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Stupid Networking Questions
https://www.beexcellenttoeachother.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11152
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Author:  BikNorton [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 22:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Also don't buy Linksys velop. The bt mesh WiFi is apparently actually both good and highly cost effective however.

Mesh WiFi is the future, everyone should do it.

Just not with Linksys velop.

Author:  Joans [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 22:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Mr Dave wrote:
Get an XBox 360

I've got one, that's part of the problem.

Author:  BikNorton [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 22:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Buy an Xbox one.

Author:  Joans [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 22:33 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

BikNorton wrote:
Buy an Xbox one.

I've got an original xbox, does that count?

Author:  BikNorton [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 22:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Well it would remove the need to get your network to it.

Author:  myp [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 22:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Joans wrote:
Lonewolves wrote:
Joans wrote:
Lonewolves wrote:
Joans wrote:
So when you say connect the switch to "your router", you don't mean the one that I've already said won't connect to the modem over wi-fi?

No, forget your 2nd router. Connect the switch to the modem/router over Ethernet. You don't need two routers.

Ah, so when you said cable management, you meant cables everywhere.

I don't want to run a cable from room A to room B. Ethernet over powerline is an option if necessary, but as I can sit in room B and connect to the wi-fi, I assume I can get something that will connect to the wi-fi and let me plug other bits into it.

You would need one long cable running between rooms. I assume you'll have cables everywhere anyway if you say you have lots of things to plug into it.

You could try putting your other router into bridge/repeater mode if it can do that. Or get a separate repeater that has Ethernet ports. But it'll be shit. Get a switch.


Cables everywhere behind a unit != Cables running between rooms.

Can I not use a switch in conjunction with the powerline adaptors?

You can, but it's overkill at that point and you'll have a bottleneck using EoP. May as well use a much cheaper hub or bridge.

Author:  Joans [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 22:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

So, basically, just get a router that has a bridge mode?

Author:  myp [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Joans wrote:
So, basically, just get a router that has a bridge mode?

Why? That's more expensive too. Just get a dumb bridge or hub. If you're not using routing or switching there's no point paying more for the privilege.

Author:  asfish [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

BikNorton wrote:
Also don't buy Linksys velop. The bt mesh WiFi is apparently actually both good and highly cost effective however.

Mesh WiFi is the future, everyone should do it.

Just not with Linksys velop.


I remember you had Velop when I posted about it, did it not work in the end?

Only had one issue with a node I put in the shed 130ft from the house, kept dropping out, which is odd as when i turned it off there was a good 60% signal wireless connection from the one in the house in the same area. It's at the front of the house now

True the BT is much cheaper and I have a few mates on it and they love it, my dad is getting it as well

Mesh is the way forward, more so for those using shitty ISP routers, my Dads BT home hub is a nightmare, issues with Echo and problems with 5Ghz and 2.4GZ all the time

Author:  Joans [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Lonewolves wrote:
Joans wrote:
So, basically, just get a router that has a bridge mode?

Why? That's more expensive too. Just get a dumb bridge or hub. If you're not using routing or switching there's no point paying more for the privilege.

Am I not using routing? I'm not sure I even know anymore.

Author:  BikNorton [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

I kept the velop but it's still not really living up to its promises.

A firmware update improved nodes' recognition that they should use intermediate hops but we still get sluggish performance on things like Netflix until it settles out.

In fact, ho ho, it dropped on my phone while typing this.

Being able to run cable to the garage and put a node in there will be a game changer. The new reduced cost nodes will help justify pushing at the extremities too.

Author:  BikNorton [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

@joans you want a switch, not a router. Companies like tplink have made switches so cheap there's no point buying a hub. A hub will dumbly send all data to all ports; a switch will semi-intelligently figure out what is where and drop where it knows it can. A router is, in household terms, just the thing the ISP sends you, and that's that.

Author:  Joans [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

I can't help but feel I'm going in circles at this point.

