Ethernet over power

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simon14

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#63136 21-Jun-2010 18:31

Ethernet over power - running an ethernet network over you existing mains wiring.

I heard about this stuff a few years ago and recently stumbled across it again.

I'm very surprised it's not more common... it seems so convenient and easy to setup and use.

Has anyone here used this before? How well does it performed?

NetComm NP201AV (200Mbps HomePlug)

rscole86

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#343878 21-Jun-2010 18:34

This has been discussed quite a lot on here recently. Have a search around for some of the other discussions.

I have heard of there being issues when power points are connected to different fuses or circuits, but have not tried it out for myself.

PANiCnz

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#343900 21-Jun-2010 19:23

I've heard it fairly hit and miss, a lot depends on the quality of the wiring in your house. Have also heard it fair hard to get decent speeds over. Might be useful for getting internet to the corner of the house where Wifi doesn't reach.

old3eyes

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#343911 21-Jun-2010 19:45

It's also quite expensive. Something like $200 for a set. I'm looking at it to get to my HT unit in a new house I'm moving into but it may be way cheaper to make friends with the spiders and run some CAT5 in..

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=NETNCMNP201

Regards,

Old3eyes

Phaedrus

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#343928 21-Jun-2010 20:27

I've installed the odd set for clients and have a set here for the occasional time I need to have a temporary ethernet outlet somewhere. On the whole I've found they work reasonably well, can be somewhat faster and less trouble than wireless. On the other hand I had a set installed in one premises that never did seem to be completely reliable, but as it was a shared installation (ie. two organisations in separate operation on the same premises) and there was a certain amount of 'fiddling' going on I couldn't be sure that the problem wasn't due to 'other' stuff

.

They won't work 'through' a transformer, if you happen to have separate phases between intended points I don't imagine they'll work, otherwise they can be a convenient and quick solution.

My recollection is that the last set I obtained was in the lower $100 area, if they're now $200 then they've gone up a bit.

Cheers, P.

sbiddle

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#343946 21-Jun-2010 21:15

One of the biggest disadvantages is that you're also "sharing" your connection with other people on the same phase in the neighbourhood. This isn't a major issue since very few people use this technology but if your neighbours did for example you'd find major speed reductions as they share bandwidth.

Your data is totally secure - it's just that both connections are trying to use the same frequencies.