[This followup was posted to uk.comp.home-networking and a copy was sent 
to the cited author.]

I am trying to solve a network problem at home. I have an adsl 
connection into a Netgear DG834 modem/router. From this there are 
ethernet connections to a couple of computers downstairs. These work 
fine.

My problem is connection to computers upstairs through stone floors. 
Wireless networking has proved ineffective. 

I have an ethernet connection from my adsl modem/ router to a Powerline 
adapter downstairs; and an ethernet connection from a Powerline adapter 
to my son's computer upstairs. This works fine. But I cannot get a 
connection to a third Powerline adapter connecting to another child's 
computer upstairs.

Am I misunderstanding something? Do Powerline adapters work in pairs - 
one at the computer end and the other at the router end?

The Powerline adapters that I have include a NetTricity Powerline 200M 
ethernet bridge, and Netgear Powerline HDX101 HD Ethernet Adapters. 

Thank you.

On 25/01/2009 in message  
David Boneham wrote:

>I have an ethernet connection from my adsl modem/ router to a Powerline
>adapter downstairs; and an ethernet connection from a Powerline adapter
>to my son's computer upstairs. This works fine. But I cannot get a
>connection to a third Powerline adapter connecting to another child's
>computer upstairs.
>
>Am I misunderstanding something? Do Powerline adapters work in pairs -
>one at the computer end and the other at the router end?

One at the computer end and as many others as you like should be fine - as 
long as they are all on the same ring circuit. Is there anything different 
about the power in the additional bedroom, e.g. on a separate power 
circuit, a spur, connected via a distribution board/surge socket etc.?

-- 
Jeff Gaines Damerham Hampshire UK
All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my hand.

"Jeff Gaines"  wrote in message 
news:xn0g5l4au4a7ks4000@port80.individual.net...
> On 25/01/2009 in message  
> David Boneham wrote:
>
>>I have an ethernet connection from my adsl modem/ router to a Powerline
>>adapter downstairs; and an ethernet connection from a Powerline adapter
>>to my son's computer upstairs. This works fine. But I cannot get a
>>connection to a third Powerline adapter connecting to another child's
>>computer upstairs.
>>
>>Am I misunderstanding something? Do Powerline adapters work in pairs -
>>one at the computer end and the other at the router end?
>
> One at the computer end and as many others as you like should be fine - as 
> long as they are all on the same ring circuit. Is there anything different 
> about the power in the additional bedroom, e.g. on a separate power 
> circuit, a spur, connected via a distribution board/surge socket etc.?
>
> --

Same type (mode), same encryption, same passphrase ???
- I'd expect you'd to need all three of the above to match.
(to save any T,D or H connecting in 2 doors away)

Jeff Gaines  wrote:
> One at the computer end and as many others as you like should be fine - as 
> long as they are all on the same ring circuit.

Why do they need to be all on the same ring?

I was considering homeplug as an option for getting cabling from the top
of my house to the bottom, because the wireless struggles to reach that
far. But each floor is on a different ring, so maybe this wouldn't work,
either.

Thanks,
Chris

"Chris Davies"  wrote in message 
news:at9356xor8.ln2@news.roaima.co.uk...
> Jeff Gaines  wrote:
>> One at the computer end and as many others as you like should be fine - 
>> as
>> long as they are all on the same ring circuit.
>
> Why do they need to be all on the same ring?
>
> I was considering homeplug as an option for getting cabling from the top
> of my house to the bottom, because the wireless struggles to reach that
> far. But each floor is on a different ring, so maybe this wouldn't work,
> either.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris

They don't - as proven¹.

¹ - well the type exhaustively tested here.

DB> I am trying to solve a network problem at home. I have an adsl
 DB> connection into a Netgear DG834 modem/router. From this there are
 DB> ethernet connections to a couple of computers downstairs. These work
 DB> fine.

 DB> My problem is connection to computers upstairs through stone floors.
 DB> Wireless networking has proved ineffective.

 DB> I have an ethernet connection from my adsl modem/ router to a Powerline
 DB> adapter downstairs; and an ethernet connection from a Powerline adapter
 DB> to my son's computer upstairs. This works fine. But I cannot get a
 DB> connection to a third Powerline adapter connecting to another child's
 DB> computer upstairs.

 DB> Am I misunderstanding something? Do Powerline adapters work in pairs -
 DB> one at the computer end and the other at the router end?

 DB> The Powerline adapters that I have include a NetTricity Powerline 200M
 DB> ethernet bridge, and Netgear Powerline HDX101 HD Ethernet Adapters.


Hi Ihave the same modem/router and 3 home plugs. One one the router 
downstairs (1 ring main) one on the comp upstairs (different ring) and one 
in my workshop(old cooker circuit)and they all work perfect using netmagic

On Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:05:30 +0000
Chris Davies  wrote:

> Jeff Gaines  wrote:
> > One at the computer end and as many others as you like should be
> > fine - as long as they are all on the same ring circuit.
> 
> Why do they need to be all on the same ring?
> 
They don't - they do need to be on the same phase of the supply,
but most houses only have a single phase supply anyway. If you do want
to use homeplug across different phases you can bridge the phases with a
couple more homeplug devices.

In message <20090128021149.2653b012@bluemoon>, Rob Morley 
 writes
>On Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:05:30 +0000
>Chris Davies  wrote:
>
>> Jeff Gaines  wrote:
>> > One at the computer end and as many others as you like should be
>> > fine - as long as they are all on the same ring circuit.
>>
>> Why do they need to be all on the same ring?
>>
>They don't - they do need to be on the same phase of the supply,
>but most houses only have a single phase supply anyway. If you do want
>to use homeplug across different phases you can bridge the phases with a
>couple more homeplug devices.

