Searching for a fix – powerline and wireless aren't functioning correctly.
Searching for a fix – powerline and wireless aren't functioning correctly.
Hey everyone, I’ve made the choice to use one of my desktops as my main office PC instead of my laptop. A big issue was that my laptop was outdated and, although the Wi-Fi worked, it only reached about 10% of my bandwidth on good days—likely due to DSupport 2.4G. That was acceptable for work, but now I’ve handed it over to the GF since she needs it more. The desktop is solid and powerful.
I have a 500Mb fiber connection that rarely drops below 400Mb. I own a dongle supporting up to 1GB and a powerline adapter rated for about 500Mb. Both are currently delivering around 50-70Mb, which isn’t ideal. My Virgin Media router isn’t especially known for strong coverage, but since I live in a small flat, it shouldn’t be a major problem.
Another problem is that when I shut down the PC and restart it the next morning, I have to reconnect the powerline—something I don’t understand. Even Wi-Fi sometimes fails to connect. This is just as frustrating as the speed issue.
I’ve used adapters/extenders before and they worked well. Before I consider drilling holes in the wall for an Ethernet cable, anyone have any ideas why I’m getting such poor speeds? When I place my phone near the router, it’s around 460Mb. Direct Ethernet connections on other devices are nearly blazing fast. I don’t have many devices running through the air much at once.
Maybe there are a few things I can try: install a good Wi-Fi extender (though it might be tricky in my space), upgrade to a better Wi-Fi dongle or PCI card, or look into a better powerline adapter. The bottleneck could actually be my electricity circuit rather than the adapters themselves. Drilling holes is an option I’d rather avoid, but it might be necessary. I just upgraded from 68Mb to 500Mb recently and want to enjoy the improvements! Thanks in advance for your help.
What kind of powerline adapter are you employing? Which standard do they adhere to? I’m using Devolo’s “Magic 2” DLAN, which claims support for speeds up to 2,400 Mbit/s – though in practice it usually reaches around 1,000 Mbit/s. Other brands I’ve tested only handle outdated or slower protocols, resulting in noticeably reduced performance both theoretically and in real-world tests. For example, a basic standalone WiFi extender delivers roughly 10% of the actual VDSL speed, and even with improved adapters, stability remains inconsistent. My typical issue is frequent connection drops between the two devices, occurring almost every day between 2000 and 2030 hours. I’m unsure why this happens, but it might be due to a power-hungry appliance in use or a fridge switching to auto-defrost during those times. In short, when powerline LANs function, they can be very effective—but they’re also prone to interference since the lines aren’t designed for data transmission and lack adequate shielding. Also, are you using any software to manage or pair these adapters? It took me some time to figure out that I could simply pair them without physically going through the apartment each time. If this option existed in my building, I’d have used it. Regarding cables, since you live in a smaller flat, you might not need to drill any holes. Just get a very flat Ethernet cable and secure it discreetly with tape or channels to keep it out of sight.
Powerline technology varies in performance. It functions well for some users while failing for others. This inconsistency arises because devices automatically adjust speeds based on the electrical signal quality. If the wiring is outdated, contains surge protectors or conditioners, or has high-consumption appliances connected (like microwaves, fridges, freezers), the signal remains unstable. Therefore, I wouldn't suggest Powerline as a primary choice unless it's your only option and you're willing to accept slower, less consistent speeds.
Unlike common assumptions, WiFi often performs better in bigger homes rather than smaller ones. The main issue is physical blockage that weakens the signal. Homes with more walls can let signals pass through more easily, whereas larger spaces cause signal loss over distance. Most WiFi struggles stem from interference from nearby networks, especially when using the 2.4GHz band. This interference is common in apartment buildings and worsens if you're only using 2.4GHz. Other factors include improper placement of access points or suboptimal settings.
Try relocating the hub to a central, elevated spot away from walls and obstructions. Avoid placing it against walls in remote corners; instead, use cabinets or floor mounts. If your hub has external antennas, ensure they're firmly attached and correctly aligned. Share the current WiFi settings—channel, width, supported protocols, encryption type. Take a screenshot of a wireless survey using a tool like WiFiman to analyze the channel usage.
Firstly, thanks for the reponses. Quite a bit of good info there. I live in asmall flat block. Only 2 flats and 2 houses. When I do a wifi scan not much comes up so don't think there would be massive intereference. Tried changing channels etc but to no avail. The powerline adaptors I have are very old so that I think about it, so suspect they might be the problem. Running a cable would not be a disaster and might in fact be the best solution (and cheap) but was just really hoping to utilise what I have, I remember thinking when I bought the adaptors that 500meg was outrageous as even getting 50 at that point was for the lucky/rich! The superflat cable suggested by @1sascha could be an option. I'm just trying to think where I could drill hole sand run the cable but its not horribly complex. For the UK 500mbps is almost as quick as it gets and I suspect maybe the wireless hardware is not quite up to sracth despite their claims). Ultimately a direct ethernet connection would be the best and put my mind at rest but was just suprised that the powerline was so rubbish as I have always thought them to be incredibly effective. Maybe the model I have is just outdated. Seems a waste of money buying a new one but I am happy about to pay £1200 for a 3080ti! Thanks again all, such a helpful forum
It seems these thin cables can likely fit under a door. For powerline options, the adapters listed here work well: Devolo Magic 2 DLAN. They’re not cheap on Amazon UK, but you might find comparable prices locally. If you need a newer standard like HomePlug AV2, it should perform reliably for me—about 50,000 k/50Mbit down and 10,000k/10Mbit up. The distance between adapters is usually around 6 to 8 meters on powerline, passing through the fuse box. Without those typical losses, I’d be very satisfied.