Anyone use Powerlines?

[twoscoops]

Hi all,

 

Today had fibre installed today and the technician asked what devices I used internet on etc...

 

Anyway he asked if I used powerlines, I had never heard of them and they literally blew my mind, but left me with a few questions that I was wondering if anyone in here could help me with. Sorry to put a list but it really is the best way to format them, thanks to anyone that can help.

 

1) How does it work? I understand it runs internet through electrical cable but how?

 

2) Can does it work with any plug in the house hold? Also theoretical maximum of plugs able to be used or is it infinite?

 

3) How would I go about using this with an extension lead (one that says with built in Ethernet)? Do I connect an adapter to extension lead and use the Ethernet port on the extension lead? Or does the extension lead have a built in adapter?

 

4) How is the drop compared to WiFi, at the moment my PC has a loss of around 5mbps to the output through Ethernet. Is there any significant drop at all? Or does it act like a long Ethernet cable?

 

5) Any recommendations (UK Plug).

 

Thanks again for any help anyone can give. :-)

[A.D.A.M]

THis is an interesting watch 

[Analog]

Hi all,

 

Today had fibre installed today and the technician asked what devices I used internet on etc...

 

Anyway he asked if I used powerlines, I had never heard of them and they literally blew my mind, but left me with a few questions that I was wondering if anyone in here could help me with. Sorry to put a list but it really is the best way to format them, thanks to anyone that can help.

 

1) How does it work? I understand it runs internet through electrical cable but how?

 

2) Can does it work with any plug in the house hold? Also theoretical maximum of plugs able to be used or is it infinite?

 

3) How would I go about using this with an extension lead (one that says with built in Ethernet)? Do I connect an adapter to extension lead and use the Ethernet port on the extension lead? Or does the extension lead have a built in adapter?

 

4) How is the drop compared to WiFi, at the moment my PC has a loss of around 5mbps to the output through Ethernet. Is there any significant drop at all? Or does it act like a long Ethernet cable?

 

5) Any recommendations (UK Plug).

 

Thanks again for any help anyone can give. :-)

 

1 - It's magic! It just uses the cables in the walls to run the internet to the desired location. Nothing more, nothing less.

2 - Yes if all power outlets are at the same breaker or if the breakers are bridged, meaning all connected to each other. 

3 - Don't really understand your question here. The adapters have ports and you just plug one end of the cable there and the other one in the device you want to connect, whether it is a laptop, PC, router, etc.

4 - It depends a lot on the wiring in your house. If it is old then you will see signal degradation. However most power line adapters have a neat feature that indicates which outlets are optimal by displaying a red, orange and green light according to the quality of the signal. 

5 - I personally use Netgear and they work flawlessly. 

 

In the house where I live the router is 2 floors beneath me and on an other breaker. I still get no signal degradation at all. It is easily 3x the quality of Wi-Fi. 

[C_Mike]

1) Data is sent through the power cables throughout your house, at really high frequencies to avoid interference with the 50 Hz electrical signal. Image the power cables acting like telephone wires carry data throughout your house, its essentially the sane thing

2)The software within the plugs is able to detect other devices on the same network(ie connected to the power lines). I think the maximum depends on the device but If you have a 500Mbps kit, then that 500Mbps will be split between all the powerline devices.

3)I don't realy understand what your question is here, but always plug the powerline adapter straight into the wall socket for the best connection. And if you still need to use the socket for power you can get a pass-through adapter (pics below)

4)From  what i've experienced with my Wi-Fi the powerlines are much faster, but it depends on your Wi-Fi gear and the age/quality of the power cables in your house. Watch the video here on NCIX Tech Tips for comparisons 

5)I use a kit from TP-Link, but as far as I know they're pretty similar, just get whatever has a good price. TP-Link, Netgear, Linksys, Solwise and Devolo are all good.

 

                                                    Normal                                                                                                            W/ Pass-Through

 

[twoscoops]

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Thanks guys.

[braceyourself07]

I use powerline ethernet for my home security cameras (2 outdoor, 1 indoor) that are spread out around a 2400 square foot house and they work well (cameras are semi HD at 720p) and seem to capture and stream just fine without falling off the network.  I wouldn't expect powerline ethernet to dominate in terms of speed/bandwidth unless they are relatively close together w/ very few interfering electrical items plugged in.   Remaining areas of the house have cat5e run to wall  phone jacks, which I re-wired as RJ45 ports and put a gigabit switch in the garage where it all comes together so my home is now otherwise wired for gigabit (and powerline for hard to reach areas that have power outlets nearby).

 

So overall, if you don't want to run unsightly cables, the powerline does what it does well. Stick with a reputable brand with good reviews from other users.

[DanTheMuffinMan]

I use them in client's houses to get these solar-panel controllers to communicate with routers. They are basically magic, very awesome. We avoid connecting them through GIC outlets, outlets with more then 1 other things in them (so this also includes anything with a power bar) and surge protectors, seems to degrade the signal.

 

Personally I would still use wifi (especially if you an ac router and card) but powerline's yet to fail me completely.

[twoscoops]

I use them in client's houses to get these solar-panel controllers to communicate with routers. They are basically magic, very awesome. We avoid connecting them through GIC outlets, outlets with more then 1 other things in them (so this also includes anything with a power bar) and surge protectors, seems to degrade the signal.

 

Personally I would still use wifi (especially if you an ac router and card) but powerline's yet to fail me completely.

 

Would you then recommend buying an AC adapter instead? (I already have an AC router).

[DanTheMuffinMan]

Would you then recommend buying an AC adapter instead? (I already have an AC router).

Yep, assuming you're within range of your router. 802.11ac has speeds in the 400 mb/s range, plenty for just about anything you could be doing. And it uses the less crowded 5ghz band, so if you're in an apartment or something similar less chance of other networks messing with you.