Powerline ethernet adaptors

[Crackle]

You know the ones you plug into the mains and it carries your ethernet signal from the router. They seem to get very good reviews and I'm thinking of getting the Linksys AV ones with the built in 4 port switch. These will go in the kids rooms for their computers and Games devices.

Wonderd if anyone had any experience of them, particularly Linksys ones.

 

[yello]

No experience, no, but I have looked into using a pair. I believe, though I don't know, that they have to be on the same electrical circuit to function effectively/at all.

 

[twowheelsgood]

Usually slower and more expensive than wireless networking. Why bother?

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I have used them in houses that are to big, or the walls are to thick, for wireless to work very well and they have been ok. Make sure you get a quality one some of the ones available on the high street are crap.

I used these for relaying the broadband signal across a HUGE house and they worked fine there are better but it depends on your buget -->

http://www.cclonline.com/product-in...tegory_id=371&manufacturer_id=0&tid=nl-hpdual

 

[Proto]

My BT Home Hub thingy came with a pair so that I could connect my tellybox to the modem/router for viewing online. Took a bit of effort to set up (and a call to BT) but worked perfectly ever since.

 

[Crackle]

I have used them in houses that are to big, or the walls are to thick, for wireless to work very well and they have been ok. Make sure you get a quality one some of the ones available on the high street are crap.

I used these for relaying the broadband signal across a HUGE house and they worked fine there are better but it depends on your buget -->

http://www.cclonline.com/product-in...tegory_id=371&manufacturer_id=0&tid=nl-hpdual

That's pretty much what I was looking at. Except the AV stuff is the next generation. Theoretical speeds are 200Mb/s. If I achieve half that that will be excellent.

Why these rather than wireless? Well, wireless is a shared signal so everything that uses the bandwidth competes. While n is supposed to be better at that and I'm sure it is, I would prefer a more reliable signal and to remove the online gaming off the wireless signal. Also my house is a Victorian one, with thick walls and three floors, wireless signals are not reliable in every corner. Also, shock, horror. I own stuff that only takes a hardwire.

 

[Crackle]

I bought and installed these. Simply plugged them in and they worked on all levels of the house. I haven't tested the throughput yet but it is better than wireless. My house is newly wired though but I suspect that wouldn't matter, maybe affect speed is all. Highly recommended.

 

[Tollers]

I use the Devolo AV too. Bloody brilliant....and no messing about with encryption either, which is pretty easy to break if youre geeky enough.

 

[Bman]

Ive had no experiance with them I'm afraid. They seem like a briliant idea.

They have nothing over a length of cat6 though

 

[Crackle]

I still haven't measured the throughput but there are two games machines and several computers running off these and it's just like being attached directly to the router; very impressed. Unfortunately I'd need a lot more than one long cat6 cable and it'd have to be so long I'd need a drum of the stuff and a crimping kit plus testers.

 

[Davidc]

I've had Netgear HDX101 power wiring adaptors for about 3 years now. Wireless is difficult - too many of them locally for the number of channels, and metal lined plasterboard doesn't help.

The speed is better than the same vintage wireless (actual is about 70Mb/s, actual for wireless is about 20Mb/s), and they're very reliable. We now use 3, on 2 ringmains. It used to be 4.

BUT don't expect to be able to use medium wave radio in the house afterwards.

DO make sure you use the security system. It's not as open as wireless, but I can get a (very slow) connection to someone elses unsecured network even though the electricity meters are supposed to kill it.

 

[john59]

I’ve been using the ‘Solwise Home Plug’ over the last two weeks and I must say I’m impressed. Easy to set up. I have one plug next to the router in the cloakroom and the other on an extension in my bedroom.



John