Improving network speed in homeoffice

[Squid Vicious]

I have a VirginMedia 200Mbps service and I'd appreciate recommendations on how to improve bandwidth upstairs in my man-den/homeoffice.

Unfortunately the homeoffice is at the furthest possible point from the access point downstairs (2 walls and a floor) so wireless performance is poor.

Test measurements:
- Superhub3 (downstairs) via ethernet on a laptop measured >200Mbps
- Superhub3 (downstairs) via wifi on a laptop (downstairs) measured approx 190Mbps
- Superhub3 (downstairs) via wifi on a laptop (homeoffice) measured approx 40Mbps
- Superhub3 via netgear powerline adapter to Switch to desktop (homeoffice) measured approx 50Mbps
- Superhub3 direct to Switch (homeoffice) measured >200Mbps

If I have a particularly large file to download upstairs I run a length of ethernet (15-20m) from the hub to the switch upstairs - it's a very temporary solution.

I think the netgear adaptors are the 500 model but maybe hindered by being on a different ring circuit - is it even worth considering alternative powerline adapters?

Are there any wireless solutions that would provide anything near the 200MBps service given the physical aspects of the setup?

Attached pic gives you an idea of the current setup.

 

[Sp00n]

Powerline adapters are very hit and miss, I wouldn't bother changing them, I doubt you'll get any better speeds.

Hard wiring would always be preferential but not always pheasable, how far/many walls/floors between the SH3 and the homeoffice? Might be better off just getting a good access point and turning off the wifi on the superhub.

 

[Steveocee]

If you use it regularly and want it to be reliable then a well run cable (internally or externally) will always be the best bet. You have up to 100m to play with before it starts to get finicky so you could look at running a cable and hiding it properly. At first it can sound scary but if you take your time and make a good job they become virtually invisible.

Powerlines can be very hit or miss, ones that "claim" 500Mb rates only tend to have 10/100 ports on them so you're automatically losing out. Poor connections over different rings also impede that heavily.

 

[Pocah]

I messed with all sorts of gear for years then finally just ran a network cable. Problem sorted. It's far cheaper, gives far better results, the only issue is where it will travel.

 

[BigT]

Don’t try other powerline adapters.

Either run a cable which will be well worth the effort or if you absolutely can’t then a wireless mesh system should see your speeds improve.

 

[Squid Vicious]

Thanks for your replies. I figured cable would likely be best option for performance and reliability.

The house already has coax running into each of the rooms so I may see if I can follow same routes as that.

 

[Steveocee]

Thanks for your replies. I figured cable would likely be best option for performance and reliability.

The house already has coax running into each of the rooms so I may see if I can follow same routes as that.

May be worth looking at MoCa if you have coax into both rooms, you can get an adapter that whilst won't give you gigabit over it, they should get you a 100Mb connection.
https://www.actiontec.com/moca/

 

[Squid Vicious]

May be worth looking at MoCa if you have coax into both rooms, you can get an adapter that whilst won't give you gigabit over it, they should get you a 100Mb connection.
https://www.actiontec.com/moca/

Interesting - I'd looked for a solution that operated over coax but didn't find anything that offered these performance levels (the site suggests upto 1Gbps for the moca 2.0 network adaptor - subject to noise etc)

 

[Steveocee]

Just play it cautious, it's like anything. They advertise absolute best case benchmark testing and the reality is usually well below it. I have played with some of the older MoCa's and although they took a couple of minutes to sync together they have been very solid in the deployment (albeit speed wasn't a huge part of this). they will certainly be more stable than power line adaptors though.

 

[Kol]

From another thread, but power lines get written off too quickly. Sure, old ones were hit and miss but even in my ancient place these sustain way more than I expected. They saturate my VM connection which is plenty.

The attachment was a screenshot.

Buy the PA9020 kit. It's solid. Everyone seems to moan about powerlines not being able to sustain or even hit good speeds. My VM connection is 200mbit. Forgive the short time frame this screenshot display (I had to reboot) but the PA9020 at the other end of the house gets the same speed as if I was in the lounge where the router is.



Averaging 21.7MB/s (174Mbit), but if I'm not using it for anything else (I was also VPN'd into work on another machine doing some intensive tasks) it usually sits happily around 25MB/s which is contrary to a lot of people's complaints about powerlines.

For the record, my house was last rewired in the 80/90s (early Victorian place).

 

[bremen1874]

The OP is actually getting pretty good throughput with the existing Powerline adapters. Good enough to have some confidence that modern AV2 adapters would see a worthwhile improvement. Unfortunately it's an expensive gamble and a cable will still be better.

 

[Kol]

Oh absolutely agree. If a cable is possible, cable all the way. I upgraded from some av500 nanos.