Ethernet wall sockets

JoeBoi

JoeBoi

JoeBoi

Soldato
Joined
29 Dec 2005
Posts
6,356
Location
Northants
Hi all,

Looking for some advice. Currently using wireless to game online with the PC.

Pings seem ok, no noticable lag or anything but I want the absolute best connection that I can get.

Wired straight to the router isn't really an option available at the moment, so I have looked at these ethernet wall extenders.

Are they any good?

Would this be better than using wifi?

Is there anything that I should be aware of using these?

Thanks in advance.

Joe
 
It also depends on the route your electrics take and the quality of them.

Preferably modern electrics and on the same ring. Speedtest gave me 75mbs download and 12mbs upload (Virgin 152mb) in our previous house.
I've tried it where we are now in a converted garage at the end of the garden and its quicker to send the data by post (so I put a network in and its great)
 
Whenever someone says "I can't run an Ethernet cable" all it ever boils down to is "I can't be bothered to understand the logistics of running an Ethernet cable.

Even in rented properties you should be able to run cables around the edges of carpets (under them, out of sight) and under doors.

Every, single, time I've ever done this in my own of friends rented properties I've found a way, and it's usually that they've just simply been intimidated by making their own cable. The max length of cat5 is 100m. You could literally go out the window and take the most obscure route around the garden and likely still have better throughput than powerline or WiFi.

It's absolutely worth pursuing and I'm keen to know what you think is blocking you doing it?
 
RoyMi6 said:
Whenever someone says "I can't run an Ethernet cable" all it ever boils down to is "I can't be bothered to understand the logistics of running an Ethernet cable.
Click to expand...

Nah, there is more to it than that, everyone is different, every house is different.

Powerlines are great for quick easy wired connections, so long as the electric ring isn't too bad you'll get a good reliable connection.
 
RoyMi6 said:
Whenever someone says "I can't run an Ethernet cable" all it ever boils down to is "I can't be bothered to understand the logistics of running an Ethernet cable.

Even in rented properties you should be able to run cables around the edges of carpets (under them, out of sight) and under doors.

Every, single, time I've ever done this in my own of friends rented properties I've found a way, and it's usually that they've just simply been intimidated by making their own cable. The max length of cat5 is 100m. You could literally go out the window and take the most obscure route around the garden and likely still have better throughput than powerline or WiFi.

It's absolutely worth pursuing and I'm keen to know what you think is blocking you doing it?
Click to expand...

It is not an option for me at the moment.

I appreciate that it is not difficult to do but I do not have the tools or time at the mo. If I could run one, trust me I would.

Thanks for the repsonses though guys. Tbh I am dubious on how good of a job the wall plugs will be in our flat. Will gice it a go though.
 
Don't skip the section of the instructions that tell you how to set your own encryption keys.

If you leave them at default there's a chance you'll end up cross connected with a neighbour's network.
 
RoyMi6 said:
Whenever someone says "I can't run an Ethernet cable" all it ever boils down to is "I can't be bothered to understand the logistics of running an Ethernet cable.

Even in rented properties you should be able to run cables around the edges of carpets (under them, out of sight) and under doors.

Every, single, time I've ever done this in my own of friends rented properties I've found a way, and it's usually that they've just simply been intimidated by making their own cable. The max length of cat5 is 100m. You could literally go out the window and take the most obscure route around the garden and likely still have better throughput than powerline or WiFi.

It's absolutely worth pursuing and I'm keen to know what you think is blocking you doing it?
Click to expand...


Yup.

Most 'spec me a powerline set' threads are followed up within a year with 'my powerline aren't fast/stable enough' threads.

The throughput is abysmal on them.
 
With ethernet people forget that they can go outside rather than messing around with floor-boards and the like.
Our downstairs was wireless, then powerline - which to be fair was OK, did the job.
Over Christmas I bit the bullet - Drill out upstairs, outdoor CAT5E down the side of the house, drill back in downstairs.
Back-boxes and the like at each end and job done - 3hrs work and that included a run to the local DIY shop as the drill bit I had for drilling through the wall wasn't long enough.

Everything that matters is now wired via GB networking, phones, tablets and the like connect to my Ubiquity units - happy days.
 
bledd said:
Yup.

Most 'spec me a powerline set' threads are followed up within a year with 'my powerline aren't fast/stable enough' threads.

The throughput is abysmal on them.
Click to expand...

'abysmal'

a bit of an exaggeration, they will never deliver the headline figures and they will never beat a proper wired connection but in a reasonable sized house with decent wiring they can be a massive improvement over wireless. I have my main and work PC's on the third floor of our house wireless coverage is awful and cabling isn't an option my AV500 home plugs give me a stable predictable connection to both internet and home server which I can't fault. I'd love it to be faster but not enough to go to the trouble of cabling!

Your choice of language and extreme negativity towards homeplug technology doesn't improve your arguments and doesn't really reflect your normal helpful approach!
 
stoofa said:
With ethernet people forget that they can go outside rather than messing around with floor-boards and the like.
Our downstairs was wireless, then powerline - which to be fair was OK, did the job.
Over Christmas I bit the bullet - Drill out upstairs, outdoor CAT5E down the side of the house, drill back in downstairs.
Back-boxes and the like at each end and job done - 3hrs work and that included a run to the local DIY shop as the drill bit I had for drilling through the wall wasn't long enough.

Everything that matters is now wired via GB networking, phones, tablets and the like connect to my Ubiquity units - happy days.
Click to expand...

External caballing is an eyesore though!
 
^^If you run cables, you can install more wifi points around the house to give your whole house great coverage, for tablets/laptops/phones.

Everything else, wired in.
 
a1ex2001 said:
External caballing is an eyesore though!
Click to expand...

I disagree and I'll grab a picture when I can.
I've run 2x black CAT5E cables, the total run is what - 2m. They are tacked to the wall using black clips.
They run perfectly vertical.
Unless you're looking you cannot see.
 
Nothing wrong with external cabling if it's done neatly and kept to a minimum.

Many houses already have external cabling of some sort anyway (Sky, BT, Virgin, etc.) which no one thinks twice about.
 
JoeBoi said:
I appreciate that it is not difficult to do but I do not have the tools or time at the mo. If I could run one, trust me I would.
Click to expand...

Bingo.

I've always found running a cable much better use of anyone's time compared to faffing around with powerline stuff. Anyway, I'm sure it will suffice but you're contradicting yourself when you say you want "the absolute best connection that I can get".
 
Agreed with above.
Getting the cable is easy, as is the wall boxes, modules etc.
The tools - well £10 will get you a "stripper" and punch tool.
My single most expensive item was the long, masonry drill-bit to go through the external wall, but if you're keeping your wiring all indoors then you don't need this.
Yes it took me 3-4 hours to complete (getting those two cable runs through those nice new holes was the slowest part as the drilled holes were purposely only just wide enough to fit 2x CAT5e.

But that is 3-4 hours of my life - JOB DONE!
No faffing around with powerline or WiFi, no getting frustrated when something drops out, no getting annoyed when a powerline adaptor loses syncronisation.
No checking to see what the latest and greatest powerline adaptor is and being tempted to buy it "just to get a few more MB".

The quickest solution is rarely the overall best.
 
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