Power line network do they work?

[Fanatical Meat]

i have a Roku that gets a low signal from wireless. I generally have bad luck with most wireless things, the Roku does have an Ethernet port and it is near a plug that has an open wall plug do home networks over power work fast enough for video?
I'm not sure of the wiring distance but the fios router is maybe 20' from the Roku

I could run some cat 5 cable it just would be a difficult and awkward job

 

[daveybrat]

The powerline kits do work pretty well as long as your electrical wiring isn't extremely old.

The main problem is that for the price of a decent kit you could just buy a new Roku Streaming Stick Plus:

https://www.amazon.com/Roku-Streami...789&sr=1-2&keywords=roku+streaming+stick+plus

This new model has 4x the wireless range of all the other Roku devices. I've recommended this to friends and family who need longer distances or have low-end routers from their ISP.

Just a thought.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

The powerline kits do work pretty well as long as your electrical wiring isn't extremely old.

The main problem is that for the price of a decent kit you could just buy a new Roku Streaming Stick Plus:

https://www.amazon.com/Roku-Streami...789&sr=1-2&keywords=roku+streaming+stick+plus

This new model has 4x the wireless range of all the other Roku devices. I've recommended this to friends and family who need longer distances or have low-end routers from their ISP.

Just a thought.

That is a thought, Roku is from last year the one from the top without 4k support but I have a new stick in the bedroom maybe I'll swap them around and see what happens
Although phones consistently have moderate wifi service in that room.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

@daveybrat how is the latency on power line networks?
My house was re-wired before we owned it in 2007 or 2008. It's all the fat super insulated wires and nearly every socket is new.

 

[daveybrat]

I don't know the exact latency on the ones i set up but the longest was at my brother's house. AT&T moved their modem/router from the main floor to the basement. My brother's PC was on the second floor and could no longer get any wireless signal.

I bought a $60 powerline kit and it's been working great for him ever since. And i think that was about 2-3 years ago.

 

[razel]

For powerline, the answer unfortunately depends on your home. And even within your home try different outlets, you can get different results even different times of the day and even the weather.

Again, if it works awesome! However don't spend too much. I'd say around $150 is when it starts to become wiser money-wise to hire a professional to run a LAN cable where you need it. And if your have coax in both rooms, there's also MOCA.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

For powerline, the answer unfortunately depends on your home. And even within your home try different outlets, you can get different results even different times of the day and even the weather.

Again, if it works awesome! However don't spend too much. I'd say around $150 is when it starts to become wiser money-wise to hire a professional to run a LAN cable where you need it. And if your have coax in both rooms, there's also MOCA.

Agreed, seems like the low cost units are not that good and I tend to have bad luck with that.
I may try the improved reception Roku out there and if no change I'll run a wire. I have a network plug near the router that Verizon installed, I can change it to a multi port wall outlet. Physically running the cable shouldn't be too bad. I do sense getting the cable thru the wall will be 80% of the work.
I have a ranch so all the wires are accessible from the basement
Fios upgrade to 100/100 internet removed almost all my coax cable. I requested they take it out.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I tried it in our townhouse (built in '06). It worked really well for about 20 minutes at a time, then would cut out for ~5 minutes.

I've read that weird electrical "vibrations" or something can happen in multi-unit housing, that make power line ethernet hit-or-miss.

When it works, it's great - but buy the gear from somewhere with a return policy, I guess.

 

[JackMDS]

The powerline kits do work pretty well as long as your electrical wiring isn't extremely old.

Actually the Age of the Electrical System is Not so important.

The most important variable is how many Breakers on the Main Electrical Panel the signal has to go through, and on which part of the divided 220 VAC phase they are connected to.

Some of the old houses might provide better with Powerline use since in the old days they tended to put many more outlets on the same Breaker.

In Networking, Signal to Noise Ration (SNR) is more important variable than Signal Strength per-se.

