Homeplug / Powerline networking scenarios

[Nick Ramsay]

Hi all,

I have networking conundrum that i amhoping someone with experience could help me with!

Current :
My current set up is Virgin cable broadband. This comes in at the front of my flat (into the bedroom) where it's hooked up to a wireless-n gigabit router (Dlink DIR-655) to which are connected (wirelessly) two laptops, a desktop and my PS3.

Problem:
1 PS3 and laptops connectivity at the very back of the flat is not great.
2 Girlfriend thinks we're being slowly killed/cooked in our sleep by wireless so the router can't stay in the bedroom.
3 Flat is rented so can't drill holes, staple cables or pull up carpets - all solutions need to be wireless/homplug solutions.

Original Solution:
I was going to put the wireless router in the study (in the middle of the flat) and use a pair of homeplugs to connect it to the cable modem in the bedroom (at the front of the flat) thus achieving better wireless for the flat as a whole and avoiding death by internet. As far as i know this would work fine (correct me if i'm wrong)

Added complication:
Once the wireless router is in the study i'd like to add a NAS and a fast connection to the PS3 (in the living room at the back of the house) so i can stream HD video to my TV.

Need advice on solution number two:
Can i form a network of homeplugs straight from the modem i.e. modem in bedroom connected to (200mbps) homeplug and then two further (200mbps) homeplugs in study (router) and living room (PS3) repsectively. Do multiple homeplugs act as a router?

If so, how do i connect the router to this? Does the homeplug in the study connect into the WAN port of the router and then have the NAS and other devices connect into the LAN ports? Or does the homeplug in the study connect to one of the LAN ports on the router? If so, will it still work as a wireless access point?

Do i use two sets of (incompatable) homeplugs. One pair of (85mbps) to connect the cable modem to the WAN port of the router in the study, and then a second pair of (200mbps) homplugs to connect one of the LAN ports on the router (and NAS etc) in the study to the PS3 in the living room.

As you can see - i need a lesson in homeplug/powerline kits and all and any advice is welcome!

Thanks,
Nick

afaik it should work but never tried it that way. You could insall an ethernet wireless access point perhaps or an wireless homeplug into the senario

[danielf]

I'm not sure about hooking the router up to the modem through homeplug. I think you need to plug the router straight into the modem.

One option I can think of is to leave the router where it is, and turn the wireless option off. Next get a 'wireless extender' set.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/106821 (these are 54 mbps, I'm sure there's faster ones available).

You connect one of them to the router, and the other one will provide you with a wireless network at the back of the house (simply plug it into the mains at a convenient location. Alternatively, just get a couple of homeplugs, one for every device you want to connect.

Edit: Beaten

[Dai]

I can't imagine how this could work without the router in place. Basically you need a DHCP server to hand out IP addresses to the different PCs.

Seems to me logically that the cable modem could be connected through a pair of homeplugs but it would *have* to link to the router first.
From there you could use further homeplugs or cables to connect back to the router from the computers, but without the router nothing is going to get an IP address.

[Hom3r]

Originally Posted by Nick Ramsay

2 Girlfriend thinks we're being slowly killed/cooked in our sleep by wireless so the router can't stay in the bedroom.

Wireless router use the same freguency as cordless phones (2.4GHz IIRC)

So if you have a cordless phone then tell her your brains are alread fried

Seriously thou these are quite safe.

[Nick Ramsay]

Thanks for all your posts and inputs. What it seems i need to do is buy a cheap (non wireless) cable router to go between my modem and the homeplug 'network'. I'll then use my wireless router as an access point in the study and connect the NAS etc to that..


Modem--CheapRouter---Homeplug-->

<--Homeplug---PS3
<--Homeplug---WirelessRouter(AP)---Laptops/PC/NAS


I'll let you know how/if it works out!

Nick

EDIT: Diagram

[devonps]

Might be a little late on this but I have....

Modem --> homeplug -->

<--- homeplug --> router ---> switch

Where the modem is downstairs and the router is in the loft, works perfectly and with acceptable LAN speeds.

If you have any homeplug questions fire away.

[ivarmh]

Would it work to have the homeplug connection between cable modem and router if there is also another homeplug on the same network (bridging a network media player) ?

I would hazzard a guess and say no. Modem to router to homeplug network your way I can only see conflicts

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by zing

I would hazzard a guess and say no. Modem to router to homeplug network your way I can only see conflicts

Indeed. In networking, the simplest solution is usually the best one. Less to go wrong.

[Waldo Pepper]

Educate your girlfriend. She is not going to be cooked by WiFi signals. Government and an uneducated worry. The Teacher at a school that had WiFi installed and was complaining of nausea was on the fiddle.

Utter toss!

On a similar note, if you understand how GSM phones works...the best place for a transmitter is as close as possible to a school as it will keep the power from their phones to a minimum.

[cherry58]

hi I have a mac connected by ethernet and also 2 pcs, in a garden office,connected via a powerline/home plug.My ?is can I connect another homeplug to use with a media streamer? any advice welcome.