Networking Question:

If a (Netgear) WiFi extender is connected to a remote (Netgear) Powerline would you expect this to work?

Scenario:
The WiFi extender is in a location where the signal from the main router is not strong. I had the "brilliant" idea of acquiring a pair of Powerline devices to carry the network through the house electrical system, then connect the WiFi extender to the receiving Powerline using an ethernet cable.

Should this setup work in theory?

 

If the origin of the Powerline is hardwired to the router it should. The Powerline should extend a hardwired port connection without running Cat5 cable.

 

I fully understood your first sentence but after that I was a little vague.

I thank you very much for your kind response but may have to look out for any follow up responses in order to fully understand the content of your missive.

 

I have a pair of PLP1200. Actually I just found out that Netgear does make Powerline units that also do WiFi. I wish I'd bought those instead!

The PLP1200 units don't seem to be behaving as they should and pressing factory reset with a cocktail stick doesn't seem to make any difference. It's frustrating but I'll persevere until I find a set-up that works.

Thanks for your reply.

 

After re-reading this I think I see what you mean. Using the Powerline units should be the same as if there was a network cable from A to B. In theory my set-up should work. I can't figure out why it doesn't in practice.

 

I've given up on the Powerline units as they don't appear to be working. I connected a laptop to the remote Powerline and although it reported a network connection, there was no Internet. I'm returning for a refund.

 

I've never used them. I was guessing how they worked. They would have to broadcast radio over an AC line. That's a neat dance, albeit "slow" as I now understand it. Eliminates the need for pulling wire though. Almost forgot. Was the Wi-Fi adapter addressed 10.0.0.1? I think it's kind of a bridge.

 

Sometimes all three lights were green but there was no stability and I think I've worn down the carpet walking between the two units checking lights, pressing buttons and factory resets etc until enough was enough - unplugged them and put them back in the box from whence they came. I may consider getting wifi units but frankly I'm put off the idea now after this experience.

Thanks for your input.

 

Unfortunately I cannot pick and choose which outlet to use. I have a very specific requirement for the location of the remote unit. Your idea is sound and it may well be the cause of the instability. Yes, Netgear has a good reputation and I've had good service from other Netgear products.

Thank you again.

 

Your house power, in the states at least, are two legs of a three phase generation system. To get this to work right, you'd have to "swap breakers" one side to the other by splicing and moving the wires to another in the panel to put both circuits on the same phase if they are not. Pulling a panel cover is best left to the educated and experienced.

 

I think that the idea behind producing the powerline units is to make remote networking as simple as possible. Somehow I suspect it'd be simpler to run a CAT5 cable through the walls than tackle the above.

Thank you for your input.