planning freeview in all bedrooms

[Steve]

These.

You're joking, Softus?

Network over mains being recommended, i never thought I'd see the day.

 

[Softus]

You're joking, Softus?

Nope. It's marvellous. It's more marvellous than Supergirl mud-wrestling Catwoman.

Network over mains being recommended, i never thought I'd see the day.

Now I'm curious - why?

 

[Steve]

You're joking, Softus?

Nope. It's marvellous. It's more marvellous than Supergirl mud-wrestling Catwoman.

Network over mains being recommended, i never thought I'd see the day.

Now I'm curious - why?

It just seems a bodge. And a big bodge at that. Does it work??? Different circuits? On extension leads? NEXT DOOR??? Better or worse than wireless?

 

[Softus]

It just seems a bodge.

I don't see why. It's just a solution to a problem.

And a big bodge at that.

A small solution to a big problem.

Does it work?

Er, yes, that's why there are so many products on the market.

Different circuits?

Different circuits, on the same side of the same board on the same phase - yes.

Different phases - haven't tried it.

On extension leads?

Yes.

NEXT DOOR?

I doubt it, but I haven't tried it yet.

Better or worse than wireless?

Certainly better where wireless isn't propogating well. Quicker to implement. Sometimes cheaper, depending on number of clients.

It's just an alternative Crafty - a tool to use when appropriate, not the be-and-end-all of local area networking.

 

[Steve]

ok softus point taken. It seems too good to be true in a way thats all! And i wouldnt expect it to work between phases if it relys on solid copper links.

 

[electronicsuk]

I still wouldn't recommend homeplug for a new build, or any build unless there was no alternative. I don't doubt that it works, but homeplug is a)slower than a proper wired network and b)the small amount of bandwidth you get is shared between all machines, unlike in a proper switched network. It also wont work with Power Over Ethernet, which is likely to become more mainstream in home networking over the next few years.

I would advise sinking in some single backboxes around your study and also the lounge and main bedroom. Run two cat5e cables to each of these boxes, and bring them all back to some common point in the study leaving a fair bit of excess.

This leaves you the option of installing a patch panel, or taking what sounds like the best option in your case and simply crimping RJ45 plugs on the end and plugging into a router + switch combo. You could install a shelf or cabinet where the cables all come back into the study where you could locate your cable modem, cable connection point, and router/switch. Would make sense to run power there too.

 

[equitum]

These.

You're joking, Softus?

Network over mains being recommended, i never thought I'd see the day.

I had heard of these before and admit that I assumed they would be unreliable, but having researched them it seems they could be a very useful soltion in many cases. For example, I have been asked to network 3 staff PC's to a printer in an old peoples home. Its an old house with walls 400mm thick, no access above or below so surface trunking required, ugh ! I doubt wireless would work, maybe the rangemax series, but quite expensive anyhow.

These seem the ticket, thanks Softus !