Directly connect two computers via powerline?

[bradas128]

Is it possible to directly connect two computers via a powerline? For example, using an ethernet cable on one side of the powerline and a crossover cable on the other end of the line?

I am trying to connect a steam link to my PC in another room and I live in student accommodation which has some dodgey internet that the steam link wont connect to wirelessly, and there is no way for me to get a wired connection to the link otherwise. Assuming the powerline connection is good, is there anyway to utilise powerline networking?

 

[RealBeast]

Yes, if the two outlets are on the same main (breaker box)you can use PL adapters to make a computer to computer connection and you don't need to use a crossover cable if either of the computers has a gigabit Ethernet port, which includes auto-MDIX and will automatically configure the connection using just a straight patch cable.

Best to use a good pair of AV2-1000 adapters and implement security on them to make them inaccessible to any other PL adapters that may be on the circuit.

Does one of the computers already have an Internet connection that you are planning to share? This will make the configuration a little more complex and you will need to provide more details on exactly what you are trying to do.

 

[kanewolf]

The biggest issue with doing this is that there is no DHCP server for your two computers. Adding a router, even without an internet source to one end of the connection will allow the computers to DHCP.

 

[bradas128]

Yes, if the two outlets are on the same main (breaker box)you can use PL adapters to make a computer to computer connection and you don't need to use a crossover cable if either of the computers has a gigabit Ethernet port, which includes auto-MDIX and will automatically configure the connection using just a straight patch cable.

Best to use a good pair of AV2-1000 adapters and implement security on them to make them inaccessible to any other PL adapters that may be on the circuit.

Does one of the computers already have an Internet connection that you are planning to share? This will make the configuration a little more complex and you will need to provide more details on exactly what you are trying to do.

Basically, i want to use my powerline to make my steam link work. The steam link is supposed to connect a TV, say downstairs, to a PC upstairs. Usually the steam link connects to the router and uses the router to transfer image and control inputs between the TV downstairs and the PC upstairs. The steam link has an ethernet port to connect straight to the router.

Right now i am in uni accommodation which has wifi, but you need to download stuff to get it to work which the steam link doesnt support. I want to put my link in the common room down the hall and stream from my PC. My PC gets the internet through an ethernet port, but i have a second port spare. From what i can see, all the electrics are connected so a powerline adapter should be able to get a signal. according to
https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/343785574519542460/
plugging an ethernet cable (or maybe a crossover cable) from the steam link to the PC directly does work.

Would i have any problems (assuming the powerline is fine) if i just stuck some powerline adapters inbetween?

 

[RealBeast]

So if you have an LAN port that has an Internet connection, you can share it several ways (Internet connection sharing or even better a program called Connectify). Both will set up connection address assignments, or you can simply use static IP addresses that are different from the network range that has the Internet connection. For the secondary network under that approach you do not enter a gateway address. It sounds more complex than it really is to make it work, just depends on your preference.

You do not need a router for either, simply a cable connection, although you do need a means to share the Internet connection from the adapter that has Internet access (so ICS that will assign addresses as will Connectify, or possibly bridging the two adapters if you want to use static addresses).

And powerline adapters will work to allow you to make the connection between them as long as the outlets are on the same breaker box. I recommend AV2-1000 PL adapters and HERE is a link to some good models.

 

[nigelivey]

Yes just manually enter IP addresses on the host machines within the same subnet, they have no gateway.