A head-scratcher: inconsistent speeds across network

[mricon]

Hi there

I'm not overly confident when it comes to networking and need some help please....

Something just came to light when trying to upload files to my NAS (QNAP TS-251+) from my main home office PC. It was VERY slow.

My NAS is sat next to my router downstairs connected via Cat6 (pretty much everything is using Cat6) and my office PC (Dell XPS Desktop) is upstairs in a home office connected over ethernet via powerline adaptor (TP-LINK TL-PA4030KIT 500Mbps) - also on that adaptor is a network switch (NETGEAR GS308-100UKS 8 Port Gigabit Ethernet) with two home security cameras on it.

When I go into Control Panel the ethernet status says 'Speed 10.0 Mbps'. Oddly another NUC-style PC in a different part of the house (also connected by powerline) says '100.0 Mbps'.

Can somebody suggest what might be wrong please? Happy to provide more info.

Many thanks.

 

[ss202sl]

try a different cable

 

[bill001g]

The powerline units you have only do not have gigabit ports they only have 10/100. This is the manufacture almost admitting that the "500" number is a massive lie. The most you can expect is a 100mbps connection with actual data throughput in the 50-60 mbps range. If you run more than 2 powerline devices it will decease the throughput even more.

If the connection negotiated to 10mbps is almost has to be a bad cable. You could check you nic setting to make sure they are on auto. I don't think you can set the speed on the powerline units.

The newer units based on av2 technology are much better. Tplink sells some of their av2-600 units using the same part number as the av500 units. Make me think they are going to stop selling av500 eventually. If you want performance get the av2-1200 units. The new version of the ones you have are called tl-pa8030p and are the top ranked units in many testing sites. They still only get 150mbps or so even with their gigabit ports.

 

[mricon]

try a different cable

This turned out to be the solution!

I guess I thought that a faulty cable would not work at all, but I've learnt something today.

Thank you.

 

[mricon]

The powerline units you have only do not have gigabit ports they only have 10/100. This is the manufacture almost admitting that the "500" number is a massive lie. The most you can expect is a 100mbps connection with actual data throughput in the 50-60 mbps range. If you run more than 2 powerline devices it will decease the throughput even more.

If the connection negotiated to 10mbps is almost has to be a bad cable. You could check you nic setting to make sure they are on auto. I don't think you can set the speed on the powerline units.

The newer units based on av2 technology are much better. Tplink sells some of their av2-600 units using the same part number as the av500 units. Make me think they are going to stop selling av500 eventually. If you want performance get the av2-1200 units. The new version of the ones you have are called tl-pa8030p and are the top ranked units in many testing sites. They still only get 150mbps or so even with their gigabit ports.

Thank you, useful to know.