How good are Ethernet Powerline Adaptors?

[redkite2]

Our existing FFTC router is located at the back of the house and has ethernet cables to the upper floors.  Switching to FF300 broadband means the new router will have to be located at the front of the house (and installing a new linking ethernet cable is not practical).  Both TP-link and Devolo sell a range of adaptors claiming to deliver “up to” 2,000 Mbps.  In our case ...

• Both adapters would be powered via different circuit breakers in the consumer unit.
• The adaptor at the front of the house would have to be on an extension lead which would also power the Router. 

Any thoughts on what the actual speed between the adaptors might be?

[licquorice]

Anywhere between 0 -2000Mbps

It certainly won't be anywhere near 2000Mbps though.

It's impossible to predict what speed they will operate at, each installation will have unique characteristics. Get them from Amazon and send them back if the speed is not acceptable.

[WSH]

The big thing to be aware of is the sneaky marketing.

Ethernet cable are a full duplex system, i.e. they can send and receive via separate wires at the same time.  This means when marketing say it's 1000Mb/s it's a 1000 send + 1000 receive.  Powerline (and Wi-Fi for that matter) are half duplex systems.  As they only have the one pair of wires, so they have to send then wait for a reply then send a bit more etc.  Marketing will still peddle them as 1000Mb/s but this time it's really 500 send + 500 receive.

Then powerline is not twisted pair etc. and a far more interference prone system.  Data packets that arrive corrupt have to be sent again, slowing things down even more.  It is also a much more complicated system.  For example, it needs to be encrypted at one end then decrypted again at the other, all of which takes a bit of time.  (This is because your power wires go out of the house and theoreticlly so could your data!)

They have got better over the years but generally, operationally I'd expect a third to a half of the max figure they quote.

[99scouser]

Buy a good quality extension cable, high current , no surge protection.

[Kodikid]

Do PLA'S work on extension leads?

[99scouser]

Powerline adapters do not like extension cords or double/multi adapters.  Instead of a wall plug adapter , best to buy a PL adapter with a  built in socket.

Each pair of adapters on the same phase will drive the throughput down /n (approx)

[Crimliar]

The problem with powerline adapters is that their performance is variable!

They work by transmitting a signal back into the power ring-main.  The nature of that transmission means that you can start to get phase issues that cause interference and lower their speed when they are plugged into extension cables.  Any spur off the ring main they are connected to will degrade the performance at least a little.

Jumping from one ring-main to a second can also cause a significant drop in speed, and adding a third ring-main with conventional powerline adapters is unlikely to be worthwhile.  The unconventional method is to have a special adapter that feeds directly into the main fusebox, but these are expensive, there's not much choice (usually Devolo), they require professional fitting, and there is still no guarantee they will work well.

I believe one of the earlier posts mentioned installing powerline adapters in pairs.  That's not true, the devices are many to many, but the more you have the greater the number of "data collisions" you'll see.  I've not seen HomeAV devices go beyond 4 devices before performance dropped off a cliff, but G.hn I've seen with 6 devices working in an okay (not great) manner.

In many properties, wireless propagates better through floors than walls, so a steep stack of WiFi Mesh units may outperform powerline adapters in some situations.

In short I've seen these work terribly, and I've seen them work fantastically.

[99scouser]

"Switching to FF300 broadband means the new router will have to be located at the front of the house" 

If this is a fibre install I presume Openreach will be the installer and I believe they are "obliged" to run the fibre to the existing router location if you wish.  They have done so for myself and my neighbours who have requested this.

[99scouser]

redkite2

I have a similar setup, however, I placed my router close to the ceiling on a shelf ( this is super important for wifi foot print, especially for homes that have wood frame walls on the upstairs floor),  where the installer placed the fibre termination for me at the back of the house.

Results

Pc's using Ethernet 500Mbs (full rate)

PC and phone on Wifi close to the router 500Mbs

Using a 1000Mps TPlink PLA,  different  rings,  laptop = 16Mbs down - 6 Mbs up

Laptop using Wifi to the router at the same location 56Mbs down-  46 Mbs up

Mobile phones get 500 down to 150 depending on location.

Plan A should be get the router to the existing location if at all possisble!

Scouser

[99scouser]

If this is a situation where you are in a Terrace and you absolutely can't run fibre inside the house ,  I would drill a hole in the roof soffit out front and one out the back where the existing outside cable is, when the installer comes just run up into the attic and thread the cable through for them. You would need to let them know this plan beforehand so they bring a long enough cable.

Scouser