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Broadband Extension Gizmo
Dick Axtell - 2/10/15 at 11:13 AM

Hello LCB-ers.

I use broadband for TV, PC and iPad connection. Have been looking at examples of these network extension devices, which work through mains wiring. Here is one for reference :-

https://www.7dayshop.com/products/sumvision-high-speed-gigabit-homeplug-twin-pack-HP-1000M-SV

Has anyone had experience with using these devices? Are they as good as some reviewers suggest?

My main aim is to replace the Ethernet connecting dongle, attached to my Smart TV, because my Dearly Beloved is fed up with that infuriating, rotating circle which appears when using the iPlayer, for call-back.


james h - 2/10/15 at 11:21 AM

We've used them a fair bit.

I like them - although you never ever get close to their data rate they claim. For my parent's house we bought a pair (300mbps supposedly) with one having a wifi router, extending our wireless signal. By cloning the SSID and password of the original router, we got all the devices to automatically connect to the router with the strongest signal, and as a result they get pretty good wifi throughout the house now.

In terms of loss of data, the internet comes into their house at 1000mbps (genuinely!), through a short ethernet cable to the powerline adaptor and then through the mains to the other powerline (the one with wifi). Then the devices get about 20mbps in that room.

Not ideal, but apart from having the house wired up with ethernet cables, its the acceptable only way. And not for a bad price.


indykid - 2/10/15 at 08:20 PM

We've got the tp link set for cheaper than that for running Netflix and YouTube on the smart tv and it works pretty flawlessly.

I was sceptical about power line adaptors, but I'm sold on them. I'll be buying a WiFi repeater for the garage shortly too.


Slimy38 - 2/10/15 at 08:48 PM

I didn't have as much luck, but the key point for me was that I was going across ring mains and even the instructions say that's a bad thing. If I connected them on the same ring (even at the furthest points) I got good speed. But going from the main house to the extension (which was the original plan) the speed really dropped to below wireless levels.

In the end I just put a wire through the wall and put a switch on the far end.

They are much better than what they were a few years back, and they definitely serve a purpose. They're keenly priced as well. Just don't believe the sales pitch!


britishtrident - 2/10/15 at 08:55 PM

A cheap Wifi repeater in some situations can work better than Networking over mains a lot depends on layout of rooms and mains wiring.

With network over mains the ring mains layout and number of mans appliances running from the sockets being used can throw a spanner in the works.

Having installed a few different makes of reoeaters I know this type work pretty well once you find the best location for it, 300Mbps Wireless Wifi Router AP Repeater Extender Booster Client Bridge SKY WPS



[Edited on 3/10/15 by britishtrident]


jeffw - 3/10/15 at 06:06 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Dick Axtell

My main aim is to replace the Ethernet connecting dongle, attached to my Smart TV, because my Dearly Beloved is fed up with that infuriating, rotating circle which appears when using the iPlayer, for call-back.


So you want to replace an ethernet connection with a Mains Network device?


Dick Axtell - 29/10/15 at 02:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jeffw
quote:
Originally posted by Dick Axtell

My main aim is to replace the Ethernet connecting dongle, attached to my Smart TV, because my Dearly Beloved is fed up with that infuriating, rotating circle which appears when using the iPlayer, for call-back.


So you want to replace an ethernet connection with a Mains Network device?

This dongle gismo operates wirelessly, but connects into the TV Ethernet socket. Other than being Samsung TV compliant, I know little about the device. It used to work OK, but now suffers from "interrupted and/or irregular data flow".


Dick Axtell - 29/10/15 at 02:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
A cheap Wifi repeater in some situations can work better than Networking over mains a lot depends on layout of rooms and mains wiring.

With network over mains the ring mains layout and number of mans appliances running from the sockets being used can throw a spanner in the works.

Having installed a few different makes of reoeaters I know this type work pretty well once you find the best location for it, 300Mbps Wireless Wifi Router AP Repeater Extender Booster Client Bridge SKY WPS

[Edited on 3/10/15 by britishtrident]


Thanks for your suggestion.


SJ - 29/10/15 at 03:45 PM

They work really well.

I have one plugged into my router and then have two on the first floor of the house and two on the second. The don't limit speed at all and we get 35mb ish throughout on speedtest. I also have one in the garage off a separate consumer unit and it connects fine, but gives a bit less speed [10-15mbps]. When I tried it in the shed though which is on the end of 40m of armoured cable it became unreliable.

I use the TP link ones. I found they worked a lot more reliably if they were all configured to the same network name using the software that comes with them. All you have to do is hard plug the adapter into your PC/laptop and rename using the software.

Very occasionally they will drop the connection but switch off and on again and they come back.

Stu