[mythtv-users] Power Line Network Connections and Myth ?

sean darcy seandarcy2 at gmail.com
Mon Oct 4 00:41:52 UTC 2010


On Sun, Oct 3, 2010 at 4:14 PM, Nick Rout <nick.rout at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, Oct 3, 2010 at 11:39 AM, sean darcy <seandarcy2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 4:34 PM, Nick Rout <nick.rout at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 3:01 PM, Craig Huff <huffcslists at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> OK, so I bit the bullet and bought some of these to see what they'd do
>>>> for my problem.
>>>>
>>>> (To recap _my_ problem, I have a frontend that I was trying to work
>>>> with via WiFi.  It was barely adequate during the daytime when no one
>>>> in the neighborhood, including my wife, was doing anything with WiFi,
>>>> but once the evening came, there were all sorts of dropped frames and
>>>> finally lost connections, so it was impossible to watch a single
>>>> recording.  This is all SD video since I have spent all my $$$ on
>>>> MythTV instead of new TV displays ;-)).
>>>>
>>>> In any case, (based on an earlier message in this thread, I believe) I
>>>> installed iperf and jperf on my combination BE/FE, an FE that is on
>>>> 10/100base-T, and the problem child struggling with WiFi.
>>>>
>>>> As a baseline, I found that the bandwidth to the 10/100Base-T FE was
>>>> upwards of 95Mbps while the bandwidth to the WiFi unit (under evening
>>>> --bad-- conditions) was around 6-7Mbps.  I was shocked that I could
>>>> even get the poor performance I was getting with 6-7Mbps!
>>>>
>>>> Went to NewEgg and ordered these:
>>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122360
>>>
>>> I have similar gear, this one:
>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122329
>>>
>>> I am using it in the office. From my (linux) server to my (wndows 7)
>>> desktop iperf shows 37 to 38Mbit/s. Thats the simple default test mode
>>> of iperf (iperf -s on one machine, iperf -c IPADDRESS on the other)
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> So... After all that, the net result was nowhere near 200Mbps, or
>>>> 100Mbps, but rather around 14Mbps.  Casual testing post-install
>>>> indicates it may be "good enough" for my SD use, but it is still a far
>>>> cry from the performance over a CAT-5 drop.
>>>>
>>>> YMMV!
>>>>
>>>> Craig.
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>>
>> I'm planning on setting up an FE in a cabin about 150 yards from the
>> house. I could run CAT 5E, but it's a long way, and the cable would be
>> exposed to rain, snow, etc. Instead I'm thinking of Powerline over a
>> dedicated electric cable. I run outdoor rated electric cable with an
>> outlet at each end. No connection to the electric system at either
>> end. Then use 2 Powerline adapters.
>>
>> Would this work? Is it a good idea?
>
> I assume the cabin has power, otherwise you couldn't plug the TV and
> frontend in? (OK I know therwe are alternatives, like
> batteries/solar), but depending on how the wiring is done, could you
> possibly run powerline on the exiting wiring. EG if the cabin is fed
> it's power from a sub-feed from the house?
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>

No. The power is from a separate meter. I'm now leaning to CAT5E
through links of pvc pipe. Not pretty, but cheap. Also considering
coax. Wouldn't that be better both for distance and protection from
rain/snow,etc? Just lay it on the ground.

sean


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