Need advice on homeplug/powerline networking

spiki

spiki

spiki

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I am trying to set up a simple home network. I have a destkop PC connected to BT 2MB line through a BT Voyager 105 ADSL modem. However, I recently obtained a MacBook through my work and it comes with wifi, in the form of Apple's 'airport' connection. I have read the guides on networks and broadband on this forum but to be honest found them to too complicated for me. Having done my research I came across the option of powerline/homeplug adapters and given the unreliability some people report of wireless networking, this seems the ideal, if more costly solution.

What I need from the more experienced users on this board is some clear advice on which modem/router I should buy if I am to go down this line. I just find the choice of products on this site bewildering and I don't know what I should be looking at in terms of my needs and value for money.

I intend to use this network for internet browsing, online gaming (BF2, Quake Wars etc) and possibly gaming through a Xbox 360.

Any help would be really appreciated - thanks
 
You won't get a router that natively does HomePlug - you'll need to buy an adapter for the router and for the laptop.
The Netgear DG834 is fairly popular, and for the difference in price between it and the DG834G, I'd get the DG834G and at least try the wireless before forking out the cash on HomePlug kit.
 
Thanks Tolien. I don't want to name the homeplug products I am considering but my understanding of that technology is that all is needed is a modem/router with an ethernet connection where one homeplug is connected to a power socket and into the router which is connected to the PC and the other plugged into a power socket with an ethernet cable to the laptop in whichever room I happen to be in. Maybe I have misunderstood..? I was thinking of getting a reliable branded wired router but didn't realise there were any further factors to take into consideration. Also of those models you recommended, which would be most appropriate to me - the 54Mbps or the 108? Whats the difference? Still a bit confused, sorry.
 
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spiki said:
my understanding of that technology is that all is needed is a modem/router with an ethernet connection where one homeplug is connected to a power socket and into the router which is connected to the PC and the other plugged into a power socket with an ethernet cable to the laptop in whichever room I happen to be in.
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I think that's what I said - you need an adapter to connect the router to the mains, and another one for the laptop.

Also of those models you recommended, which would be most appropriate to me - the 54Mbps or the 108? Whats the difference? Still a bit confused, sorry.
Click to expand...

One doesn't have wireless, the other does 54Mbps. The 108Mbps one is the GT, and the only real difference is the speed.
 
tolien said:
I think that's what I said - you need an adapter to connect the router to the mains, and another one for the laptop.



One doesn't have wireless, the other does 54Mbps. The 108Mbps one is the GT, and the only real difference is the speed.
Click to expand...

OK Tolien - think we got our wires crossed (sorry!). I realise I would need to buy a twin set of adapters, the plugs themselves. I thought you meant something in addition to that. Also, regarding the speed of the Netgear router, would the faster one be overkill for a small network like I am suggesting or is faster always better given my 2mb BT broadband? Thanks again.
 
i would just go for the router with wifi and connect systems by lan and wifi

setting up the router for bt is easy just login to the router via the box ip.
run through the wizard if you buy a netgear router that is.

and for the login info you just add..

id: john.smith.btbroadband.com
pass: bt

bt doesn't really use any login info to access the connection via a router
but most routers need some form of info to make the connection.

as for the wifi speed 54mbs should be more than enuff for net use. its only gonna slow
you down. if your sending big files across to any of the systems.

as for the home-plug way this is how it would look

seao3s.jpg


you need 2. 1 close to the router and 1 by the system you want to share
the connection with. ths picture should give you some idea
 
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Tosk said:
i would just go for the router with wifi and connect systems by lan and wifi



setting up the router for bt is easy just login to the router via the box ip.
run through the wizard if you buy a netgear router that is.

and for the login info you just add..

id: john.smith.btbroadband.com
pass: bt

bt doesn't really use any login info to access the connection via a router
but most routers need some form of info to make the connection.

as for the wifi speed 54mbs should be more than enuff for net use. its only gonna slow

Thanks for that Tosk. So, le me make sure I have this right. If I buy a wireless router I can connect that to my pc via ethernet and connect my macbook wirelessly through the airport?

Also, do you agree with Tolien on that choice of router or what about one of the Linksys routers?
Whats your view of homeplug networking? ALthough more expensive, is it a more reliable method that wifi?

Think I am finally getting somewhere. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
 
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Thanks for that Tosk. So, le me make sure I have this right. If I buy a wireless router I can connect that to my pc via ethernet and connect my macbook wirelessly through the airport?

