Powerline - Slow Download Speed

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12 May 2013
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I've been using the TP Link 500MBPS Powerline with my desktop for many months now and it has served me better than the wi-fi on my laptop. I would usually get 10mbps per second on the laptop and 15mbps on my desktop, not great, but there were no better deals for my area. Infinity was recently made available however, so I got it. On my laptop, I received the promised 40mbps. However, on my desktop, I was still receiving only 15mbps. My ISP was very unhelpful and said that I should just use wi-fi, but I don't see why I should, as the Powerline worked fine for our last contract.

Any ideas on how to fix these low download speeds?
 
What speed does TP-Link's utility software show for the Powerline connection?

If it's as low as you suggest then go through the usual troubling shooting steps:-

  • Make sure you're plugging directly into the wall sockets, rather than via mains extensions.
  • Temporarily disconnect every other electrical device you can. Low energy lamps, fairly lights, phone chargers, etc. can all cause interference. If it makes a difference reconnect the devices until you find the culprit.
  • Try different mains sockets.
  • Check if the firmware needs updating.
You may find that nothing helps. For some people they just don't work very well. If that's the case, and a hard wired connection isn't possible, wireless is worth trying.
 
For my old TP-link powerline adapater I could download software that would show what speed they are connecting to each other with and I think you could tweak some settings too.

Unless you have really bad electricity wiring I would expect you to get much better speeds my old 200mbit ones I can get about 6-8Mb/s to my pc upstairs.

Do you have surge protectors in between the powerline adapter and the wall socket?
 
I don't think things like removing chargers and moving the adaptor will help as my internet was fine before the new router.

I installed the Powerline utility. It says I'm getting 15mbps as well. I hope that eliminates some possibilities.
 
From your description is sounds like your Powerline adapters have always been under performing ('15mbps on my desktop').

If your previous broadband connection was ADSL then 15 Mbps wouldn't have been much of a bottleneck. Now that you've got Infinity that Powerline connection will definately be slowing things down.

The bandwidth figure from the utility software just confirms that the adapters are at fault.
 
From your description is sounds like your Powerline adapters have always been under performing ('15mbps on my desktop').

If your previous broadband connection was ADSL then 15 Mbps wouldn't have been much of a bottleneck. Now that you've got Infinity that Powerline connection will definately be slowing things down.

The bandwidth figure from the utility software just confirms that the adapters are at fault.

Well, as I said, I got lower speeds on my laptop, so it was at least an improvement from that. Now it's less than half the wireless speed.
 
I'm not surprised your ISP was unhelpful. They jut provide you with an Internet connection. It's hardly their fault your Powerline networking is slow is it?
 
There's no direct link between your wireless and Powerline speeds. They'll both ultimately be capped by the available broadband speed, but that's it.

You really need to get a baseline bandwidth figure using a hard wired connection. You'll then know what the Infinity connection is actually capable of (and how much you're lossing to the wireless and Powerline connections).

15 Mbps is a fraction of what you'd expect 500 Mbps Powerline adapters to connect at. You have something going on locally that's killing the speed. If you aren't prepared to go through the basic trouble shooting steps (which you requested in the OP) nothing is going to improve.
 
You have been asked to check the connection speed of the matched adapters, I would start here and troubleshoot otherwise you are wasting your time.
 
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