quick enough, I've not noticed any degradation but I couldn't put numbers to that and I don't have a super quick internet connection anyway (ReADSL, only 512k). It's also only a mid term solution, I'll hardwire everything as a part of the renovations we're doing.

 

[gaz]

It's called HomePlug. Perfectly fine for networking use and can provide speeds up to 200Mbit/s.
Which is faster than any home internet connection you can currently get.
Wireless can be faster, but will more than likely be much more expensive to buy and hard to protect yourself.

 

[Norm]

There are other alternatives, gaz, Homeplug is the biggest but Netgear and Panasonic have products using their own technology. They are not compatible but stick with one and they do seem to work well, faster than most wireless connections and not so affected by walls. You might have issues if you live in a semi- or a block of flats.

However, I took Fnaar's post to be a question about the broadband being delivered to the home over the power lines, and that's not really commercially viable yet.

 

[yello]

However, I took Fnaar's post to be a question about the broadband being delivered to the home over the power lines, and that's not really commercially viable yet.

Ah yes, rereading it (and ignoring the replies, which skewed my interpretation!), I think you're right.

They have that in a neighbouring commune but I know little about it. That said, I'm more optimistic about it being rolled out here than I am about getting fibre optic or even full ADSL. In rural areas, such as where I live, it seems to be the most cost effective solution to providing high speed internet connections.

 

[Fnaar]

Hi folks, thanks for the answers. I meant the plug socket type of thing. We live in a 3 storey house, currently use ADSL/wireless router, no probs with it, but wanting to get something faster. Can get faster wireless, just thinking of alternatives.

 

[summerdays]

We've got the plugs .. but I'm the non technical one... I do know that based on their position in the house ours are on two different circuits. They also seem to be plugged directly into the socket rather than into extension boards.

 

[yello]

I do know that based on their position in the house ours are on two different circuits. They also seem to be plugged directly into the socket rather than into extension boards.

Just to clarify my earlier comment; I'm not sure that the plugs have to be on the same circuit (and summerdays' set-up illustrates clearly that they don't!) but I have read somewhere that they function better like that. I personally have no idea!

I plug mine directly into the wall socket too, but mine have a built in (pass through / piggy backed?) socket too, so you could plug an extension board into that if you so desired.

You can pick up the lower spec ones (which are quite sufficient for all but streaming mulitmedia I suspect) for sod all, £15-ish each??, so I reckon they're worth buying as a test or a just-in-case.

 

[GlasgowGaryH]

Picked up 4 of the Devolo homeplugs off ebay for £35. Can be used in any plug circuit in the house for internet 100Mbit/s. Used to have very low signal or even no signal in some rooms from router on wireless due to construction of walls. Has been well worth it.

 

[Cardiac]

I can confirm that some brands of plugs definitely work best when on the same ring-main. In my case that means upstairs to downstairs connections have much lower speeds than same-floor connections. This can vary a lot according to layout, which sockets are used, other devices plugged in, etc., but it's worth checking before making a large investment.

Also, if you are a keen radio listener, some reduction in quality of radio reception (AM and FM mostly, and shortwave if that's relevant to you) may be noticed since the data signals can be radiated by your mains wiring and can act as a source of interference. DAB radio reception is less susceptible to this (but not immune).

 

[mickle]

This sort of thing will just make it easier for Skynet.

 

[Fnaar]

Pardon my complete ignorance here folks, but can these be used as a replacement for adsl and router? Or as an addition to reach parts that router wifi signal doesn't? The latter isn't an issue, but I was thinking of the first. I may have misunderstood what my friend was banging on about (beer was involved).

 

[Davidc]

No Fnaar, you still need something with an ADSL router in it connected to your phone line.

We've got the Netgear ones, 4 of them, one plugs into an ethernet port on the wireless router and the other three just look like more ethernet ports when they're plugged in. Speed depends on which circuit they're plugged into but always far faster than the broadband internet (which here is only 2Mb/s) and more reliable than the wireless connection.

If you get them make sure you set up the security. Despite what's said about them some signal does escape and can be connected to in nearby houses on the same phase.