Author:  BikNorton [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

That's networking for you. Tplink gigabit switch:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00ZOOJXEG

Author:  Joans [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

That's exactly what I'm looking at right now. If I get a powerline adaptor, plug one end into my modem and the other end into that switch. Can I also plug in, say a ps4 to the switch, and it will connect to the internet?

Author:  Bamba [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Joans wrote:
I can't help but feel I'm going in circles at this point.


You should listen to everything everyone's said; but at the same time you should ignore everything you've heard. Anything else is mad, but also the most important advice you will ever hear.

I honestly don't know why you would think it's difficult.

Author:  BikNorton [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Gah, just reread you don't want wires. Sorry.

Edit: Yes, that will definitely work.

But maybe just buy bt whole house WiFi, even though it's more expensive. I did not enjoy powerline ethernet. Maybe if you have good wiring, nothing 'noisy' like an older fridge or freezer, and modern powerline has fixed stuff it will.work for you

Author:  Joans [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

At a guess, and I've not had this checked out yet, we have shitty wiring.

This has been the epitome of beex recommendation threads. Thank you all.

Author:  Doctor Glyndwr [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Joans wrote:
That's exactly what I'm looking at right now. If I get a powerline adaptor, plug one end into my modem and the other end into that switch. Can I also plug in, say a ps4 to the switch, and it will connect to the internet?

Yes.

In one room:
Router <—ethernet—> powerline doodad 1

In second room:
Powerline 2 <—ethernet—> switch <—ethernet—> devices

The powerline acts exactly as if it’s a piece of ethernet cable stretching from one room to another. The switch lets you have multiple things hanging off the end of the single length of “ethernet” cable that the powerline is acting as. You can plug as much stuff into the switch as it has ports and everything will get connected.

Shitty wiring can be an issue for powerline, although the newer ones are better than they were years ago. Order decent ones from Amazon and keep the box. Try them out for a few days and be prepared to return them if they’re unreliable (as in: the connection drops a lot. They’ll have LEDs on that turn red, or something similar.)

Author:  Joans [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

I'm not sure how whole home wi-fi will help with all my wired devices, unless I'm misreading something?

Author:  Joans [ Sat Feb 03, 2018 23:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:
Joans wrote:
That's exactly what I'm looking at right now. If I get a powerline adaptor, plug one end into my modem and the other end into that switch. Can I also plug in, say a ps4 to the switch, and it will connect to the internet?

Yes.

In one room:
Router <—ethernet—> powerline doodad 1

In second room:
Powerline 2 <—ethernet—> switch <—ethernet—> devices

The powerline acts exactly as if it’s a piece of ethernet cable stretching from one room to another. The switch lets you have multiple things hanging off the end of the single length of “ethernet” cable that the powerline is acting as. You can plug as much stuff into the switch as it has ports and everything will get connected.

Shitty wiring can be an issue for powerline, although the newer ones are better than they were years ago. Order decent ones from Amazon and keep the box. Try them out for a few days and be prepared to return them if they’re unreliable (as in: the connection drops a lot. They’ll have LEDs on that turn red, or something similar.)


I love you. I'll order some shit now and complain in a couple of days when it doesn't work.

Author:  BikNorton [ Sun Feb 04, 2018 0:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Hey, my post vanished! Great the forum still definitely doesn't do that!

I may have got confused ('drunk').

Velop (don't buy it) lets you plug devices (including switches) into a node's Ethernet port so they get to the internet wirelessly.

I kind of assumed BT whole home does that too.

Author:  BikNorton [ Sun Feb 04, 2018 0:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Velop is kind of hard to talk about because it has an awesome feature set.

Reliable mesh WiFi not being a feature it's all that good at, unfortunately, it being the key one.

Author:  myp [ Sun Feb 04, 2018 1:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Joans wrote:
Doctor Glyndwr wrote:
Joans wrote:
That's exactly what I'm looking at right now. If I get a powerline adaptor, plug one end into my modem and the other end into that switch. Can I also plug in, say a ps4 to the switch, and it will connect to the internet?

