Powerline Adapter

[alexsmith2709]

Hi All,
Looking for some UK recommendations for powerline adapters. Its for my personal use, i dont need to broadcast WiFi, its really just for ethernet as im putting my NAS down in my garage. I have currently done it with an old 100Mbps powerline adapter i had, but this is not a long term solution. 2 ports would be great, but only 1 is really necessary and needs to be at least 1Gbps.
I dont have much experience with any powerline adapters so which ones would you recommend? Under £100 (ex VAT cost price) would be ideal and available from UK distributors.
I've seen the TL-PA9020P KIT but some reviews say the speeds arent very good. Anyone have any experience with this kit? I've not rated TP-Link in the past, but open to change my views.

Thanks

 

[NJW]

I've seen the TL-PA9020P KIT but some reviews say the speeds arent very good. Anyone have any experience with this kit? I've not rated TP-Link in the past, but open to change my views.

Nothing wrong with the TP-Link Powerline stuff, in my experience.

However, I think you need to adjust your expectations for Gigabit over house wiring. It's impossible to predict actual performance (much like Wi-Fi, and for many of the same reasons). I'd strongly recommend either running Cat6 to your garage or keeping the NAS somewhere closer (i.e., within cabling distance).

Try a couple of TP-Link adapters and see how they go. Rather than fixate on actual gigabit speed, see if the performance is adequate. You may get better real-world performance from, say, AV600 instead of AV2000 and everything depends on the state of your electrical installation, particularly the type and age of mcbs, how many junctions there are between the two adapters (even if both are on the same UK ring main, the cable is cut at each socket) and how noisy other mains appliances are.

 

[Fred Claus]

TP-Link has gotten better in recent years. You might see that those reviews could be older (or they are fake reviews from competitors). TP-Link is a top notch product these days. I have a friend in Devin who uses them for residential installs all the time.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Eh no worries about brands, they're simple enough. years ago with "first generation" ones I used a Linksys pair in the old 3x story farmhouse we were renting....old old wiring, hack job electrical add-ons. Once every couple of months...I'd have to reboot them (unplug, plug in again)...because the connection dropped. That's from the old wiring. I was still big into gaming, first persons shooters...so I couldn't deal with the lag from wireless, hence I used this. Since we were only renting the house for short term...I didn't want to invest in running ethernet...so I used these.

At several clients I've used them....generally with newer/better electrical sytems they're reliable.

About 6 months ago we "cut the cord" for our TVs at our current house. While the wireless is pretty strong in our bedroom, the TV is up against the wall prior to the door so wireless has a sharp bend to make it to the TV. Ended up not working too smoothly for streaming video (occasional spooling pauses). So, we had a spare set of Xyzel powerline adapters...I stuck them in place and they've been rock solid for the TV.....I have the Roku HD plugged right into that. I just have an older set...might be 1300 megs...or a speed just below that (I can't see 'em right now, behind a bureau)

 

[Diggs]

I've not rated TP-Link in the past, but open to change my views.

I've used quite a bit of TP-Link powerline stuff in the past. Works great and has been very reliable. Just not as fast as I'd like them to be but it all depends on the application (infrastructure) suppose.

 

[Sky-Knight]

I have a trio of TP-Link adapters here with 4 switch ports each. I wound up abandoning them because they needed constant reboots to keep online. Also, the performance to the back side of the house was so bad even a half disabled 802.11b link was superior.

 

[alexsmith2709]

Thanks for all the input so far. I understand a lot of the speed related queries and reviews could be down to the wiring in the test/real world environment. The wiring in my house was done when we moved in, which was 10 years ago.
The ones im using at the moment may actually be higher than 100mbps but they definitely arent gigabit, maybe 500mbps, i cant remember. Over WAN i can max out my 100mbps connection but over LAN i now get about 10mbps. I used to get more but i dont usually watch speeds over LAN but i noticed the slow speed recently when i was moving a Linux distro from my NAS to my desktop. I ran a long Cat5 cable down to the NAS as a test and got speeds more like i expect. Running this cable isnt a solution, it would have to be done through the walls if i were to do it and thats an expense i am trying to avoid.

Because i can max out my WAN connection, is there any testing or settings i can look at to figure out why LAN transfers are so bad? Im lucky to sustain 1MB/s when transferring a 4GB ISO.

Im happy to give the TP-Link brand another chance as they are relatively easy for me to get hold of and are at the cheaper end of the scale.

 

[NJW]

Im lucky to sustain 1MB/s when transferring a 4GB ISO.

Is this with the two Powerline adapters in place?

As you've got a long cable to hand, try moving the distant (NAS end) adapter to different places between the two endpoints, with the cable doing the rest of the link. You may find that there is a point where the transfer rate drops off a cliff, which should give some focus to a problem (if there is one).

