LAN Over Mains Wiring - Your Thoughts?

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d1kid

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#11651 4-Feb-2007 20:43

G'day guys

Im new to this, but i need some advice from some people who know what they are talking about

Lately i have been surfing the net lately for alternatives to wireless networking. In my searching i came accross this.

Basically being being able to plug an AC adapter type thing into the wall at each end, and put in a LAN cable, then being able to have a network/internet acess off this just seems to good to be true.

And would plugging something like this into your computer be dangerous?

Any feedback most appreciated

Taylor

NokiaRocks

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#59744 4-Feb-2007 22:17

They will no way match conventional ethernet cable networks, but can pull speeds of up to 20-25mb/s, so is a viable alternative to wireless.

grant_k

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#59747 4-Feb-2007 22:45

d1kid: Any feedback most appreciated

This sort of technology has been around for several years but in its early iterations, was very unreliable. Interference from other electrical appliances frequently disrupted communications using the early designs, however, those issues seem to have been well and truly sorted some time back.

The key thing to watch out for is that you are buying devices which are HomePlug compatible, which I notice these particular ones are. HomePlug is a standard for Ethernet over Power Line communications, and so long as you stick to this standard, in theory it should be possible to mix and match similar devices from different manufacturers.

chiefie

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#59749 4-Feb-2007 23:12

have a look at Ascent's Network Misc category. you will find Dynalink and Netgear have these products and they're 85Mb and Netgear has HD which capable of 200Mbit.

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richms

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#60016 7-Feb-2007 16:03

The 85 meg ones may be better then the 14, I havent tried the newer ones.

I did try the older 14 meg ones, and I could only get them to work if they were in the same powerstrip as each other. On the same circuit was iffy, and across the house just didnt work at all. Get them from somewhere that makes it easy to take back would be my advise.

Richard rich.ms

BigFella

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#60018 7-Feb-2007 16:18

Three Homeplug systems have been reviewed at ElReg recently - they appear to be a viable solution these days.

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DMC

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#60583 12-Feb-2007 22:31

I recently tried the netgear powerlone HD system.

Was going to use it to stream video from my NAS to a modded x-box, currently using wireless (which is surpisingly good most of time - don't turn on the microwave)

However found the netgear was worse then wireless, could not get any smooth motion. Did some investigation and found the following:

if put the two netgear adapters in the same room or close to each other great connection, negear software reporting 170mbs connection. However if put in another part of the house connection speed dropped to about 40, whilst nominally comparable to wireless actual throughout much worse due to overhead, encrption etc

the issue is that as long as you are on the same circuit they work great, as soon as you have to travel across a circuit you are stuffed. If you do a google search you will find a review that discusses this very issue.

Returned it and got a refund, will put the money towards putting cat cable in the house, which was to my surprise not much more expensive given the two netgears cost over $400 - although I am lucky as live in a single level house with very good roof access

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richms

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#60605 13-Feb-2007 00:18

Cables are the only way to go IMO. When I have to dig for the new water main I will be taking Ethernet to the shed in case I want to stash a backup server out there since I cant even get wifi to reach there at any decent speeds. I tried the power line things between house and shed initially and it was another no go situation.

Damn overpromising underdelivering consumer electronics...

Richard rich.ms