Running Ethernet cable / IP over power / Homeplugs
Discussion
Carrying on from this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... which I've forked a bit because it doesn't really relate to the OP's problem of how to get a cable through a tight space.
Homeplugs go up to 600Mbs these days: http://www.faculty-x.net/compare%20600mb+%20homepl... so the pure speed argument holds less water. I've had quite a few of these things and here's what I've found FWIW:
1) The speeds can be quite decent, especially if you've got reasonably modern wiring (say 20 years old or less). Certainly up to streaming movies. Granted, the speeds that you achieve are usually much less than the advertised 600Mbs (see above), but usually pretty good nonetheless.
2) It's best to avoide multiple switches. I had a Hompelug -> Homeplug -> network switch -> router, and it was impossible to use the PC connected like that for working from home (so citrix into the office). Removing the switch solved that issue.
3) If you've got something like a garage with a roof over that you're using as an office, and that has power from the house running underground, it's easy to use a homeplug system to get high speed access (remembering that wireless is very slow).
4) Homeplugs don't like being powered on and off, say in a powercut scenario. When I lived in London, powercuts were extremely rare. Now I live in rural Kent, they're quite frequent. This has killed a fair few of these things, which adds up.
5) They can take some configuration. In fact, to achieve optimum speeds, you need to ensure that they 'know' about each other from a security point of view. There are utility programs that enable you to enter all the homeplug device ids on the same network so that the 'know' about each other. The problem here is that they forget as soon as they're powered off.
So, would I use them again myself? Yes, but only if I couldn't run proper cable. Either a scenario where you want to use a computer and have it run faster than wireless, or where you have a weak signal (maybe your router's downstairs and you're in the loft) in a temporary location, it works well. Likewise if you really can't run cable, but you do have a ring main to access as in the garage example.
Overall though, I'd run ethernet cable whereever I was wiring or plumbing and leave the ends sticking out somewhere (say if it was cupboard under stairs), or tucked into the box behind a power socket. The amount of throughput needed for data is only going to increase and the advantages of hard wired network in terms of performance can't be underestimated.
Here's some stuff about the various types of ethernet cable: http://www.cabling4less.co.uk/downloads/CAT_Cable....
Homeplugs go up to 600Mbs these days: http://www.faculty-x.net/compare%20600mb+%20homepl... so the pure speed argument holds less water. I've had quite a few of these things and here's what I've found FWIW:
1) The speeds can be quite decent, especially if you've got reasonably modern wiring (say 20 years old or less). Certainly up to streaming movies. Granted, the speeds that you achieve are usually much less than the advertised 600Mbs (see above), but usually pretty good nonetheless.
2) It's best to avoide multiple switches. I had a Hompelug -> Homeplug -> network switch -> router, and it was impossible to use the PC connected like that for working from home (so citrix into the office). Removing the switch solved that issue.
3) If you've got something like a garage with a roof over that you're using as an office, and that has power from the house running underground, it's easy to use a homeplug system to get high speed access (remembering that wireless is very slow).
4) Homeplugs don't like being powered on and off, say in a powercut scenario. When I lived in London, powercuts were extremely rare. Now I live in rural Kent, they're quite frequent. This has killed a fair few of these things, which adds up.
5) They can take some configuration. In fact, to achieve optimum speeds, you need to ensure that they 'know' about each other from a security point of view. There are utility programs that enable you to enter all the homeplug device ids on the same network so that the 'know' about each other. The problem here is that they forget as soon as they're powered off.
So, would I use them again myself? Yes, but only if I couldn't run proper cable. Either a scenario where you want to use a computer and have it run faster than wireless, or where you have a weak signal (maybe your router's downstairs and you're in the loft) in a temporary location, it works well. Likewise if you really can't run cable, but you do have a ring main to access as in the garage example.
Overall though, I'd run ethernet cable whereever I was wiring or plumbing and leave the ends sticking out somewhere (say if it was cupboard under stairs), or tucked into the box behind a power socket. The amount of throughput needed for data is only going to increase and the advantages of hard wired network in terms of performance can't be underestimated.
