In the upper office, speeds are significantly reduced when using the powerline adapter.
In the upper office, speeds are significantly reduced when using the powerline adapter.
Hello everyone, thank you for your message. I understand this might seem like a basic question, but networking isn't my strongest area. I'm using a TP-Link Archer AX1800 router with Ethernet to a Netgear Powerline adapter connected to a wall outlet. Upstairs, I have another Powerline adapter plugged into a switch that runs a Netgear Nighthawk router as a switch and also acts as a Wi-Fi repeater for mobile devices. My PC connects to the network switch via Ethernet. I'm seeing about 400-500 Mbps downstairs but only 50-60 Mbps upstairs. Is this typical? Could the switch being used as an intermediary be affecting the speed? Also, should I consider updating the firmware on the Netgear Nighthawk for potential improvements? Thanks in advance!
Power line adapters perform inconsistently in terms of performance. Their effectiveness relies on wiring quality and other variables. The claimed speeds refer to the connection between adapters, not overall transfer rates. Most only support 100Mbps Ethernet ports, limiting actual throughput. Numerous factors can disrupt their operation.
That aligns with what I expect. It seems the wiring in our house is likely responsible for the reduced speed. The adapters might be operating at a lower rate—possibly 1/8 of the speed you're seeing upstairs. I'm not certain about the exact port speeds, but it’s probably around 100 Mbps or less. Let me know if you need further help!
They mentioned those adapters, but setting them up would be really difficult since my router is far away and on a different floor.
Usually, 50 Mbps works well for browsing the web and playing games occasionally, but I frequently need to download large torrents—sometimes over a gigabyte. It would be great if downloads could finish in just a few minutes instead of about half an hour.
Powerline systems often aren't built for long-distance signal travel. If your home has separate circuits for upstairs and downstairs, speed can drop across breakers. One idea is connecting Ethernet to an outlet on the same circuit and using the powerline there—it might significantly improve performance. It’s simpler than running Ethernet all the way, though. On the other hand, placing a WiFi access point near the powerline could boost Wi-Fi speed without needing powerline at all.
Interesting. I hadn't considered that before. In fact, I usually get solid Wi-Fi up there linking to the downstairs router, but the connection is quite shaky. There could be several reasons—microwaves, walls, metal, etc. I didn’t mention that we have telephone jacks in many wall outlets. Speeds would likely be poor with that setup. Still, I might be able to run Ethernet cable along it. Thanks for the tip; this could become a cool project soon!