Powerline network adapters

[RealBlackStuff]

I just bought a new house. As there are already plenty of cables (power, TV, etc.) throughout the basement, I don't want to add yet more (Cat5) cables to the existing mess.
Rather than going wireless, I'm considering using Powerline Ethernet (or HomePlug).
Does anyone have good results with this, and what equipment (brand, models, etc.) do you recommend?
Should I go for HomePlug 1.0 Turbo or HomePlug AV?
There will be 3 PCs and 3 laptops (which all have WiFi), and the system should/will include at least 1 WAP.
Anyone?

[jdhurst]

I have no experience with power line internet.

I have a two storey house plus a basement. I have done two things:
1. Put 3/4" (1" outside dimension) conduit from the basement to two upstairs bedrooms via main floor closets. Very neat and unobtrusive way to get Cat5 upstairs.
2. Later (a couple of years) I put a long range Netopia wireless router in the basement behind an 8" iron I-beam, and I get good signals upstairs with my T41.

Good luck with your new house and I hope your move overseas went well. ... .JDH

[RealBlackStuff]

Thanks for the good wishes.
The US side of the transport proved to be quite damaging (literally).
Now we'll have to start a battle with the insurance company...

Just in case, it's a ranch with a full basement.

[jdhurst]

Good luck with the insurance company.

In my basement, I unified the cable wiring and the phone wiring, and then installed and unified the network cabling. This was to prevent a rat's nest. It should be easy, then, in a ranch-style home to bring up networking wherever you need it, and wireless should work well.

Best regards, ... JDH

[RealBlackStuff]

I wired my previous house with Cat5 during the building of an extension and it worked great.

Anyway, I just couldn't wait and ordered 2 twin-packs of these from Amazon:
Actiontec MegaPlug 85 Mbps Ethernet Adapter Twin-Pack
http://tinyurl.com/3czd6l
Currently on special offer from $99.99 for $59.99 (till 11/10/2007) after Amazon discount of $20.- and mail-in rebate of another $20.- per pack.

I don't think I could install an 802.11n wireless network for that price.
I have a 108Mbps Super-G WAP sitting waiting in a box. That should cover the garden if I want to work outside.

[jdhurst]

The wireless I described services my patio outside. That is very sweet on a warm Saturday morning with breakfast outside. Very nice if it works for you as well (and it more than likely will). ... JDH

[nikemen]

I have used powerline adaptors for about 3+ years now. From the simple 10mps days, to what they now CALL 200mbs. I have never gotten 200mps through the HD versions (but when have we ever gotten 1000mps from GIGE either. More like 660mbs)

That said, they work as described and make it very easy to run multiple components around the house.

Caveat here is. The house. If you have very old wiring, or are talking multiple levels and great distance, there MIGHT be some degradation. I live in a 2800 fsq house, that is about 35 years old. With the older 14mps series adaptors, I get about 9mbs. With the newer 80-200 HD versions, I get about 45-60mps depending. Great for slingbox and accessing a local file share.

They are pretty cheap by now, 75-135 for a kit. Another neat trick, is put ONE at the router, and ONE in the living room and then just a small cheap unmanaged network switch, and boom you have FIVE jacks in the LR for slingbox, vudu, ps3, HD DVD, etc. Makes things really easy.

[RealBlackStuff]

Just a quick update: got 'em today, plugged them in and hey, presto, they work straight out of the box!
All I need to do now, is install my new print-server and the WAP, and the whole house is 'wired' without any wiring. Marvelous!