Best alternative to hardwire?

[JVergin]

We work with a lot of small businesses and churches. Inevitably, I now and then come across a customer that doesn't have network cables ran through their building, or only ran to a few rooms. We have been using a netgear wireless adapter, but have had mixed results (as to be expected with wireless). I have recently come across power-line adapters which turn the existing electrical system into a pathway for data packets to travel through. I have seen reviews saying that it is slower than wireless, but more reliable. I don't care if it's slower because a printer/mfp doesn't need to send/receive at gigabit speeds, but I do care about the reliability.

I am testing one right now with our office MFP. So far no hiccups. It does ping at an average of 5-10ms which is slower than if I were to use our netgear wireless adapter, but again I'm concerned about the reliability more than the speed.

Is anyone deploying these power-line Ethernet adapters regularly enough to give me a small review on what you think of them for use with copiers?

Thanks!

[faxman28]

Re: Best alternative to hardwire?

We work with a lot of small businesses and churches. Inevitably, I now and then come across a customer that doesn't have network cables ran through their building, or only ran to a few rooms. We have been using a netgear wireless adapter, but have had mixed results (as to be expected with wireless). I have recently come across power-line adapters which turn the existing electrical system into a pathway for data packets to travel through. I have seen reviews saying that it is slower than wireless, but more reliable. I don't care if it's slower because a printer/mfp doesn't need to send/receive at gigabit speeds, but I do care about the reliability.

I am testing one right now with our office MFP. So far no hiccups. It does ping at an average of 5-10ms which is slower than if I were to use our netgear wireless adapter, but again I'm concerned about the reliability more than the speed.

Is anyone deploying these power-line Ethernet adapters regularly enough to give me a small review on what you think of them for use with copiers?

Thanks!

check out this link, also has everything you need know about powerline networking.



The Best Powerline Networking Kit | The Wirecutter

[KenB]

Re: Best alternative to hardwire?

check out this link, also has everything you need know about powerline networking.



The Best Powerline Networking Kit | The Wirecutter

Sounds nifty.

A little more costly than trying to get an elaborate wireless network set up, but it sure looks easy.

Certainly no issues with anyone mooching your WiFi (at least as far as I can tell, anyway).

Although I'd rather have someone trying to steal my WiFi than my WiFey.

[slimslob]

Re: Best alternative to hardwire?

Radio Shack and others used to sell home intercom systems that used home wiring. If two or more stations were on the same breaker, they worked great. If they were on two or more breakers that were on the same leg of the incoming AC line, they work most of the time. If they were on separate legs of the AC, they failed horribly.

[JVergin]

Re: Best alternative to hardwire?

Radio Shack and others used to sell home intercom systems that used home wiring. If two or more stations were on the same breaker, they worked great. If they were on two or more breakers that were on the same leg of the incoming AC line, they work most of the time. If they were on separate legs of the AC, they failed horribly.

So far, with the one that we bought, I know that both the transmitting and receiving end are on different breakers. haven't had any problems printing or scanning yet.

I let my laptop ping 1000bytes constantly for most of the day for two days to a copier I have this attached to. The first day it lost 10 packets out of like 8000 and the second day it lost 4. Other than that the average ping was 5ms. I think I may have to give this a test run at a few locations and see how it goes. The netgear wireless adapters are nice when they work but too often have they given me trouble even when the router is very close to the copier.

[qbert69]

Re: Best alternative to hardwire?

For Wi-Fi, it depends on the structure of your building...wood or metal wall studs? I most cases, I would recommend a router that uses a MIMO beamforming technology.

For Powerline networking, go to Newegg and read some reviews:

powerline network adapter - Newegg.com

Hardwire is always going to be the best! Twisted pair with variable twist per color pair is going to be the ultimate (aside from fiber optic!) in Signal to Noise Ratio--if shielded, even better!

Heck, there have even been folks (myself included!) that have made high definition speaker cable from ethernet cable due to the ultrawide bandwidth!

DIY Cat5 Speaker Cables

[pbbsinc]

Re: Best alternative to hardwire?

Been using them for years. Have an issue (very) rarely but, for the most part, the work great. I'd always rather have the customer drop a hardline, but that would require the sales rep to do a site survey, talk the customer into it, etc..

We always keep a set or two in the delivery van for the (not so) rare occasion when we show up to install a machine & the closest network jack is 30 feet away.

You can find them pretty cheap if you keep your eyes open. I bought a bunch of them on clearance when Tiger Direct closed their stores.

[qbert69]

Re: Best alternative to hardwire?

Been using them for years. Have an issue (very) rarely but, for the most part, the work great. I'd always rather have the customer drop a hardline, but that would require the sales rep to do a site survey, talk the customer into it, etc..

We always keep a set or two in the delivery van for the (not so) rare occasion when we show up to install a machine & the closest network jack is 30 feet away.

You can find them pretty cheap if you keep your eyes open. I bought a bunch of them on clearance when Tiger Direct closed their stores.

The business I work for *used to* do in-wall ethernet installation...not any more!

I pointed out the fact that our business was not "bonded and insured" against any damages that we did to the client's property!...therefore, we couldn't install in-wall! we are able to staple to baseboard or snake above a drop tile ceiling!

My point was well taken and now it is the customer's responsibility to contract an in-wall install with a bonded and insured specialist!...not that I can't do it, but if I cut through another cable or cut into a copper water pipe, I won't be held liable since I am not insured for that kind of situation!