Home network - changing from router to a switch

[gupott]

Hi all,

First up, I can't say I really understand the black art of networking, I basically have always got by on a wing and a prayer but I am having a few issues.

So, I live in an old house in the middle of nowhere however not far from the exchange. I am with BT and the line comes into the house and travels for about 20 feet before I can get my modem/router connected. From there I plug in the wall via a bt homeplug. I also plug another another homeplug of a different make (solwise) into the BT one and also connect it to my router. From there I can connect my PC (I get 20 meg surprisingly) using the solwise homeplug network using a 'piggy6' (basically a gangplug with ethernet ports). I then plug another homeplug in the lounge from where I take the ethernet line into a solwise modem/router. From there into BT box, ps3 and xbox360.

So my main problem is the connection to the solwise router in the lounge, it is pretty much always fine for the bt box but the ps3 and xbox360 can only connect to the internet (wired) intermittently. So my question is - should I change the solwise modem/router for a 5 port switch? My thinking being the main issue is probably something to do with the solwise modem/router and it maybe over complicating things.

Sorry for rambling - any thoughts?

 

[gupott]

That sounds bad!!

I was looking at something like Netgear GS105 5-port Gigabit Ethernet Switch.

Is this decent? Is there anything else I should consider.

 

[gupott]

Thanks for the replies.

In answer to bremen1874 - so if I make some changes to the configuration of the Solwise router I can use it, essentially, as a switch without the need for new hardware. Now, if I could only remember the url!!!!!!

Two different homeplugs - I moved house and used the solwise kit as my network previously, but on moving I changed to BT which didn't like the solwise stuff - so I was forced to mix and match. It has generally worked but I know its not an ideal solution. In a perfect world I want to move where the telephone lines comes into the house and bring it into the front room and place it behind the TV.