In need of network help and simplification

mark2410 · 30 Dec 2011 at 12:21

okay, i have at present a bit of a mess of a network and im getting tired of its jumbled nature. i am also looking for more speed if possible out of the wifi network.

what i have right now is an 834Gv4 acting as the modem and router. it broadcasts wifi too as i have a device that still needs wifi b. it is set to b and g however in case that makes any difference. sitting inches from it is an apple airport express (i use to play audio in the bathroom) they are conected via a short cat5 cable. the airport express then acts as a wifi hotspot and its set to broadcast N only on 2.4ghz. then on the other side of the flat in the livingroom/office there is a netgear WN2000RPT. this then is connected to a gb switch that a couple of comps are plugged into and it is the device that a coulp of laptops connect to. the wifi speed matters for moveing files from laptops to desktops. the best i can get out of my net conection is just over 8mbit so it doesnt hugely matter.

the laptops one with an intel 5300 and 3 antenna connects at 130mb. a netbook with an intel 5100 (2 antenna) that connects at 65mb but usually jumps to 130 when moveing stuff ovor the network and a last laptop with a dell 1702 (2 antenna) that connects at 65mb only (did see it go to 130 a couple of times but pretty much never.) i really would like these speeds to be higher.

right now im considering getting some homeplugs to connect the WN2000RPT to the router rather than it connect over wifi if iths is possible. this is in the hope that it not havenig to connect ot the airport express at 130mb would free up space to get faster throughput for the laptops. i also have in the cupboard an 834GT (but i believe it may be flakey, was parents) and a thompson 585 (Be Box) that are unused and could be pulled out if of any use.

im pretty open to all suggestions other than running an ethernet cable from the router to the WN2000RPT. please help me.

tals · 30 Dec 2011 at 18:14

You can use the home plugs to assist in this. Basically put one by the 834 and one by the switch then it can cover anything plugged into the switch. I use home plugs over wireless as the connection is more stable for me for static equipment. My own recommendation would be net gear but some would argue the make doesn't matter that much. Definitely go for 200mb ones which use the av standard, I believe av2 is around as well which is a newer standard but don't know much about them

mark2410 · 3 Jan 2012 at 11:10

any one comment if its worth going for 200mbit plugs or higher, i keep reading conflicting things about it.

yeah i do have a preference for netgear stuff (what ive mostly used and never had any problem)but their powerline plugs seem much more oxpensive than other brands. are they worth more or is it a case of paying for the big name brand?

tals · 3 Jan 2012 at 19:54

You have home plugs v 1 which are basically 85mb and the original standard. Then the av's which are 200mb

Between those two it's no competition get the 200mb, I made the mistake first time and then sold my v1's for av. The standard is newer more tolerant etc etc

The next version was gb, I think this is av2 now I believe for gb to get gb throughput it needs to be in the same circuit. So if on your fusebox if you trip a single connection that is a circuit - if your home plugs will be on a circuit you should get a fast throughout. Otherwise go av. Net gear power lines - love mine though you do pay and some would argue is all the same standard

mark2410 · 3 Jan 2012 at 21:43

i was playing about with the set up today and ive now got the WN2000RPT linking to the 834g rather than the airport express so the link between them is now only 54mbit. now it seems the WN2000RPT can form 40mhz connections with the laptops.

so that is a long what to what i wanted, better wifi throughput but shall continue to think about the plugs. if i do end up getting a new router i pretty much will need them.

tals · 4 Jan 2012 at 06:11

If that gets you the connection speed that you need then that is problem solved. I use my home plugs to connect non wifi devices like my humax recorder and also to give me a stable connection on the extremes of the wifi range. I also find them better for gaming

mark2410 · 4 Jan 2012 at 10:01

its most of what i want, the plug bit was just to get the internet to the livingroom/office since im forced to put the router out in the hall where the master BT socket is. still thanks for the help