Thus, the second important variable is the Electrical noise generated by the electrical appliances that are on the system,

Unfortunately these variables can not be evaluated without expensive special instrumentation.

So the "Trick" is, if you are desperate to use Powerline! Buy it from a vendor with Good return policy. Unbox and install carefully. If does not perform, return.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I recommend running the ethernet over powerline. my experience with powerlines is basically unplugging defectives setups for friends, and just running ethernet instead.

I also have a ranch, running cables isnt too tough. i stick to inner walls for drops so im not messing with insulation while running the cables.

 

[YuliApp]

I have been having un-luck with power line. It was even responsible for very often complete loss of phone/internet service. Telecom service technician confirmed it being common problem on DSL lines

 

[Hans Gruber]

I can't believe what I am reading here. I have been using powerline for 7 or 8 years. I just got my 3rd unit. Only replaced the original with a wifi based powerline and replaced that with gigabit powerline AV1200 gear. I get 165mbps down and 13mbps up. My internet via ethernet will do 240mbps down and 13mbps up. It rarely if ever disconnects.

 

[JackMDS]

I can't believe what I am reading here. I have been using powerline for 7 or 8 years.

Great, but the only thing that can be inferred is that in your specific domicile with its specific Electrical System, the Power line loses only (about) 30% of the Download Bandwidth.

In my "Neck in the woods" (when I tried) it lost 85% of the Download Bandwidth.

 

[jtvang125]

When I tried it I got horrible speeds even on the same circuit. Not enough to sustain smooth video streaming from my server which was the whole intent. Repackaged and RMA'ed.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Great, but the only thing that can inferred is that in your specific domicile with its specific Electrical System, the Power line loses only (about) 30% of the Download Bandwidth.

In my "Neck in the woods" (when I tried) it lost 85% of the Download Bandwidth.

thats really all were saying, YMMV with powerline. if it works for you, then great

 

[Hans Gruber]

When I tried it I got horrible speeds even on the same circuit. Not enough to sustain smooth video streaming from my server which was the whole intent. Repackaged and RMA'ed.

Out of curiosity, what were your download speeds and uploads speeds using powerline? How old was the construction you live in? How would you describe the wiring in the home? eg. Code, good, dangerous/fire hazard. Was it a gigabit powerline kit or did it have a 100mbps switch?

On my netgear wifi kit with the 100mbps internals (was a 500mbps kit) but meaningless because of the 100mbps internals. Downloads were from mid 50's to 60's mbps down and 13mbps up. That was the kit I just replaced.

This new TP-Link is top of the line 8370 gigabit kit with wireless AC built in. Has all the router settings built into the TP-link app. You can change the channel width on both 2.4ghz and 5ghz bands. I get on dslreports speedtest up to 165mbps down and 13mbps up on this new powerline kit. I have been doing research and I think those are the fastest speeds of the AV1200 kits to date for internet download speeds. I was going to start a thread to see if anybody with gigabit connections or something faster than my 240/13 speeds has obtained better results.

My opinion is slightly different than most. Ethernet is clearly the best connection to have. I think powerline is a distant 2nd but definitely more stable and reliable than wifi. I use powerline only for my gaming PC two floors down from the router and modem. It's surrounded by concrete and earth on two sides. I used to play online via wifi with very elaborate antenna arrays but it was not reliabe for gaming even though it worked. Upstairs I have another gaming rig via ethernet and the only difference between that and powerline is the higher download speed of ethernet. I notice no extra lag/latency. When I do speedtest my latency is 10-12ms via powerline.

I have two separate circuits next to each other and one has a UPC huge with surge suppressor. My powerline has it's own wallplate with just the powerline and the next circuit over has all my computer gear plugged into the UPC surge suppressor. Above the computer is the circuit breaker to the house.

 

[mnewsham]

My order of preference is Ethernet, MoCA, powerline.

Powerline in my opinion is far too variable depending on the condition and setup of your houses wiring. Appliances like microwaves can be known to cause powerline adapters to lose connection and require them to be reset and re-paired. Or just overall poor performance. While in certain scenarios it does work quite well, it's so variable that I struggle to recommend it as a first solution.

