AIBU to ask for opinions about data networks at home?

[SolarLightxoxo]

We have been using powerline adapters to get internet connections in various rooms around the house. Just recently, we struggle to get an internet connection for the TVs in the rooms furthest from the router, even though the powerline adapters all appear to work.

I want to call someone out to help with a better solution to transmit internet round the house. The trouble is, I don't really know who to call out. What kind of professional could I call to help with this problem?

Thanks in advance.

Who provides your internet? Have you priced a multi room deal from them? Could something could be blocking the signal to the rooms?

If you're dead serious the ultra way to do it is to run proper network cable in the same way you would electrical cable. This could be a significant rewiring job depending how accessible bits of your property is. Most people nowadays would manage with a mesh Wi-Fi system and plenty of repeater units. Or a bit of mix of both, hardwired repeater units in strategic locations.

We have network cables that run under our floors so some things are hard wired (like the network switch, server and the router) then an additional wi-fi repeater in the back of the house so the signal stays at the same strength.
But DH is a giant IT nerd which is the reason I had to crawl under the house running network cables (mainly because he is 6’4 and the crawl space isn’t) and why we have our own tiny server that he backs up and stores “off site”.

Network cables here too with access points for WiFi. I'd say go mesh if you don't want to cable. Saying that, you might just need the one cable with an access point on the end and could run it round an outside wall.

CAT5 all the way.

Thanks all for the advice. A lot to chew over.

Did the adaptors work until recently or are the TVs in the furthest rooms a new addition?

Are the furthest rooms on a different ring than the router? (Different fuse on your panel). If so, it may be why you’re not getting a connection there.

Most electricians will be able to run CAT5/6 for you but as PP have said, it can be as messy as a rewire if you don’t want trunking. Get a site visit booked in though, so he or she can run through the options with you.

Did the adaptors work until recently

15 years experience with powerline adapters has taught me not to rely on them (like 99% of modern high tech izzy whizziness). The first I had just packed up after a couple of years. But every few weeks they seem to hang and need a power cycle to start working again.

One of my to-dos for summer is to replace the final pair with some CAT5 using an outside run.

One of my lasting regrets is not CAT5ing the whole place when we bought it in 2002 and the heating engineer had all the floorboards up for the central heating. But I couldn't justift the cost then.

@PaterPower

Did the adaptors work until recently or are the TVs in the furthest rooms a new addition?

Are the furthest rooms on a different ring than the router? (Different fuse on your panel). If so, it may be why you’re not getting a connection there.

Most electricians will be able to run CAT5/6 for you but as PP have said, it can be as messy as a rewire if you don’t want trunking. Get a site visit booked in though, so he or she can run through the options with you.

I'm not sure if the sockets where the powerline adapters don't work are on a different ring. Looking at the circuit board, there are two switches for sockets, so I will test this tomorrow morning when no-one will be up to complain about me switching off circuits. The powerline adapters have worked in all rooms until a day ago. However, they have never worked that well. The data light flashes red/Amber to show slow data transmission quit often.

Our Internet provider is BT. We allegedly have super optic fibre broadband. Can't say I really noticed any difference when we upgraded to this!

The powerline adaptors will slow transmission speeds down (from what you’d get on a CAT6 connection or even Wi-Fi) anyway, just because they’re piggy backing your ring main.

Is there anywhere else you could test them? A friend’s or parent’s house? Might be useful to see if they establish a stronger / faster connection on a different circuit.

As I suggested before, get a sparky out and get them to suggest and price up some options on cabling. You might be able to run a network cable externally, from wherever your router sits to the rooms with the TVs, splitting it via a network switch.

@PaterPower

The powerline adaptors will slow transmission speeds down (from what you’d get on a CAT6 connection or even Wi-Fi) anyway, just because they’re piggy backing your ring main.

Is there anywhere else you could test them? A friend’s or parent’s house? Might be useful to see if they establish a stronger / faster connection on a different circuit.

As I suggested before, get a sparky out and get them to suggest and price up some options on cabling. You might be able to run a network cable externally, from wherever your router sits to the rooms with the TVs, splitting it via a network switch.

Thank you for this post. I have booked a company to come out tomorrow who deal with electrical installations and data cabling so hopefully they will be able to put us in the right direction.