using 'homeplug' to extend the internet to the workshop

[oddsocks]

Rather than hijack into another thread I've been reading (where a number of responses commented about 'must get the network extended to the workshop') I've started this one.....

There is technology often referred to as 'homeplug' that uses your mains cabling to extend the the network - a quick search on ebuyer revealed these 17 results and at the moment the cheapest option seems to be £53 for a working system (2 x the Zyxel)
http://www.ebuyer.com/search?limit=20&q=homeplug&sort=relevancy&page=1

This has two cabled devices - one is plugged into the mains and cat5 cabled to a port on your DSL router, the other end is plugged into the mains in the workshop (it has to be on the same phase) and cabled to your PC - you can obviously unplug that end and plug it in any other room in the house, or on the decking, conservatory etc as needed.

I personally have the netgear product WGXB102 in the link above for £81.95 - this has the fixed cable unit (near to the DSL router) and the other end is a wireless hub - great for laptops or putting on the landing etc. The wireless homeplug can be configured the same as your normal wireless router (with wpa and SSID etc), the laptop will quite happily detect the strongest of the two (from DSL router and homeplug- and will typically show an excellent connection.

With either fixed of wireless the homeplug technology works out of the box but can be configured with your own network key so that only like keyed devices can connect (just in case a neighbour on the same phase has similar devices). You can also use more than one (I think 12 is the limit) - so if you live in a mansion house or have an office in the garden as well as a workshop, multiple units can connect to the same unit plugged into the DSL. The results are much better than wireless (unless you are in the same room or very close to the DSL wirelsss router where they are equal).

There are a number of standards -11, 54, 80 and 200MBit/s. For internet browsing, forums etc any will be good enough and the lower speed would probably work in noisier environments. They are not recommended in commercial environments (where there are plenty of florescent tubes plugged into surge protected or UPS preotected points - Although I have tested mine in a surge protected extension and it worked fine.

 

[joiner_sim]

I've used th plug network system before. From Packard Bell (i think) I found it to be unreliable. Sometimes it would connect other times it wouldn't. It also required the internet recieving computer to be on all the time.

So then went wireless. Found that the wireless adapter didn't stay connected for more than about 10mins and needed reconnecting too soon. So now, I have turned off the wireless connection on my router, and have the router just setup to distribute the internet by what I reckon to be the most reliable method. Wires. I have 4 pc connection points on the router and just use an ethernet lead to connect the other pc's up to the same internet.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Safekom_Network-Cables_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ15392204QQftidZ2QQtZkm
I brought the 25 metre ethernet cable to connect the pc downstairs to the network. It goes out through a window and bck in thru the downstairs window. The weather hasn't yet seemed to of damaged it. I brought it at the end of september.

 

[Racers]

Hi,

Wires are the best I know its hassel installing them (I have done loads) but they work, I recon that you will also get loads of interference from your power tools which won't help.


Pete

 

[Fecn]

I have homeplug stuff running down to my workshop. It's rather slow and seems to be very unreliable. It keeps loosing the connection if I have the strip lights turned on. My advice would be to look to other solutions.

 

[MikeG.]

oddsocks

There is technology often referred to as 'homeplug' ......(2 x the Zyxel)
........... cat5 cabled to a port on your DSL router, the other end is plugged into the mains in the workshop (it has to be on the same phase) and cabled to your PC.............. I personally have the netgear product WGXB102 ........(near to the DSL router) ............The wireless homeplug can be configured the same as your normal wireless router (with wpa and SSID etc), ............................(from DSL router and homeplug- and will typically show an excellent connection. ..................multiple units can connect to the same unit plugged into the DSL. ...................................number of standards -11, 54, 80 and 200MBit/s. For internet browsing, forums etc any will be good enough and the lower speed would probably work in noisier environments. ..................surge protected or UPS preotected points -..............

Sorry, I only speak English

 

[wizer]

Cabled is the best, but messy. I have wireless in my house and it works fine in the workshop, tho believe it or not, I never use the laptop out there. Which is odd for me.

.

 

[Raggy]

Hopefully I will set up a pc in the 'shop, but it will be done with proper cat5 cable rather than through the mains, as already mentioned it isn't the best way of doing it if you require a stable connection

 

[RogerS]

Renovating the work cottage, I thought a broadband connection would be useful on site.

So I got one.

But I could never understand why things were taking so long to do.

Then the laptop died.

Suddenly progress started taking leaps and bounds.

I fixed the laptop. It has stayed home ever since. Progress continues in leaps and bounds.

There's a lesson there, I reckon.

 

[TrimTheKing]

The homeplug system really depends on the quality of your home wiring, but in contrast to the experiences on this thread I have used this system to get a connection to the 'shop at my old house and have never experienced any issues whatsoever.

I'm not saying it's the best option, obviously a cat5/6 cable is best for 100Mb/1Gb (both of which are faster than your broadband will ever be, or at least for the next 10 years), but it 'can' work well if you don't have the luxury of direct cable runs.

What you also need to remember is that a home DSL is effectively a half duplex connection (not in the strict 7 layer OSI model sense, but is slower in one direction than the other) so even if you have a full 24Mb download speed, that is the maximum you need your LAN to run at. If you have computers attached to each other on a home network and want to transfer large amounts of data between them then you will notice a speed decrease if the homeplug system is running below 100Mb.

Geek speak aside, what I'm getting at is that if you have a 10Mb BBand, then homeplug (or any other method) connecting your PC to the network at anything above this is wasted capacity as you cannot possible fill it, so don't bother your buttocks worrying about it.

I am fortunate enough to have my new house completely flood wired with Cat5e, even the workshop, so I don't have to worry any more

I am a network specialist as my day job though....

Cheers

Mark

 

[oddsocks]

Good point Mark - My house is 15 years old and the garage is detached but close, so the connection may well be better than the other experiences posted here. Like you I have had no issues with using it in the garage (with the local wireless homeplug in the garage end) but I have only ever used it when working on my car (MG rover forum guidance etc) , not with any woodwork tools running (but then if I'm at a tool I wouldn't be looking at the laptop).

I've been away for the past few days so only saw the interest and responses this evening

Apologies for the geek speak - to cut through it, Homeplug is usable straight out of the box with very simple cabling at each end, but you can reduce the risk of othes sharing your connection by changing from the default parameters.