Homeplugs

Chris85 · 6 Aug 2009 at 16:49

Am I right in thinking a twin pack of homeplugs will allow me to connect 2 devices to a router. I am after using them for the 2 computers upstairs. Also is there anything else I require.
Thanks
Chris

Paul11 · 6 Aug 2009 at 16:54

yes they will

no, you dont require anything else

Chris85 · 6 Aug 2009 at 17:01

Thanks for the fast reply. I assume the plugs go by both PC's and connected via an ethernet cable but how do they communicate with the router as that is downstairs
Chris

SMN · 6 Aug 2009 at 17:08

If your PC is upstairs and your router is downstairs it wont work as your power for up and downstairs will be on seperate power rings.

The homeplugs work by using the existing power cables as data cables in theory, transmitting and receiving on them as they would in a standard cable. The problem is the upstairs and downstairs cables arent linked, so in theory you have 2 power networks.

Paul11 · 6 Aug 2009 at 17:10

Chris85 said:
Thanks for the fast reply. I assume the plugs go by both PC's and connected via an ethernet cable but how do they communicate with the router as that is downstairs
Chris

if you have two pcs, then you will need 3 homeplugs, (one for each pc and one for the router)

SMN said:
If your PC is upstairs and your router is downstairs it wont work as your power for up and downstairs will be on seperate power rings.

The homeplugs work by using the existing power cables as data cables in theory, transmitting and receiving on them as they would in a standard cable. The problem is the upstairs and downstairs cables arent linked, so in theory you have 2 power networks.

the homeplugs can work on different rings of electric as long as they all go through the same fusebox

SMN · 6 Aug 2009 at 17:14

Fascinating. I honestly never knew that, cheers

Bear in mind (OP) that homeplug networks tend to perform on par as a slow 802.11g wireless network (40Mb) due to the potential noise on the line etc. Not advisable for copying files over

Paul11 · 6 Aug 2009 at 17:18

SMN said:
Fascinating. I honestly never knew that, cheers

Bear in mind (OP) that homeplug networks tend to perform on par as a slow 802.11g wireless network (40Mb) due to the potential noise on the line etc. Not advisable for copying files over

i wouldnt say its "not advisable" only that it might be slower and take slightly longer if you buy the slower speed ones

SMN · 6 Aug 2009 at 17:27

Well if most of them are theoretical max at 40Mbps and a standard LAN is 100Mbps, then yeah its significantly slower

Bear in mind you never get the theo max so it'll be operating at like 1/2MBps transfer rate depending on copper quality, signal degradation etc *shudder*.

Seft · 6 Aug 2009 at 17:36

SMN said:
Bear in mind (OP) that homeplug networks tend to perform on par as a slow 802.11g wireless network (40Mb) due to the potential noise on the line etc. Not advisable for copying files over

I have 200mbps Homeplugs and I can get sustained 5-6MB/s on my network, which is good enough for file copies.

EDIT: Zyxel PLA-401s, I paid about £50 for a pair.

exia · 6 Aug 2009 at 17:38

SMN said:
If your PC is upstairs and your router is downstairs it wont work as your power for up and downstairs will be on seperate power rings.

The homeplugs work by using the existing power cables as data cables in theory, transmitting and receiving on them as they would in a standard cable. The problem is the upstairs and downstairs cables arent linked, so in theory you have 2 power networks.

Not entirely true, the adapters need to be on the same phase supply, as the majority of houses are on single phase it should be fine. I myself am using two powerline adapters with router downstairs and PC upstairs.

Paul11 · 6 Aug 2009 at 17:41

SMN said:
Well if most of them are theoretical max at 40Mbps and a standard LAN is 100Mbps, then yeah its significantly slower Bear in mind you never get the theo max so it'll be operating at like 1/2MBps transfer rate depending on copper quality, signal degradation etc *shudder*.

im not 100% sure but i think the 200 homeplugs will get more than 40Mbps

Jokester · 6 Aug 2009 at 18:32

Most I've ever got out of my 200Mbps plugs is about 40Mbps but that might just be a coincidence.

raptormonkey · 6 Aug 2009 at 18:45

SMN said:
If your PC is upstairs and your router is downstairs it wont work as your power for up and downstairs will be on seperate power rings.

The homeplugs work by using the existing power cables as data cables in theory, transmitting and receiving on them as they would in a standard cable. The problem is the upstairs and downstairs cables arent linked, so in theory you have 2 power networks.

Wrong. It does work. My mate has one upstairs and works with the router downstairs.

Wiggins · 6 Aug 2009 at 19:18

If you have your router downstairs and 2 pc's upstairs then you can either buy 3 homeplugs or 2 homeplugs and a cheap 4 port switch. The 2 homeplugs and switch will be significantly cheaper than 3 homeplugs.

A homeplug downstairs running from your router and one homeplug upstairs in the switch and the two pc's plugged in there also. Plus you have a spare port on the switch for a PS3/360. Job done

errata · 7 Aug 2009 at 13:42

Zyxel make a nice cable router with homeplug 200av built in that (with latest formware) has a nice access point mode, so you get a 4 port switch, homeplug 200av and wifi in one box, very handy for linking consoles and pc's back to a router or other pc's NBG318S, probably not cheaper than a cheap switch and a homeplug though.

Some of the above posts confuse max data rates, therotecial rates and real life rates for wifi and homeplug. Both technologies vary hugely probably best to rely on reported troughputs in real world tests. File copying and HD file streaming is normally easily achievable with homeplug AV units and in my experience its mroe robust than wifi but not as fast as an ethernet cable.

Homeplugs are not perfect but for many doemestic homes they are much much simpler, faster and more appriapriate than wifi of whatever flavour.