Anyone used Homeplugs?

stupot101

I've just found out that iPlayer is testing on Humax Freesat boxes. As my modem is downstairs and main TV upstairs, I need a way to connect the two without running an ethernet cable all the way up.

Freesat are recommending Homeplugs. Some other forum posts say they cause a lot of shortwave interference.

Anyone used them yet? Had any problems?

In my upstairs room I have my Sony Bravia, Humax Foxsat, Xbox 360 (connected wirelessly, and I stream media to it as well), digital phone, and my laptop. (wireless again)

Do any of these operate on shortwave?

brewerdave

Set up a simple network extension using "Homeplugs" and wireless router for a neighbour. Certainly no interference problems as far as I can see.
However have heard that cordless digital phones can interfere with wifi - again not experienced a problem with my set up.

bitemebankers

Homeplugs are devices of questionable legality which put out a lot of interference that *can* interfere with all sorts of other electronic gadgets. However, that doesn't mean that it always *does*. Some people get on fine with Homeplug, others have problems, and others still simply cause untold grief to their neighbours without even realising it.

JezCooke

I used HomePlugs for years with no problems but have now replaced them with a wired gigabit LAN. As a simple and reliable way of networking they're great, can't compete with with the speed of true wired connections but generally much better than wireless.

The signal is blocked by your electricity meter so I would be dubious about any claims that it will interfere with your neighbours in any way without seeing concrete evidence first!

bitemebankers

The signal is blocked by your electricity meter

Where on earth did you get that idea?

OFCOM are currently dealing with numerous complaints about interference from Homeplugs and there has been a prime minister's petition to get them banned.

JezCooke

bitemebankers wrote: »

Where on earth did you get that idea?

The powerline signal is blocked by the electricity meter so is unable to affect things plugged in at your neighbours house even if they are on the same phase.

This is what I originally thought that you were referring to, but I now guess that you are probably referring to RF (radio) interference, to be honest lots of stuff causes RF interference these days (almost anything that runs on electricity will do to some extent).

Is this the petition that you were referring to? http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page19025 if so then I'm rather inclined to agree with the government's response, the idea to ban Powerline adaptors of which there are estimated to be around half a million in use due to 84 complaints is frankly ridiculous.

bitemebankers

This is what I originally thought that you were referring to, but I now guess that you are probably referring to RF (radio) interference, to be honest lots of stuff causes RF interference these days

Homeplugs produce illegal levels of interference, so OFCOM may yet be forced to act, even though you appear to believe that people having their lives pointlessly disrupted is "ridiculous"

JezCooke

bitemebankers wrote: »

Homeplugs produce illegal levels of interference, so OFCOM may yet be forced to act, even though you appear to believe that people having their lives pointlessly disrupted is "ridiculous"

The levels of interference would be affected by the wiring in the particular house, as the response to the petition says they will act on a case by case basis in the rare event that there are problems caused by a particular installation, that seems pretty reasonable to me.

I have seen no evidence of people having lives 'disrupted' by such interference, the only things likely to be affected are radio receivers, and due to the frequencies involved commercial transmissions are unlikely to be interfered with and as such will only affect a tiny minority of the population. All other electronic devices/gadgets and their associated cabling that could potentially be affected should be adequately shielded against this level of interference if they are not then the fault lies with the device in question.

Also Homeplugs can be very useful and are therefore not pointless, if one were to set-up a transmitter attached to a white noise generator then that would be pointless.

Anyway, I didn't come here for an argument just trying to be helpful to the OP. Plus as I said I replaced my Homeplugs with Ethernet so my 'Life Disrupting' days are over!

Inactive

bitemebankers wrote: »

Homeplugs are devices of questionable legality which put out a lot of interference that *can* interfere with all sorts of other electronic gadgets. However, that doesn't mean that it always *does*. Some people get on fine with Homeplug, others have problems, and others still simply cause untold grief to their neighbours without even realising it.

They are perfectly legal.