Here's some stuff about the various types of ethernet cable: http://www.cabling4less.co.uk/downloads/CAT_Cable....
Edited by EggsBenedict on Thursday 28th August 07:44
What gets most of us geeks is the "up to 600mbs", which is rarely close to that (I have a pair of 200mbs plugs no more than 5 meters apart and at best I see is about 40mbs) and the added latiency (pinging at 10-25ms instead of 1-4).
It's not that hard to run cat cable if you have access to an external wall.
It's not that hard to run cat cable if you have access to an external wall.
jon- said:
What gets most of us geeks is the "up to 600mbs", which is rarely close to that (I have a pair of 200mbs plugs no more than 5 meters apart and at best I see is about 40mbs) and the added latiency (pinging at 10-25ms instead of 1-4).
It's not that hard to run cat cable if you have access to an external wall.
Does my box in too, but you should see better than 40. A decent wireless connection should get that, right?It's not that hard to run cat cable if you have access to an external wall.
EggsBenedict said:
jon- said:
What gets most of us geeks is the "up to 600mbs", which is rarely close to that (I have a pair of 200mbs plugs no more than 5 meters apart and at best I see is about 40mbs) and the added latiency (pinging at 10-25ms instead of 1-4).
It's not that hard to run cat cable if you have access to an external wall.
Does my box in too, but you should see better than 40. A decent wireless connection should get that, right?It's not that hard to run cat cable if you have access to an external wall.
RedLeicester said:
Also, homeplugs are only of any use for Ethernet.... Cat5/6 is often run for multiple purposes.
Exactly.I use it for networking, analogue phones, 1-wire temp sensors and hdmi extenders.
I retrofitted my old house by dropping down from the loft with trunking going down the corner of the spare room down into the dining room. Dining room was central in the house.
From there i went round the top of walls to each room and covered it with plaster coving.
jon- said:
What gets most of us geeks is the "up to 600mbs", which is rarely close to that (I have a pair of 200mbs plugs no more than 5 meters apart and at best I see is about 40mbs) and the added latiency (pinging at 10-25ms instead of 1-4).
It's not that hard to run cat cable if you have access to an external wall.
I think what catches a lot of 'geeks' out is that they buy networking equipment with a speed measured in Mbps on the box, and then perform a speed test or file transfer measured in MB/s and expect them to be the same.It's not that hard to run cat cable if you have access to an external wall.
Accelebrate said:
jon- said:
What gets most of us geeks is the "up to 600mbs", which is rarely close to that (I have a pair of 200mbs plugs no more than 5 meters apart and at best I see is about 40mbs) and the added latiency (pinging at 10-25ms instead of 1-4).
It's not that hard to run cat cable if you have access to an external wall.
I think what catches a lot of 'geeks' out is that they buy networking equipment with a speed measured in Mbps on the box, and then perform a speed test or file transfer measured in MB/s and expect them to be the same.It's not that hard to run cat cable if you have access to an external wall.
JohnStitch said:
One of my homeplugs blew up the other day. Could smell burning, then heard it pop and smoke started coming out of it 
Needless to say, I now don't have any homeplugs and am going down the hard-wiring route (luckily I'm having my house refurbed from September so it's good timing)
Domestic grade home plugs use cheap components to keep the costs down. If you're handy with a soldering iron they may be repairable with better quality components.Needless to say, I now don't have any homeplugs and am going down the hard-wiring route (luckily I'm having my house refurbed from September so it's good timing)
eliot said:
RedLeicester said:
Also, homeplugs are only of any use for Ethernet.... Cat5/6 is often run for multiple purposes.
Exactly.I use it for networking, analogue phones, 1-wire temp sensors and hdmi extenders.
I retrofitted my old house by dropping down from the loft with trunking going down the corner of the spare room down into the dining room. Dining room was central in the house.
From there i went round the top of walls to each room and covered it with plaster coving.
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