Multiple Powerline Adaptors

[Yeungster]

I know, I know. I hang my head in shame for using Powerline adapters but they are the best choice I have at the moment.

Just wondering whether anyone has any experience with running multiple Powerline adapters in the same house.

Can you mix and match adapter brands?
Can you use a single adapter connected to your router and multiple "receivers" or do you need one for each?

 

[Kilbane]

Powerline adaptors are a great solution when more conventional solutions are expensive or inadequate for the use.

You will have to use the same brand due to the way they connect with each other and for ease of use. Many will work together with different brands as they are just rebranded OEM units. But guaranteeing compatibility can be a pain.

You will just need one master unit (connected to your Router) to use multiple devices with a receiver on each. Depending on model of adaptors is how many they will support.

Be aware that depending on your home wiring (age and condition etc), the performance of powerline adaptors can be severely degraded

 

[NeverBackDown]

Nothing wrong with using those. In fact it's easily the best choice after running directly from the router.

You can mix and match some brands, so long as they all use the same chip. Some use Broadcom others use different ones. You can't mix those.
Easiest to just stick to the same model though.

As for how many you need, you just need one that is connected to the router, then you can upto a certain amount(depends on brand) all linked to it. Be careful though. Can clog up the network this way.

 

[tinytomlogan]

Id stick with the same brand to stop any possible "could it be this" scenarios at a later date

 

[jimma47]

One thing to watch is how your house is wired. I use one in the unit I'm in currently and it's fine. In my house built in 2005 it worked ok but I had Cat 6 wiring anyway. At my folks place, which is older (like 1970s) and double storey there were two separate power circuits. The adapters only work if they're on the same circuit.

 

[Thelosouvlakia]

Also surge protectors render powerlines useless

 

[SPS]

Most models support additional plugs. Check that yours currently do and get some more. Wouldn't recommend different ones, though haven't proved its an issue.

 

[SeekaX]

Powerline is really hit and miss, even in the same household. We use it for my flatmate's PC and the printer, his connection is perfectly fine, at the printer the ping spikes to well over 3s.

 

[remember300]

thought i would clear up a few things having used and still using power line adaptors.

I would not mix brands as that is just going to complicate things.

You can set 1 central plug on the router and the have each connect directly to that or have them work in a chain if the signal has further to go this will stop a little loss in speed but will push up ping.

Anti-surge plugs are not the problem i have used direct from the wall, using extension leads of varying lengths and also anti surge leads. the biggest issue was not anti surge but the length of the cable it was being run on and when the cable was outside the walls of the house. ( i tried to use it on a lead out in the garden, which failed lol)

And with the multi circuits its hit and miss this goes along on the length and quality of connections again having lived in multiple rented properties they was not happy me running a cable up the stairs into my room for better internet.

So when adding to a set id suggest using the pair you have to make sure you have some coverage before investing further.