using power over ethernet for pc internet connection

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Dreamy

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#73762 21-Dec-2010 17:02

i've been googling about poe, but everything i read points to using voip phones or printers and the like, not actually using it to plug in a pc to get online. can i use this for that purpose? will it be effective?

i need to hook up an xbox 360 and a pc in the same room and it seems to be more cost effective to use poe to connect both thnt having to buy a separate wireless dongle for both, especially as the xbox ones are so pricey.

does anyone have any experience with it? thanks.

~~Dream.Catcher~~
iPhone 4s 16 GB, Ipad2 32gb
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#420040 21-Dec-2010 17:09

Er, you can't use PoE to power something like a 360 or PC! Why not just use normal ethernet/wires?
Why are you trying to use PoE? That's usually high end (spendy) gear.

FreakyKiwi

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#420043 21-Dec-2010 17:26

You sure you're not thinking of Ethernet over Power? ie Turbo Plugs?

cyril7

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#420044 21-Dec-2010 17:30

Hi, i think you are refering to EOP not POE, different animals. EOP devices are like this.

http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=373605

By and large these devices work just fine unless they strike interference issues.

If your two devices are in the same room would not a lan cable do the trick.

Cyril

Ragnor

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#420046 21-Dec-2010 17:31

I suspect he means ethernet over powerline not power over ethernet.

These are called "HomePlug" and sold by Netgear, Belkin, Dynalink etc

Here's an example of one of the Dynalink models
http://www.dynalink.co.nz/products/ethernet-over-power/np201av

Ragnor

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#420049 21-Dec-2010 17:33

Oh Snap beaten by cyril by 1sec

PS: Merry xmas!

kyhwana2

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#420063 21-Dec-2010 18:11

Ahh yes, ethernet over power would make more sense..
Ive used it briefly in an older house with crappy wiring, it was pretty slow. But im told its better with decent gear in newer houses..

cyril7

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#420073 21-Dec-2010 18:43

As someone who has in a past job designed this gear, I would recommend you get a lan cable, its much more reliable, faster and cheaper by a country mile, especially if you have both devices in the same room, just a no brainer.

Cyril

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Dreamy

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#420081 21-Dec-2010 19:00

Thanks for the replies, yes I meant EoP, no wonder I wasn't getting anything meaningful on my searches lol

And the problem is I can't run the cable from the router. They're each at opposite ends of the house, so I thought this would be a viable solution, but it doesn't sound like it. Guess I'll have to buck up for the wireless.

~~Dream.Catcher~~
iPhone 4s 16 GB, Ipad2 32gb
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kyhwana2

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#420085 21-Dec-2010 19:08

Dreamy:
And the problem is I can't run the cable from the router. They're each at opposite ends of the house, so I thought this would be a viable solution, but it doesn't sound like it. Guess I'll have to buck up for the wireless.

You can run cat5/6 up to 100M or so..

timmmay

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#420128 21-Dec-2010 20:49

I ran ethernet over power lines in my house, the wiring is probably 20 years old. I got about 8Mbps, which wasn't really enough to easily stream even standard def video. I returned it. I had a bridged wireless connection, but it wasn't reliable. I returned that too.

A guy from this forum ran ethernet under my house for about $180, including wall plugs. Put a $35 switch in and you're done. Sometimes wires really are the best way.

kyhwana2

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#420135 21-Dec-2010 20:56

timmmay: I ran power over ethernet in my old house. I got about 8Mbps, which wasn't really enough to easily stream even standard def video. I returned it. I had a bridged wireless connection, but it wasn't reliable. I returned that too.

You mean ethernet over power? You should be able to get 100mbit on PoE.

timmmay

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#420139 21-Dec-2010 21:02

kyhwana2:You mean ethernet over power? You should be able to get 100mbit on PoE.

Oops I did it to. I've edited my post.

Yes I ran ethernet over power, the latest netgear product that should get 100mbps. I got 10mbps instead, probably because of the old wiring.

Ragnor

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#420220 22-Dec-2010 01:49

timmmay:
kyhwana2:You mean ethernet over power? You should be able to get 100mbit on PoE.

Oops I did it to. I've edited my post.

Yes I ran ethernet over power, the latest netgear product that should get 100mbps. I got 10mbps instead, probably because of the old wiring.

With wireless and ethernet over power the marketing speeds stated are usually hype, if you dig into the details the protocol is often half duplex (meaning it can't send and receive at the same times and alternatives between sending or receiving in one direction) and there are other factors that result in real world throughput that is much lower.

timmmay

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#420259 22-Dec-2010 08:41

The newest products are full duplex IIRC.

Ragnor

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#420315 22-Dec-2010 10:43

Have a look at real world throughput of the "HomePlug AV" standard which is advertised as 200Mbit/s

Even in ideal situations expect 30-40Mbit/s at most:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanwan/lanwan-reviews/31241-homeplug-av-adapter-roundup?showall=&start=5

Also 30Mbit/s is going to be pretty borderline for HD streaming, see here
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/multimedia-voip/multimedia-voip-features/31273-hd-streaming-smackdown-the-rematch

Remember 8 bits in a byte, 30Mbit/s = ~3.75MB/s.

Ergo... run Cat5E if at all possible!

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