Ethernet Powerline and a Flat - HELP!

torN · 15 Jun 2017 at 09:57

Recently had Plusnet Fibre Unlimited installed in my flat, this is with the new Plusnet all in one hub, there is no BT open reach modem.

Directly connecting to the hub via ethernet using my laptop, I receive 60mbps down and 20 up, excellent! Even over WiFi the connection is 55 down, also great!

The router has to remain in the living room, this is the only phone line / master socket within the flat, at first I thought this will be fine, I could just powerline the connection to the spare room (which is the room next to the living room) and connect to my PC this way.... I was wrong.

Connecting the to the powerline apdater in the spare room reports a barely stable connection at 1 to 3 mbps, this is not acceptable!

I live in a 3 story flat and I am on the 1st floor. What can I do? I do own the flat, would I be better off running a cable around the skirting board and under the door frame to the spare room, the GF is not keen on this, or do I employ an electrician to add Ethernet ports to the walls etc?

Does anyone have any recommendations please? I am all ears!

torN · 15 Jun 2017 at 10:25

I didn't have a huge amount of time to test other sockets last night, but I will run further tests on the weekend. The TP Link powerline apdaters are up to 500mbps ones, they are the £30 pass through set I purchase from a popular retailer. I have used these in a house before and they worked well.

What type of flat ethernet cable? Cat 6?

torN · 15 Jun 2017 at 10:55

I have found 30meters of CAT7, ideal?

Just to add, would I best best running 15 meters of ethernet to a switch in the spare room and then from the switch to the pc? is 20 or 30 meters of cabling okay to use? Sorry, I am a noob when it comes to the difference between CAT5 etc and if there is a possible loss of data at a certain length of cable.

torN · 15 Jun 2017 at 11:24

Cool, okay, thanks Sp00n and ChrisD for the information and help. I do appreciate it! Do either one of you want to negotiate the cable install to my girlfriend

?

torN · 15 Jun 2017 at 13:27

DragonQ said:
I used flat Ethernet cables in my previous flat. I didn't bother running them under the carpet but it meant I could pin them around doors and under doors easily.

When I moved to my house I did some proper internal wiring between the under stairs cupboard, living room, and study (all conveniently on one side of the house).

I took a look, but the images are broken for me.

Sp00n said:
Keep it tidy and it's no worse than a phone extension, hide it under carpet and she can't argue surely

Heres to hoping, #pray4me. The flat is very minimal, there is barely any wires anywhere!

torN · 15 Jun 2017 at 13:47

I have found the following at a popular, large, online retailer :

Flat CAT7 High Speed 8Gbps RJ45 Cat 7 Ethernet cables LAN Networking Cable with STP Copper Wires Shielded & Gold Plated Connector

torN · 15 Jun 2017 at 13:51

Ok, I will look at CAT5E or CAT6.

torN · 27 Jun 2017 at 11:58

Well, a slight strange turn.....

Further testing of the Powerline kit produced......perfect results, no loss of line speed! I'm gunna put the initial test down to my 10 year old laptop doing some weird things at the time of testing.

I have tested the sockets in the Living room, Spare room, Bedroom and Kitchen and no loss of speed. I have also tested in the morning, afternoon and evening! Great news!