Anyone use a Powerline Ethernet Adaptor kit?

[pcostanza]

I've finally gotten a decent TV in the bedroom and don't have ethernet upstairs and my wireless is good, just not good enough for HD streaming. I've read lots about the powerline adapters and it seems good but expensive. Good reviews but I'd rather trust someone on this forum than a normal review.

Anyone got any version of these? If so, what's the verdict?

[reven]

yeah im using 4 of them, netgear av 500.

95% of the time they work fine without a problem with HD channels, every once in a while i have to switch to SD channels to watch.

100% of the time SD channels are fine.

never had any issues playing back a 1080p movie over them

surprisingly good. really depends on your house though.

[pcostanza]

Thanks. That's the one I'm looking at. Got a 2 story house with wireless that's pretty good and I think my wiring is excellent.
Gonna give it a try this weekend.

[pcostanza]

Got a set of the 500's early today and only had time to connect them and make sure the TV got the signal. I used a switch so that I can connect more than 1 device. Worked like a charm. All I have to do now is make sure I have the latest firmware. Too bad it cost me a tad bit more than $100 but I don't have the tools and expertise to run CAT 5 upstairs and don't know anyone who can other than charging me and that would cost more than $100.

[ga_mueller]

Just curious... did you have cable upstairs? I bought two MoCA adapters (actiontec mi424wr) on ebay for $50, ie ethernet over cable.

Powerline did not work in my case, as the 80yr old wiring downstairs just didn't cut it.

[reven]

yeah im using in a two story house, 2 power adapters are down stair and two are upstairs, house is 25 years old.

[bgowland]

Just curious... did you have cable upstairs? I bought two MoCA adapters (actiontec mi424wr) on ebay for $50, ie ethernet over cable.

Powerline did not work in my case, as the 80yr old wiring downstairs just didn't cut it.

It comes down to how the distribution board is wired.

Ideally if you're going to use these things then the sockets have to be on the same circuit and at that point it depends on how the electrician wired the house.

I've come across wiring where the upstairs lighting was on the same circuit as the downstairs sockets and the downstairs lighting on the same circuit as the upstairs sockets (I suppose there was some logic in there). I've also seen separate circuits for each upstairs and downstairs lighting as well as separate circuits for upstairs and downstairs sockets.

Think about it...a connection has to be made somewhere and if that means going through a distribution board possibly with MCBs, ELCBs or RCDs then these things aren't necessarily going to work. The age of the wiring may be an issue but it's just as likely to be how it's laid out.

[pcostanza]

I do have cable upstairs and read about the MoCA but had a friend who tried this with very little luck so I didn't look further. I'm interested but so far, I lucked out. Using a Xbox as an extender I can get HD video from my cable card tuner. So far, so good.
Don't you need a special router to use MoCA?

[ga_mueller]

I just followed this guide. The original hardware (bigger, black router) is very cheap. I just got a spare, to be sure, last week, $17 shipped.

[pcostanza]

One other thing to know about the powerline pieces.....if you get the gigabyte version, you should be using cables that are gigabyte capable as well as a switch that is gigabyte capable. I was using older cables and a 10/100 switch and only got half the signal I'm getting when I switched to updated hardware.