Netcomm Powerline np204

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Netcomm Powerline np204 - HELP :)

EugeTube

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#233292 9-Apr-2018 11:50

Hello!

First off, if you think this is in the wrong forum, please move it.

Pretty random question but here goes!

I've had a Netcomm Powerline for the longest time to connect my desktop to the internet.

https://support.netcommwireless.com/product/np204

Recently we had fibre installed.

On linetest.nz my desktop only gets 10mbps download speed. However, my phone via WiFi gets 50+mbps on the same test.

There's also another problem - sometimes other people in the household experience internet problems and on unplugging my powerline, the internet works again.

It's a frustrating problem so if anyone has any insight, that would be great!

My thoughts:

1. Powerline is 'limiting' how much i can download. However, the NP204 has 200mbps data transfer (is data transfer different to download speed?)

2. my computer is the culprit for my slow internet (is this a possibility?) - I have windows 10.

3. My powerline is faulty

4. Geekzone please help! :)

Thanks in advance guys.

wellygary

8810 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5287

#1991928 9-Apr-2018 12:00

I'm assuming that the powerline adaptor are being used to get from the router (directly connected to the ONT) and you desktop?

If this is the case, plug your desktop directly into the router and run you speed test from there to indicate if there is a problem,

What speed did you get on the powerlines before they installed UFB?

If you want the best out of your fibre connection, look at running some Cat 6 cabling,

EugeTube

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1991933 9-Apr-2018 12:12

Okay I just ran my long as ethernet cable to the kitchen.. now I get 100mbps download speed.

So the powerline is 100% the culprit haha! Great to know.

I'm thinking if I go to pb tech and purchase a wifi adapter for my computer - the whole problem will be instantly fixed?

Or anyone else know what else I could do to make my powerline work?

Cheers

EugeTube

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1992017 9-Apr-2018 14:08

The NP204 will only average about 10-20Mbps download.

hashbrown

463 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 131

#1992914 10-Apr-2018 18:42

Have you tried upgrading the firmware? It may not improve speed, but might fix the lockups you're experiencing.

raytaylor

4076 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1296

Trusted

#1995998 14-Apr-2018 12:19

Remove any surge protectors, or surge protecting 4-way multipliers, double plugs etc on the same circuit as the powerline adapters.

Its not enough to plug the powerline unit direct into the wall, you need to remove surge protectors that may be nearby on the same circuit.

Attempt your test again and see what happens.

Use your long ethernet cable to plug into the powerline unit moved to the same room as the powerline unit/router

Attempt your test again and see what happens. If the speed improves then we know its a powerline wiring issue.

Move the powerline unit further away from the powerline unit/router and see what happens as the distance between the powerline units gets longer.

Note that the distance between them often may mean its going via the fuse board if outlets are on different fused circuits so further away can actually be closer by wire.

I always suggest hard wiring as many devices as you can. Having more wireless devices just means slower speeds for everyone (wifi collision collapse) and so if you can use the powerline adapters, your desktop downloading will not affect your other wifi devices unless the sum of both downloads is larger than the broadband speed into the house.

See if your computer is downloading data in the background by looking at the task manager in windows.

Also see if your local area connection is running at 10mbits instead of 100mbits.

The NP204 are the most reliable powerline units I have ever used (we have heaps of various models deployed with customers)

Ray Taylor

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