Yawnsville - 10 xmas (basic) questions - Please??

[bitofatit]

Hi – some very basic advice please :-

I’m thinking of joining up my desktop PC (upstairs) with a PS3 in the sitting room. I would also like to access the Interweb via the PS3 on the flat screen telly. (Will I be able to access the music files / pics on the PC also from downstairs?). I had thought about a wireless solution – this looks too complicated / hit and miss for me and am now thinking about a wired solution – couple of basic questions – and yes, although I have read the sticky --your dealing with an useless ludite here! and time is short etc…

1) If I go for the plugged solution using the electric ring main how many plugs do I need – just the pair? One plug downstairs and one up?
2) I don’t have a telephone jack plug in the sitting room and use a telephone line extender already for the Sky + box. (Called “All for One” or “One for All all” got it a few years now and it works well. – Will this interfere if I also use said home plugs to access the internet?
3) The socket out situation near the desktop and telly is oversubscribed at present - Is there the equivalent of a double plugged Home plug? I’m thinking 1 home plug in each location and a 4 ganger hanging off this for the other bits of kit?
4) How do I link this together? :- Downstairs Home plug “Cat (5?) Cable” joining the PS3 – the home plug. Upstairs Home plug to Router and in this room, router connected to the Talktalk Modem with Ethernet connection; and the PC connected to the router?
5) Please suggest a router Netgear or Linksys (or othr?) and model – something that will work and sets up easy?
6) Re the cable does it come with the connectors on or can I buy one piece cut it into two and (easily) put the connectors on myself?
7) Where can you get the cable from on X-mas eve – PC world!!?
8) Suggest a home plug and do I go for the 200mps and where can I get one from a shop?
9) Will the chipset on the Home plug be something else to worry about - does it matter that I have a "one for all" line extender already on the mains and I don't know if this has a chipset or not OMG??!!
10) While you on any chance you can pop round and set it up for me in the home!

I’m at work (now) and until X-mas eve – researching this is going to be difficult – sorry to ask so many stupid questions.

Season’s greetings
BoaT

[Fe_man2000]

ok here goes

1) If I go for the plugged solution using the electric ring main how many plugs do I need – just the pair? One plug downstairs and one up?

yep - one connected to the router and one for any other device - e.g PS3
They have RJ45 connecters on the plugs more commonly called networks sockets so the PS3 will connect directly into it.

2) I don’t have a telephone jack plug in the sitting room and use a telephone line extender already for the Sky + box. (Called “All for One” or “One for All all” got it a few years now and it works well. – Will this interfere if I also use said home plugs to access the internet?

hmm not familar with this - sorry. you may have to check out the website of this product see if it mentions anything.


3) The socket out situation near the desktop and telly is oversubscribed at present - Is there the equivalent of a double plugged Home plug? I’m thinking 1 home plug in each location and a 4 ganger hanging off this for the other bits of kit?

yes - there are homeplugs with a socket on the otherside - sorry cant remeber there name but the do exist.

4) How do I link this together? :- Downstairs Home plug “Cat (5?) Cable” joining the PS3 – the home plug. Upstairs Home plug to Router and in this room, router connected to the Talktalk Modem with Ethernet connection; and the PC connected to the router?

yes- just as you say - PS3-homeplug--------homeplug-Router-PC

5) Please suggest a router Netgear or Linksys (or othr?) and model – something that will work and sets up easy?

Mine came from my ISP so I cant comment on this - sorry.

6) Re the cable does it come with the connectors on or can I buy one piece cut it into two and (easily) put the connectors on myself?

get it premade - its just not worth making it yourself for 2 cables - get it online if possible tho as the cost in PC world etc is insane - 1.5 m cable should cost a pound or two at most not £15-£25 !!! online its 85p

7) Where can you get the cable from on X-mas eve – PC world!!?

yes - but its going to cost you a lot more than it should- a lot more

8) Suggest a home plug and do I go for the 200mps and where can I get one from a shop?

I use Devolo's 200mb AV but they do not pass the plugsocket allow more things to be attached so they may not suit your needs but as a brand they very good.

9) Will the chipset on the Home plug be something else to worry about - does it matter that I have a "one for all" line extender already on the mains and I don't know if this has a chipset or not OMG??!!

no idea sorry

10) While you on any chance you can pop round and set it up for me in the home!

