How to Powerline multiple devices?

[CraigN]

Moved into a new apartment with a roommate recently, and so there's one desktop computer in each of the two bedrooms. The apartment isn't wired with CAT5 through the walls, and we were doing some reading on Powerline as an alternative to wifi. However, it seems to be the case (at least from my initial searching) that we'd need two sets of adapters, meaning we'd be taking up two wall outlets in the living room (where the wireless router is currently hooked up) just to hook each one up in the living room.

I have found a few powerline adapters that have four ports on one end of the adapter for hooking up multiple devices in a single room, but then plug into the router in another room using only one ethernet port, which makes me assume with that setup you'd be unable to use multiple devices simultaneously in the room (since they're connecting to only one ethernet port on the router end)

My question is, are there are any powerline adapters that allow me to do the opposite - have single plugs in the bed rooms, and connect to a multi-port device that can then hook into the router so each line has their own router port, and thus only take up one wall outlet?

Hope someone can be of some help. Thanks!

 

[RealBeast]

No, you can use a single adapter next to the router and then one next to each computer, so three total. You can also buy passthrough models if you have a shortage of power sockets -- you can plug something (best not a floor fan though) into the adapter.

Depending on your bandwidth need, be sure to get adapters that are fast enough for your needs. They do not achieve the "rated" speed. The current fastest adapters are the Zyxel PLA5205 (or the PLA 5215 passthrough version). Take a look HERE for benchmarks of various adapters. And usually it is cheaper to buy a kit with two and then a third rather than three single adapters.

 

[CraigN]

Okay - here's what's confusing me about what you just said though. That implies you have two ethernet into the walls for the computer, one ethernet coming out into the router, which means (seems) that both computers are sharing *one* port on the router. Is this possible for both devices to be plugged into the same router port??

 

[RealBeast]

Yes, think of it like two computers that share a router LAN port by being on a small switch. HERE is an older but still useful powerline FAQ.

 

[CraigN]

Will the two computers cut into each other's bandwidth as opposed to being on seperate ports?

 

[RealBeast]

If you mean the Internet bandwidth, they will share it the same as they would if using different LAN ports.

If you mean will they transfer files between the computers slower -- no, the powerline speed will be the limiting factor.

 

[CraigN]

Excellent. Thank you so much for your help.

My local electronics store has these in stock. Would you recommend a different kind/brand or will those do fine for basic internet/streaming/gaming needs?

For reference - we're on Charter internet with 30 mbps cable.

 

[RealBeast]

Those should do well for gaming and streaming.

 

[CraigN]

Thanks again a bunch for your help. This was way more useful info than I could get out of the sales associate. I appreciate it!