Network over mains cabling

[enjay]

Does anyone have experience with ethernet over mains, things like Homeplug 85Mbps from Solwise Are they any good? Do they also work when plugged in to extension leads, or do they have to be plugged straight into the wall??

 

I'm struggling with signal strength around my house now I do most of my browsing on my phone not my laptop!

[robk]

Got a simalar device linking wireless router downstairs to the rest of the system upstairs here. It replaced a very tempermental wireless bridge. Mine is on the end of a extention lead, even though the instructions say do not do it. I suspect it depends how electrically noisy everything else plugged into the extention is.

 

Worth a try I would suggest.

[laserblazer]

A friend of mine has his tv decoder connected to his router using one and he says it is great.

[mb2k01]

I've got loads of them at home as I'm too lazy to properly cable my house!

The majority of them are plugged in to power extension leads and it's no problem at all - best thing I've ever purchased from eBuyer (and I've purchased a lot over the years!!)

[MatthewL]

I have one that connects part of the house, they are the Belkin 1Gb ones but I don't think I get that. Saves me running CAT5 to where a wireless signal is plonk.

 

You can pick them up cheap now and some makes can be used with each other but all depends on the chip in them.

[enjay]

Thanks guys, think I'll get them in that case...

[FN-GM]

I've got loads of them at home as I'm too lazy to properly cable my house!

The majority of them are plugged in to power extension leads and it's no problem at all - best thing I've ever purchased from eBuyer (and I've purchased a lot over the years!!)

 

When you add some more did you have to put them in pairs or can you have say 3 in total?

 

Thanks

[m25man]

Be aware that most of these devices are proprietary and whilst they work well in most cases, they do not necessarily work with those of other vendors or even between each version by the same manufacturer.

I repeat this as I was an early adopter of these and when it came to getting some additional units to add to the one I already had, found that they were obsolete and would have had to buy a whole new set.

 

If your planning to use more than just a pair it's worth doing your homework and go with a vendor that's got a good range of compatible kit to choose from.

[mb2k01]

When you add some more did you have to put them in pairs or can you have say 3 in total?

 

Thanks

 

The minimum you need is two - one which connects directly to your router, and one which then connects to your first connected client.

Once you have the one connected to the router, you can just add individuals as you neeed.

[adhutton]

I've got a few of these and they are superb - Extra Value 200Mbps Pass-through Powerline Adapter.. | Ebuyer.com

 

No problems whatsoever:D

 

Andrew

[teejay]

There are standards for these now, make sure you buy one from a manufacturer that is part of the HomePlug Alliance and interoperability will be fine.

[Little-Miss]

i got these ZyXEL PLA-401 v4 200Mbps Powerline Adapter Twin Pack.. | Ebuyer.com

 

To replace a cable that trailed across my apartment for the xbox! Works absolutely fine!

[plexer]

The Zyxels are cheaper than the best value ones, lol

 

Ben

[mb2k01]

While we're eBuyer'ing, these are the ones I have Extra Value 200Mbps Powerline Adapter Twin Pack.. | Ebuyer.com

 

Edit1: Doh! Same as above!

 

Edit2: Ha! They aren't! Thanks Plexer!

Edited June 27, 2011 by mb2k01

[adhutton]

The Zyxels are cheaper than the best value ones, lol

 

Ben

 

They aren't pass-through ones. The Ebuyer Extra Value model still lets you use the plug for something else which at home is very useful.

 

A

[plexer]

While we're eBuyer'ing, these are the ones I have Extra Value 200Mbps Powerline Adapter Twin Pack.. | Ebuyer.com

 

Edit: Doh! Same as above!

 

Not they're not as has just been pointed out to me the value ones listed above are pass through ones, your's aren't which is good to know as they are cheaper.

 

They aren't pass-through ones. The Ebuyer Extra Value model still lets you use the plug for something else which at home is very useful.

 

A

 

Ah yes I can see that thanks for pointing that out looks like a good idea. If only they incorporated power monitoring as well

 

Ben

[timzim]

I've used the Devolo ones to great effect. Their advantage is that they come with a security app so you can encrypt any data sent between them. Slows access down a little but probably a good plan if, like me, you've got a web-savvy weirdo living next door (and therefore possibly on the same mains circuit).

[plexer]

Don't all homeplug devices have to have a key set on them?

 

Ben

[farmerste]

if you have one of these connected on your house mains, sure the next house in the street, that is on the same colour phase as yourself will have access to your internet/network connection?

 

does it carry so far?

[jinnantonnixx]

Hmmm good point.

 

Even the cheap ones mention the encryption, but that's just applicable to data interception. What about Mr&Mrs Freeloder next door fancying a bit of your plump bandwidth?

 

I guess it's best to fork out for ones that have got some proper security.

[Cools]

if you have one of these connected on your house mains, sure the next house in the street, that is on the same colour phase as yourself will have access to your internet/network connection?

 

does it carry so far?

 

no it does not work like that..

 

the meter will stop that from happening.. if it's a digital one. plus some of them will not work over more that 1 rcd on the fuse board.

the Netgrar 200mb and 1gb ones say that work over 3 rcd's but i have never got them to work over 3 rcd's.

 

as most fuse boards have [main switch] [RCD] jacuzzi / playroom [RCD] cooker trip / lights down /lights up/ other.

crap [RCD] mains up / mains down / ...

 

unless you have old fuses with fuse wire and mechanical meeter.. then be friend a neighbour 3 houses up and check there mains....

 

Street order for the coloured phases should be ..... red, yellow, blue.

But it never works out like that..

 

use to work for powergen..

[Flatpackhamster]

I've used the Devolo boxes for a number of clients. They've been very good and the new ones which create a wireless access point are even better. Software is good (now they've got the bugs out of it) and the security is effective.

 

I recall reading, somewhere or other, that they cause a huge amount of interference to radio waves.

[Mcshammer_dj]

if you have one of these connected on your house mains, sure the next house in the street, that is on the same colour phase as yourself will have access to your internet/network connection?

 

does it carry so far?

 

In my experience there are times when it will struggle to get across the internal ring mains.

 

My system would ontly work on one ring main either up stairs or down but for some reason it struggled to go between both. Equally if you have double plugs etc it will lose speed.

 

In my 100 year old house with the older style fuse blocks I was also getting about 50/Mbs using AV200 boxes

[enjay]

They've been very good and the new ones which create a wireless access point are even better.

That's what I've bought - one "normal" one by the router and one wireless one so my phone can connect from the bedroom.

 

I recall reading, somewhere or other, that they cause a huge amount of interference to radio waves.

That's a shame - I have a radio alarm clock plugged in to the same double socket as the wireless is going to go...

 

Excellent nickname, by the way :-)

[enjay]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I bought the Solwise ones from my original link (only saw the link to the pass-through ones too late) and they work a treat. The wireless was a bit fiddly to set up, as I had to connect to it on a cable, swap my network card properties to match then log in and manage the wireless, but once set up it works fine. SSID and passwords match my main router, so I can now move (almost) seamlessly around the house. while browsing.