Ethernet Extender Internet Speeds

[EdwardBu]

Hi

I have bought a Netgear Powerline Ethernet Adapter. I bought this because my router is downstairs and I have a computer upstairs which I wanted to connect via Ethernet. I thought that Ethernet would be faster than a wireless connection seeing as I am a couple floors away from my router. I have a BT HomeHub 4 with Openreach. I am in the UK if this makes a difference. BT claim that I should be getting around 40 mbps down with this internet. Standing next to the router with my iPhone, I get around 30-40 mbps down, which is about right, it could be faster though. However, on my connection to my PC upstairs with the Ethernet adapter, I get around 7 mpbs on a good day, but on an average day, only around 2 mpbs down. The way I have this connected is, I have one adapter connected to the router, sending out a signal, and the other adapter, connected into the wall of the room with my PC. Somehow it picks up a signal or something (I am unsure how it works). Then I have an ethernet cable connecting the adapter to my PC.

Can anyone please help me get good internet speeds with my PC upstairs!? I really need good internet and this is annoying.

Cheers

 

[InvalidError]

Powerline Ethernet has to go from the outlet where the router is, all the way to your electrical distribution panel, across the bus bar there and back up the wiring to everywhere else in your home. This has substantial attenuation and if you have any noisy appliances anywhere in your home, all that noise further reduces attainable speeds.

Over long distances and separate electrical circuits (breakers/fuses), the performance degrades very quickly. If you want to improve your Powerline Ethernet performance, try moving your router's power-line adapter as close to your electrical distribution panel as possible to shorten at least that part of the circuit.

If reliable and fast internet connection is truly essential to you, wired Ethernet is the best option short of relocating your modem and router where you actually need your internet access to be.

 

[EdwardBu]

Powerline Ethernet has to go from the outlet where the router is, all the way to your electrical distribution panel, across the bus bar there and back up the wiring to everywhere else in your home. This has substantial attenuation and if you have any noisy appliances anywhere in your home, all that noise further reduces attainable speeds.

Over long distances and separate electrical circuits (breakers/fuses), the performance degrades very quickly. If you want to improve your Powerline Ethernet performance, try moving your router's power-line adapter as close to your electrical distribution panel as possible to shorten at least that part of the circuit.

If reliable and fast internet connection is truly essential to you, wired Ethernet is the best option short of relocating your modem and router where you actually need your internet access to be.

Thank you very much. My router is already about 8 metres away from my electrical distribution panel. Does it have to be closer or is this as fast as it will get?

 

[abailey]

Your probably not going to get much better in your house with the powerline adapter. Make sure they are plugged directly into the outlet and not on a powerstrip. Powerline adapters work great for some people and terrible for others. It all depends on your house wiring and what all appliances you have connected to your outlets. If at all possible a CAt5e cable would provide the best connection. Another option would be ethernet over COAX if you have COAX in the two rooms.

 

[InvalidError]

Does it have to be closer or is this as fast as it will get?

Powerline networking is a lot like WiFi except you need to follow wiring distance instead of direct point-to-point distance. Moving the central point of your powerline network as close to the panel reduces overall distances which should improve your results at least somewhat.

Another problem with powerline is that every device with EMI suppression on the AC line input will have a couple of capacitors that add considerable attenuation to high-frequency signals powerline networking uses. So, if you have tons of devices with EMI line filters anywhere in your home, which you probably do since tons of devices have those these days, powerline networking will never be great even on a good day unless your powerline devices are on the same electrical circuit with only a few meters worth of wiring in-between.