Slow broadband speed with Sky

[isplumm]

Hi,

Help needed!!

My router is in the front room & when I am in that room I get about 10mb.

But in my office I get about 3Mb.

So following advice from here I bought 2 Solwise 500mbps pass through homeplugs.

I thought that this would speed things up in my office - but no such luck.

Also something odd - my own laptop does not seem to recognise the ethernet cable when plugged into the homeplug - but does recognise it when plugged directly into the router?

My work laptop does recognise the ethernet cable, but the speed is still only about 3mb.

Should I be getting the 10mb speed in my office when using homeplugs & any vague idea why my laptop doesn't recognise the cable??

Thanks Mark
Oh by the way, my office is in an extension that we added a few years back - no idea if that would make a difference?

[Scubbie]

Could you try the 2nd HomePlug in another electrical socket elsewhere in your home please and check the speed there too?

It may be that how the electrical wiring has been connected to your main input is affecting things or it may be that the HomePlugs can't cope with the traffic throughput (see threads in fibre section linked below).

One important thing to mention too is that HomePlugs should not be connected on Surge protected sockets. This does affect many of them.

Homeplugs + Sky Fibre

HomePlug and PowerLine Adaptors on Sky Fibre

[isplumm]

thanks - that was my plan this morning .... to see whether it is the plug in my office ... by the way something weird is going on ...

I have been getting about 3-4 speed in my office & about 10 next to my router - all wireless .... tested again last night (10:45pm) & 9:30AM this morning in office - now getting about 7.5 wireless in office??

Mark

[Scubbie]

Certainly strange.

I recall one thread where the OP had to find two suitable sockets to use. The previous owner had fitted additional sockets by wiring them to the existing sockets and the effect was to cause a very slow connection.

Another member wanted to extend his network to a garage. Unfortunately the way the power to the garage was connected meant that the signal from the HomePlugs didn't travel between the sockets in his house and the garage. In this case he ended up fitting a Cat 5e cable to link the two together.

Personally I think that HomePlugs are really useful and are responsible for helping a lot of people.

If you were considering setting up a 1Gbit LAN though, currently HomePlugs aren't really up to the speed. In this case you should consider Cat 5e or Cat 6 Ethernet cabling.

[Isitme]

Oh by the way, my office is in an extension that we added a few years back - no idea if that would make a difference?

It is possibly on a separate ring from your main circuit. This would effect the plugs efficiency as they work best on the one ring. It could also be on a spur off the main ring which would once again cause the signal to deteriorate.

Why your laptop does not recognise the homeplugs is a bit more difficult. Have you tried with different cables? Try updating the LAN drivers this may do the trick.

[isplumm]

apologies for not coming back - the laptop is about 18 months old - I have tried updating the land drivers - says upto date. Assuming I did it in the right place for LAN?

I took the homeplug upstairs - checked wireless speed 8mb, homeplug 7-8mb via work laptop. Home laptop will not register homeplug at all - but will work when plugged directly into route! Tried different cables as well ...

Suspect will have to send back under DSR Monday!

Mark

[Isitme]

I don't know if you are aware but Solwise has a very active Forum. Maybe you should have a look there to see if there is an answer to your problem. There may be a firmware update available for your plugs. As with most forums you will have to register to post.
Powerline/Home Plug Devices

[isplumm]

Hi,

Thanks for the advice - I woke up @ 2:30 AM this morning & had a brain wave .... move the router into my office and plug the sky box into the homeplug!!

So now router in office with homeplug in socket, next to my laptops - both getting 9-10mbps plugged directly into router - which is what I expected & still able to download programs via Anytime+ so happy.

I did tweet Solwise & will go on their forum tomorrow .... but this will do!

Thanks everyone for their help.

Mark