Powerline/homeplugs-buy or not as base unit on WIFI 'losses' internet a fair bit!

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi lovely experts-thanks for ALL your help so far!

I'm hoping some experts can advise on if it's worth getting a set of homeplugs-Argos have 600mbps at £19-99.

Some connection facts & figures-base unit upstairs is hard wired in-5996 connection according to Sky settings (pretty crap but Sky have replaced all cabling into house & new boxes to connect phone line to etc-everythings een tried but I'm the last/furthest house from the exchange!).

Downstairs base unit (the one with the issues)-has a 300mbps network USB dongle adaptor (not booster)-on clicking the settings for WIFI it's running at 144mbps (whatever that means!) but I have sometimes seen it as low as 70mbps in the evening. I did have a crappy cheap 150mbps wifi usb stick that came with base unit-but bought the 300mbps for £6-99 at Argos. Problem is it will occaisionally close the internet connection & you get the annoying 'server can't be found' page...'please try again'. Now normally after a few retrys or wait a few minutes it's back up & running-mega annoying if typing an e-mail etc. I always double click on the wifi strength icon & check 'status'-if not connected I go to wireless settings & reconnect. The base unit by the way is 320gb hard drive, windows 7, 4gb memory.

The 300mbps wifi stick/dongle has improved things but still not 100%. Called Sky & they said it was deffo a problem between Wifi router upstairs & usb wifi downstairs. However....on my Galaxy smart phone it often says 'unstable internet connection' & on the odd occaision I use my Fire Stick (would love to use more but it buffers too much & sometimes Netflix won't even play & sticks!) it says 'connected with problems.

I can set up homeplugs-allbeit as its an old listed cottage I have a distinct lack of plugs-but could be done if I attach an unsightly extension lead to the plug under the bed & loop it round room (becuase I've been told homeplugs can't be put in extension sockets)..G/F would not be too happy lol-downstairs near affected base unit there are 2 plugs so a simple extension lead which is out of sight for plug 2 would work.

Looking at the connections, etc....would I really get any improvement & stop the internet 'instability' & dropping out??? Just out of interest I have an old xp laptop-this connects at only 55mbps downstairs.

Any ideas before I shell out MORE money? Apparently fibre will be here in 4 months (about bl**dy time!) & given all my issues with Sky internet I'd hope to get it free. By the way-can't drill holes etc to hard wire downstairs unit as its a listed cottage!

Any help/ideas kind peop:beer:le???

stator

Yes homeplug is probably a good answer for you.
You could either use Homeplug adapters and network cables, or get homeplug adapters that include a wifi router too, that way it will work for all your devices and not require an extra cable
This is the one that I use and it works really well, but is a bit expensive:
http://www.tesco.com/direct/tp-link-tl-wpa4230pkit-av500-passthrough-powerline-wifi-kit/146-2470.prd?skuId=146-2470&pageLevel=sku&sc_cmp=ppc_sh-_-sh-_-bg-_-146-2470&gclid=CIjLqLyDvNACFRITGwod6K8JwA&gclsrc=aw.ds

Nodding_Donkey

My experience is that homeplugs offer a more stable connection than Wifi.

Re:#. not having many sockets.

You can get Homeplugs with pass through although they are more expensive.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/PowerLine-Ethernet-Adapter-500Mbps-Homeplug/dp/B01LY3VSMN

System

Hi

This is not for the amateur

https://www.electrical2go.co.uk/13a-2-3-socket-converter.html

a 3 way socket replaces your twin, and there are twins to replace a single.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/CONVERTER-SOCKET-13AMP-GANG-WALL/dp/B00863ZKSK.

Usually available Locally from bigger DIY places.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi guys-thanks! Just been onto Sky (again!) & loads of errors on line. Downstairs is showing 5mpbs connection-wired in upstairs is 6 mbps. Sky guy keeping case open & will call later this pm & is checking that the wifi does not drop in nex 6 hours. If it does he thinks its possibly a router wifi error-so new router. Funnily enough I speed tested on Kodi on the firestick-3.9-4.9 mbps-but funnily with a couple of 'rogue' readings at 0.38 mbps & 2/3mbps???! Could this be the 'instability' or 'coonnected with problems' message I get on my Samsung Galaxy & the Firestick connection page?

Will see what happens later this pm....! Will keep the post updated.