Temporarily put the NAS end on a different electrical circuit (i.e., different MCB), too. As I mentioned above, MCB type and profile (and age/condition) have a big effect on Powerline frequency signals. I had one installation where poor speed performance was cured by changing an otherwise good MCB for a new one.

You could also install the two adapters in a single double socket, or in the same multi-way power strip, (at one end of the link), just to see what the best Powerline performance is likely to be.

I have currently done it with an old 100Mbps powerline adapter i had ...

How old and what brand/spec.? Performance has definitely improved over the last few years, especially regarding noise rejection and robustness of connection.

 

[alexsmith2709]

Is this with the two Powerline adapters in place?

As you've got a long cable to hand, try moving the distant (NAS end) adapter to different places between the two endpoints, with the cable doing the rest of the link. You may find that there is a point where the transfer rate drops off a cliff, which should give some focus to a problem (if there is one).

Temporarily put the NAS end on a different electrical circuit (i.e., different MCB), too. As I mentioned above, MCB type and profile (and age/condition) have a big effect on Powerline frequency signals. I had one installation where poor speed performance was cured by changing an otherwise good MCB for a new one.

You could also install the two adapters in a single double socket, or in the same multi-way power strip, (at one end of the link), just to see what the best Powerline performance is likely to be.


How old and what brand/spec.? Performance has definitely improved over the last few years, especially regarding noise rejection and robustness of connection.

Yep, the 1MB/s was with a powerline at each end. It is currently set for both NAS and powerline to be on the same multiway extension, but have tried using a double socket with the NAS in 1 and Powerline in the other.
Each powerline adapter is on a different MCB (im pretty sure but can check later) as the router is the floor above the garage where the NAS. I know lighting is on a different MCB but will have to double check the power sockets.

The brand is Solwise/Aztech. They could be AV500, but i've long lost the box and i had them lying around my shop for a few years before i brought them home.

I'll do the testing moving the NAS adapter around with the longer cable later today if i get chance.

 

[NJW]

They could be AV500

If they are, then they're pre-2012, so a long way off the cutting edge.

Early AV2 devices (generally marketed as 'AV600') – a generation newer than your examples – have a PHY rate of 'gigbit-class', with a throughput of around 500 Mbps.

It is currently set for both NAS and powerline to be on the same multiway extension

That's a bad thing. Use adapters with mains socket pass-through, which also provides filtering to downstream mains loads, and always plug the adapter directly into a wall socket (for best performance). You do lose quite a bit if there is mains flex in the link, but not too bad for low speed requirements. Don't even think about using a surge-protected multiway, which attenuates the Powerline frequencies too much.

I meant (previously) plug both adapters into the same multiway, to see how good the transfer is when the adapters are closely coupled. That's going to give the highest rate possible with those adapters. (But if they're as old as you indicate, just replace them.)

 

[alexsmith2709]

I've ordered the TL-PA9020 Kit. My current ones are only pass-through on 1 end (the router end) not the NAS end. I'll Plug the adapter directly in to the wall when i get it.
Thanks for the help

 

[frase]

A basic TP-Link Kit - then plugged into a decent router is all one needs. Then you can add more connections or even a switch for future expansion.

 

[NJW]

I've ordered the TL-PA9020 Kit

Check that number – it's the TL-PA9020P that has mains pass-through.

 

[alexsmith2709]

Check that number – it's the TL-PA9020P that has mains pass-through.

Yeah its the P version i have on order Just me not completing the full product code.

 

[Diggs]

I'm curious when using multiple powerline slave units. Since each functions as an access point do I give them all the same SSID (and try to get them off the same WiFi channel)? That's the way I've done it in the past when I've had multiple units but there is very little discussion running 3 or 4 of them together.

 

[NJW]

That's the way I've done it in the past when I've had multiple units but there is very little discussion running 3 or 4 of them together.

You don't have to use Wi-Fi capable slaves if you only want an Ethernet connection, of course.

You can have too many (APs) in a single installation, but tweaking individual power outputs can help if physical separation leaves gaps. For the TP-Link units, in general they do an adequate job of finding a quiet(er) channel for themselves, but setting a specific channel can be done. A single SSID & key is fine and clients will roam between them, though iDevices can be picky and hate to give up a weak connection in favour of a stronger one.

The TP-Link management utility handles channel and power settings, together with firmware upgrades, cloning between devices, etc.

 

[VISA MC]

I’ve always been interested in how these things work. At first I thought the whole power line thing was a scam ans they were actually using something like Z wave or some other short range, point to point technology.

How are these devices able to transmit what would normally be on two twisted pairs or four twisted pairs, using only the copper in the electrical outlets?

has anyone used a scope and actually looked at the signals going down the wires?

 

[NJW]

How are these devices able to transmit what would normally be on two twisted pairs or four twisted pairs, using only the copper in the electrical outlets?

Maybe the same way that those same signals can fly over Wi-Fi. It's clearly sorcery.

has anyone used a scope and actually looked at the signals going down the wires?

It isn't a secret – just try a search ...