Electricity without a mains socket. Home networks on electrical wires? the time has come? Setting up a PLC adapter using the example of a model from TP-LINK

You are probably familiar with the situation when an incredible amount of wires wriggling around a home computer going to a monitor, mouse, keyboard, router, and so on. You can get rid of them in several ways. The easiest is to cut, the harder is to switch to wireless technology.

Let's not talk about the convenience of wireless mice or keyboards: all this accumulates directly around the computer and therefore does not particularly interfere with life. Ethernet cables, on the other hand, often have to be pulled across half an apartment. With proper repair, you can take into account all aspects and place sockets around the house or apartment for connecting to the network. When moving to a rented apartment, it is more difficult to solve this issue, there are other nuances.

Wi-Fi? It is not always possible to rely on him, since his work is influenced by the material of the walls, their location. And if we are talking about an apartment building, then there is also an abundance of other wireless access points: the air is filled a little more than completely. In the daytime or in the morning it is not so noticeable, in the evening problems with ping and lags may begin when watching IPTV or playing "over the air".

Options for their solution - manual settings and regular analysis of the air, switching to access points with support for 5 GHz or returning to the origins - wires. The first seems time-consuming, and it is unlikely that a home user will constantly delve into abstruse programs, looking for free space in the 2.4 GHz band. Introduce your mom / dad / grandmother / grandfather at this activity ... To begin with, teach them how to use a smartphone with a touch screen.

Moving to 5 GHz? This is a great option that we and the communication specialists recommend. However, such routers will cost money, and not all home devices will be able to work on the network. Incredible, but true: this range is incomprehensible even to the current PlayStation 4, let alone inexpensive smartphones and TVs.

Well, the most inconvenient, but practical way is wires. You can pretend to be Spider-Man, spread them all over the house and, with certain skills, achieve an aesthetic look. There is another "wired option" that we tested - Powerline technology, when the Internet comes through a power cable. A little scary, to be honest ... Scientifically it is called "power line communication", and it uses power lines to transmit data through them.

Let's not bore you with historical information, but let's get down to business right away. For testing, we chose an apartment in a house built in the late 70s of the last century. The same ancient aluminum wires are laid in the walls, three automatic machines are installed in the shield, but there is one phase, as in the vast majority of cases. The operator cable is brought into one of the rooms where an inexpensive router with Wi-Fi is installed.

Well, let's find out if the crumbling aluminum can handle the load. The tested TP-Link AV1200 Powerline adapters "overclock" up to gigabit, but it will be possible to utilize all this power only in a local network under conditions close to ideal. Externally, the adapters are rather large rectangular boxes with a set of indicators on the side, perforation for ventilation around the perimeter, a connector for a data cable and a duplicate socket, that is, you can still connect equipment “through” the adapter.

How it works?

The host adapter needs to get the internet from somewhere. We plug the device into an outlet and connect the cable from the router to it. Our TP-Link blinks with lights, and without any settings throughout the apartment, when the second adapter is activated, the Internet should appear. Isn't it magic ?!

Now you can go to any room where there is an outlet and look for a place for a second adapter.

In adapter models without Wi-Fi, any device will require an Ethernet cable to connect: the same laptop will have to be connected via a patch cord. If you want to connect a "kitchen" TV to the Internet, then this option looks more practical.

The range of the devices, or rather, their ability to provide communication in the wiring without losing packets, is 100 meters (for the device under test). In this case, it is necessary to take into account the footage of wires in the walls that do not go directly from point A to point B. If something goes wrong and the second adapter does not see the pair, there is a forced "pairing" button. The adapters are looking for each other for 10 seconds, without user intervention, a data transmission chain is created. The signal can circulate throughout the house, but it all depends on how the wiring is routed. And remember: just plugging in a plug from a TV or laptop into the outlet, you will not get the Internet.

“The connection is encrypted with a 128-bit AES key, your neighbor will not see the data. If the wiring is old, if the contact leaves somewhere, the wires are badly twisted - this can negatively affect the throughput. According to the manufacturer, the devices do not care whether copper or aluminum is used in the wiring, ”- said Sergey Barisevich, head of the customer technical support department of Atlant Telecom.

That's it, you don't need to enter any passwords, we have an ordinary local network with access to the Internet on the fly. Now we are interested in speeds.

First, we tested IPTV on a TV by launching HD channels. No brakes, "lags" and a crumbling picture, the speed is obviously more than enough. "HD content requires 18 Mbps for consistent quality,"- comments Sergey.

