Computers & Electronics

Suggestions for a good Powerline adaptor

  • Last Updated:
  • Jul 10th, 2021 7:40 pm
[OP]
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Dec 23, 2003
17156 posts
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Toronto

Suggestions for a good Powerline adaptor

I have the Rogers Ignite service with the XB7 router and find that the Internet speed on my older laptop is not that great. If I place the laptop within a few feet of the router, I get 333 Mbps/21Mbps speeds from my 500/20 service.

Unfortunately, I have had to move this laptop location to a room at the other end of my home and the speeds drop to 42 Mbps/13 Mbps. I asked Rogers to send me those WiFi pods but I am not sure how much of an improvement they will be as they are essentially repeaters. I was thinking a powerline setup might be better with the setup as follows:

- have one powerline placed in the room where the router is and connect it with Cat 6 to the router
- place the other powerline to where the laptop is (a few feet away) and use Cat 6 cable to connect to the laptop.

I don't mind using Cat 6 as the laptop is on another desk connected with a keyboard/mouse and 24" monitor and is rarely moved.

I have used powerline devices many years ago and they fixed the issue with slow wifi speed when I had a really old router. The XB7 is pretty recent and aside from this laptop placement, I have 0 issues with any devices in the house on wifi.

Is anyone using powerline these days and can comment on their experience? Also, what model would give me the MAX speed to this laptop? I would like to get it from Amazon if possible so that I can return it without any hassles (assuming their price is competitive).

This model seems decent: https://www.amazon.ca/TP-Link-Powerline ... 084CZMYNM/

Thanks!

UPDATE: I received the Rogers Pods (Gen2) and placed one of them close to my laptop. I ran a speed test and the results are as follows:

Without PODS: 42 Mbps / 13 Mbps
With PODS: 143.49 Mbps / 21.54 Mbps

This is a noticeable difference when doing Win 10 updates and everything. I think I will stick with the pods. Thanks, everyone :)
Last edited by hightech on Jul 12th, 2021 4:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
7 replies
Deal Fanatic
Jan 21, 2018
8403 posts
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Vancouver
You probably have unrealistic expectations of the speed you will get from powerline ethernet. If you do try it, make sure you either don't spend too much, or you can return the adapters if they don't test out adequately.

The TP-Link adapters are as good as any in their class, but one thing they carefully don't show you in the photos is that they have a 2-prong plug, meaning they are single channel (hot-neutral). The more expensive and faster models with 3-prong plugs can do 2 bonded channels (hot-neutral, hot-ground).
Deal Fanatic
Jan 17, 2012
5242 posts
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Toronto
First off, 42/13 is not a slow WiFi speed. Sure, a few feet from the modem you get 350mbps on. 5G connection but 5G is very short range. Move 1 room away and you will be at 90mbps.

The Rogers pods are probably your best option. As far as I know the pods are a mesh system not just regular extenders.

The question is...do you need more that 42mbps at the other end of the house? If so you have several options...you could have Rogers relocate the modem to that aid of the house....you could get a Meshi WiFi system...normal extenders...or you can get some wire or wireless access points.

In my place the XB7 only gives a 5G signal to half of the house and a 2.4ghz signal a little beyond that. I turned a Linksys router I have into a wireless repeater and places it around the middle of the house. I use a dual band extender to help with whatever dead zones remain. It is working fine soo far but was a bit finicky to get right.

The problem I have with normal extenders is that they slow everything down abs the signal is weak. In the room next to where my modem is I got 200mbps on 5G. If input the extender in the same room I only get 90mbps and a weak signal from it if I go one room further.
Banned
Mar 3, 2021
707 posts
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OP....you're more likely to have better results if you go MoCa. Get the 2.5ghz adapters from Amazon, so that you have the choice of a hassle free return if need be.
Deal Fanatic
Jan 21, 2018
8403 posts
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Vancouver
sffpcgtx wrote: OP....you're more likely to have better results if you go MoCa. Get the 2.5ghz adapters from Amazon, so that you have the choice of a hassle free return if need be.
But that only works if you have coax running between the locations, not to mention that MoCa is relatively expensive (e.g., https://www.amazon.ca/Actiontec-MoCA-Ne ... B088KV2YYL for $172 a pair).
[OP]
Deal Expert
User avatar
Dec 23, 2003
17156 posts
5896 upvotes
Toronto
sffpcgtx wrote: We don't know if OP has coax running in the house. Also, yes it might be more than the POA, but MoCa out performs
Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't have unused coaxial wire in the office where the modem is or else that would be a good idea. Also, I have 28-year-old RG59 cable which is not the greatest. This is why I went with Ignite, as Rogers put 1 new run to the bedroom outlet

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