Homeplug and router speed issues

delta214

Hi guys,

I am getting speeds of 40/50Mbps in my house. I have a homeplug set up beside the modem which is hooked up to a homeplug in a studio in the garden. The homeplug in the studio is connected to another modem/router and my computer is connected to this via wifi.

The problem is I am only getting about 4/5Mbps down in the studio. I was just wondering what I could do to fix this or is there something inherently wrong with this set-up. The home plugs are an older version of the D-Link AV200s. The reason I am using the router in the studio is to use multiple devices down here.

ED E

Does the studio have its own fusebox/RCD? Also how long is the run between house and studio?

delta214

Has its on fusebox and its about 30/35m run

ED E

delta214 wrote: »

Has its on fusebox

Theres your issue. The trips are filtering out most of the homeplugs signal. Gang leads and fuesboxes are the two things that arent really compatible. Most times they wont sync at all in a granny flat or studio like yours if its across an RCD.

Use a wifi unit on the side the house instead, try these guys: http://www.ubnt.com/

delta214

ED E wrote: »

Theres your issue. The trips are filtering out most of the homeplugs signal. Gang leads and fuesboxes are the two things that arent really compatible. Most times they wont sync at all in a granny flat or studio like yours if its across an RCD.

Use a wifi unit on the side the house instead, try these guys: http://www.ubnt.com/

No other solution with what I have already?

Dermot McDonnell

delta214 wrote: »

No other solution with what I have already?

What router have you in the studio? It may be possible to turn it into a wireless repeater.

delta214

Same one as in the house. Its the one vodafone sent out with the fibre upgrade

delta214

ED E wrote: »

Theres your issue. The trips are filtering out most of the homeplugs signal. Gang leads and fuesboxes are the two things that arent really compatible. Most times they wont sync at all in a granny flat or studio like yours if its across an RCD.

Use a wifi unit on the side the house instead, try these guys: http://www.ubnt.com/

I am getting 20Mbps from the homeplug with just an ethernet into the computer. So is there something wrong in the setup of the router/modem?

Dermot McDonnell

You have 2 x HG658c modem/router from vodafone? Even unlocked it cannot be configured as wireless repeater, if i recall correctly. You would need to make one wifi access point into a wifi client of the primary device - I dont think it will do that.

In the studio, are you getting internet on the RED WAN port or how? Are you bridged or on a separate ip subnet? You dont provide much infomation. Are you set up for wireless N only with 40Mhz channel width or do you serve b/g/n?

If you have the older vodafone router, the HG556a, you can turn it into an excellent wireless repeater.

delta214

I have 2xHG658c that im using and possibly have an older router somewhere too. I'm not using WAN just an ethernet from the homeplug into the second router. Both routers are set to b/g/n, "20/40MHz". DHCP enabled on house router. And each is on different channel numbers.

Dermot McDonnell

If the devices in your studio are wifi n then set that ap to n only and 40Mhz. That should help, it may not be possible if you have legacy devices. The RED WAN port is 1Gigabit, the ethernet ports are 100Megabit, not that it matters much with powerline devices.

same ol sh1te

Run a cat5, it does gigabit full duplex, no brainer

Dermot McDonnell

same ol sh1te wrote: »

Run a cat5, it does gigabit full duplex, no brainer

Afraid not. The ethernet source port on the primary HG658c is 100M.

If I recall correctly, as configured (locked) by vodafone, the WAN port cannot be configured as a 5th, 1Gig, ethernet port. You can, of course, flash the unlocked O2 HG658c firmware. I believe you can then change the WAN port but I have not tested it.

All ports in the Eircom F1000 are 1Gig.

same ol sh1te

Well then get a better router at some stage, the cable is still capable of gigabit and capable of full duplex (sending and receiving at the same time), something none of the other mentioned solutions are capable of

delta214

How do I set it to n only? Also the options for bw are 20Hz and 20/40MHz

Dermot McDonnell

delta214 wrote: »

How do I set it to n only? Also the options for bw are 20Hz and 20/40MHz

Can't recall if Vodafone even allow it but it cannot be hard to find. On the F1000, it's under "wireless -> other" and described as 2.4Ghz Advanced Settings. The F1000 and HG658c have the same SoC and radio.

ED E

Somebody posted a screener from the Huawei yesterday, no option for N only. As above the F1000 does though.

Dermot McDonnell

ED E wrote: »

Somebody posted a screener from the Huawei yesterday, no option for N only. As above the F1000 does though.

How customer focused of Vodafone? Does anyone have an HG658c from O2, it's got the stock Huawei firmware and may allow WiFi n only.

I will buy an HG658c and get 1Giga wired bridging plus WiFi n only working, if possible.

delta214

Ran some speed tests again this morning. I was changing the selected mode and these were the results:

Mode| Ping |DL | UL
802.11g|14|23.27|10.76
802.11b|15|6.24|5.24
802.11b/g|14|23.01|10.78
802.11b/g/n(20/40MHz)|13|22.23|10.82
802.11b/g/n (20MHz)|14|22.25|10.79


I tested in that order. The original setting I had was 802.11b/g/n (20/40) but now im getting much better speeds with that

Dermot McDonnell

You may get some improvement by:

1. Setting WiFi devices to use WiFi mode n only if possible. On windoze, device manager, network devices, properties (right click WiFi radio), advanced, mode.

2. Pointing the antenna at one another. The MIMO 2x2 antennae radiate parallel to the plane of the circuit board on the HG658c, they are not omni directional. You will get a better sync if you line the antennae up well.

I hope to have further info once I get hold of an HG658c once again.