Powerline Adapter Issues

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17 Oct 2011
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5,707
Location
Buckingamshire
I have had Billion PLAs for a few years and often they just stop working forcing me to bend under the desk and switch it off and on again. I got fed up of this at the weekend and bought some TP-Link ones hoping the newer technology would resolve whatever the issue is.

Well it hasn't. They stop working periodically as well. I am completely fed up now, I just want the sodding things to bloody well work.

I am on the verge of completely giving up on PLAs and buying something like this instead: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-078-AS&tool=3

Anyone had similar issues that can offer advice?
 
If only. It's not that simple.

My router is in the cloakroom on the ground floor. The study is also on the ground floor about 10m away. We have young children so pulling a cable out of the cupboard every time I want to use the PC isn't going to work. It'll be a PITA and they'll fall over it. My wife wouldn't tolerate it being clipped to the skirting and I don't know anyone who could visit to professionally install it.
 
I moved from using a LAN cable to using the Denovo Powerline kit below about 6 months ago and its been rock solid.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-022-DV

This is my first experience with Powerline tech so I'm not sure if I'm just lucky with my wiring or if the kit I bought is any better. I bought what seemed liked the best available, I appreciate it's certainly not cheap but I wanted something I could rely on.
 
I am just about to start using powerline adapters (TPLink AV500) as my Wifi is TERRIBLE!!!
I am currently getting link speeds of between 1mbps to 15mbps but that is on my Virgin Media 100mbps connection :-S

I'm hoping this solves my intermittent connectivity, combined with the new Superhub 2ac router....
 
I moved from using a LAN cable to using the Denovo Powerline kit below about 6 months ago and its been rock solid.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-022-DV

This is my first experience with Powerline tech so I'm not sure if I'm just lucky with my wiring or if the kit I bought is any better. I bought what seemed liked the best available, I appreciate it's certainly not cheap but I wanted something I could rely on.

It's a combined unit though; for example the pass through socket and WIFI extension don't interest me.

Have you had to reset it at all?
 
I occasionally have to turn off and on the one my PC is connected to, for some reason. The other two are always fine. I won't buy TP-Link ones again though, all three have had to be replaced under warranty.
 
I occasionally have to turn off and on the one my PC is connected to, for some reason. The other two are always fine. I won't buy TP-Link ones again though, all three have had to be replaced under warranty.

It's because it drops the connection - I get the same thing with two different brands. Personally, I believe powerline technology is just crap generally.
 
I can barely connect to my router via my PC's integrated wi-fi, so in that respect the powerline adapters work really well. Ultimately it'll be your house wiring or other equipment plugged into it that's to blame.
 
Also had occasional reboots required with my tp-link av500 nano set across a 3M span of the living room. Since running a cheap 5M Ethernet cable I've never needed to worry about it.

I don't know why the things disconnected themselves but it was a once a fortnight thing for me.

I'm not sure wifi would be an improvement over powerline, even with that expensive card and antenna array.
 
I can barely connect to my router via my PC's integrated wi-fi, so in that respect the powerline adapters work really well. Ultimately it'll be your house wiring or other equipment plugged into it that's to blame.

But that's the problem - these things should work in the real World, not just in the Lab. Everyone gets these disconnects and they are ******* annoying.

Out of curiosity, have you tried using a proper PCI WIFI adapter with external antenna? Like the Asus linked to above?
 
They're operating on wiring that was never intended for it though, with a multitude of other devices and items causing all sorts of interference. The fact they work at all is impressive.

Never bothered with a wi-fi card because I've already got the powerline adapters.
 
It's a combined unit though; for example the pass through socket and WIFI extension don't interest me.

Have you had to reset it at all?

The pass through socket was one of the main reasons I got it as I don't have any spare sockets and I read something about there being interference with using it via an multi extension.

It's been up all the time since installation back in February.
 
I get random disconnects when using the pc.... ps4 is fine ( using BT powerplugs ).

Must be wiring, as i have tried with EVERYTHING and i mean everything in the house turned off and it still does it. It used to happen quite often now its maybe once a day.
 
They're horrible things. They interfere with your broadband (and your neighbours' broadband) and they don't ever work at the advertised speeds.

We're currently replacing them with ethernet which not only is much, much cheaper, it actually works at the advertised speeds.
 
I used Solwise for years with no trouble but couldn't secure them easily - Now got BT Homespot triple pack and they work fine with WiFi and great on ethernet - Can watch youtube without any problems - and they are secure.

I am slowly running Ethernet round house though.
 
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