Powerline Networking

HaloUK

HaloUK

HaloUK

Associate
Joined
6 Feb 2009
Posts
1,455
Location
UK
Hi guys, looking to buy one of these units you plug your router into then into a wall socket. I would also like the units to have wifi. I have a virgin up to 152mb connection. The router/modem will be downstairs and the PC up in one of the bedrooms. Can you please suggest something that's really good! but not too expensive :)

Thanks.

Edit: just to add, I do a lot of gaming online so didn't really want to have the PC using wifi. Want the cable from the wall socket plugged into the motherboard connection.
 
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I've tried the Devolo Powerlines about 6 months ago and I always had 2-3 dropouts a day on a really close distance between the two units. I tried them with my PS4, same issues. I was struggling with it for 2 weeks and switched to wifi instead, because this was the most recommended unit to use and my friend had a different (TPLink) powerline what did the same thing in the same scenario as what you want to do (router downstairs and PC upstairs).
So if you're gaming online I don't recommend them.
 
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I use TP-Link 500mbps ones with a switch and a separate AP. The Powerline with wifi just dont seem to work as well.

Also depending on your house wiring, wifi can sometimes be just a quick if not quicker than powerline.
 
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My powerline experience wasn't great. Regular drop outs and complete de-syncs. I would only ever suggest them as a "fill in" whilst you sort out running a cable from A to B.
 
I've got TP-Link ones, but I'd go with Devolo next time as all of mine have failed (and been replaced under warranty).

The results you get with them largely depend on the wiring in your home so the only way to find out if they're any good is to try them.
 
I have tp-link 500mbs for my rig only and so far after over a year and a half, no issues at all. I game oven them without any probelms. I have been pleased with how well they work.
 
Tp link 500 with WiFi, two upstairs and two downstairs and they work well for me.
 
I use TP-Link for powerlines that then go into a TP-Link switch in my bedroom (pc, 2 consoles and my youview box). Been impressed with them. Good enough for online gaming and the one on my room even has a WiFi access point.
 
Had some tplink 500 nano things and they'd remain connected for a week or so and then just lose each other. I only had them spanning a few metres from one end of the living room to the other. Replaced with a Ethernet link.

If I needed to go power line again I might get a better set.
 
I would not bother with them TBH, I have tried several over the years (running IP camera's mainly) and well they break just after a year and often need resetting or just de-sync. I have found wireless to be much much more reliable than powerline and also the ping to be lower. Modern wireless is actually pretty good these days. I run cat5e for anything on the network (lifted all my floorboards and drilled holes etc) it was a pain but its so much better.

IMO those powerline jobbies are awful and i live in a 5 year old house with new wiring.
 
TP link here as well, had 2 of them for 4 years, worked in 2 addresses with no issues. The occasional dropout once or twice a week for a few seconds and that's it. Have added 1 more recently for the spare room which houses the brother-in-law and still no problems.

Game online with them 30+ hours per week and have no complaints.
 
Im using TP link still on 1 CCTV camera and my log today shows this, These are where the TP link devices "loose sync" i guess on a pc you wont notice it as much as say a CCTV cam that is sending data 24/7

its disconnected 773 times in the last 30 days. I have tried 4 TP link devices they all have very very sceptical connections but again loosing data for a second or two on a PC will often go un-noticed

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I've been gaming over wireless using 2.4GHz 'G', 2.4GHz 'N' and now 5GHz 'N' without issue for years. If the signal is good then you shouldn't have a problem. I can also mas out my 40 Meg Sky Fibre on 5GHz as uTorrent can pull 4.4MB/s.
 
I've used Newlink, Buffalo and Zyxel over the years and not had any real issues. One of the Newlink devices failed after about 18 months but they are pretty cheap and you get what you pay for really. The Zyxel adapters were the best IMO.

It is very difficult to rate these things though as they are only as good as the house wiring they are connected to. There may be all sorts of reasons why they disconnect that have nothing to do with the devices themselves.
 
I run 3 Zyxel 500mbps units, all run faultlessly. As people have said, performance depends greatly on environment. For reference I'm in a 60s terrace but manage a throughput of ~200mbps between adapters which is very reasonable. If you do go for a pair just make sure they come with a gigabit port, not all of them do.
 
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