Sure I will be coming down the chimmney on the 25th

[beerhunter]

1) Not necessarily. You could use two Homeplugs to connect an Ethernet switch to the router.
2) It may do so. However, you only need your Sky box connected to the telephone circuit of you have multi-
room or use the Pay per View service.
3) Some have so-called pass-through. You nest bet is to get an electrician to install some extra socket onm your Ring Mains(s) or some 'spurs' off it.
4) See 1).
5) Netgear DG834G.
6) Buy ready made cable off Ebay. They start at 99 pence.
7) Tes but you are going to pay more than 99 pence.
8) Any brand of Homeplug that supports 200 Mb/s will work. Beware, some Power Line Adapters are NOT Homeplugs - they are UPA. UPA is not compatible with Homeplug and is not as easy to set up.
9) Yes. See 8. Maybe.
10) No problem. £50 an hour plus traveling (time and mileage).

[bitofatit]

Thx Fe_man2000: very kind of you to take on all of the questions - V Good answer to 10!

Is there any other kind / knowledgeable person ready to fill in my blanks as it were!

2) I don’t have a telephone jack plug in the sitting room and use a telephone line extender already for the Sky + box. (Called “All for One” or “One for All all” got it a few years now and it works well. – Will this interfere if I also use said home plugs to access the internet? The line externders I have are quite old now and I can' find them on the WWW!

5) Please suggest a router Netgear or Linksys (or othr?) and model – something that will work and sets up easy?

8) Suggest a home plug that allows a dual plug taht allows a 4 ganger to be attached and where can I get one from a shop?

9) Will the chipset on the Home plug be something else to worry about - does it matter that I have a "one for all" line extender already on the mains and I don't know if this has a chipset or not OMG??!!

10) While you on any chance you can pop round and set it up for me in the home!

Ta in advance

BoaT

[bitofatit]

Thanks Beerhunter,

1) Not necessarily. You could use two Homeplugs to connect an Ethernet switch to the router.
a. Not sure what this means in practical terms – sorry you’re dealing with a complete amateur here!! Is it better to get an Ethernet switch? I have talktak broadband and telephone line and they have provided a modem with an Ethernet connection that hooks into my desktop PC.2) It may do so. However, you only need your Sky box connected to the telephone circuit of you have multi-
room or use the Pay per View service.
I don’t have multiroom and rarely use PPV. Are you suggesting that this should be unplugged? If yes would this be unplugged when I’m on-line in the sitting room or gaming on line and would I need to simply take the sky connection out or both of the All in one plugs as well? I recall there needed to be some security matching when the plugs are put in place – removing them could cause problems.
3) Some have so-called pass-through. You best bet is to get an electrician to install some extra socket on your Ring Mains(s) or some 'spurs' off it. In a sense this partly defeats the object of plug and play homeplugs – but may need to think about this L/Term?4) See 1). Eherm….?
5) Netgear DG834G. Sounds good – PC world here I come – It’s on the way home.
6) Buy ready made cable off Ebay. They start at 99 pence.
Can’t wait – its for Christmas….One possible solution is putting the wire under the floor in the living room BUT to do this would be very tight and the space available under the wooden floor may not allow me to push the wire through with a connector on the end – hence my question re the connectors – just how difficult is it to make these up yourself?
7) Yes but you are going to pay more than 99 pence. Doh!!
8) Any brand of Homeplug that supports 200 Mb/s will work. Beware, some Power Line Adapters are NOT Homeplugs - they are UPA. UPA is not compatible with Homeplug and is not as easy to set up. Can the right ones be bought in PC world and will they know the difference – my experience there in the past ha always been hit and miss…
9) Yes. See 8. Maybe.
10) No problem. £50 an hour plus traveling (time and mileage).

[beerhunter]

1. First of all you need to find out if you have modem or a router with a built-in modem. If the former then the Netgear DG834G is a direct replacement for your modem. Here's an example. To connect three devices in another room to a router. Router to Homplepug via a Cat5 cable. Home plug in other room to Ethernet Switch via a Cat5 cable. Three devices to Switch via Cat5 cables

2. If you don't have multi-room and don;t use PPV you can unplug it and remove the All in one plugs . How and when is your choice an is depndent on whether the All in one plugs interfere with Homeplug.

3)In the short term, some trailer sockets work with Homeplug and other don't and it isn't possible to ID what ones work by looking at them.

6) You can buy cables ands connectors from Maplins and Screwfix. You can slo get wall plates. Connecting them requires some dexterity and skill. You need tools and a tester.

8) PC World sell both. As to whether they know the difference - well its PC World. In my opinion UPA is the Betamax of the Powerline world.