Tomato-flashed WRT54GL or Powerline?

[bystander]

My Tomato-flashed WRT54GL & cable modem are located in the first floor. I would like to hook up several computers in the second floor and would rather not use several wireless adapters. Would I be better off getting another Tomato-compatible router (WDS mode) or should I try a Powerline kit? I've read some of the discussions regarding Powerline, but I would like to get your input.

Thanks in advance!

 

[JackMDS]

POE is a method to provice the 12VDC to a network Device over the Network cable when there is no electrical outlet.

What you are looking for is Powerline Network.

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...y=y&keyword1=powerline

 

[bystander]

My bad and thanks for the reply - I thought POE and Powerline is synonymous. Edited OP to reflect Powerline instead of POE.

Any comments other than the link you provided, Jack?

 

[JackMDS]

POE is Power Over Ethernet line.

PowerLine Network is Ethernet over Powerline.

PowerLine Network is a "Crap Shoot", sometime it does well, many time it does not.

Unfortunately there is No way to know until you price it and try the hardware.

If you want to try make sure that it is returnable if it does not work for you.

 

[bystander]

Thanks, Jack!

Anyone else have any experience using both methods?

 

[Juice Box]

I've used powerline in a number of homes, and it seems to work fairly well. I've really only used it for my HTPC, which uses a relatively small amount of bandwidth. If you're going to be pulling large streams of data or need a 100mb or 1gb connection, you might want to look elsewhere. Last i checked powerline, at least the linksys ones I've been using are rated up to 12mb. Nevertheless, powerline makes sending data over pre-existing wires quite easy at a relatively low cost.

This is the kit I've been using w/o problems so far: http://www.buy.com/retail/prod...d=23295339&dcaid=17902

 

[bobdole369]

Never use powerline. The radio interference it causes is unbelievable. (Then again I'm a ham radio operator and am biased against it.)

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: Juice Box
I've used powerline in a number of homes, and it seems to work fairly well. I've really only used it for my HTPC, which uses a relatively small amount of bandwidth. If you're going to be pulling large streams of data or need a 100mb or 1gb connection, you might want to look elsewhere. Last i checked powerline, at least the linksys ones I've been using are rated up to 12mb. Nevertheless, powerline makes sending data over pre-existing wires quite easy at a relatively low cost.

This is the kit I've been using w/o problems so far: http://www.buy.com/retail/prod...d=23295339&dcaid=17902

Here's a cheaper one that might better suit your needs, just read the reviews...I've not used any of Linksys's POE products. We're actually using something similar at work for all of our wireless, but I couldn't tell you what model or brand.

You just need to mark the CAT5 so no one plugs a standard network adapter into it by accident. 12 volts isn't much, but it's enough to fry a network card.

http://www.google.com/products...l=en&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7ADBR&q=WAPPOE12&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=3717171858262322355&ei=d0b4SaWCIp2stgf48_WlDw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&resnum=1&ct=result#ps-sellers

 

[imagoon]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi

Originally posted by: Juice Box
You just need to mark the CAT5 so no one plugs a standard network adapter into it by accident. 12 volts isn't much, but it's enough to fry a network card.

Someone is using nonstandard POE gear...

True POE won't blow nics because it was designed to provide a very small amount of current, just enough to power the device to ask "are you PoE?" If the device says "yup" please give me X watts, it then fully powers the circuit.

I have had plenty of users plug PC's in the PoE ports with no blown nics yet.