Yes.

In one room:
Router <—ethernet—> powerline doodad 1

In second room:
Powerline 2 <—ethernet—> switch <—ethernet—> devices

The powerline acts exactly as if it’s a piece of ethernet cable stretching from one room to another. The switch lets you have multiple things hanging off the end of the single length of “ethernet” cable that the powerline is acting as. You can plug as much stuff into the switch as it has ports and everything will get connected.

Shitty wiring can be an issue for powerline, although the newer ones are better than they were years ago. Order decent ones from Amazon and keep the box. Try them out for a few days and be prepared to return them if they’re unreliable (as in: the connection drops a lot. They’ll have LEDs on that turn red, or something similar.)


I love you. I'll order some shit now and complain in a couple of days when it doesn't work.

This is what I'm using, but the wiring has been done recently so it works fine.

Also your ISP's router is doing the routing. You don't need another router unless you're planning on segmenting your network. Which I'm sure you're not.

Author:  DBSnappa [ Sun Feb 04, 2018 11:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:
How do you weatherseal the cables, DB? Run them through PVC?

Weather seal? We don’t live on fucking Venus. Besides, Mr Senior Moment, we had this very conversation when I did this a couple of years ago and we came to the conclusion that you can, but it’s probably not necessary. As it turns out, we were right.

Author:  DavPaz [ Sun Feb 04, 2018 17:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

As long as the holes are plugged.

Missus

Author:  KovacsC [ Mon Feb 05, 2018 0:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

I got a devolo, the reciver end has 3 lan and WiFi.

https://www.devolo.co.uk/dlan-powerline-adapter/

Author:  Joans [ Mon Feb 05, 2018 21:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

That was so much easier than you lot made it seem.

Admittedly, it might be impractically slow, but I'll worry about that another day.

Author:  Joans [ Mon Feb 05, 2018 21:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Ah, that's ok (I think)

Author:  DavPaz [ Mon Feb 05, 2018 21:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

So... how did you do it? Diagrams welcome

Author:  Joans [ Mon Feb 05, 2018 22:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Literally, this:

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:
In one room:
Router <—ethernet—> powerline doodad 1

In second room:
Powerline 2 <—ethernet—> switch <—ethernet—> devices

Author:  DavPaz [ Mon Feb 05, 2018 23:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Excellent. Didn't spend too much?

Author:  Joans [ Mon Feb 05, 2018 23:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Not as much as Gaywood.

Author:  Sir Taxalot [ Fri Feb 09, 2018 2:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

You need to rip out ALL the wiring in the house and replace it for optimum quality and speed for running internets through the mains plugs.

You could probably do this all yourself, mains power isn't dangerous is it, Joans? Joans...? JOANS?

Author:  krazywookie [ Fri Feb 09, 2018 10:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

And make sure you get gold plated 3 pin plugs with crystals woven into the earth.

Author:  Joans [ Sun Sep 20, 2020 20:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Well, this was a rollercoaster of a thread, so I thought I'd bring it back.

Fans of not reading 2 pages will be thrilled to know that I ordered a set of these, and they have served me well for the last 2 and 3/4 years. What I would like to do now is bring wi-fi into the equation, in a third room, let's call it C for consistency.

Can I literally just buy something like this and use it in conjunction with my existing adaptors, or do I need to get one of these (and will that work with my existing ones, or do I have to ditch them altogether)?

Also, why do none of them have the passthrough plugs on anymore? Do they not know I have a serious lack of sockets in my house?