You should never find two different phases in the same domestic 
building.

The consensus when Homeplug has been discussed before is that it 
generally works anywhere within the same dwelling but the signal doesn't 
usually reach as far as adjacent dwellings although exceptions to both 
of these rules have been seen.



-- 
Bernard Peek
London, UK. DBA, Manager, Trainer & Author.

Bernard Peek wrote:
> In message <20090128021149.2653b012@bluemoon>, Rob Morley 
>  writes
>> On Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:05:30 +0000
>> Chris Davies  wrote:
>>
>>> Jeff Gaines  wrote:
>>> > One at the computer end and as many others as you like should be
>>> > fine - as long as they are all on the same ring circuit.
>>>
>>> Why do they need to be all on the same ring?
>>>
>> They don't - they do need to be on the same phase of the supply,
>> but most houses only have a single phase supply anyway. If you do want
>> to use homeplug across different phases you can bridge the phases with a
>> couple more homeplug devices.
> 
> You should never find two different phases in the same domestic building.
> 
> The consensus when Homeplug has been discussed before is that it 
> generally works anywhere within the same dwelling but the signal doesn't 
> usually reach as far as adjacent dwellings although exceptions to both 
> of these rules have been seen.
> 
> 
> 
Do you have more than 1 consumer Unit (fuse box) serving the house ?
Have you got all homeplugs working together when closer together on the 
same circuit ?

>
> The consensus when Homeplug has been discussed before is that it generally 
> works anywhere within the same dwelling but the signal doesn't usually 
> reach as far as adjacent dwellings although exceptions to both of these 
> rules have been seen.
>
See above & elsewhere.
Because usually adjacent properties are on a different phase.  But try +2 
and you have a chance, albeit small.

robert <robert@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> Do you have more than 1 consumer Unit (fuse box) serving the house ?
> Have you got all homeplugs working together when closer together on the 
> same circuit ?

For my potential use, I can answer only the first (I don't have any
homeplugs).

I have three floors in my house (ground, first, and attic). My main
fusebox in the garage is a modern RCD type unit. From there most of the
house is served, approximately one ring per floor with a separate one
for the kitchen. Additionally, a 40+A spur runs to the attic, where it's
terminated on another fusebox. This then provides power for the ringmain,
lighting, and electric shower unit on that floor.

My ADSL and wired network covers the attic, and I currently use Wireless
to reach across the rest of the house. Unfortunately by the time the
signal gets to the ground floor it's pretty weak and very patchy. Our
"house" computer (i.e. the one the rest of my family uses) is connected
only by Wireless, and the AP in the attic is placed to maximise
reliability and throughput for that single machine.

I was considering a Homeplug unit for the attic and its pair somewhere
on the ground floor connected to a wireless AP, and thence to the house
computer by wire.


Comments, thoughts, please?
Cheers,
Chris

> 
> My ADSL and wired network covers the attic, and I currently use Wireless
> to reach across the rest of the house. Unfortunately by the time the
> signal gets to the ground floor it's pretty weak and very patchy. Our
> "house" computer (i.e. the one the rest of my family uses) is connected
> only by Wireless, and the AP in the attic is placed to maximise
> reliability and throughput for that single machine.

I have found that siting the wireless AP in the stairwell (under the 
stairs) is in many houses the optimal position as this can often provide 
an initial wall free path to all floors.

Changing the antenna orientation, adding reflectors etc can also help.

I have a FON AP sited outside in the roof of the outhouse , this 
provides the best coverage of my own and my neighbours house through the 
windows rather than the stone walls.

However I get the impression that you have tried most of these already.

robert <robert@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> I have found that siting the wireless AP in the stairwell (under the 
> stairs) is in many houses the optimal position as this can often provide 
> an initial wall free path to all floors.

Yes. My problem here is that this also requires additional wiring in
the house, which is what I'm need to avoid.


> Changing the antenna orientation, adding reflectors etc can also help.

Yep. I already have a reflector (on the downstairs PC rather than the AP,
since the AP has non-removable antennae) and that helps
tremendously. Judicious siting of the AP within the attic space also
helped - but only to a point.


> However I get the impression that you have tried most of these already.

:-)
Chris

On 25 Jan, 12:26, David Boneham  wrote:
> [This followup was posted to uk.comp.home-networking and a copy was sent
> to the cited author.]
>
> I am trying to solve a network problem at home. I have an adsl
> connection into a Netgear DG834 modem/router. From this there are
> ethernet connections to a couple of computers downstairs. These work
> fine.
>
> My problem is connection to computers upstairs through stone floors.
> Wireless networking has proved ineffective.
>
> I have an ethernet connection from my adsl modem/ router to a Powerline
> adapter downstairs; and an ethernet connection from a Powerline adapter
> to my son's computer upstairs. This works fine. But I cannot get a
> connection to a third Powerline adapter connecting to another child's
> computer upstairs.
>
> Am I misunderstanding something? Do Powerline adapters work in pairs -
> one at the computer end and the other at the router end?
>
> The Powerline adapters that I have include a NetTricity Powerline 200M
> ethernet bridge, and Netgear Powerline HDX101 HD Ethernet Adapters.
>
> Thank you.

They're usually supplied in pairs - e.g. they have the same password
and config details so will work together out of the box.  If you add a
third you'll have to configure the third to match.  On my Comtrend
ones this can be done via the front buttons, on others you point a web
browser at the webserver in each one and set it up.

Ric