Homeplug - modems, speeds etc

[SwampRat]

Homeplugs seem to be a good way to set networks up, but I've yet to try them. We're possibly going take the plunge once we've moved into a house (in the next couple of months hopefully) rather than a flat.

One thing that confuses me rather with them is why there seem to be so few with other things built in. You can get either single plugs, or a twin 'starter pack', but I've only been able to find two with built in modems (neither on Dabs incidentally).

ZyXEL Prestige 660HWP (200Mbs)

Solwise (85Mbs)

Unless I'm mistaken, the only other options to this (assuming you want to have access to the internet) would be 1) have a homeplug socket dedicated to an ADSL modem (not a disaster mind you) 2) similar but having a modem plus router on the end of the home plug (e.g. http://www.dabs.com/products/zoom-ad...itch-761F.html) allowing you to plug several things in at that location.
Is there some reason, like lack of demand, excessive heat from having all of the gubbins in one box rather than two, or is it just that there are only two combined devices on the market that aren't even stocked by many main online retailers?

Secondly, has anyone got much experience with the different speed offerings? 200Mbs sounds quite a bit better than the 85Mbs, but for a small home network 85Mbs sounds plenty (even assuming it runs at something more like 15-20Mbs once overheads and losses are taken into account).
Has anyone found 85Mbs to be too slow? Can you tell the difference between it and G standard wireless (up to 54Mbs)?

Edit:ahh nuts, wrong sub-forum, sorry. It should be in peripherals

[Joro]

Hi! SwampRat. Two thing's to look for as well as the thing's you have mentioned, are make sure the one's you choose, have a socket on the front as well. So you do not loose a socket when it is plugged in. Also pick the one's that rise above the plug. not below. So that if you have low sockets say, on the skirting board, you have room to plug them in.
Joro

[PaulC]

Hi SwampRat,

I run 3 Devolo 200MBps home plugs at home, One thing to keep in mind is that you almost never get the full 200MBps offered. Two of mine run at about 140-160MBps and the 3rd at 80-90MBps. It very much depends on the quality of the wiring in your house and the 3rd one I use is plugged into an extension lead rather than directly into the wall.

I've had problems in the past by plugging them in along side high power devices and also they don't work if you use a surge protected extension lead.

Other than those niggles they have been really stable and the back bone of my network at home. I'd probably stay away from the 85MBps ones as I doubt they would out perform a decent wireless router, Belkin have introduced 1000MBps versions which I've been eyeing up

http://www.dabs.com/products/belkin-...mbps-6288.html

I'd definitely recommend them though, much easier than tearing up your carpets at home to install network cables

[RobS]

Hi All,

Do these home plug systems work ok over extension plugs (4 to 6 plug extensions)? I'm assuming that if they do, the speed is decreased?

Thanks

[PaulC]

They will work over extension cables but only ones that don't have power surge protection, the speed is decreased but that is more down to the fact you normally have more things plugged into the extension rather than the extension itself.

[RobS]

Thanks PaulC

Is it fair(ish) to say that in a 4 way extension (for example) if you have the network plug and one other you'd be cutting the performance down to a half, with 3 it goes down to a third etc?

Just wanted to get a general feel of any performance drops

Thanks

[PaulC]

From my experience It definitely depends on what you are plugging in, if you plug something that draws a lot of power like a TV it will effect it a lot more, I did try it in the same extension as my TV and it killed it off, it is now plugged into an extension with a Modem, Wireless router, a Lamp and a phone and it is pretty stable.

[Smurfy]

I have used Devolo 200 Homplug deveices (I have 4) to stream BBC iPlayer to my TV in the highest quality option. Never had a poor result yet despite fairly abysmal speed from my ISP. Not quite 'plug-n-play' but nearly. Easiest technology thing an old duffer like me has ever used.

[SwampRat]

Thanks for the responses -

I'd probably stay away from the 85MBps ones as I doubt they would out perform a decent wireless router,

The only minor quibble I have there is that other than when the connection fails I've not found much problem with my current wireless. The connection does fail quite often which is one reason we're thinking about homeplug after we've moved. Anyway, assuming the 85Mbps ones ran at say 45Mbs, other than for streaming video or transferring large files would there be much downside?

There are some reasonable deals for the 200Mbs so I'll probably go with that - probably. What to do with the modem and whether to get a wireless point is still a vexing issue:
http://www.dabs.com/products/draytek...efs=4294960391
Some modems are quite pricey in themselves so maybe the ZyXEL combo thing isn't overly outlandish.
Smurfy and others who have homeplug, what set-up do you have modem / wireless wise?

[Yogimax]

I have been using Solwise 200 plugs for the last 3 years to stream between my BT Home Hub router, home server (in the garage) and 4 PCs around the house including a media centre PC. The instructions for the server say it must be plugged directly into your router, but I have had no problem with it at the other end of the house and connected via home plugs.

In my experience, they JUST WORK and stream high def stuff from the server successfully. OK the speed isn't as good as a fully wired network, but compared to previously regularly getting disconnects when playing multiplayer Call of Duty over wireless, I haven't had a single disconnect due to network issues (apart from latency) since installing them.