LAN Switch that works with Vodafone TV

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dutyfree

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Wannabe Geek
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# 175183 20-Jun-2015 13:48

Hi,

I have Vodafone TV. Vodafone says it wont support a switch between the Router and the STB.

I have the router (Huawei) in one room, then cable through the walls to another room where the STB & TV is. Trouble is that is also where my NAS is and a few other network devices. Since installing Vodafone TV I have had to dedicate the cable to the other room to the STB.

I did have a simple/cheap TP link 5 port LAN connector there, but it will not support multicasting I think, as the TV get distorted etc.

Having put up with not being connected to the NAS for backups/music etc for the last few months I am now looking for a solution. It is about $500 to run another LAN cable and connection. I have searched for a switch that a non-tech like me can understand, but have hit a dead end.

Any advice appreciated.

Sideface

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# 1328323 20-Jun-2015 14:27

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It is about $500 to run another LAN cable and connection. ...

That sounds remarkably expensive.

A second (or third) ethernet cable sounds like a good idea - DIY for $50-100 depending upon distance.

Sideface

dutyfree

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Wannabe Geek
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# 1328655 21-Jun-2015 13:56

Thanks, but it is not an easy cable run, hence why I have my question.

Andib

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Ultimate Geek
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# 1328666 21-Jun-2015 14:24

You need a switch that supports Multicast like this http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=SWHTPL1006&name=TP-Link-SG108E-8-Port-Gigabit-Switch-Easy-Smart (Don't have VF TV so can't guarantee it will work but on paper it should)

dutyfree

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Wannabe Geek
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# 1328699 21-Jun-2015 15:14

cool, thanks. Might buy and test

Jase2985

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# 1328758 21-Jun-2015 17:58

dutyfree: Thanks, but it is not an easy cable run, hence why I have my question.

really, must be hugely difficult for $500, thats about $50 in materials and $450 in labour.

dutyfree

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Wannabe Geek
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# 1328759 21-Jun-2015 18:01

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Yep, reasonably modern house, no accessible voids which means pulling light fittings, going between multiple floors etc just to thread the cable through.

dylanp

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# 1329070 22-Jun-2015 10:29

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Another option that might suit you is using a powerline adapter, the sort that sends a ethernet signal over your house electrical wiring. I've heard of people having some success with them for placing a Vodafone TV in a location without a network socket, but I can't remember the exact discussion or equipment they used! :)

Seems like the switch that's already been mentioned would be a good solution for comparitively little cost.

Zeon

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# 1329116 22-Jun-2015 11:27

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Wow I never realised that multicast wasn't support on unmanaged layer2 switches. Having a look on Wikipedia it says dumb switches will just broadcast though?

If a switch does not understand multicast addresses then it will broadcast traffic sent to a multicast group to all the members of a LAN; in this case the system's network card (or operating system) has to filter the packets sent to multicast groups they are not subscribed to.

Are you sure it doesn't work with an unmanaged switch?

Otherwise you should be able to pick up a second hand multicast capable switch on trademe. I think even I have a few spare.

The other option is:

dutyfree

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Wannabe Geek
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# 1329635 23-Jun-2015 06:53

Hi,

I had powerline adaptor to start with. Tried running Vodafone TV through that but had so many other problems at the same time abandoned it and had the cable run, not realising that I would need to dedicate it! Now if only i had known I would have run two.

dylanp

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# 1329672 23-Jun-2015 08:38

dutyfree: I had powerline adaptor to start with. Tried running Vodafone TV through that but had so many other problems at the same time abandoned it and had the cable run, not realising that I would need to dedicate it! Now if only i had known I would have run two.

Huh. Bummer, sorry to hear that. I'm curious now, would you mind please sharing what model of powerline adapter it was? And presumably one end was going into the Vodafone TV and the other end was into the Huawei router?

Was there a good connection over the powerline adapter?

Kamrind on Vodafone Community wrote a piece that might help - he made his Vodafone TV work over a wireless connection. :)

http://community.vodafone.co.nz/t5/Vodafone-TV-SKY/Vodafone-TV-Wireless-Option/td-p/147425

raytaylor

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# 1330145 23-Jun-2015 18:56

The homeplugs are generally pretty good at getting through walls where wireless or cable wont go - but they dont have anywhere near the distance capability as the box says since they are very susceptible to interference.
-but- i use them quite successfully in many situations.
They even have the Homeplug AV standard which is specifically designed for extending IPTV without retrofitting cat5 from your fibre connection in your garage to the tv in an older house.

I would suggest the ethernet cable splitters as pictured above - ideal electrical sell them. Make sure you get the right type though - you dont want a data+telephone splitter, you want a data+data on each end.

The downside to using those splitters is you will loose gigabit capability across the cable and will be limited to 100mbits. Not a problem for most households.

Ray Taylor
Taylor Broadband (rural hawkes bay)
www.ruralkiwi.com

There is no place like localhost
For my general guide to extending your wireless network Click Here

dutyfree

8 posts

Wannabe Geek
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# 1333028 28-Jun-2015 17:35

Hi,

I am running TP Link AV300 or 500. I use them to get to the playstation to get load off the wireless They work well.

dutyfree

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Wannabe Geek
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# 1341367 11-Jul-2015 21:44

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Okay. Bought the TP-Link TL-SG108E 8 port Easy Smart Switch. Plugged in and it works great. Vodafone TV all okay and I can get access to my NAS etc again so very happy. One trick was that the TP Link info said it worked with a Mac. The utility doesn't though so I have no access to teh switch at the moment. But as it is all working then I don't mind.

Thanks for the help and suggestions.