Wireless question

darude

I once considered this, I've heard some powerline adapaters get really hot and suddenly stops working after a few months. I wish this isn't true, it would be the easiest way to get a network connection around any house.

Leopard

Nothing beats Cat5e cable (well, Cat6 cable ) for speed and reliability. Plus, it costs no electricity to to run. That's best for fixed installations.

It used to be that powerline adaptors (200 Mb/sec variety) were next best - filled in with 802.11b/g wireless, when needed, for laptops. Plus, they are secure.

Now, though, a well set up 802.11n network on 5 GHz is faster.

It all really depends on the individual situation and location. Some houses have thick walls but good electrical wiring. Others have thin walls but lousy electrical wiring. So you can't generalise.

They do get warm but that's not a problem if you use them sensibly. Like any device that generates heat, it builds up if there's no way to dissipate it. Powerline adaptors are fine if they get air circulating round them: put them under a table, next to a radiator and you'll experience problems - possibly failure.

We used them permanently for a while but are now Cat5e and 802.11n (at 5 GHz only). We kept them, though; they're very handy for quick, easy, short-term solutions - to problems like the OPs, for example. You don't want to trail a long Cat5e cable to a summer house across a lawn that somebody's mowing, either! :eek:

Jakg

darude wrote: »

I once considered this, I've heard some powerline adapaters get really hot and suddenly stops working after a few months. I wish this isn't true, it would be the easiest way to get a network connection around any house.

Been running netgear powerline kit for aaaages and had no issues at all.

Would prefer to use Cat5, but alas something keeps eating the cable and it's a PITA to fix it each time!

Leopard

Jakg wrote: »

Would prefer to use Cat5, but alas something keeps eating the cable and it's a PITA to fix it each time!

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:eek:

[Deleted User]

My cats like to knaw on cables too, it's quite a pain but I've worked around it.

Leopard

Is that why it's called Cat5 ?

[Deleted User]

Very possibly, but the inner tubes of toilet rolls are thwarting the chewing for now. They don't quite seem to be able to get their fat faces around them

hemophobic

darude wrote: »

I once considered this, I've heard some powerline adapaters get really hot and suddenly stops working after a few months. I wish this isn't true, it would be the easiest way to get a network connection around any house.

I leave my PC and internet on for days sometimes and the powerline plug doesn't even feel warm... so don't know who told you that but they bought some crap ones

sodamnfunky

The powerline adapters do seem to be good for ease of use. I would only need it when I venture upstairs to do invoices for work. rest of the time, I can use the laptop...Decisions, decisions...

Leopard

Provided that the wiring of your house is in good nick, they'd be ideal for the particular purpose you have in mind.

Be sure to get ones that are 200 Mb/sec if you're buying new. Also go for ones that have "Simple Connect" or whatever other manufacturers label it: plug both of them into a double socket, press one button on each and they pair automatically. Then you unplug them and install them wherever's convenient. In your case you'd simply be using them to create a bridge between upstairs and downstairs via your ring mains - instead of trailing a Cat5 cable all the way up the stairs.

The Solwise ones are nice, particularly the "Piggy" version which has a pass-through, so you don't lose the use of the power socket for other devices when they're plugged in.

The other thing to watch out for is that, in contrast to the Solwise, some of the others are so wide they hog a whole double-socket[ to themselves. The Solwise ones, as you'll see from the pictures in the link, are designed for the British market and are slim enough to permit another plug to be used next to them in a double socket.

So, one Solwise Piggy in a double-socket still leaves you with two sockets to plug other things into. Some others leave you with no sockets at all to plug anything into.

The only other thing of which you should be careful is what you plug in next to (or through) them. They have quite sophisticated electronics and don't appreciate having a power drill or something that draws huge amounts of power plugged in right next to them.

Lastly, of course, each one uses power itself while it is running - typically 4.5 watts, or more.

In your case, though, you could just switch them on and off when you want to use them with your computer upstairs (they stay paired, when unpowered).

And then you could put them away again until next Christmas! :santa2:



PS. They're a bit expensive new but if you buy them online, or with a Buy-it-Now from a commercial seller on eBay (a good source generally), the Distance Selling Regulations give you a week or so to check that they like your wiring and that you're happy with them - or you can send them back. If you buy them from a shop, you can't.