Please explain powerline adaptors/network extenders to me..!

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stevewestern

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As so often I need help - I have been asked to set up a Cocktail Audio X30 music server/streamer and need to get it linked into the network. It came with a dongle but I was advised to either wire it up or use an adaptor for ease - is this what a powerline adaptor does ?
I assume I plug one into a socket near the router and the other plugs into another socket near the X30 and I then connect up via an ethernet cable to the X30 ?
What is the difference between this method and using a network extender (not that I know anything about these either..!)

Cost is not a big issue, but ease of setting up is, so if anyone can advice something that will do the job with the minimum of input from me and the most reliability of connection I would be so grateful - I did think of running in a cable but it will be a major hassle in a newly decorated house with floorboards that cannot be lifted..!
 
I ran a network connection between my house and office using powerline adapters fitted to adjacent sockets, it worked fine for day-to-day business activities but I didn't do any streaming - dead simple to setup, plug them in, connect cables and basically plug & play.
 
I am using them as we speak you simply plug ethernet cables into the plugs then into your sockets and one into your router and it will piggyback your electric circuits around the home , that is unless any of them are on seperate rings ( maybe kitchen ) , mine works well and using it on a ps3 downstairs to stream movies netflix nowtv etc without issue , i am on 30mb cable
 
Fantastic - many thanks for the instant and helpful replies guys !
The router is in the next door room to where the streamer is going to live and is on the same ring, so it sounds like you have solved my problems and in less than 10 minutes !
 
stevewestern said:
Fantastic - many thanks for the instant and helpful replies guys !
The router is in the next door room to where the streamer is going to live and is on the same ring, so it sounds like you have solved my problems and in less than 10 minutes !
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While power line adapters are a great idea ( I use them for my bt vision box and they work perfectly)
If the streamer is only in the room next door, is just a small hole through the wall and a short length of Ethernet cable quicker, much cheaper and more reliable a connection?
 
Streaming HD works fine with BTs 200Mbps adapters.
I use 600Mbps TP-Link adapters which have a wifi extender built in and a gigabit port (the 500mbps versions only have 10/100).
I can transfer files at a good speed all through the house 35MB/s is easily achieved if no one else using it.

The only downside I have found is with the wifi extender is very slow compared to hooking directly to the router so I have turned it off.
I have not tested 4k video.
 
Ben6 said:
While power line adapters are a great idea ( I use them for my bt vision box and they work perfectly)
If the streamer is only in the room next door, is just a small hole through the wall and a short length of Ethernet cable quicker, much cheaper and more reliable a connection?
Click to expand...
Ben - it is not so simple, as I would need to run a cable around 2 doors, a fireplace with stone hearth and about 18m of skirting. I work mainly doing domestic renovation and it was my first thought, but given the state of the skirting and the problems I can foresee it would be easier and cheaper to get some powerline adaptors. If I could lift some floorboards it would be so easy, but they are painted, and both rooms are SO full of furniture that emptying is out of the question.
 
You could always run the the Ethernet cable (shielded) along existing power cables and then pop it out next to the sockets
 
Powerline adapters sound a much easier solution, and they aren't especially expensive.
 
Get Devolo - much better build quality than TP Link, (imho) running devolo 500s at the mo - reading 465 & 433 Mbits/sec on 2 downstairs on the same ringmain.....in a Victorian house with nasty old wiring, just wish my broadband ran that close to spec too :(
 
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Basically, they take your data and instead of squirting it down a twisted pair transmission line (like Cat5) designed to carry high frequency RF, they put it on an unshielded wire designed for a completely different job and hope that by a fluke it doesn't radiate too much.

I've seen many demos of Powerline devices on physically separate power phases and networks happily communicating with each other. It will be interesting to see what Ofcom propose when their consultation closes - they've recently admitted they totally failed to understand what problems these would create.
 
I got the TP link 500 pass-through-plug pair for £25 on Amazon. They work well and were easy to set up.
 
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Well, I ended up getting a Netgear Powerline 500 kit which works perfectly - so far we seem to have a reliable and fast connection.
Being a kit it came with 2 ethernet cables so had all I needed, and the guys in the local Maplins seemed both knowledgeable and helpful.
I may well have been able to get them cheaper but the store was a short walk away so had I struggled to make it work I could have gone back and got something else.
Thanks again for all the replies !
 
ST599 - I've got about 6 of these around the house (old 85mbs ones) of varying makes and all communicate flawlessly and without obvious interference RFI / EMC issues. They are used to stream lossless audio around the house so interference would be a big issue for me if it exhibited it.
I'm aware of the Ofcom consultation and it will be interesting to see what develops.
 
Ive used 500Mb/s ones for a few years. They're really reliable and give solid performance - as long as you accept that the headline figures are pure marketing BS then they're a good solution. I use Solwise ones, including one which has a built in 4Port switch.
 
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