Speed Issue with Homeplugs

[Airwaves]

I've just had fibre installed and decided to buy home plugs for my desktop PC upstairs. My laptop which is using the built in wireless achieves around 36.7Mbps which I'm happy with considering I should get up to 40Mbps.

My desktop PC on the other hand appears to work well and is quite speedy during web browsing but when I attempt to download a file or do a speed test it gets up to 15Mbps, then gradually drops to 8, then nothing. I've tried downloading a game from Steam for example and it says I have lost connection and gives up altogether.

Am I using the correct plugs or is something else at fault?

http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/?model=TL-PA4010KIT

 

[Snortan]

Can you at least browse the web through the homeplugs? just to check if they are actually synced.
Download the software from tp-link website. When you start the software it should show you the link strength.

 

[Airwaves]

Can you at least browse the web through the homeplugs? just to check if they are actually synced.
Download the software from tp-link website. When you start the software it should show you the link strength.

Browsing the web is fine. The software I have doesn't give you a signal strength. The only thing I can find is the rate which is 337Mbps?

There only seems to be a problem when it needs to download a file or do a speed test where the connection is maxed out.

 

[remember300]

Home plugs are designed to work on length of cable in the wall you may of pushed the length a little to far. i know this sounds dumb but try another socket in another room if this changes your speed you may need another to sit in the middle to act like a repeater so it goes; router to bridge to pc if that makes sense.

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

For starters powerline adapters are known for this and instability. Second listen to what remember300 said, he is right.

 

[Airwaves]

Home plugs are designed to work on length of cable in the wall you may of pushed the length a little to far. i know this sounds dumb but try another socket in another room if this changes your speed you may need another to sit in the middle to act like a repeater so it goes; router to bridge to pc if that makes sense.

You may be right about the length of cable. Because I've read that you ideally have to use a home plug in an actual socket not an extension lead with a variety of sockets, I had to extend the length between the router and PC. So there is a 5m network cable downstairs and a 5m network cable from the socket to the PC upstairs which, I assume, maybe to long to maintain a decent signal at higher speeds?

Shortening the length will require me to plug them into an extension lead (excluding the bridge idea and spending more money) but I guess it's worth a try to see if there are any improvements. If not, are there any decent wireless USB adapters available?

 

[remember300]

A 5m cable should not dampen the signal enough to affect you like that. Even on both ends if you use an extension lead how ever this is like putting your foot on a hose, also its even worse if you use surge protection leads its even worse sometime the expensive ones can negate the whole connection.

If plugs are an issue you can get pass through plugs which have a socket on the front too. Also see.if you have some cat 6 cable might drop the loss a little if running over 5 metres.

But if you got a laptop try it there in dif rooms. Cos im guessing your house is on different ring mains. Also if you have a longer ethernet cable and try putting the router end in another room too.

 

[Airwaves]

A 5m cable should not dampen the signal enough to affect you like that. Even on both ends if you use an extension lead how ever this is like putting your foot on a hose, also its even worse if you use surge protection leads its even worse sometime the expensive ones can negate the whole connection.

If plugs are an issue you can get pass through plugs which have a socket on the front too. Also see.if you have some cat 6 cable might drop the loss a little if running over 5 metres.

But if you got a laptop try it there in dif rooms. Cos im guessing your house is on different ring mains. Also if you have a longer ethernet cable and try putting the router end in another room too.

I've tried a couple of things this morning. My laptop works as it should in the room containing my desktop PC, check. I then tried a 15m network cable connected directly from the modem up the stairs to the PC and the speed and connection was fine, check.

The two 5m cables connecting the plugs are CAT 5 so would they be worth changing or is it difficult to say? I don't mind paying for good quality ones if it will sort the problem out or will I have to just bite the bullet and chance it.

 

[remember300]

Nah it was just a thought you can get a tplink pair to add to yours for the same price as a few cat 6 cables lol

 

[Airwaves]

I've been trying a few things over the weekend to no avail. Not to mention trying different cables I borrowed from someone. CAT 6 and shorter ones to see if that made any difference...And it didn't.

I did try an even shorter cable and used the home plugs in an extension lead just to see what would happen and although the same thing happened it also would disconnect at set intervals.

After some discussion with the person I borrowed the cables from. He said I should just get a PCI wireless network card and use that. He suggested one which I went for yesterday. It should arrive tomorrow and fingers crossed I will have more luck.

The desktop PC is in a room directly above the modem so picking a signal up shouldn't be a problem.

I will report back tomorrow if anyone is interested. ^_^

 

[remember300]

ah thats fair enough i know its not the length of network cable thats the issue, thats not the length i was on about i was talking about your 2.5 twin and earth in the walls.

But a wireless card should be ok providing it had adequate emf shielding

 

[Airwaves]

Just an update to say that the card has been fitted and it's working brilliantly.

Thanks for all the help and advice during my perilous journey to achieve a decent internet connection in my office ^_^