Powerline networking, and router question

Private_SnoballPrivate_Snoball Dover AFB, DE, USA
edited May 2007 in Science & Tech
Lets start with background, skip this section if you don't care. I currently have a Linksys WRT54GL Wireless router set-up on one side of the house, on the opposite side I have my computer and my Xbox 360. My Computer is using a Linksys WUSB54GC Wireless adapter and my 360 is using a wireless adapter. I can use my computer fine for the most part but doors need to be open. My 360 on the other hand is rarely running fast enough to play online even though it is stationed barely 5 feet farther away from my computer, which plays online fine. I'm trying to find a solution here and I'm coming across all sorts of answers.

My PC is working fine with wireless so all these options are strictly to enhance my360 gaming.

I've been checking out Powerline options and the latest CPU mag had a great review on them, makes me think they are up to par now on speeds. Can a skimp on that with a 14Mbps Powerline or do I need to go with the 85Mbps for online gaming?

Also should I just look at getting a wireless repeater? Is that feasible for gaming? I know some fidelity is lost using a repeater, but would it possible hurt?

This one is sort of dumb but I'll ask anyway. Do I have to have the router connected to a specific cable port in my house, or will all the co-axle jacks work to connect my modem? If so, do I need my router connected to a computer or can I just keep it on its own and wirelessly broadcast to every computer?

Also is there anything I can to my router to better equip it to handle such a distance that my be even cheaper?

Thanks!

Comments

  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited May 2007
    I don't know much about power line networking except that it seems like a nifty trick. But I can easily answer the question on online gaming... how fast is your internet connection? Mine is 6-7Mbps which is only up to HALF the speed of the 14Mbps you say the power line network can do.

    Really you don't need that much bandwidth even for online games. I mean take WoW for example; I could play it for hours and my internet connection would have only passed maybe 10MB's. That's like 2MBps or 16Mb per HOUR. Really the thing I'd be concerned with is latency, I have no idea what to expect from power line networking in that regard.

    As for gaining distance on that router you have, it is supported by a 3rd party firmware release called DD-WRT, which can be used to increase the power for the wireless thus giving you better range, it may be enough to help you out and it's a free alternative. Of course you run killing it if it doesn't take the flash properly, which is always a possibility, but... in my opinion worth it.

    I cannot be 100% sure on this, I am about to head to bed so I ain't gonna look it all up. But for power line networking, I'd venture to guess that you'll have your modem plugged into a type of gateway which will in turn push that connection through the electrical wires in your house making it all something more like a hub than an actual switch or router. And basically anywhere with a power jack, you'll have another gateway or bridge which turns the power line connection into an Ethernet port. I don't know if a surge protector will harm the connection in anyway or not either... it might be something worth checking into, but I personally would look into the DD-WRT firmware first as it's FREE, unless you break the router haha. Either way you look like you'll be buying new equipment anyways?
  • Private_SnoballPrivate_Snoball Dover AFB, DE, USA
    edited May 2007
    I'll have to check my last bill and see what I'm looking at as far as actually speed. I'll try that firmware upgrade, and ya you were right about powerline, has to go from wall outlet to wall outlet, no power supply is allowed to be between.

    Thanks for your help
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited May 2007
    Private_Snoball wrote:
    I'll have to check my last bill and see what I'm looking at as far as actually speed. I'll try that firmware upgrade, and ya you were right about powerline, has to go from wall outlet to wall outlet, no power supply is allowed to be between.

    Thanks for your help

    Your not likely to have more than 10Mbps for internet I can tell you that, if you do........................ well I'll probably just throw a fit and pout but still as far as gaming is concerned I doubt you'll notice the difference between 1Mbps and 14Mbps, it's all about that latency, unless you have dialup... that's just too slow haha.:tongue:

    If you can get away with it, a small 48Mbps OC12 connection is about $18K/month last I checked ;D But you'll still need something to share that connection :p
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