It's the turn of the Speedtest. The tariff plan allows you to transfer data at 100 Mbit / s, so we are waiting for the corresponding indicators. The maximum that was squeezed out of the old wires in the walls is more than 85 Mbps. This is a very decent result in all aspects. At the maximum possible distance in the apartment from the base outlet, the speed dropped to 80 Mbit / s.

Before measuring the speed again, we load the electrical network to prevent the smooth flow of bits in the wiring. In two rooms, the lights are on, the TV is on, the computer buzzes with fans, the refrigerator rumbles, a microwave oven and a powerful electric kettle join them. Another "speed test" shows about the same figures, with a slight decrease in the region of 5-10%.

Interestingly, the ping practically does not change ("tankers" will be happy), while when connected via Wi-Fi due to air pollution and remoteness from the access point, it jumps to 250-300 ms with a maximum of 30 ms through an electrical outlet. Measurements have shown that wireless communication in an apartment building is less effective than Powerline. But still more convenient.

Later, in an office environment, the data transfer rate was 35 Mbit / s with a distance at least three times longer than in an apartment (but in reality it could be even greater: there was no wiring diagram at hand). In addition, dozens of power-consuming devices are plugged into sockets here.

In both cases, there are no complaints about the quality of data transmission: it is definitely higher than "over the air", even with a load on the electrical network.

Why is this technology not widely used?

“The question of price. Yes, the user can buy a couple more adapters, but the connection price will double. And Wi-Fi is also cheaper and also provides more mobility. This solution is useful for statically installed devices. For the same IPTV, you get a stable signal. Even when working through a surge protector ",- the technical specialist considers.

Why aren't operators using Powerline?

At one time, operators studied the possibility of using such technology to provide Internet access for entire homes. “Roughly speaking, one switch is installed on the house, connected to the optics, and the subscriber gets his adapter into the apartment. No additional wiring was required, "- said Sergey. But in reality, this would result in significant expenses: operators cannot guarantee the quality of wiring installed 5-10, 30 or more years ago. "Something similar happens with ADSL technology, when all operators depend on Beltelecom's telephone line and cannot control the quality of the connection," he added.

conclusions

In a small apartment with Wi-Fi, the practicality of Powerline adapters is not obvious. The only exception is permanently installed equipment: a smart TV or set-top box. Models with wireless modules are more expensive, but they allow you to provide uninterrupted Wi-Fi coverage in apartments where walls are interfering with the signal. Likewise for a private house, when, for example, you need to connect the Internet to the basement.

Introduction

Take a look at the photo below and you won't need any preface.

The inscription in the lower left corner reads "The real World Wide Web", which translates as "the real global network." Indeed, no matter how dynamically houses and offices are connected to computer networks, all these local and global networks cannot be compared with electrical networks. Electrification only on the territory of the former USSR has been going on for more than 80 years, to be exact, since December 20, 1920. There are electrical outlets in every room of every apartment in every house. The idea of ​​using electric wires for data transmission is not new - telemetry data necessary for the operation of electrical substations has long been transmitted over high-voltage power lines. The principles of data transmission over 220 V networks do not differ from those used in power transmission lines, which means that, if desired, it would be possible to connect the Internet to each apartment and connect houses to the global network at an incredible speed. Why, then, did it take so long to create a device that allows computers to be connected via a 220 V network and they begin to appear only now, when it is already a little late ... Perhaps the reason was the spread of home networks. Today a computer in a house is almost a standard, two or more computers in one apartment are far from uncommon. You can stretch tens of meters of cables around your home, connecting all computers, printers and other network devices. But then each computer will become a "workstation", permanently located in the room. Relocating it means relocating the network cable.

You can install an IEEE 802.11b wireless network at home, but there may be problems with signal penetration through walls and ceilings, and besides, this is unnecessary radiation, which is already enough in modern life. And there is another way - to use existing electrical wires and sockets installed in the walls. The only thing that is required for this is the appropriate adapters. The HomePlug Powerline alliance was created to create a unified standard for data transmission over 0.4 kV power grids.

Of course, the quality of the media, in our case, the wiring, leaves much to be desired. It's about network interference. This interference can be caused by both electric motors and other household appliances that induce various harmonics and noise in the network. To enable data transfer in this challenging environment, HomePlug companies have adopted various algorithms to enable data transfer, such as error detection algorithms, auto-retry, interleaving, and more. To provide protection against unauthorized access, 56-bit encryption at the MAC level is used. So the network is protected from intruders. Although, of course, not like a regular wired one.

