Ethernet/Wireless help needed ~

[David Nimrod]

I have Sky Broadband; I've connected several TP-LINK TL-PA411 Powerline adapters to make a physical network using the Mains.

Linky

However, there's a part of the house that has a totally seperate mains circuit.

I need to 'bridge the gap' between the two, and make a seperate physical network in the other part of the house.

How best to do this..? With an Ethernet cable, or via wireless..?

Any advice please!

 

[vette]

Why not just have bought a TP Link Wireless router?

Sounds like your making thinks more difficult than they need to be.

Unless I am missing some thing.

Gra.

 

[David Nimrod]

Why not just have bought a TP Link Wireless router?

Because I want an Ethernet network

 

[Monsieur]

Sorry David can't help you

To digress this thread a little though - I've got a virgin media superhub for wireless connectivity. The range is pretty crap actually so I bought a couple of the plugs as mentioned by David above.

What is the best way to extend the wireless range?

 

[er-minio]

Because I want an Ethernet network

If you want an Ethernet network you will have to bridge the two electric circuits.

It should be:
Socket/adaptor > Ethernet (crossed cable) > Socket/adaptor to the other circuit.
Otherwise you can put a switch in the middle (easier).
Most home switches automatically detect if the connection needs to be "crossed" or not and will adapt automatically.

If you want a wired network (I approve) it might make sense to pass the ethernet cable around the house, if possible.

Using these adaptors, normally, you won't go over 200/400Mbits.
While using the proper cable you'll be the proud owner of a gigabit network.

 

[captain_nesmo]

If you want an Ethernet network you will have to bridge the two electric circuits.

It should be:
Socket/adaptor > Ethernet (crossed cable) > Socket/adaptor to the other circuit.
Otherwise you can put a switch in the middle (easier).
Most home switches automatically detect if the connection needs to be "crossed" or not and will adapt automatically.

If you want a wired network (I approve) it might make sense to pass the ethernet cable around the house, if possible.

Using these adaptors, normally, you won't go over 200/400Mbits.
While using the proper cable you'll be the proud owner of a gigabit network.

This is working on the assumption that there are sockets on for both circuits that are near enough for a physical bridge. If not, you'll need a pair of Wireless Access Points to great a Wireless Bridge between the two. Such as:

http://www.ebuyer.com/143115-d-link-dap-1160-wireless-g-access-point-dap-1160-b

Of course, then you're going to be slowing any transfers that need to cross the bridge down to the speed of the Wireless, which isn't ideal.

Now, I'm guessing these two circuits enter the house on the same mains? I've actually seen these 'powernet' adapters work across two separate consumer units, which I didn't think could happen. So, have you tried plugging stuff in and doing some testing?

 

[David Nimrod]

Of course, then you're going to be slowing any transfers that need to cross the bridge down to the speed of the Wireless, which isn't ideal.

Very interesting info... I'll be looking into this in the next few days.

Your point re. 'bridging the gap' with wireless is exactly right, I don't want to slow it all down to that extent...

Some sort of cable bridge will need to be made, but as you've probably gathered, I don't really know what I'm doing

 

[captain_nesmo]

I'm with er-minio. If you can, get some Cat6e cable in the walls and create a proper ethernet network, as you'll get decent speeds. Of course, this is assuming you can get into the void to install the cabling, and that you won't have to chase out your entire house to do so.

The question you have to ask with wireless is what are you going to stream over it? Are we just talking moving Word Documents and music around, or will there be high definition video streaming?

 

[Clive]

Sorry David can't help you

To digress this thread a little though - I've got a virgin media superhub for wireless connectivity. The range is pretty crap actually so I bought a couple of the plugs as mentioned by David above.

What is the best way to extend the wireless range?

Buy some cheap Wireless Routers, configure them as Access Points and plug them into the Powerline. Set them to the same SSID and Security/Password as the main Superhub then you get wireless roaming running at reasonable speeds.

 

[er-minio]

If the only way to "connect" the two networks is a wifi bridge... at this point it makes more sense to build a decent wifi network "n" (IEEE 802.11n) and forget the adapters and rest of cabling.

On paper it will be simpler and quicker. Unless you have some horrible signal noise as it happens to me at home.

 

[cookie]

there's a new wireless standard imminent - 802.11ac

might be better for the OP?

 

[captain_nesmo]

there's a new wireless standard imminent - 802.11ac

might be better for the OP?

It's been out since November 2011 (ish?) so I reckon it's worth a go. The specification is nice and juicy.