How can I extend internet access to the areas that WiFi can’t reach?

Computer Networks, Consultancy, Display In Header Widget, Featured, Internet Access, Wireless Networks

Sep 062011

One of our clients recently had a requirement to extend their existing internet access to a garden-office annexe that was detached from their main house. There was a wireless router in the house, but the signal was too weak to reach the garden-office and penetrate the garden-office walls.

Running a cable from the router to the computer equipment in the garden-office would have been technically the best solution, but the cost of running an external cable and digging a trench would have been prohibitive (ie over £1,000). Fortunately, there was a cheaper and simpler solution that enabled us to use the existing mains electricity cabling to provide wireless internet access in the garden-office for less than £100.

This solution is known as HomePlug (or PowerLAN).

A HomePlug solution comprises at least two mains adaptors: a primary adaptor and up to 15 slave adaptors.

The primary adaptor connects via a patch cable to one of the ethernet ports at the back of the existing internet router. It also plugs into a convenient a 13 amp mains socket.

The slave adaptors plug into 13 amp sockets in the areas where internet access is required. There are two types of slave adaptor: wired and wireless.

A wired slave adaptor would connect directly to the ethernet port of a PC or laptop or to the uplink port of an ethernet switch or hub.
A wireless slave adaptor would provide wireless internet access to laptops and devices such as smart-phones and iPads that are within its coverage area.

It is also possible to get slave adaptors that combine both wired and wireless internet access.

In recent years HomePlug devices have increased the speed and range over which they operate so that they can support data intensive services such as video streaming and gaming.

They can also operate over mains electrical systems that have more than a single phase.

There are even devices that use HomePlug technology to deliver audio signals via the mains cabling to eliminate the need for unsightly loudspeaker cables!

Homeplug will never be able to beat the speed or security of a direct cable connection or the convenience of a standard wireless connection. However, in home or office premises where there are wireless coverage black-spots and installing cabling would be too expensive HomePlug should be considered as a viable and cost-effective alternative.

Premitel Recommended HomePlug Products

The HomePlug product that is recommended by Premitel is the Devolo 200 series. They are reliable, easy to set up and perform very well.

Our suggested Devolo Homeplug units are shown below and can be purchased direct from Amazon by clicking the appropriate product image. We suggest buying the starter kit plus additional adaptors as required.


	Devolo 200 AV Starter Kit The starter kit comprises a primary adaptor that connects to the internet router and a slave wireless adaptor also has 4 x wired ethernet ports for connecting non wireless devices. If you need internet access in other rooms then you can can connect the additional adaptors listed below.
	Devolo 200 AV Wireless Adaptor If you need to improve wireless coverage in another room then you simply purchase an additional slave wireless adaptor and plug it into a spare mains socket. The slave wireless adaptor also has 4 x wired ethernet ports for connecting non-wireless devices.
	Devolo 200 AV Mini Ethernet Adaptor The mini slave adaptor is ideal if you need a single wired ethernet connection. Its low profile makes it perfect for installing in tight situations. A good application for the mini adaptor is connecting a TV or Sky box to the internet. Most new TVs and Sky boxes have ethernet connections that can be used for showing internet TV.
	Devolo 200 AV Ethernet Adaptor (with pass through filter) This adaptor is similar to the mini slave adaptor described above. The difference is that it has a pass through mains socket for those situations where there are no spare sockets. It enables an existing appliance such as a lamp to share the same socket as the HomePug adaptor.