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Forum Discussion
Adding Powerline Adaptors
Hi, there. 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...
GillesNZ wrote:
Has anyone found an online stte that sells individual PLW1000 adapters?
You'll be lucky. The Powerline industry seems determined to sell only twin-packs, sometimes threesomes.
You might get something second-hand but I doubt if you will get the wifi access points in that way.
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.
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.
Thanks michaelkenward.
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?
And, because if I need two wifi access points, I have to do this twice, ending up with 2 unneeded PL1000's.
Seems a shame that Netgear's hype of easiliy expanding your basic powerline network has a hidden cost.
GillesNZ wrote:
And, because if I need two wifi access points, I 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.
Take your pick from this lot:
WiFi Range Extenders: Boost Your WiFi Range | NETGEAR
Plug something like this:
WN2500RP | WiFi Range Extenders | Networking | Home | NETGEAR
into the "spare" PL1000. Probably cheaper than the twin-pack bundle.
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?
Powerline access points are fine, but nothing like as powerful, and fast, as a serious access point.
The thought of having three competing wifi sources in one place fills me with dread. Great way of confusing all those wifi clients.
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.
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.
Seems a shame that Netgear's hype of easiliy expanding your basic powerline network has a hidden cost.As I said, all Powerline maker do the same thing.
It is easy to expand the Powerline network. Growing the wifi network is something else. You just have to approach it imaginatively.
Thanks again, michaelkenward.
Pardon me if I haven't quite got this; I'm no networking expert.
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.
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.
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 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 spotty, because of two intervening walls between the PLW1000 and the garage-based speaker. Therefore, I want to add a PLW1000 in the garage.
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, I was thinking of plugging in the 3rd PLW100 adapter into a socket near the deck, to support the deck-facing speaker.
So, the positive thing is that the devices I want to network are static speakers. Also, by assigning 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.
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?
Thanks in advance. I apppreciate your giving me your time.
GillesNZ wrote:
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.
I would not expect to need four wifi sources to cover that area. (I assume that your router also delivers wifi.) One decent wifi source in the middle of the upstairs level is good enough for most medium sized buildings. But the wifi source has to be strong enough, which may not be the case with Powerline access points, which is where the next bit comes in.
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?
The access point gets its network connection through the Ethernet output on the PL1000.
There are really two types of wifi extenders, repeaters and access points. A repeater grabs the wifi from some other source, usually a router, and passes it on to local wireless clients. An access point talks to the network over a LAN connection and delivers wifi to local clients. That LAN connection can be from a wire to the router or from a Powerline plug. That's the layout I described.
Some extenders will work as an access point or a repeater, depending on how you set them up.
The set up I suggested, Powerline wired to access point would allow you to connect a more powerful wifi extender to your network. This might be a good idea for the garage. You would get better wifi there than with just the PLW1000.
One question, does the garage have its own power circuit with a separate fuse box? Many do. If so, then Powerline may work, but there is no guarantee that the Ethernet connection to the router will happily bridge the fuse box.
Glad to hear that the same SSID works for you. But that is with just two wifi sources now. Throw another couple into the mix and you could begin to see problems. Then again, use a fancy extender, something like an Orbi, and that has more intelligent wifi control.
In summary, while I am a great fan of Powerline networks, there are times when a decent wifi extender would be more effective.