Need advice on homeplug/powerline networking

spiki

spiki

spiki

Associate
Joined
18 Oct 2005
Posts
917
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
 
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.
 
Last edited:
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.
 
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...
 
Last edited:
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
 
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."
 
Last edited:
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Thanks Tosk. I notice on the Mac in internet connect, there is a status bar indicating strength of signal. When I move to the far end of the house signal fluctuates but not below 50%; on the first floor something similar. I don't suppose using the adapter that came bundled with it will make great difference. I could put the router in the hall at the main phone point and use the adapter on the pc and use the airport on the mac. Have to experiment this weekend when I get a chance. Still, very happy with it and at least it gives up net coverage all over the house. Gonna try some BF 2142 now to see how gaming handles. More later
 
Just fired up a 64 player map there on the PC in BF 2142. Ping was 30-33 which is comparable to before when I was using the BT Voyager 105, so I'm happy with that. Lights flashing like mad on the router. Is that normal?
 
Cheers Tosk. One more thing, should I remove/uninstall everything to do with the BT Voyager now? My new Netgear router isnt showing up in control panel but is clearly working fine. It simply shows the BT broadband as my default connection with a tick beside it and underneath to the left, a lan is connected, firewalled etc.
 
Last edited:
Is it safe to turn off WIndows firewall? Is this becuase of the security features that come with the router? Should this speed up the connection? Thanks again for the good advice and assistance.
 
Wij

I am using one of the new macbooks - it is the midrange one with superdrive, webcam, 1 g ram, core 2.16 (i think! - really wanted the Macbook pro but didn't have the cajones to request it from my Head of Dept - thought it might be difficult to justify all that online gaming in the workplace!)

BTW what router are you using?

Thanks for your advice - I will check it out

Wij - couldn't find the firmare update on the Apple site. Any chance of providing the link?
Thanks
 
Last edited:
What about applications such as Bitcomet? It doesn't seem to work with this router and when I login to the router there is a bewildering set of figures/options which I am reluctant to tamper with as I am not sure what each does.

Also my LAN speed on my pc says 100.0mps. What does this mean exactly? Is this connection between the pc and the macbook? If so how can I increase this? The DG834N i bought states up tp 270 mps and the coverage across my house is just OK - can be a bit slowish to load websites with lots of animation/graphics when using the mac on the first floor/bedrooms.

I bought the bundle and also have the WN121T USB adapter. I haven't used this yet but just have the router wired straight into the pc and into the phone socket. Is this the best set up with the gear I have or could it be set up any more efficiently. Again thanks in advance for any help.

Oh and one other thing, how the hell do you set up a home network? I have read a couple of guides for setting one up in XP and it was like gobbledigook. There's a lot more to this than I first expected!
 
Last edited:
Tosk said:
you will have to open a port up for bitcomet

here is how.
http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/N101145.asp

you will need to Add Custom Service. use some think like 30001 to 30005 and set it to your pcs ip
the 1 your running bitcomet from. its all in that page

your pc ip will be some think like 192.168.0.x with x being a number from 2 to 255
to find it goto start menu> run> type cmd > the type ipconfig there it will show your ip
should look some think like this.

k3pzyc.jpg


Ok so I tried this and read lots of other guides about tweaking your router, port forwarding, tweaking Bitcomet etc. Having added a custom service as you advised, I am finding it hard to judge whether I have set things up right. Do I need to do all that stuff about inbound and outbound rules? I simply added a custom service ie Bitcomet and under Lan IP set up added my pc's ip address since the router is wired into it. For example, I am d/l a bbc doc with 130 seeders and 45 leechers and getting between 35-3kbps. Just doesn't seem right to me. Are there any other settings I should be tweaking when I log into the router?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom