Should I buy powerline adapters?

drumlegend

drumlegend

drumlegend

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So I am currently living in a flat that can only get ADSL

I usually get around 18-19mbps. Not great but nothing I can do :P

The problem I am having is that my main computer is in my gaming room and I'm running wireless. I played Dota 2 a couple of days ago and the latency was spiking between 70ms-400ms

Now I wanted to know if I would get a more stable connection with powerline adapters and is it worth it?

I'm not fully sure of the advantage, I know they don't increase your speed, I know they help if your internet keeps dropping but that doesn't happen. It's just latency issues. I have no packet loss so I don't know if they will help.

Any help would be great thanks :)
 
The apartment I live in is about 6 years old so the electrics shouldn't be too shabby.

I was looking at the TP-Link PA411KIT AV500 500 Mbps Powerline Adapter Starter Kit- Twin Pack
 
Go powerline, its far better than wireless and the best alternative if you can't get a cable from the modem to your PC
 
You can get powerlines that double as wireless extenders too.

I use some old 85meg ones i bought years ago.. They still work more than fine, even for streaming.
 
I bought the Devolo dLAN powerline 500 AV Wireless+ Starter Kit Twin Pack which worked a treat. It extended my wireless range and extra lan ports. One note though they advertise is as "thanks to the integrated electrical socket, no power outlet goes to waste". The units are fairly big, they may make the socket next to or below useless.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-011-DV&tool=3

I would still recommend the 500 AV.
 
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Devolo or TP-Link, and ideally go for the fastest ones you can afford; the 500Mbps ones should do you fine. I've had TP-Link ones for a few years, two failed within about a month of each other recently but they were replaced quite quickly under warranty so I have no real complaints.

And yes, you'll get reduced latency vs WiFi. Just remember to plug them directly into the wall socket and not into any extension cables.
 
drumlegend said:
The apartment I live in is about 6 years old so the electrics shouldn't be too shabby.

I was looking at the TP-Link PA411KIT AV500 500 Mbps Powerline Adapter Starter Kit- Twin Pack
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was having a similar debate myself!

i am wireless upstairs and was getting 30-40mbps on speed test but my gf's laptop plugged directly in was getting around 95-100!

so i picked up this exact set in tescos the other day and i am now getting a solid 85-90mbps upstairs very impressed

simply just plug and play, comes with 2 short ethernet cables too which i was actually not expecting so imo great value for money

ours is a new build mind so i cant speak for the age of the house being an issue or not i doubt much has changed in 6 years
 
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drumlegend said:
Thanks everyone, I will order them know and let you know the outcome :)
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a friend of mine got some once and was actually able to return them opened, he said they didnt work (but they did, it just didnt solve his problem, think it was his router in the end)

i dont know if this will be the case everywhere mind, but if they dont work for you im sure you can get something back for them

*i do have a question about these though, do you lot leave them plugged in and switched on 24/7 or just when you use them? the get a little bit warm so dont know if i am supposed to leave them on when not in use?
 
kinger8938 said:
a friend of mine got some once and was actually able to return them opened, he said they didnt work (but they did, it just didnt solve his problem, think it was his router in the end)

i dont know if this will be the case everywhere mind, but if they dont work for you im sure you can get something back for them
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I'm sure they will work fine, as long as my internet stays stable I will be happy
 
kinger8938 said:
a friend of mine got some once and was actually able to return them opened, he said they didnt work (but they did, it just didnt solve his problem, think it was his router in the end)

i dont know if this will be the case everywhere mind, but if they dont work for you im sure you can get something back for them

*i do have a question about these though, do you lot leave them plugged in and switched on 24/7 or just when you use them? the get a little bit warm so dont know if i am supposed to leave them on when not in use?
Click to expand...

For me, I turn everything off whenever I go to bed, the only problem with this for me is getting a new IP each time from my modem :mad:

I put a static IP on my Youview box so it didn't affect that but haven't got around to doing the rest.

When I had powerline plugs ablout 10 years ago I used to switch them off and they were fine.
 
After switching from Virgin to sky I noticed I must keep Internet plugged in master socket. My problem was pc was in another from along with ps4 etc..

I didn't want to use wireless it's not something I like to use for online gaming.

So I bought dual pack netgear powerline and wow there so good, I get my full speed I pay for and you wouldn't even know I was using a powerline.
I also using a spear router as a switch, that all devices in my room are wired into.
 
kinger8938 said:
*i do have a question about these though, do you lot leave them plugged in and switched on 24/7 or just when you use them? the get a little bit warm so dont know if i am supposed to leave them on when not in use?
Click to expand...

I leave them on, too much hassle turning them all on each day. They're designed to go into a power saving mode when the device they're connected to turns off.
 
I have had mine on for over a year now. Apart from the odd powercut or moving stuff around mine have never been turned off. Dont get that hot and still work fine. Plug and forget just about.
 
drumlegend said:
The apartment I live in is about 6 years old so the electrics shouldn't be too shabby.

I was looking at the TP-Link PA411KIT AV500 500 Mbps Powerline Adapter Starter Kit- Twin Pack
Click to expand...

I use the same ones, they work really well
 
I think I will hold off on these now as it's only been once where my ping has spiked and been noticeable. A lot of people are saying it won't really help with ping and if there is a lot of traffic through the electrics you will have an increase in ping.

So I don't really see the advantage of it.

Thank you anyway
 
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