Also, do you agree with Tolien on that choice of router or what about one of the Linksys routers? THink I am finally getting somewhere. Thanks again.
you down. if your sending big files across to any of the systems
 
spiki said:
Thanks for that Tosk. So, le me make sure I have this right. If I buy a wireless router I can connect that to my pc via ethernet and connect my macbook wirelessly through the airport?
Click to expand...

yes thats right

Also, do you agree with Tolien on that choice of router or what about one of the Linksys routers? THink I am finally getting somewhere. Thanks again.
you down. if your sending big files across to any of the systems
Click to expand...

and as for the router i use a Netgear DG834GT my self .great all round
router easy to use and netgear hardware have never let me down in the past.

the only difference to the Netgear DG834G is the wifi speed

ive setup ppl net using loads of makes and models of routers for adsl and cable
including linksys, belkin, us robotics, D-Link and more. netgear are 1 of the popular and
easy of use routers
 
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That sounds like good advice. Don't know if I am allowed to post a link to another site but when you see so many negative comments about an item, it confuses the picture. Are these problems you could get with any brand and any model?

"This is a terrible router, the connection is lost every 20 minutes and you can't download anything because the fastest you'll get is 20Kb/s, i upload faster than i can download and browsing takes forever often needing 2-4 attempts to load a page on any browser in windows or Linux on any PC. there's tons of problems with the wireless, if I'm sitting 2 meters away ill have a "average" connection and when i move a meter closer it's an "excellent" connection. stay away from this and buy a linksys instead. 1 star cos i can surf the web."


"This is the router im currently using. I have a massive problem with it; For a while it was fine, however, now, the internet is dropping almost every 10 minutes. Doing any sort of online activity that requires constant connection is unbearable; i've given up on xbox live for now."

"The internet cuts out completely for around 10-20 seconds, and then suddenly starts working again. No reboot, no help. It just seemingly reconnects itself. I've seen the symbol on the side of the router that looks like a ? dissapear when this happens. A shame."
 
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yes not all routers work out of the box some ppl do have problems with netgear hardware
i wouldn't say there the best of makes but ive never had any problems at all with netgear

most of the time its down to the users fault or just bad hardware or firmware. even the isp
is to fault as well some times.

you will find it with any of the other makes and models of routers not just netgear
 
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I know its not a whole lot of money involved in setting this up but I just like to do my research and buy the most appropriate and VFM equipment. Thanks for alll your help - I will probably take the plunge tomorrow.
 
nps happy to help. if you get stuck on setting it up just reply here im sure 1 of us
can help you out in some way or another :)
 
tolien said:
You won't get a router that natively does HomePlug ..
Click to expand...

Theres some with 14 or 85 mbps homeplug built in but not from OC.

Wifi that works is a joy, its easy to set up if the supplier gives you any sort of wizard disk for the router and adapter.

When its unreliable its the worse thing in the world as you have to get your head around a lot of technical detail.

Homeplug at the simplest level can just be plugged in to repalce a wired ethernet connection with an adapter at each end.
No WEP no WPA no ssid no mac filtering no changing channles no 'enhanced' modes etc
 
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So my NetGear DC834n arrived today. Set up without a hitch and am typing this on my Macbook right now in the lounge. However, I still have a couple of questions.

The router is not plugged into the BT socket in my hallway where the phone is connected-suppose this would be the main phone point. Rather I have it going into a separate BT socket in my office and then connected to my PC with ethernet cable. I am using the 'airport' wifi on my mac. Is this the optimum way of setting things up? I got the bundle with the NetGear usb adapter too. I haven't even opened this yet. Do I need to with this set up? Finally, how can I measure the speed of my connection on the mac?

All in all I found the set up fairly painless even though I thought it was going to be much more complicated.
 
errata said:
Theres some with 14 or 85 mbps homeplug built in but not from OC.
Click to expand...

So I see, my bad.

The ideal way is to have the router connected to the master socket, and if you don't need to connect a machine with it there's no need to use the USB adapter.

Finally, how can I measure the speed of my connection on the mac?
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Which connection? The MB to the router, the router to the internet?
 
tolien said:
So I see, my bad.

The ideal way is to have the router connected to the master socket, and if you don't need to connect a machine with it there's no need to use the USB adapter.



Which connection? The MB to the router, the router to the internet?
Click to expand...

Both I suppose? Just want to make sure I have this puppy set up to optimum. Sorry if I am not being very clear, all a bit new to me.
 
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