Problem with Powerline Plugs?
“I have the Comtrend Power GID 902 and Comtrend 9020 for a BT Home Hub, but it will not work upstairs /down stairs. I have separate ring mains for up and down, but both in to the same meter. Help?
Submitted online by James Moran
What is a Powerline Adapter
Powerline Adapters, sometimes known as HomePlugs, are very handy devices for connecting household devices to a home’s broadband router without the need to run long cables, or use wi-fi. Powerline Adapters use a home’s domestic mains wiring to send computer data around the home.
To use these, here’s what you do:
- Plug one unit into a mains socket close to the router
- Connect the router to the first Powerline Adapter using an Ethernet lead
- Plug the second Powerline Adapter into a mains socket at the point where you want Internet
- Connect another Ethernet lead from the second Powerline Adapter to the device that wants an Internet connection
Powerline Adapter Not Connecting
The adapters only work if there is a suitable electrical connection between the two units. If you’re having problems getting data between two powerline adapters, here;s some suggestions:
1. Location: First off, try connecting the adapters into adjacent sockets – If they can’t talk to each other when in the same room, elsewhere in the house is likely to be a no-go.
2. Sync: Powerline adapters need to be synced to each other, for security reasons (you don’t want your neighbours being able to tap into your data). If your HomePlugs aren’t working when in adjacent sockets, check the manual to make sure you have them paired correctly
3. Connectivity: Many experience problems when using a Homeplug in an extension lead, or when going through a mains surge protector. For the best performance, connect to a dedicated socket, and not an extension block
4. Compatibility: There are different standards in use. Mixing manufacturers and/or device types may cause incompatibilites. If using a mix of makes and models, check with the manufacturer to see if they are compatible.
5. Mains Type: Where two mains sockets share the same home electricity meter, it’s normally possible to use a pair of Powerline Adapters, but if they are going through multiple consumer units (i.e. fuse boxes), there is likely to be signal loss. If your upstairs and downstairs are on different circuits, this may prevent enough signal making it through between transmitter and receiver.
No luck with Powerline?
If you can’t get Powerline to work in your house, there are a few other options to explore
1. Use Wi-fi: Check whether your Internet router supports wireless broadband – then all you need is a wireless dongle or connection for the equipment you’re trying to connect. The newer 802.11N standard offers decent coverage of the average house, and careful placement of the router should give you good coverage. If needed, wi-fi extenders are also available. (We recommend Maplin for networking accessories)
2. Use cable: Run an ethernet cable between the router and the target device. Kits are available from Maplin
3. Talk to a friendly local electrician: If you really want to use Powerline, perhaps a local electrician can offer some advice on ways to change your home wiring.
Related help?
- See our other answers on Powerline Adapter Problems or ask your own Powerline Adapter question
This is roughly what I want to know. I have an office in a converted garage outside my house and I cannot connect wirelessly from it to the hub inside the home.
The mains electricity supply comes directly into the house to the meter board and consumer unit
from taht consumer unit there is a heavy duty connection running underground to another consumer unit located in the garage conversion.
So my question is 1) Can I still use a powerline adaptor to connect my home hub (inside the house) to another adapter in the garage/office.
2) Is there likely to be significant loss of signal strength
1. Many people have had success using Powerline Adapters to garden sheds and outside buildings, so it’s worth a try. Needs to be on the same phase, and sharing the same electricity meter
2. Over long distances, through poor wiring, or when going through mutiple consumer units, you can expect a loss of data speed
I have spent the last 18 weeks trying to fathom an ultra slow broadband problem via our homehub3 and it seems to be transpiring that our TP-Link home plugs are the culprit. Line did run at 7.2M and dropped to 0.08Meg (that is no lie). We had four new TP-Links installed, once removed after about two hours line speed returned to 7M instantly, yet to fully confirm they are the problem but all points that way.
I’ve been connecting my upstairs PC to the internet over a pair of Solwise 500 adapters very successfully for about 6 months. This fluctuated for a couple of days then stopped altogether about a week ago.
There have been no changes or new additions to the household electrical appliances.
I have checked the cables, reset the modem, re-set the adapters, re-paired, tried the adapters in different sockets and also tried a different adapter upstairs.
All this rules out the adapters and cables so to eliminate the house wiring I plugged both adapters in side by side in a double socket. Strangely, this didn’t work either.
What is even more strange is that my Talk Talk TV service DOES connect to the internet using the same powerline adapter in another room.
This may sound like a weird question but is it possible for TalkTalk to prevent or degrade internet connection to PCs but not to TV?
I am lost. Can someone help please?
Kay
First thing to do is make things simple in order to problem solve, like removing the Solwise adapters altogether and then checking your speed. I have experienced issues whereby a faulty adapter has locked up the ‘network’ altogether!
The next step if you have reset etc the adapters is to buy a replacement pair of adapters, I prefer Devolo (two reasons; 1. they were one of the first to market these and 2. they have a useful desktop App so you can monitor the adapters.)