Networking assistance: Powerline or Repeater? Determine which option suits your setup best.
Networking assistance: Powerline or Repeater? Determine which option suits your setup best.
I reside in a two-story home. The router is placed in an office next to the living room on the ground floor. My desktop PC is currently linked to the internet through a 50-meter Ethernet cable. Since I'm in Greece, I'm unsure if a powerline solution would be effective due to the three-phase setup. My concern is whether a Wi-Fi repeater or extender would be a fitting answer, as I sometimes experience poor signal on my phone from that room. My current speed is around 12 down/0.8 up Mbps. I'm considering switching to VDSL at 50 down/5 up Mbps. Your questions: 1) How might I improve powerline performance? (I believe it's a strong option because losses are minimal) 2) What theoretical losses would occur with a Wi-Fi repeater? (Based on my present connection) 3) Should I purchase a repeater offering maximum Wi-Fi speeds over 600 Mbps? Thank you ahead.
The quality of your house wiring significantly impacts the performance of powerline adapters. Inadequate wiring leads to subpar powerline functionality or complete failure. I avoid suggesting WiFi repeaters as they drastically reduce bandwidth, at least in half. They often cause more problems than benefits. If running Ethernet isn't feasible, consider MoCA as an alternative. Here are the preferred connection types from best to worst: 1. Ethernet 2. MoCA 3. Powerline 4. WiFi Items 3 and 4 will change based on your needs. Edited December 22, 2019 by LogicalDrm
Powerline experiences some loss too. Without updated wiring that meets current codes, problems may arise. Newer adapters handle data through hot, neutral, and ground wires. Poor installation can cause issues. In the US, each room usually has its own circuit if it's a newer home. We use two-phase power here, so if your rooms are split across different phases or on separate circuits, loss is possible.
WiFi repeaters typically include one radio unit. They may connect to the router or a device. Premium models or mesh systems like Google’s Mesh or Netgear Orbi often feature dedicated radios linking the router to additional devices.
I wouldn’t recommend using a repeater. @trueCABLE has valid concerns. If running Ethernet isn’t feasible, consider using Moca. Many homes are already set up for coaxial wiring, which is excellent for expanding WiFi coverage. Moca adapters offer multiple Ethernet ports plus built-in WiFi, making them a solid choice if you want to boost your network without going wired beyond what’s needed.