My wife has a sewing machine that runs some crazy embroidery software...loading that is a story unto itself...  But to get patterns and other creative things from the net required a new internet wire. It's too far from the router to hit with a good wi-fi signal and for some reason, I could not get that old computer to log in anyway.  (after the switch to T/W cable, lots of things act differently...but that's another story too.)
 
After attending an electronic security training conference a few weeks back..... I learned a few new things.... such as    Internet over existing house electrical wiring.  I had heard about it well over a year ago but passed on it as a gimmick as opposed to a serious technology that was reliable.  Seems they have been working hard on this to perfect it and make it a viable platform. It was actually recommended as a way to get internet to the cameras in a training session and was set up and running in the room.
 
OK... I'm convinced after seeing it work in real time with a camera.
 
I looked on line and found the Belkin Powerline AV-500.  I bought the kit. One transmitter/recvr combo.   This device sends 100mbs internet over your existing house wiring up to 900 feet. I figured, if it didn't work, I could send it back...
 
So when they came in, I read the instructions, one page with only 3 steps.....  Hummm...can it really be that simple?  I plugged them in....the lights flashed like the instructions said.... I plugged in the short cat5 jumpers..... connectivity!!!!  and green lights.... so I unplugged the one the computer/lappy was plugged into and moved ot to the location where my wife has her embroidery machine set up.....plugged it in, let it find the other device and connect..... waaa laaa.... she now has internet..... albiet not at 100mbs..... more like 50mbs but she can get the stuff she needs off the net without me having to crawl under the house and fish a cat5 up the walls to make the hardwired connection.
 
My next project is to install a similar wi-fi extender in that area of the back porch using similar technology so I can check email and such from the back deck with my phone.....  
 
Some cool stuff..... Under $80 for one of the kits, and the other was about $40 for the pair.  I can't even install a hard wire internet connection  in my own house for that price.  So next time you need to run a new hardwired internet connection....remember this and check Amazon...... that's where I found mine. 
 
 
 
 

Nice one Herb, I hope something like that's available over here, this house is a wi-fi nightmare.

Hi, Herb.
I bought the Netgear Powerline 500 kit a few weeks back to try to get connected with my smart TV. And it is a Wi-Fi hotspot, too.
I also didn't want to run a 20 foot cable from my bedroom to the living room, so I thought I'd give it a try.
Not working yet,  but I haven't spent a lot of time troubleshooting it. I'm on vacation next week so I plan on some phone time with Neatgear and/or TWC.
I have connectivity from the TV to the access point, and connectivity between the 2 Netgear devices, but for some reason I can't connect to the internet. I'm glad you have yours working. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks for sharing that, Herb. Cabling is a PIA - finding routes in awkward spaces and avoiding fluorescent lights and other sources of interference. And until you get the hang of it, crimping connectors can be a hit-and-miss operation.
 
My big TV is internet-capable but it's in the basement where wi-fi reception is poor. In the two years I've had it I've not gotten around to running a cable to it, because I know it would be a hassle since it'd have to pass through the floor and multiple interior walls. I've been considering a wireless repeater, not considering using the house wiring because I'd assumed it was too slow for TV. But 100 MB/s would work. Even 50 MB/s would probably be OK.
 
The technology isn't new - it's been around since the 80's. It used to be how hotels knew you were watching pay TV (for which I have a funny story I'd best not share publicly).
 
But there are a number of potential problems with it. Historically, it's been unreliable and slow and prone to interference from appliances, power tools and outside sources of EMI/RFI. Your house wiring isn't just a convenient communications medium, unfortunately it's also a giant antenna. Also, electrical connections are normally screw terminals or worse and prone to developing unacceptable resistance - it's one of the main reasons for homes burning down.
 
I may, however, have to give it another look. Apparently, the technology has improved since the last time I checked it out.
 

jamesg1213
Nice one Herb, I hope something like that's available over here, this house is a wi-fi nightmare.

The perfect excuse.

Pfft. Ask Dave. I ain't starting another song till that 'un's done.

jamesg1213
Pfft. Ask Dave. I ain't starting another song till that 'un's done.

Heh heh

Broadband over power lines? I used to pay attention about that. I don't know if it is the same thing as you're talking about though. BPL creates a problem for SW radio users. BPL kills short wave radio signals with interference. I hope it does not create a noise problem for you. Maybe they fixed it. I read a little of the wiki, something about notches or going with UHF, maybe it isn't a problem anymore. Not many people use shortwave anymore but I still futz with it now and then.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadband_over_power_lines
 
One thing is certain, you cannot stop progress. I hope it works well for you.
 
J

so far so good.  The AV500 needs to be linked up on the same circuit.... so plug them in and let them see each other on the powerlines.... in the same room usually works.  Once they are talking on the same circuit, then unplug one and move it and hook up the computer or TV and see what the signal strength is.   Red= around 10mbs   Yellow= up to 50 mbs   and Green=100mbs 
 
Greg, push the reset button on them both while they are plugged in. They will reconnect and authenticate and you should have connectivity at that point. I had to do that to get my laptop on the net with them.

Good deal, Herb.
I had a customer in Azle a while back who was complaining about poor WiFi. Turned out that he has computers in three trailers adjacent to to each other on the property. The aluminum shells were killing the radio signal.
After poking around, I realized all three were connected to a common buss on the breaker box, so I set him up with ethernet over power. The Netgear devices I use are basically just identical ports. One connects to the router, and one goes behind each  connected computer. In that case, it saved the day.
I have also successfully used them in homes where it would be virtually impossible to get cat5 to a room in a finished home.
I don't know that the technology is perfect, but it's a least viable.