 

[Hans Gruber]

If you have powerline connection issues you may want to buy one of these and test all your outlet to make sure they are wired correctly. https://www.amazon.com/Sperry-Instr...sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=sperry+powerline+tester

 

[mnewsham]

If you have powerline connection issues you may want to buy one of these and test all your outlet to make sure they are wired correctly. https://www.amazon.com/Sperry-Instr...sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=sperry+powerline+tester

Lol, that's not the issue, i've seen this happen in 15+ location across the nation and even canada. Powerline is just finicky, always has been in my experience.

 

[Hans Gruber]

Lol, that's not the issue, i've seen this happen in 15+ location across the nation and even canada. Powerline is just finicky, always has been in my experience.

I am not saying powerline is hit or miss. I am simply saying that wiring is more of a problem in homes today because of the jack of all trades handyman who is handy with the tools but not skilled in the electrician trade. Meaning old houses old apartments have jackasses screwing up the interior of homes over many decades.

 

[bbhaag]

It seems more people are against powerline than for it but I've had nothing but success with it. The only people I know who use them are me and my father in law though so my sample size is a little small. Anyway, we both have used the Western Digital brand for years with no problem but they don't make them anymore.
I would go wired if I could but I'm in a '40's cape cod and running wire from upstairs to the downstairs living room and bedrooms is not something I want to do.

 

[Hans Gruber]

It seems more people are against powerline than for it but I've had nothing but success with it. The only people I know who use them are me and my father in law though so my sample size is a little small. Anyway, we both have used the Western Digital brand for years with no problem but they don't make them anymore.
I would go wired if I could but I'm in a '40's cape cod and running wire from upstairs to the downstairs living room and bedrooms is not something I want to do.

I have a 100ft Cat5e cable that I used to use for big downloads. Yet you live in a 1940's cape cod home with correct wiring and your powerline works well for you? I only use powerline on 1 computer but use it to spead wireless to the basement of my house. I use it for laptops wifi down there. I have had TP-Link, NetGear and now TP-Link again.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

If you have powerline connection issues you may want to buy one of these and test all your outlet to make sure they are wired correctly. https://www.amazon.com/Sperry-Instr...sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=sperry+powerline+tester

I'm not going to comment on the powerline networking but I am a realtor and it's very common during home inspections that a plug or two are wired incorrectly. Even in new constitutions.
Out of my last 3 home inspections two had plugs wired wrong. One was a 1960 house another was a 1900 house The was gutted & remodeled with all new wiring, that work was performed in 2008 or 2012.

 

[bbhaag]

I have a 100ft Cat5e cable that I used to use for big downloads. Yet you live in a 1940's cape cod home with correct wiring and your powerline works well for you? I only use powerline on 1 computer but use it to spead wireless to the basement of my house. I use it for laptops wifi down there. I have had TP-Link, NetGear and now TP-Link again.

Yes it's a '40's cape cod but the wiring was redone about 15 years ago to bring it up to modern specs. Here's a link to the WD one that my father in law and I still use. https://www.amazon.com/Livewire-Powerline-Network-Kit-200Mbps/dp/B003VWY0VY

Edit: Here's a screen cap I just took off my sons pc. He uses one of the WD adapters in his room.

 

[Hans Gruber]

Yes it's a '40's cape cod but the wiring was redone about 15 years ago to bring it up to modern specs. Here's a link to the WD one that my father in law and I still use. https://www.amazon.com/Livewire-Powerline-Network-Kit-200Mbps/dp/B003VWY0VY

Edit: Here's a screen cap I just took off my sons pc. He uses one of the WD adapters in his room.

I can tell by your numbers that you have an older powerline adapter kit probably a 200mbps kit. Those are still good speeds for powerline. Here are my powerline speeds using a TL-WPA8730. This is their top of the line kit.