Ethernet over Mains???

[NSR Mick]

Has anyone tried these?

I'm a bit wary as it goes against everything I've ever done, although if they do work it would get me out of a bit of a situation.

I have moved all my pc kit into the garage which has power (obviously) but no phone. the only problem I can forsee is that the garage and house are on different rings.

I need to get the broadband into the garage somehow. At the moment I've got a length of cat5 running from one of the bedroom windows, around the garden and through the garage door and the missus is getting a bit fed up of it now. so if these do do what they say on the tin I'll get a set.
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[instigator]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Basic networking over mains has been done for ages (there was stuff for doing it in the mid 80s on the Amstrad CPC machines), and broadband over the main has been developed (just that with the way the electricity industry is split up in the country nobody has enough of a stake to make it worthwhile).

Think I would prefer to try wireless though for what you are doing.

All the best

Keith
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[NSR Mick]

I tried wireless, the problem I have is that it needs to go from the router to a switch not just 1 machine. I've tried so called wireless bridges and extenders etc with no success.
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[Colin Edwards]

I have always been taught that power and networking need to be kept as far apart as possible. This is due to the power causing interference to the network signals (when im working on servers racks I always put the network cables one side and the power the opposite)...

Having said that i have had a play with some of this kit as I had my router in one room and wanted internet the other side of the house without using Wifi. Reason for this being that the more devices you connect to the Wifi the more unstable the connections become.

So I got two of the network/mains devices to try out (special deal, Maplins advertised £40 off). First thing I will point out is the devices come in several speeds and you need to check what you buy. I used kit from Maplins that offered 100 mbps (14, 40 and 200 are also available) but its actual threw put was about 40mbps. The more devices you add the slower the connection becomes as you share the data between devices (does not switch or load balance). Qos (quality of service) is available though on some devices and if you know how to set it up worth looking into.

I found the kit suited what I needed as I actually only wanted to take the router connection to a switch and this was more than enough to support my 8mbps link. The pc kit was plugged into a switch which meant I could share the internet connection but also the speed between my computers stayed at 1000mbps (not achievable if I used wifi between all connections).

One thing I must point out is this solution can only be used on a single ring main. Ring mains are isolated from upstairs to downstairs for obvious reasons. If electric cant go from one to the other then there is no way a network signal can. I have read reviews and comments from the teckys on the Maplins site and they say you can but its just not possible…

CE

[syl]

[andrew]

I use wireless and power over ethernet in my house. I've got the solwise 200mbit av power cube thingys, these connect my wireless router in the front of my house to the garage at the bottom of my garden which is like 200ft away. The connection is rock solid and hasn't let me down once.

https://www.solwise.co.uk/

[sickpup]

[Colin Edwards]

Maybe in your house but not in mine...
As proven with a quick call to the netgear helpdesk...
I still kept it as a solution though and just use a wifi ap for laptops...

CE

[Colin Edwards]

https://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ITAG=FAQ&ModuleNo=48539&doy=2m10#faq

"Q) Will this work where you have more than one ring main upstairs and downstairs say? - Steve
A) They only function over the same ring main i am afraid"

Just another example

CE

[NSR Mick]

[andrew]

[Colin Edwards]

Well if must be different from house to house...
I tried it here from office to bedroom and was ok..
Take it any ware downstairs and it stops...
Called netear and they said its not supported from ring to ring so gave up..
Also read a lot of reviews about people that have tried and had no joy.....

CE

If it works for you good but if not there is always wifi...

[sickpup]

[NSR Mick]

TBH I cant see why they wouldnt work on different rings.

I would have though issues would arrise if you went outside the main fuse box, which could be an issue as the garage is run off a fusebox in the garage fed off a fused connection in the house.

What I'm going to do is get some from PCWorld of all places on the way home tonight and see what happens.

Watch this space.
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[NSR Mick]

They do work on seperate rings.

I have just installed a pair and am posting this with them in place.

Bye bye cable, at least the missus will be happy now.
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[sickpup]

Do these have any security on them or can they be used to gain access to someone else's system?

[NSR Mick]

They do have security, when you set them up the software either generates a key for you (which I did as I dont give a shit what it is as long as they speak to each other) or you can set your own.

If you are going to try these I would say dont bother with the 14mb ones they just dont cut it. I was getting 4-5mb throughput and seing as my broadband does actually run somewhere near 8mb was a bit short.

Luckily one of the plugs had a fault so I changed them for the 85mb ones this afternoon and all seems well.
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