Adding Powerline Adaptors

Question

Hi, there.&nbsp;I want extend my PowerLINE WiFi 1000 network by adding 2 more PLW1000 adapters. However, I cant't find a retailer that sells the adapters on their own. Everyone seems to sell the whole kit, i.e. PL1000 +&nbsp;one PLW1000 adapter.&nbsp;Online chat was unable to help me, so maybe someone here can. Has anyone found an online stte that sells individual PLW1000 adapters?&nbsp;ThanksGillesNZ

michaelkenward · Answer

GillesNZ wrote:
And, because if I need two wifi access points, I&nbsp;have to do this twice, ending up with 2 unneeded PL1000's.

I explained how to get around that problem. Use the spare PL1000 to host a wifi access point. Not an unneeded PL1000 in sight.&nbsp;
Take your pick from this lot:
&nbsp;
WiFi Range Extenders: Boost Your WiFi Range | NETGEAR
&nbsp;
Plug something like this:
&nbsp;
WN2500RP | WiFi Range Extenders | Networking | Home | NETGEAR
&nbsp;
into the "spare" PL1000. Probably cheaper than the twin-pack bundle.
&nbsp;
I would also rethink my strategy. How big is your mansion? So big that a single extra powerful access point would not do the job?
&nbsp;
Powerline access points are fine, but nothing like as powerful, and fast, as a serious access point.
&nbsp;
The thought of having three competing wifi sources in one place fills me with dread. Great way of confusing all those wifi clients.
&nbsp;
Then there is the wired bit. If something doesn't move around, wired beats wifi, so don't rely on an access point to connect it.
&nbsp;
Only you know the topography of your premises, but you could get away with a pair of new plugs and just one decent wifi access point.
&nbsp;
Seems a shame that Netgear's hype of easiliy expanding your basic powerline network has a hidden cost.
&nbsp;

As I said, all Powerline maker do the&nbsp;same thing.
&nbsp;
It is easy to expand the Powerline network. Growing the wifi network is something else. You just have to approach it imaginatively.
&nbsp;

GillesNZ · Answer

Aha, that makes sense. I never realised thet the PL1000 could receive input via the household power cicuit.&nbsp;I experimented with moving one of my wireless speakers to the deck&nbsp;area and, indeed, the wifi served by the PLW1000 downstairs, is fine.&nbsp;That leaves only the garage to deal with (2 walls between it and the PLW1000). I'll buy the kit and try your idea.&nbsp;Thanks for your help. Have a Merry Christmas.

michaelkenward · Answer

GillesNZ wrote:Has anyone found an online stte that sells individual PLW1000 adapters?
&nbsp;

You'll be lucky. The Powerline industry seems determined to sell only twin-packs, sometimes threesomes.
&nbsp;
You might get something second-hand but I doubt if you will get the wifi access points in that way.
&nbsp;
If you really do need two access points, you have an alternative option. But the twin pack and use the standard plug, the one with wifi, to feed an access point. You can even buy access points with the same form factor as Powerline plugs.
&nbsp;
If you can find single plugs from different manufacturers, they should work with your Netgear kit, although that makes it a bit harder to set up the network.

GillesNZ · Answer

Thanks michaelkenward.&nbsp;So it seems I need to buy the twin pack, just to get the PLW1000 wifi adapter, with the other PL1000 device going to waste?&nbsp;And, because if I need two wifi access points, I&nbsp;have to do this twice, ending up with 2 unneeded PL1000's.&nbsp;Seems a shame that Netgear's hype of easiliy expanding your basic powerline network has a hidden cost.

GillesNZ · Answer

Thanks again, michaelkenward.&nbsp;Pardon me if I haven't quite got this; I'm no networking expert.&nbsp;Although the n/w topology is quite simple, my 'mansion' (I wish) is double storied, with a couple of wall and floors that make wifi a challenge.&nbsp;I have a set of Yamaha wireless (MusicCast) speakers, linked to each other via my home wifi network. Upstairs is my router, plugged into which is my PL1000. Wifi upstairs serves the speakers there well.&nbsp;My PLW1000 is plugged in downstairs. I've used its ethernet port for the smart TV. The WiFi on that adapter serves any mobile device&nbsp;downstairs, pretty well. I have another MusicCast speaker in the garage, which is served by the same WiFi adapter. The audio stream in the garage is quite &nbsp;spotty, because of two intervening walls between the PLW1000 and the garage-based speaker. Therefore, I want to add a PLW1000 in&nbsp;the garage.&nbsp;I want to set up another MusicCast speaker downstairs, to serve the outdoor deck. I suspect, because of the distance from the PLW1000, this too, will have substandard audio streaming. Therefore,&nbsp;I&nbsp;was thinking of plugging in the 3rd PLW100 adapter into a socket near&nbsp;the deck, to support the deck-facing speaker.&nbsp;So, the positive thing is that the devices I want to network are static speakers. Also, by assigning&nbsp;the 3 wifi access points (Router, PLW1000 and PL1000) the same SSID and password, mobile devices, through some miracle of technology, happily move from one wifi access point to the other, depending on where they find temselves in the house. This make things simple, especially for my wife.&nbsp;The bit I don't understand from your explanation (again, apologies for not being too clever at this) regards using a 2nd PL1000 to 'host an acces point'. Would that device not need to be plugged into a router, like its brother upstairs? Otherwise, how does it receive its input?&nbsp;Thanks in advance. I apppreciate your giving me your time.

Forum Discussion

Adding Powerline Adaptors

6 Replies