Wireless home plug?

robmar0se

Pugwash69 wrote: »

You can't mix different speeds (AFAIK) but 200mbps plugs are good enough for hi-def video streaming.

FYI, Solwise will allow you to mix 200 & 500mbps homeplugs but NOT the 85's.

dug123

Just buy a BT homehub from ebay, they usually go for about £5> I have detailed below how I use mine (I am on Sky broadband).

I am with SKY but I used to be with BT and found that the Wireless (n) BT homehub was far superior to the SKY one with a better range. So I use my SKY router to connect to broadband and I have disabled wireless, I have an ethernet cable which runs from my SKY router to my BT (2.0) homehub. In my Homehub settings I have renamed it "Downstairs" and have disabled the firewall (It uses the SKY firewall) and Set the DHCP Server on BT to 'No'. I then have the BT Homehub connected to one of the old BT powerline adaptors which I got free from BT for BT Vision with another ethernet cable. My other Powerline adaptor is upstairs and I bought another BT homehub (2.0) from ebay for 99p which is attached upstairs by ethernet cable again to my other Powerline adaptor. I set the BT homehub upstairs with the same settings as downstairs but named it "Upstairs".
I get about 8MBPS download speed from SKY and I have about 5MBPS speed on wireless anywhere in the house thanks to the excellent BT homehubs.
There are no fancy settings (I am not a techie) and no rom flashes involved (whatever they are). It took me less than an hour to set up and has worked for months with no problem.
If I attach a Homehub phone to the back of the BT homehub boxes (they have a normal phone jack) then they just act as extensions on the house phone.

grumpycrab

robmar0se wrote: »

Try a Range Extender such as this http://www.kikatek.com/product_info.php?products_id=209496&source=froogle

Just plug into the homeplug, configure, now you have a wireless network upstairs.......

Blimey - bet you're confused now. 2 options :-
1. bin the homeplugs and just go for a standard range extender (described here http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopSearch.asp?CategoryID=657)
2. Or keep the homeplugs and add a second wireless network at the remote homeplug. (described here from post #9 down http://www.avforums.com/forums/networking-nas/913283-extending-wireless-network-via-homeplug.html)

You should be able to test both with www.kikatek.com/product_info.php?products_id=209496
Option 1. uses "Range Extender mode"
Option 2. uses "Access Point mode" This configuration is more complicated.

robmar0se

grumpycrab wrote: »

Blimey - bet you're confused now. 2 options :-
1. bin the homeplugs and just go for a standard range extender (described here http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopSearch.asp?CategoryID=657)
2. Or keep the homeplugs and add a second wireless network at the remote homeplug. (described here from post #9 down http://www.avforums.com/forums/networking-nas/913283-extending-wireless-network-via-homeplug.html)

You should be able to test both with www.kikatek.com/product_info.php?products_id=209496
Option 1. uses "Range Extender mode"
Option 2. uses "Access Point mode" This configuration is more complicated.

Actually, Grumpy, it is not too confusing - as Solwise have stopped selling their Homeplug 85 integrated wireless adapters, they are actually peddling the 85's with an access point as standard!!:)

Solwise wrote:

You may recall that we used to supply an 85Mbps HomePlug with the WiFi built in; sadly this has been discontinued due to some of the components no longer being manufactured.
85Mbps HomePlug is heading towards the end of its life however we have taken the decision to continue with supply as long as we can to support the customers that still have 85Mbps HomePlug systems. With this in mind and the fact we can no longer supply an all in one box solution for the wireless option we have bundled together into a kit the single 85Meg adapter and a wireless access point. It is worth noting the 85Mbps adapters do not work with the 200, 500AV or Gig adapters.
It is not an elegant solution but it is a solution that works! It will take up two mains sockets but it will be a good way to add WiFi to your 85Mbps HomePlug system. The majority of people that want a WiFi plug need it because they have a WiFi dead spot in the house, you can use this system in much the same way as the plug in WiFi adapters.
You will have a standard plug in adapter connected to the router and then in the WiFi dead spot you will plug in another standard plug, you will then attach the Wireless access point to the standard plug using a cable. The access point then takes the Internet signal sent through the mains and distributes it wirelessly. As with the all in one WiFi adapters you will need to set up the wireless security on the access point. Full instructions are included in the kit.
This kit is great if you have an 85Mbps HomePlug network already in place. If you are starting from scratch we would urge you to go for the 200AV products for not much more cost! 200AV offers you a wider range of products including WiFi adapters, mains passthrough, multi-port adapters and even a socket which fits on the wall.