Poweline network

FluffySheep · 20 Aug 2010 at 15:30

A couple of questions guys.

If I buy 2 packs of these powerline adapters will they all work as 1 network? I cannot see clearly enough, but I'm guessing they have an RJ45 port somewhere on them. Correct?

Wifi won't work in the building because of the wall construction, and I want to get a network up and running. 1 will be connected to the router/gateway, 2 otheres connected to single PCs and the final one connected to a switch which will connect to 3 PCs (I am aware speed will be pant on these 3 shared, Im not bothered) Will this work OK?

Thanks in advance
FluffySheep

manic_man · 20 Aug 2010 at 16:03

I have those.

I will firstly warn you of one thing: the software you use to configure them is *terrible*. You may find for example that if you have a 64 bit OS, it simply won't work, this is because it installs a packet driver, which the included CD only has a 32 bit version of... However, if you go to their website and download the latest software they have linked under another of their adaptors, then it all installs and works fine in Windows 7 x64. Maybe they have updated the CD since I bought mine.

Effectively what you do is plug them in, then connect up to one using RJ45 (each comes with a few meters of patch) and run the software. It will search and eventually find all the adaptors. You then need to set all of them to be on the same "network name" which in actual fact is the AES password (the software names this really badly) and once you have done it and jabbed a few buttons and cursed for a while, they will all suddenly light up and you will get mbit readings for each in the software.

I'm not gnna sugar coat it, setting them up was a pain, but now the work they are great,. All I would suggest is that you try and give each its own wall socket i you can and if not avoid plugging them into surge protected extensions.

You may find your houses wiring isn't up to scratch, but sadly that's just the kind of thing you won't know till you try.

Don't let me put you off, I personally think its worth the hassle of them being not so user friendly to setup given how cheap they are, because once they are, they work just as well as some far more expensive Devolo ones we have (and they inter-operate as well proving they are definitely Homeplug 2.0 compliant as they state)

EDIT: Also, your setup sounds fine, assuming your actual wiring carries it well, I think you'll be suprised. I have a setup that sounds very similar to yours, only 2 of the adaptors are devolo branded, and I see between ~45 and 55Mbit sustained throughput if I transfer between devices on the network. Which tbh really is good, not far from a standard 100Mbit connected with Cat5e. Pings etc are excellent, again on par with a standard cat5e setup.

FluffySheep · 20 Aug 2010 at 16:36

Thanks for the help/info

The building ws built about 1995 so the electrical system should be up to scratch. Setting them up, I should be OK as I'm pretty PC savvy, but a little rusty (and never played with these, hence the ask for help).

Once they are set up and all on the same AES pasword, are they OS dependant? Do they need resetting each time the power goes off on them? The network currently is mostly XP with a 2000 admin machine in the office (I want rid of it ASAP!) and the electricity gets completely switched off at the fuse box every day (rules from above)

FluffySheep

manic_man · 20 Aug 2010 at 18:50

FluffySheep said:
Thanks for the help/info

The building ws built about 1995 so the electrical system should be up to scratch. Setting them up, I should be OK as I'm pretty PC savvy, but a little rusty (and never played with these, hence the ask for help).

Once they are set up and all on the same AES pasword, are they OS dependant? Do they need resetting each time the power goes off on them? The network currently is mostly XP with a 2000 admin machine in the office (I want rid of it ASAP!) and the electricity gets completely switched off at the fuse box every day (rules from above)

FluffySheep

Once setup they store everything internally, and effectively just act like a bulky LAN socket, so you can stick whatever you like into them, a switch or a PC or whatever. The only time you need to access them is while setting up and then the access software itself could be a problem with some older OSs I suppose, won't be an issue with XP though.

You can unplug them, move them around the building etc. and wiring aside, they should just pick back up and work. Although I suppose if its an office space, then there could perhaps be issues with different ring mains etc? I think that all adaptors have to be on the same ring for it to work, in a house this wouldn't be an issue.

Though tbh, with 7 day distance selling regulations protecting you, might as well give it a go