HomePNA Networking - which is best hardware

[spartacuskzm]

My buddy has a computer w/ cable modem in his room currently. His sister is getting a computer, and they need to get both connected to the internet (but don't necessarily need both computers to be able to see each other).

Since they don't have the home wired, I'm thinking that by using the telephone line and HomePNA technology they can easily connect the computers - and for cheaper than a wireless network. Is this correct? If so, which piece of hardware do you recommend? D

Also, if he chooses to go with a wireless network, then will the computer right next to the router and cable modem need to be wireless, or do the wireless routers provide for one wired connection (for the computer that's right next to the modem/router)?

Thanks!

 

[Eug]

My recommendation:

HomePNA requirements.

1) Standard router
2) Ethernet to HomePNA 2 bridge
3) Ethernet cards for nearby computers
4) HomePNA 2 cards for far away computers

You can also get 1 and 2 as one piece, but I dunno how good those are.

Wireless requirements

1) Router with both Ethernet and Wireless (or else two separate pieces)
2) Ethernet cards for nearby computers
3) Wireless cards for far away computers.

Eug's setup:

Standard router
Ethernet to wireless bridge (I didn't get this built in the router because I already had the router)
Ethernet to HomePNA 2 bridge

1 machine hooked up with Ethernet
1 machine hooked up with HomePNA
1 machine hooked up with wireless

Everything works fine together.

Another bonus: HomePNA and DSL can coexist on the same line too if required.

 

[CTho9305]

I used intels 10 megabit PCI anypoint cards... cable modem connected to the ICS server (intels sharing software sucks IMHO), which connected to the other computers through the HPNA network.

cable/dsl modem connects to "server" with normal network card. server also has HPNA card, and clients use HPNA

Unfortunately, NO 10 megabit HPNA cards work in anything but windows, so I can't use linux at home.

 

[RanDum72]

I have this setup at home:

Netgear RP114 Router
Netgear PE102 HPNA to ethernet bridge
A bunch of cheap Diamond 10mb HPNA cards I got here. Two for $15.
I can have a bunch of friends come over and plug in anywhere where there's a phone plug (make sure to use telephone cord with 4 wires) and everything is seemless and fast.