Author:  TheVision [ Sun Sep 20, 2020 20:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Would something like this do? It would certainly help with the lack of plugs.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BG-Electrical- ... 829&sr=8-1

Author:  Joans [ Sun Sep 20, 2020 20:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

TheVision wrote:
Would something like this do? It would certainly help with the lack of plugs.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BG-Electrical- ... 829&sr=8-1


I am assuming (hoping) the powerline stuff will take my internets magically through my walls, then gush out its own super powerful wi-fi signal, whereas that (I think) is just a repeater, so will take my current pathetic wi-fi (in aforementioned room C), and then just dribble that out all over the room (unless I install it halfway up the stairs or something).

Author:  Joans [ Sun Sep 20, 2020 20:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Ah, maybe I need the gigabits so as not to cheap out on my existing network.
Bonus is that it comes with the pass-through plug (less of a bonus is that it's an extra £50).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TL-WPA4220-Powerline-Extender-Broadband-Configuration/dp/B077ZH6ZR8/ref=sr_1_3?crid=15U1XFLIT0KSD&dchild=1&keywords=tplink%2Bwifi%2Bextender&qid=1600629252&s=computers&sprefix=tplink%2Bwi%2Ccomputers%2C170&sr=1-3&tag=beex-21&th=1

Edit - The Amazon Q&A bit seems to suggest that this does what I think it does, so I'd probably better order it so me and Myp can get this snooker contest finished.

Author:  Dr Zoidberg [ Sun Sep 20, 2020 21:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

I got a TP Link powerline kit a couple of years back.
Single network port on the one that connects to your router and three ports plus WiFi on the remote unit. Works very nicely.

Author:  Joans [ Sun Sep 20, 2020 21:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

I've gone for the cheaper option as this should mostly be for wi-fi so shouldn't need the faster ethernet connection, and I can live without the passthrough socket where it's going. Expect exciting updates on Tuesday.

Author:  Trooper [ Sun Sep 20, 2020 21:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

TP-link stuff should all be compatible with each other, so any wifi extender from them should work. Just hit the pair button and it'll sort itself out. I was actually playing around with the first TP-link extender you posted today, trying to get it to work!

Top tip, if it says that you can clone your current SSID and password and have it seamlessly fit into your current wifi network, it lies.
It will clone, but no device will ever use it, they will always hook up to the original wifi router. If you use it as a separate wifi network with its own SSID it works great, but obviously it's a bit more hassle if you want to hook up a device that will be moving around.

Author:  Joans [ Tue Sep 22, 2020 18:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

It appears to have seamlessly fit into my current wifi network, but I did have to disconnect and reconnect existing devices to make them connect directly, so it will remain to be seen how it works for mobile devices.

Author:  KovacsC [ Tue Dec 15, 2020 12:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

I got a TP link starter kit.. 2 units, (1 single port, 1 double port). I have put PlayStation upstairs, and want another unit. Can you buy them as single units, as every where I have looked only sell pairs?

If not I will just get another startkit from amazon at £37

Author:  DavPaz [ Tue Dec 15, 2020 12:12 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

Is it powerline?

Author:  KovacsC [ Tue Dec 15, 2020 12:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

yes - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07 ... A1OLE&th=1

This is the one I have, the AV600

Author:  DavPaz [ Tue Dec 15, 2020 12:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

They seem to sell the wifi adapters as singles, but they still have ethernet ports on them

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TL-WPA4220-Pow ... ers&sr=1-7

Why didn't you run cables when you had no ceilings?

Author:  sdg [ Tue Dec 15, 2020 12:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

I didn't know Powerline was a thing, that's pretty cool! I would have tried this for my home office and consoles but they're upstairs and my router is downstairs so I assume Powerline wouldn't work?

Author:  myp [ Tue Dec 15, 2020 12:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

As long as it’s on the same ring main it’s fine.

Author:  sdg [ Tue Dec 15, 2020 12:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Stupid Networking Questions

myp wrote:
As long as it’s on the same ring main it’s fine.

I'm pretty sure my upstairs and downstairs sockets are on seperate circuits. Which is a shame because it's a new build, so new wiring which probably means it would have been a good clean signal.

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