Need Networking Advice

[Hmoobphajej]

The Dilemma:
Right now I'm trying to reroute my router to another room in the house. The easiest method would be to relocate my coax or install another one to the room I want the router to be in. Need to get the expensive equipment away from kids.

The Problem:
The coax is currently in my living room and is split between my TV cable box and my internet modem. So I can't move it without rendering the TV useless.

I'm not sure if it's going to cost me anything for my ISP, Comcast, to come out and wire another coax or reroute it to the room I want, so I'm looking to see if you guys have dealt with it before. ( Yes..., I know I can just call and ask. But I rather they not drill more holes into a house that I don't own. Or charge me a arm and a leg. )

The Solution: (Maybe???)

Modem: Motorolla SB6141
Router: Netgear Nighthawk (R7000) (Link)
Internet Speed: 50mbps / 10mbps

I'm looking into doing something utilizing power line adapters. The power line adapters I'm looking at are these http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-PA...&sr=1-1&keywords=powerline+networking+adapter. ( Open to getting different ones or better ones if anyone has recommendations. )

What I'm thinking of is just connecting a Ethernet cable from my modem to the power line adapter and connecting my router to the adapter in the room that I want it to be in. The room is right next to the living room so the power line adapters won't be too far apart.

I'm just wondering if anyone ran into any issues with this kind of set up? Like is there a huge decrease of speed for my upload/download, and will the power line adapter be able to handle constant streaming of videos from multiple devices going on amazon prime/YouTube/Netflix and etc. ( 4+ mobile devices, 3+ computers )

 

[avos]

I'm slightly suspect of devices like this. I'm not sure how they can claim up to 500 Mbps when they only have a 100 Mbit/s fast ethernet port.

Under ideal settings you might get 70Mbps transfer rates from them. That would be greater than your 50/10 internet. More realistically though you are probably looking at 15-25 Mbps transfer rates based on the reviews I've read. Your options however are limited without running a coax or ethernet wire. A wireless bridge is probably your only other option.

 

[inachu]

I have tried some power line adapters and they are not in their prime yet.

What I mean by that is that they will work for 2 weeks then overheat. I have tried many brands.

Do you have a basement? If so then it would be the best place for it and will keep the electronic cool.

 

[Hmoobphajej]

Ahh I wish I had a basement. But sadly we don't believe in them in my neighborhood. XD

I suspected that it might give me problems and probably wouldn't be the most reliable especially with the amount of usage I would put it through because of the router. Might just have to mount my router and modem up in a high place and hope kids don't tug on wires.

I think I would just have to settle with a reliable PCI-E / PCI card for my desktop and a bunch of Wireless USB adapters for my laptop and etc. Haven't had the best luck with Wireless USB adapters. Anyone got recommendations that won't break the bank with my current setup?

 

[shadowman724]

Avoid power line adapters. When the electrical fluctuates for some reason, your network will be put on risk. Besides, as told by Inachu, they overheat quickly.
I would think about the wireless option instead. And for connecting the computers, you can plug tiny USB wireless adapters such as Edimax adapters. Your kids won't even notice them

 

[Hmoobphajej]

Update to my situation:

Opted out of power line adapters in lieu of something cheaper, maybe better? I don't really know. As of right now its just a experiment.

Since the power line adapter was a no go, I decided to dig some more into a solution. Didn't want to default to using USB Adapters or PCI Cards unless I had to. People really have a hit or miss reviews of them. I've broken a few USB adapters and had some overheat on me in the past few years. I decided to try else that piqued my interests.

I started digging into Client Bridging. Figured it was doable and might just work for what I wanted to do. I bought this little router, TP-Link WR841N. It's been working well so far. For about the same or a little more then the price of a USB Adapter I thought it was a great deal.

I first flashed it to DD-WRT and set it up as a bridge but the firmware for the device was so buggy for me that I was losing Packets from the computer to the main router, and from the client router to the main router as well. It was disappointing so I flashed it back to stock firmware and used that instead. TP-Link has a guide on setting up the router to bridge with your main one and so far I have no complaints. Teaches me to try and flash stuff over to something that works just fine. I'm running a Ethernet from the router to my Desktop since it's going to be stationary. It'll probably work for now, but at least I know I have a backup router for testing people's network issues now.

 

[smitbret]

I've used a couple of those as cheap APs. They are my go to device for that now.

 

[jefferysummers]

How many people should be in your network?

 

[Hmoobphajej]

How many people should be in your network?

Well as of the moment, I have about 7 devices connected at all time. Maybe 5 of them will use my 50mbps connection I have with Comcast. Every now and then I experience a slow down with buffering HD stuff but it's not too bad. I don't blame the router. I blame my internet.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Well as of the moment, I have about 7 devices connected at all time. Maybe 5 of them will use my 50mbps connection I have with Comcast. Every now and then I experience a slow down with buffering HD stuff but it's not too bad. I don't blame the router. I blame my internet.

Without knowing more details, its tough to tell. My rule of thumb == if you rely on it, wire it. 50mbps is nothing to shrug at.

 

[azazel1024]

I'm slightly suspect of devices like this. I'm not sure how they can claim up to 500 Mbps when they only have a 100 Mbit/s fast ethernet port.

Under ideal settings you might get 70Mbps transfer rates from them. That would be greater than your 50/10 internet. More realistically though you are probably looking at 15-25 Mbps transfer rates based on the reviews I've read. Your options however are limited without running a coax or ethernet wire. A wireless bridge is probably your only other option.

Because the powerline standard they are using has a modulation rate that maxes out at 500Mbps. Plenty of wireless routers out there that are N300 or N450 or even N600 that only have a fast ethernet port, but the wireless radios are capable of up to 300Mbps.

The advantage there over something that matches the wired port is that it can sustain max wire speed (of the ethernet port) at greater distances than something with a "lower spec" could.

These days most of the better AV500/600 powerline kits if you have a halfway decent setup can easily hit in the 140-200Mbps range and some up to around 250-260Mbps if the powerline bridges are close to each other (same circuit, possibly just a few outlets down). A couple of rooms over, seperate circuit and they might be in the 70-150Mbps range. Across the house and/or a noisy circuit and it might be only 40-60Mbps. It really all depends on your setup.

 

[jefferysummers]

Well as of the moment, I have about 7 devices connected at all time. Maybe 5 of them will use my 50mbps connection I have with Comcast. Every now and then I experience a slow down with buffering HD stuff but it's not too bad. I don't blame the router. I blame my internet.

I am using 5 devices connected to one modem but net is very slow. I want too connect 4 more device with that modem. Can I connect them with that modem or do I Have to buy new modem?

 

[fortworthtechs]

I am using 5 devices connected to one modem but net is very slow. I want too connect 4 more device with that modem. Can I connect them with that modem or do I Have to buy new modem?

Yes, you can connect but internet speed will not be good. You have to change your network.