AV1200 Powerline (TL-PA8010) - some info needed

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leostretch

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#204428 1-Oct-2016 08:20

G'day all,

Have been researching powerlines and right now, I'm erring toward the AV1200 passthrough.

I'm hoping a few of you out there may have this kit and can answer a couple of questions I have..

How passthrough is passthrough? I know that plugging in a powerline adaptor into a multiplug is a no-no, but how OK is using the passthrough to power multiplugs? I've not seen anything that says don't, but there's not an awful lot out there that says it's OK?

Secondly, wall sockets. I have what I think is a standard dual vertical wall socket. For those who've used this unit, can I expect to lose both sockets using this adapter? I do really need both wall sockets, which is why I'm looking at passthrough.

Alternatively, any other suggestions in powerline solutions? Wired passthrough is really my only criteria - budget sits at about $250/300, and I am really hoping for a bit of futureproofing (ie faster potential speeds).

Here's the socket for an idea of dimensions etc. using a bog standard power cable.

Many thanks, Leo

wazzageek

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#1643732 1-Oct-2016 11:33

I bought the DLink Power Line AV500 ($149 is what I paid) - it supports passthrough, but looking at the size of the unit I would imagine it will block one of the outlets on a dual outlet.

You might be able to do both with the DLink if the second plug was a slim side entry plug (although I imagine it would be snug)

Both of mine have UPS'es plugged into them - a work colleague bought a pair of power line devices and found that plugging them into the multiboard caused no end of problems, but plugging them directly into the wall was without a problem.

Here's a quick view of one of my units:

I replaced a cable running down the hall with these units, and definitely miss having the gigabit speeds - being a renter means I'm unlikely to pull cable - if I owned I would much rather pull cable than use the powerline devices.

Cheers!

OmniouS

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#1643755 1-Oct-2016 13:09

I purchased a TL-PA8010 last weekend to use as a temporary measure until I can run some Cat6 through the house.

The manual states that it is OK to power a multiplug via the pass-through.

If you plug the powerline adapter into the bottom socket of a standard vertical plug, you will only *just* lose the ability to connect a standard plug into the top socket. A slim plug would fit OK

You could try spacing it out with a piggy back type extension cable if you wanted to make both sockets available.

It's a shame that you didn't purchase it yesterday! I just received a free TL-WPA4220 Wi-Fi adapter in the mail. The promotion was only for September

leostretch

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#1643843 1-Oct-2016 14:16

Thanks for the guidance, folks. OminouS, yeah, I'd seen that offer somewhere too :(

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#1643880 1-Oct-2016 15:49

leostretch:

<snip>

How passthrough is passthrough? I know that plugging in a powerline adaptor into a multiplug is a no-no, but how OK is using the passthrough to power multiplugs? I've not seen anything that says don't, but there's not an awful lot out there that says it's OK?

Secondly, wall sockets. I have what I think is a standard dual vertical wall socket. For those who've used this unit, can I expect to lose both sockets using this adapter? I do really need both wall sockets, which is why I'm looking at passthrough.

<snip>

I have a pair of TL-PA8010s, plus the freebie TL-WPA4200 WiFi (which is slooooow).

They are BIG.

I can only use one half of a vertical dual wall socket.

I can't think of any theoretical reason not to piggy-back with a multiplug, provided that you don't overload it.

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johny99

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#1644050 2-Oct-2016 09:02

Apologies to go Slightly off topic, I have the same units as Waazageek but can not get them to work, has anyone got power line adapters to work with the old style ceramic fuses? Am I missing something both units have the power and Ethernet light lit, but the middle "connectivity" light is dead. An ip scanner displays that the Ethernet speaker on the far end has not been issued an IP address, do power line adapters need pairing?

johny99

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#1644052 2-Oct-2016 09:04

In terms of leaving half the double plug useless, could you get or make up a half meter extension cord as a work around.

leostretch

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#1644061 2-Oct-2016 09:50

So thanks all - went for these boxes and used the piggyback suggestion. Works great. Still measuring speeds etc; worried they may be a bit on the low side right now (ave 5-6 MB/s) between PC and NAS drive. Will see how things settle down, but it's already much better than a rather flaky WiFi bridge that I've been make doing with!

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JimmyH

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#1644097 2-Oct-2016 11:39

You should get more than 5-6 MB/Sec (ie 40-50 megabit). I get 8-10 MB/Sec using older AV500 units connected via powerstrips at either end (which is supposed to degrade performance).

The units you have are AV2 units connected correctly, and which are supposed to give a significant performance boost over the older AV standard. Pretty much all reviews I have read show a substantial performance lift as well.

I certainly hope they perform better than this, as I have just ordered the same kit to upgrade my throughput!

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#1644119 2-Oct-2016 12:50

leostretch:

<snip> Still measuring speeds etc; worried they may be a bit on the low side right now (ave 5-6 MB/s) between PC and NAS drive. <snip>

I get the same speeds PC to NAS (everything gigabit) with two TL-PA8010s on different (mains power) circuits in the same room.

Convenient but slow.

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wazzageek

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#1644122 2-Oct-2016 12:59

johny99: Apologies to go Slightly off topic, I have the same units as Waazageek but can not get them to work, has anyone got power line adapters to work with the old style ceramic fuses? Am I missing something both units have the power and Ethernet light lit, but the middle "connectivity" light is dead. An ip scanner displays that the Ethernet speaker on the far end has not been issued an IP address, do power line adapters need pairing?

Hi Johny99 - Yes, the units need to be paired, they should have been paired when you got them (assuming you got them new) - but to repair them there is a little button on the left near the top. Press the button for no more than 3 seconds on the first unit, then do the same on the second unit.

If you get stuck - you'll need to check the DLink Manual

Cheers!

wazzageek

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#1644123 2-Oct-2016 13:00

Sideface:

leostretch:

<snip> Still measuring speeds etc; worried they may be a bit on the low side right now (ave 5-6 MB/s) between PC and NAS drive. <snip>

I get the same speeds PC to NAS (everything gigabit) with two TL-PA8010s on different circuits in the same room.

Convenient but slow.

That's a shame to hear about the speed - I know there are a lot of factors involved in getting top speed out of these, but this information makes me less inclined to try out the AV2s. (I'll put the money towards pull cable instead in our next place)

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#1644157 2-Oct-2016 14:00

wazzageek:

Sideface:

leostretch:

<snip> Still measuring speeds etc; worried they may be a bit on the low side right now (ave 5-6 MB/s) between PC and NAS drive. <snip>

I get the same speeds PC to NAS (everything gigabit) with two TL-PA8010s on different circuits in the same room.

Convenient but slow.

That's a shame to hear about the speed - I know there are a lot of factors involved in getting top speed out of these, but this information makes me less inclined to try out the AV2s. (I'll put the money towards pull cable instead in our next place)

Footnote to my last post:

When testing on two different mains circuits in the same room, I get 4 - 5 MB/sec (copying large files).

I have now tested using both TL-PA8010s on the same mains power circuit, with much better results:

copying large files (FLAC files) 30-40 MB/sec
copying small files (images) 2 - 5 MB/sec

Close, but no cigar.

EDIT: The two power points on the same circuit are only 2m apart.

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johny99

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#1644182 2-Oct-2016 14:47

Cheers wazzageek, I still didn't work so I decided to reset them, one unit factory reset the other will not, now thinking that this second unit is faulty as it indicates a link without the other one plugged in.