Question Powerline speed aren't even half. Is there a fix? (solved)

[Vale Line]

I just bought a new set of Tp- link TL-PA9020P powerline adapters. The normal speed is 300 mbs download connecting straight to the first plug but maybe 20 feet away the speed drops to 20 mbs on the second adapter. How and why is this happening? Is there even a fix? Could it be the powerlines themselves? This is the second set of adapter. I ordinally tried with old pair of netgear adapters, over 8 years old.

 

[Ralston18]

Powerline adapters are very dependent on the quality and condition of the hosting electrical circuit(s).

Are you sure that both outlets are on the same circuit?

Is it possible to test the powerline adapters across a different circuit?

What else is plugged into the circuit or circuits?

Are the outlets in good condition, with all wire connections properly connected and secure. If you do not know how to check and test then get an certified/licensed electrician to check outlets, wiring, breakers, etc..

And be sure to verify that known working (at speed) Ethernet cables are being used between the powerline adapter and its' supported network device.

 

[bill001g]

You would have to get rather lucky to 300mbps on powerline, some people do but it is rather uncommon. Most people get about 150mbps but it greatly depends on the house and the electrical wires. It for example might only be 20ft away but the power wires do not go directly room to room they most times must pass through the power panel. Some very modern arc fault breakers filter a lot of powerline traffic if you have a very new house.

Although it is not recommended to plug powerline adapters into power strips it is a good test to plug both into the same strip. You are then going a couple inches, if you still get poor speed you start to suspect bad units. Note the cheapest most simple power strip is best. The ones that have surge protection between the outlets can block the signals.

 

[Vale Line]

Powerline adapters are very dependent on the quality and condition of the hosting electrical circuit(s).

Are you sure that both outlets are on the same circuit?

Is it possible to test the powerline adapters across a different circuit?

What else is plugged into the circuit or circuits?

Are the outlets in good condition, with all wire connections properly connected and secure. If you do not know how to check and test then get an certified/licensed electrician to check outlets, wiring, breakers, etc..

And be sure to verify that known working (at speed) Ethernet cables are being used between the powerline adapter and its' supported network device.

I'll answer this in reserve order.

I checked 4 different ethernet cables and found the one with more consistent and higher numbers with different devices. This is the only thing I knew how to accurately do.

When I moved into this house they replaced some of the wiring because they were in poor condition but I'm not sure if they repaired the whole system. From the outside they look like any other outlet and no longer flip the breaker every time you turn on a TV. I'm thinking this is probably my problem, the wiring is still trashed in other parts of the home. Which is good to know this would cause issues. I wasn't sure how it would affect which is why I asked.

Connected to this circuit currently, though my home troubleshooting problem, there are only a few monitors, 2 pcs, router and monitor, and a lamp. And nothing is plugged into the outlet on the adapter.

I am only slightly sure they are on the same circuit, because i'm not 100% sure how to check they. They are on the same breaker at least.

Overall, thanks for the answer. I'll look into a new company to check my wiring. I appreciate the answer.

 

[Vale Line]

You would have to get rather lucky to 300mbps on powerline, some people do but it is rather uncommon. Most people get about 150mbps but it greatly depends on the house and the electrical wires. It for example might only be 20ft away but the power wires do not go directly room to room they most times must pass through the power panel. Some very modern arc fault breakers filter a lot of powerline traffic if you have a very new house.

Although it is not recommended to plug powerline adapters into power strips it is a good test to plug both into the same strip. You are then going a couple inches, if you still get poor speed you start to suspect bad units. Note the cheapest most simple power strip is best. The ones that have surge protection between the outlets can block the signals.

Honestly I would be happy with at least 100. I have an older house so can only assume the breakers isn't going to filter much.

I will test to on the same strip and will report back.

 

[bill001g]

If they are one the same breaker that means they are on the same circuit.

It is strange they work so poorly. Still it can be something in the house interfering. I have a shop vac that will kill powerline units no matter where they are in the house. I also used to have a rental house that it turned out had a bad ceiling fan. The tenants and I tried forever to figure out why powerline units would suddenly disconnect from each other. After a long time we found one ceiling fan when you set it to medium speed it would cause the problem. Things with motors tend to be the most common problem devices.

You can also try 2 outlets in the same room if you don't have a power strip handy. Most times the outlets have wires running directly between them in the same room. I can't think of any easy way to isolate the units from the house power, you would have to have something like a UPS. You could I guess try to turn off all the breakers in the house except for the one you are testing on. Not always a good option if you share the house with other people.

If this keeps happening I would check to see if the unit are still under a warranty. The units should perform much better even with poor wires. If you were complaining that you only got say 90mbps rather than 300mbps that you can blame on the wiring. To only get 20mbps is very strange especially since you have the more modern version of powerline units. The older av500/600 units are much slower.

 

[Vale Line]

If they are one the same breaker that means they are on the same circuit.

It is strange they work so poorly. Still it can be something in the house interfering. I have a shop vac that will kill powerline units no matter where they are in the house. I also used to have a rental house that it turned out had a bad ceiling fan. The tenants and I tried forever to figure out why powerline units would suddenly disconnect from each other. After a long time we found one ceiling fan when you set it to medium speed it would cause the problem. Things with motors tend to be the most common problem devices.

You can also try 2 outlets in the same room if you don't have a power strip handy. Most times the outlets have wires running directly between them in the same room. I can't think of any easy way to isolate the units from the house power, you would have to have something like a UPS. You could I guess try to turn off all the breakers in the house except for the one you are testing on. Not always a good option if you share the house with other people.

If this keeps happening I would check to see if the unit are still under a warranty. The units should perform much better even with poor wires. If you were complaining that you only got say 90mbps rather than 300mbps that you can blame on the wiring. To only get 20mbps is very strange especially since you have the more modern version of powerline units. The older av500/600 units are much slower.

I honestly can believe I'm writing this. My issue is somehow "fixed." Currently the receiving box is running with 90mbps. I realized I had tested almost every wall outlet except for two of the top sockets of separate wall outlets, oddly I had only tested the bottom portion; and just like that the speeds have ascended.

Before checking I did test them on the same power strip and they reach both reached 300.

Thank you for all the insight and help.

 

[Ralston18]

This power line adapter?

https://static.tp-link.com/2019/201912/20191224/TL-PA9020P KIT(US)4.0_Datasheet.pdf

Noted: "there are only a few monitors, 2 pcs, router and monitor, and a lamp"

Does "monitors" include network connected TV's?

Each powerline adapter has two Ethernet ports as I understand the specs.

Are both Ethernet ports being used one either one or both powerline adapters.

Is it possible for you to sketch out a simple drawing showing all devices and connections: power, Ethernet, audio, and video.

What I wondering about is if a loop of some sort is being created.

https://kb.netgear.com/000060475/What-is-a-network-loop

If possible post the sketch here via imgur (www.imgur.com). Does not need to be a work of art per se. Just show the connections and ports being used.