Powerline adpator

[arc]

Hi all

I need some Powerline / Homeplugs - any models to look at or to avoid?

D-Link is a name I've used before;

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/231266

Any opinions?

 

[Stu DemonD]

I use these, 2 sets

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160665

But it looks like they have been discontinued - but I think they are Edimax...

There is a thread on here somewhere where I looked at throughput with them - FTPing to my Popcorn Hour. Pretty impressive but of course I think it all depends on your wiring - what works for me may not work for you!

 

[colin79666]

I got some Comtrend AV ones off eBay. One packed up after a year but the other 2 are OK.

Beware that all powerline adaptors create interference so you might want to avoid if you live next door to a radio enthusiast.

 

[arc]

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/belkin-powerline-av-starter-kit-29-99-instore-hmv/913910

Shall get them methinks. Some dodgy reports of the 1gbps ones.

 

[Focus Owner]

HATE belkin personally.
had 2 products and both being weak

 

[arc]

bought these in the end;

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/tp-...ethernet-adapter-starter-kit-35-39-box/913996

 

[Focus Owner]

tp dont mind them

 

[Stu DemonD]

Back in stock:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160665

I tried them tonight at a client's house (when I say house, I mean mansion) - they have been quoted over £600 just to reroute some Cat5e cable with trunking, to run two VoIP phones.

So I went over, plugged 3 of these in - the 200Mb sets - connected one to router, then found the other two sockets around the house. They are on an 8Mb ADSL line - first socket was hitting 6Mb, the other around 5Mb (in an area that is so far from the router that the wireless is hardly visible). They are pretty impressed, so will be ordering two sets for them tomorrow for £80 and charging minimal time for an install

 

[Focus Owner]

not tempted by running a wireless, booster thingy?
If i understood how they worked more i think i may buy a set, to play with

 

[Stu DemonD]

not tempted by running a wireless, booster thingy?

How would you connect the 2 VoIP phones to a wireless, booster thingy then? Start bridging connections or use adaptors. Too much hassle.

So much easier using Powerlines - plug and play, no keys or dropouts - and basically "hardwired" into the network but using the house electrics.

Plug 1st into socket, connect it to port on router using an ethernet cable.

Go to next socket in house, plug it in - connect VoIP / PC / laptop to ethernet cable - connected.

Ditto for next socket... and so on.

 

[ChrisUK]

I think what he means is a Wireless Repeater (in my experience they suck). And not to be confused with a wireless bridge (which when using Cisco Aironet products don't suck).

I agree with you Stu. For the application you've picked the best option especially after trialing it first . But I will say "application will vary".

I tried it at a particular customer's site and they just wouldn't work reliably. Depends very much on the electrical cabling infrastrucuture. Ended up having to cable everywhere and deploy wireless :yuck: :bang:.

 

[Stu DemonD]

I think what he means is a Wireless Repeater (in my experience they suck).

Oh, I know what he meant, I just don't acknowledge that

After all the hassle I had wiring up my house with the 4 locations, I knew the powerlines would be an option. The client is happy and so am I, plus minimal hassle and easy installation

 

[Stu DemonD]

All working - ordered yesterday via eBuyer, with 4 2m patch leads. I shipped them direct to my client, who then plugged them straight in and the VoIP phones worked immediately - simples

There was someone there from this company in London, who had quoted to do the extension of the Cat5e cabling - all of 30 foot or so - and they had wanted to send out 2 engineers to do this job. With the associated trunking, the cost was around £600+VAT.

She watched in amazement as this worked, admitted she had never ever seen this before, and would go back to base and tell them...

Saved my client around £400 or so

 

[jenks69]

Good call to use power line adapters! I've used them many many times, got a pair here so I can have network access from the garage. I've learnt over the last 10 years or so that most people that put in data cabling are monkies and at least one socket won't work after they've left!

 

[DaveMcT]

Only snag is neighbours on the same mains phase might be able to steal into your www bandwidth. They still need signal encription.

 

[Stu DemonD]

These can still be encrypted if needed. The place I put these in has no neighbour issues, believe me. And as for my pad, I am well aware of what the neighbours are using - so again no issues.

Still, something to be aware of