Network over power wires.

[rwt325]

What hardware is neccessary to connect two computers through an existing DSL modem?.

Has anybody experience of such a network?.

[theatty]

If it doesn't need to be wireless, then just get an ethernet switch like this (http://www.pciexpressshop.co.uk/5-port-10100-fast-ethernet-network-switch-4618-p.asp). Cheap as chips, and in my experience never break down.

[rwt325]

Thank's for the quick reply but my problem is somewhat different. My home office, a converted patio, does not have a proper phone , or cable outlet, and because of rhe condo layout I cannot properly branch off a phone line and terminate it properly - all utilities come from undergrond and my patio has a concrete floor.

Hence my current connection is a long phone wire trailing through adjoining rooms. I want to plug in my modem where I have a correct outlet. My choices then are wireless or over power lines. I am much disappointed with the reliability of wireless access. Fortunately only my laptop has a wireless card, and over the last two years or so I managed to lose a wireless connection for no apparent reason after a period of time , varying from a few weeks to a few months. I am on my third router and still have connectivity problems, My llaptop is on ethernet now. Hence wireless is not beloved in my household, and I dread the thought of both computers having to rely on it.

Hence I need to seriously look at powerline transmission.

PS. I look almost daily through three or four serious forums, and almost every one has at least a couple of peiple wanting to know why they lost their wireless connection. Also computer magazines are always giving advice on setting up and maintaining wireless netwoks. We can't all be idiots. I have owned every computer generation since Commodore 64 but regard myself as only an average user, Is there something half baked about currenly available wireless tacchnology, or am I just stupid?.

[theatty]

How many computers do you wish to connect? Again i'm not an expert, but in my experience powerline transmission is extremely reliable and worked as a temporary solution to a network i setup. It works on any socket in your house even across circuits (if upstairs is on a different circuit to downstairs for instance).

The device i used i got from staples for about £50 and it worked a treat.

On the subject of wireless, i setup a network using a wireless router attatched to a broadband modem to connect to just 2 computers in a motorcycle shop, it was quite simply one of the most unreliable pieces of technololgy i'd ever used; disconnecting several times a day. the whole system was connected as it should, but even after replacing components and trying everything in the book, it was still terrible. I guess the more you pay for the wireless eqipment, the more reliable it's going to be. But generally speaking i've found wireless networking a bit of a nightmare. It's funny though that a cheapy belkin wireless router i have at home is quite happy to be connected to my pc, xbox, laptop and nintendo Wii and it's pretty rare that i have to unplug it for a few seconds if it crashes (maybe once a month).

I whacked a load of ethernet cabling in conduit in that bike shop in the end, and it hasn't missed a beat, even with an 5 year old bt modem.

[rwt325]

I just need to connect two computers, a desktop and a laptop, the latter used rarely. Good to hear of your one good experience with over the wire. I want to relocate the modem to another room 30ft from my office.

Wireless is great when it works, however never worked for me continuously for more than a few months, and then all the setup agro starts all over again. I like to use my computers, not fiddle with them all the time.

Thank,s for your comments.