Homeplugs

rmg1

Hi all

Now the new computer is up and running, I'm looking to move it away from the main room (where the phone point is) to somewhere out of the way.
I've been looking at using Homeplugs (or equivalent) so I can still connect to the main (and only) phone point but I'm a bit confused.

Do I need a special router or will my normal one do?
Obviously I'll need two plugs (one for the computer and one for the router) but is that it?
Does the cable go from the Homeplug to the Router and then into the BT socket and that's it?
Where's the best/cheapest place to buy all the items I'll need?

John_Gray

Have a look at the diagrams here...

Basically you need to use two ethernet patch cables as follows:
* connect from any ethernet socket on the router to a homeplug plugged into an adjacent 13A socket
* connect from a homeplug plugged into a 13A socket to the ethernet socket on your PC, wherever it is located

Choose your speed and pay accordingly!

scotsbob

I purchased the Comtrend ones from Amazon a few months ago and have had no problems. You may get them cheaper on Ebay of course.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Comtrend-Powerline-ethernet-adapter-Filter/dp/B001M06Y0M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306250013&sr=8-1

spud17

Came in yesterdays promo,

http://www.ebuyer.com/special/2663

Dave_C_2

Why do it the expensive way?
How hard is it to run a cable from one room to another (OK you may have to drill a hole in a door frame or two and lift the odd carpet).
Even at expensive Maplins, a Cat 5 UTP Ethernet patch cable is only about £1.10 per metre, plus a box of cable clips at about £1

100 Mb/s no problem, plus an Ethernet cable can't be hacked.

Dave

rmg1

And neither can these (apparently) as it's all hardwired.
As for running cables, due to the layout of my home, I would need to run the cable through 2 room whish are oddly shaped and I would need about 20 metres of cable.

Skymist

rmg1, I bought a Netgear powerline av 200 adapter kit XAVB2001 from Argos,earlier this year and it works a treat! I don't have a router...but you can use it with one too.

This is a pretty informative page..... http://www.homeserverland.com/2010/05/netgear-powerline-av-200-xavb2001-adapter-kit/....am

I've even used it connected to an extension lead and it still worked fine!

S

KillerWatt

rmg1 wrote: »

And neither can these (apparently) as it's all hardwired.

They may be hardwired, but every 3rd neighbour shares the same incoming phase as you so you still need to enable some form of security.

rmg1

I'm sat behind a router with a hardware firewall (AFAIK) and I've got a software firewall on the machine (Comodo) as well as an AV (Avast).
Would that be enough?

::edit::
I'm looking at the first item on this page. Will that be enough kit? It certainly looks like it will be.

KillerWatt

rmg1 wrote: »

I'm sat behind a router with a hardware firewall (AFAIK) and I've got a software firewall on the machine (Comodo) as well as an AV (Avast).
Would that be enough?

No.
The data is transmitted down the mains cable which is connected to your CU (fusebox), which in turn is connected to the incoming mains from the street, which is also connected to your neighbours house.

So if you don't enable some form of security on the homeplugs, any neighbour with a homeplug will be able to see & connect to your network.

rmg1 wrote: »

::edit::
I'm looking at the first item on this page. Will that be enough kit? It certainly looks like it will be.

Avoid the 85Mbps ones if you want any sort of decent transfer speeds or intend to stream video.


PS
A wi-fi card for your PC will be a lot cheaper if you have a wi-fi router/access point.

rmg1

OK, so I need to enable the security on the Homeplugs to get decent security. That shouldn't be a problem. Also, I don't think anyone else on my street has any homeplugs and I know my neighbours either side don't have any, they don't even have broadband.
I don't intend to stream video (apart from bits on Youtube) so that shouldn't be a problem. I did think about wi-fi (the router will support wireless) but I thought the speed would be slower?