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fperezl's avatar
fperezl
Aspirant
Oct 16, 2020

Powerline Networking and Nighthawk X6 R8000

Hi, I am wanting to do this :

Connect a powerline adapter to the Xfinity router, and then connect the other end of the powerline adapter to a wifi router ( X6 r8000 ) Nighhawk, my question is will i loose speed ? or will it be not noticeable.


My intention is to move the nighthawk from the position where I have it the living room. I don’t want to have it there because its position almost next to a bedroom.


Is this a good idea ? Obviously, I can turn of the router but the idea is to move the equipment.


Any ideas are appreciated. Please include the model of the powerline adapter you recommend to buy, and or any feedback.

Thank you,

2 Replies

  • michaelkenward's avatar
    michaelkenward
    Guru - Experienced User
    Oct 17, 2020
    fperezl wrote:

    Hi, I am wanting to do this :

    Connect a powerline adapter to the Xfinity router, and then connect the other end of the powerline adapter to a wifi router ( X6 r8000 ) Nighhawk, my question is will i loose speed ? or will it be not noticeable.

    I have a similar arrangement. An R7800 router feeding an Orbi router in AP mode.

     

    I notice no great speed reduction, but my Internet runs at ~60 Mbps, so not the fastest on the planet. If you have Gbps Internet, then you might notice a speed loss.

     

    One thing to look out for is the speed on te LAN port ion the Powerline plugs. Older plugs have 100 Mbps while newer modems are 1000 MBps.

     

    You don't say what your Xfinity router is. (Is it also the modem for your \intenet service?) But putting one router after another is a recipe for trouble.

     

    Two routers on your network can cause headaches. For example, you can end up with local address problems. Among other things, the other router can misdirect addresses that the Netgear router usually handles, such as routerlogin.net or the usual IP address for a router, 192.168.1.1.

    This explains some of the other drawbacks.

    What is Double NAT? | Answer | NETGEAR Support

    Unless you have specific reasons for using two routers – to create two separate networks for example – it is often easier to use just one router and then to set up the second router as a wifi access point. Netgear advises this, as does just about every site you will visit.

    fperezl wrote:


    Any ideas are appreciated. Please include the model of the powerline adapter you recommend to buy....

     


    That's your call, but the PL1000 listed in your footer should work.

    • fperezl's avatar
      fperezl
      Aspirant
      Oct 18, 2020

      thank you for your reply.

       

      The modem router is a SB6190 from Arris, i do have a connection of 200. The other router is the x6 r8000 and i did buy the PLW1010v2 ( powerline with wifi )

      I am currently shutting off the wifi   : 5ghz and 2.4 ghz from the x6 r8000 at a specific time and then turning on the wifi on the powerline 2.4 and 5ghz. respectively.

      The X6 remains on in lan mode and has other devices connected hardwire ( rj45) --> including the powerline.

      FINDINGS :

      I have noticed reduced speed in the wifi network and the lan network. 

      When doing Pings inside my network i do get 5ms or 7ms 

      When doing pings outside my network to xfinity i get 73ms and 24ms 15ms or sometimes higher numbers.. 3 or 2 low and 2 high.

      This was a lot less when doing it from the X6 ( Not the case before )

      So, i have noticed slower speeds in loading pages and the connection that i used to have at 200 > 240 mbps - now its 60mb or 80 or 100

      If i transfer files inside my network the speed tends to be slower too. ( loading videos etc ) Obviously, the transfer rate is higher on the x6 sometimes getting 966 vs 153mbps

      WHY I DECIDED TO DO THIS :

      My main concern was turning off the wifi signal because the router (x6) is too close to one of our kids rooms. Thus, i dont want to have an antenna on all the time (close to him- signal is too strong)

       
      Tha'ts why i considered purchasing the powerline to move the equipment a few meters away.

      I am quite dissapointed. 

      I have also changed the location of the powerline (the one with the wifi) --> to make sure that i do get the a good link ( but no)

      UNless, I am reading this wrong -- i am dissapointed..

      Any help is appreciated, I am no expert in powerline or wifi but do see the difference with my basic knowledge.

       

      Thanks for your help.. I do like the idea of creating a schedule to turn off the wifi on the x6 and turn it on the powerline but the transfer speed suffers big time if loading / backup / or any data intense stuff. 

       

      thoughts ?

      thanks