Powerline plugs

BargainGalore

I have two pc's that use wireless network via a Netgear DG384G V1 router. One of the pc's hardly ever connects due to the way its positioned in a corner. My daughter pc upstairs also has a poor connection

I am tempted to get a home powerline plug as I understand it one plug connect via ethernet cabel to the router then uses mains to another powerplug in the house which in turn uses a ethernet cable to the netwrok adaptor on the pc

I want to be abale to add at least two pc's possible three can this be done?

This is what I am tempted to get

http://www.connectplayentertain.co.uk/product_ajax.php?id=13 from Ebuyer

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132754/show_product_reviews

Thanks for the help

BargainGalore

I have tried sorting problem out used various network cards even a usb network dongle and put a extended aerial on router. The pc upstairs works better but signal gets poor sometimes. The other pc apart from pulling out of the alcove wont work at all, its definitely where its located believe me I have tried and tried for months, ironic a laptop next to it works fine. I tried a usb dongle with extended lead and its still problematic it can see can coonect and router sees it but signal drops I can get a very small connection but it comes on and off etc. Pc upstairs just says poor signal.

I have another pc upstairs same network card and thats fine but thats just above the router where as the other pc upstairs is upstairs front of house router is at the back

Can these powerplugs work as a bridge at all?

Jack_In_The_Green_3

I had exactly the same problem with my Netgear DG384G and whilst laptops with built in wireless connected fine other items (MP101 music player, desktop with wireless card etc.) never connected properly.

In the end I got two powerline adapters from Novatech http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NOV-PL2 for £47 for the pair, which then solved the problem. They are cheap, the connection is great and these ones come with a power lead rather than plugging directly into the main socket which I found very useful. They do need to be plugged straight into the wall rather than extension sockets to get the best connection though.

BargainGalore

Thanks I will have a look seen a better offer on dabs but aslo Misco have same offer they are reduced.

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4Q3L&CategorySelectedId=11177&NavigationKey=11177,49980000

Leopard

Powerline adaptors do work but they are not without problems themselves.

I was advised by the friendly and helpful technical support gurus of one powerline adaptor manufacturer (whom I visited in person) that low-energy light bulbs and small-sized PSUs and chargers (as opposed to big, chunky ones!) powered from adjacent sockets can disrupt them - sometimes to the point of failure.

It's ALWAYS better, more reliable and faster to bridge by means of Cat5e (or Cat6) cable if that's at all possible.

You can install several of them (typically up to 15) in a property provided they are all in one self-contained household circuit (by which I mean upstairs ones will communicate with downstairs ones) and they will all sort themselves out and speak happily to each other.

Definitely go for the 200 Mb/s ones rather than the 85 Mb/s ones and, even then, don't expect to see them work at more than 100 Mb/s in practice. Think 10/100 Ethernet, not Gigabit (which is what you'd get with Cat5e cable).

A properly set-up 802.11n wireless network running on 5 GHz will be faster than that.

Lastly, bear in mind that each powerline adaptor will consume (again typically) 4.5 watts or more and you tend to leave them permanently on. So, with even just two of them, that's about 10 watts an hour, all day, every day, which may not sound much but it mounts up over a year. Whereas, Cat5e cable costs nothing to run (and supports Gigabit).

We did use them - good ones - but we're now in the process of installing Cat5e cable thoughout, instead. We use wireless only for laptops.

BargainGalore

I ordered two twin packs from dabs as I have 3 pc's that have a flaky wireless I understand I wont get 100% out of them. It did occur to me the power of them, I have also heard they some dont like surge protectors. I couldn't find any info on how much these take, but I assume there will be some trade off if I dont use pci wireless cards. I may also get them fitted to a smart plug I dont think they have surge protection. Thanks for the help