[Gllug] Powerline homeplug experiences

[Christopher Hunter]

On Fri, 2008-12-12 at 23:50 +0000, j.roberts wrote:

> We have used these extensively with similar logic and outcomes to those 
> expressed by Alastair Mann. A very useful device in the toolbox for 
> installation problems.
> 
> > - Do they really run at advertised speeds ? 40Mbps is quite ok for me, 
> > but does it really run at 40Mbps.
> 
> They do not IME reach advertised speeds but do reach usable speed (say 
> max 60-80% of quoted throughput).

The ones I have here far exceed their rated transmission rate.

> They do not work well with extension sockets of any kind, and 
> (obviously) not through filtered outlets or UPS. Best direct to the wall 
> socket.

Again, not my experience.  They seem to work how ever they're connected,
even through "filtered" outlets.

> We have tested and found that at the frequencies used, the meter 
> assembly (not the fusebox :) gives some 40-70dB of attenuation. Of 
> course, this could easily by bypassed but we have not tested that.

The ones we're using here (some obscure Chinese or Korean no-name ones)
get through the meter without significant attenuation, and work well at
the next house up this street that's on the same phase (three houses
away).

> A point to note: there are various generally incompatible standards, and 
> some makes will not talk to each other even if nominally on the same 
> standard.

Certainly.

> Most of them have a requirement for a Windows PC to run a Windows exec 
> for encryption setup, used once only.

The ones we have here are configured using a web browser, much as you
would with most domestic routers.  I picked these up in France last year
as one of my friends over there had been using them successfully for a
while, and there's huge amounts of interference around my home on 2.4
GHz.  The only change I made to them was to replace the original
European mains plug with a three-pin British one. 

I anyone's interested, I'll root around under the desk, and find out the
brand name.

Chris

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