Spec me a network

collisster · 2 Dec 2007 at 13:48

my linksys router packed in a few weeks ago and with redecorating my room I dont want a telephone cable though it again,
I was thinking of having a wireless router downstairs next to the telephone socket and one of those powerline from the sockets by the phone to a socket in my bedroom.

what stuff should I go for?

collisster

Verbium · 2 Dec 2007 at 14:15

Powerline is a good idea but if you want good performance out of it you'll have to get some of the more costly plugs. Ever considered getting 2 routers? 1 for the internet and router 2 will connect wirelessly to routers 1.

This type of thing can be done with any router that supports client bridging, such as a WRT54GL with custom firmware. This way if you never liked the idea of wireless because the PCI cards are a bit pants then you offload it for a router to do all the work. You just simply connect your PC through your network port and wire it to your upstairs router. It's worked well for me and costs a fraction of what homeplug/powerline adapters do.

collisster · 2 Dec 2007 at 17:26

hmm I'm not too good at getting the routers to work in the first place. so I dont think i'll be messing with them
what powerline kit and router would be the best combination,
I do a lot of gaming hence not wanting to go wireless

Verbium · 2 Dec 2007 at 19:43

What pings do you get at the moment with your current setup? With the wireless solution i still get 30ms or under as the router is far better at handling the wireless connection.

Homeplugs/Powerline will work with any router pretty much, i've heard the netgear ones are the best ones to go for as they do delivery the throughput. You'll be paying through the nose for it though and its completely dependent on how much electricity is currently being used in your house.

For example, mine worked flawlessly until my friends added in a few more electrical items around the house and mainly around the homeplug socket. Every since then i sometimes get the full speed but download speeds drop to 500-600k. I guess this may not matter depending on your internet connection speed.

One thing to add, i'm unsure how homeplugs completely work but i would take a guess that it runs just like a very very old wired network used to. You're running off 1 electrical wire and every computer that transmits onto that wire would cause collisions with each other. This would cause all the computers to stop transmitting for a random amount of time (tis the ethernet standand). Sadly, this would in the end effect your ing and cause packet loss. I'm not 100% homeplugs are like that but thats my guess, if someone else knows then please post a bit more details!