Powerline networking question

[mikeymikec]

The recent thread regarding a possible bug in powerline protocols makes me think I have misunderstood the system a bit. I was under the impression that in order for powerline to work, the two adapters had to be on the same electricity circuit, and that when you've got a building with different fuses for different parts of the building (lighting, kitchen, etc), the homeplug adapters wouldn't work across those as they were separate circuits?

 

[Railgun]

It's all one big circuit, especially if they're on the same phase. How much interference is what comes into play. Joining a neighbor has been a known issue for some time. So long as encryption is enabled between your devices, it's generally ok.

 

[Emulex]

The power meter usually stops powerline networking dead. Now the new mimo three prong could throw a kink into that but I haven't seen that personally!

 

[azazel1024]

It has nothing to do with your power meter. What will stop it dead is the transformer on the pole/neighborhood box. Which means you can access neighbor's networks if they are close enough (signal will attenuate below noise floor at some point. Generally if further than maybe 200ft or so).

They will deffinitely work across phases. They are still connected across neutral and ground. The only things that will prevent it is too much distance or a transformer.