Multiple Powerline Ethernet Connections

May 4, 2009 1:47 PM

Can I have more than one powerline ethernet setup in my home? I have my xBOX connected with powerline ethernet and am quite pleased. Can I add another set of powerline adapters and connect a PC located in another part of the house? Thanks
posted by TomSr to computers & internet (2 comments total)

Powerline ethernet works by imposing a carrier frequency on top of the power. Power in the US is 60 HZ and the ethernet is pushing a different frequency, one that's much much higher.

The question of another circuit would be whether the new adapters are trying to use that same frequency, or a different one. If it's different and doesn't overlap, there shouldn't be a problem. If it's the same, they're gonna be on the same network whether you want it or not.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:59 PM on May 4

Most powerline ethernet gear is designed so that you have a single base station (connected to your router, typically), and then multiple remote Ethernet port units that all communicate with the base station.

Most likely, you can keep your existing base station and remote Ethernet port, purchase an additional remote Ethernet port, and peer it with the existing base station. On the other hand, as Chocolate Pickle mentioned, if you got both another base station and another remote port unit, it would be unlikely to work well unless it were on a different circuit.

For example, if you bought a Linksys PLK300 kit, it came with both a base station and remote network adapter. If you wanted to add another port elsewhere in the house, you could purchase another PLS300 -- the same 4-port adapter that came with the kit -- and add it to another location, and both would talk with the base station. However, you wouldn't want to buy another PLK300 kit.

The thing is, this is manufacturer and technology dependent -- there are multiple powerline Ethernet technologies out there that aren't compatible with each other -- so it's not possible to give you a specific answer without knowing what kind of gear you're already using. You should consider sending the question to the manufacturer of the powerline ethernet gear you purchased, or look through that manufacturer's support documentation -- or at least post the details on the equipment you're using.
posted by eschatfische at 2:09 PM on May 4