A few words about the characteristics of the HomePlug PowerLine connection. The network connection speed through electrical wires is 14 Mbps. More than BlueTooth and IEEE 802.11b, of course, but less than IEEE 802.11g and Fast Ethernet. The range is approximately 500 meters. This is quite enough for one entrance, or even a house. But it should be borne in mind that the distribution network is three-phase, and one phase and zero is supplied to the houses, uniformly loading each of the phases. So if you are connected to one phase, and your neighbor is connected to another, then you will not be able to use such a system. HomePlug PowerLine adapters operate entirely in hardware, without drivers or software. Accordingly, they are compatible with all Windows operating systems on computers with a Pentium 166 MMX processor with 32 MB of memory.

HomePlug Ethernet PowerLine Adapter

Let's consider the first device in our review - an RJ45 adapter for 220V :). We were unable to establish the manufacturer of this device. The device comes in a small blue cardboard box.

The delivery set is quite simple - the adapter itself, an RJ45 network cable and a CD with an electronic user manual and drivers, which, by the way, will not be useful here, since the device itself works exclusively at the hardware level.

Outwardly, the device looks like a regular power supply. Five indicator lights on the top side and an RJ45 port on the end.

The adapter is powered, as is logical, from the 220 V network itself.

The photo above shows the adapter device - a transformer, filters, two chips and a power outlet.

Naturally, in order to connect two computers via a network by connecting through an electrical outlet, we need two similar adapters,

each of which will be connected by a network cable to its own computer and its own electrical outlet.

In case you do not have an extra network card in your computer, you can connect computers to the network via USB ports. The HomePlug standard also implies this type of adapters - USB to 220 V.

Only in this case, the maximum speed is limited by the speed of the USB 1.1 port - 12 Mbit / s, and you can connect two or more computers to a network via network wires, but you cannot connect USB devices. I would like to connect a printer in another room via HomePlug, but such a device is not yet produced. But connecting two computers via USB is easy.

This adapter is slightly smaller in size, it has one USB port, and its electrical plug rotates 90 degrees to adapt to the specific position of the outlet. By the way, the HomePlug PowerLine Ethernet and HomePlug PowerLine USB adapters are compatible with each other. This means that you can build a network using USB or Ethernet versions of these adapters on different computers. The main thing is to install the appropriate drivers on the USB version of the adapter.

conclusions

Of course, the HomePlug Powerline series adapters appeared with a slight delay. Today, with the boom in wireless connections, network problems are a thing of the past. But in various situations where wireless networks cannot be used (for example, in buildings with thick walls, where the signal is attenuated in the next room), and broaching a conventional twisted pair cable may be difficult, such a solution may well become a panacea. Theoretically, with the help of such adapters, it is easier to connect at home to the district network (the main thing is to know the distribution of the phases of the electrical network), it is easier to connect your computer to a neighbor's computer, and simply to connect several home or office PCs together. The cost of adapters - about $ 70 for HomePlug Ethernet and $ 50 for HomePlug USB - cannot be called too high, especially if there are no other ways to stretch the network.

We thank Data Storage for providing the HomePlug PowerLine Ethernet and HomePlug PowerLine USB adapters.

Mikhail Degtyarev (aka LIKE OFF)
5/07.2004

Technologies for using electrical wiring for data transmission PLC (PowerLine Communication) or DPL (Digital PowerLine) began to be developed quite a long time ago (even in Russia, back in the 30s of the last century, studies were carried out on the possibility of exchanging data via ordinary power supply wires on the Kashirskaya power line), but engineers for a long time they could not overcome the problem of signal attenuation caused by noise on the line (any wiring is characterized by a high level of noise and fast attenuation of the high-frequency signal, as well as a significant change in the communication parameters of the line depending on the current load). Later, these problems were successfully solved through the use of broadband signal modulation algorithms (for example, PLC technology has long been used to transmit information and technical data in power systems and on railways), however, equipment for transmitting data over power grids remained quite expensive, so data is widely used. technologies have not been received for a long time. After all, the economic factor plays a decisive role in the success of any technology - for the commercial success of the development, it is necessary that the equipment be reliable and multifunctional, provide a sufficiently high transfer rate and at the same time remain relatively inexpensive.

And today, inexpensive equipment finally appears on the market that meets all these requirements, and if we take into account that the number of electrical outlets so far significantly exceeds the number of telephone outlets (especially in our country, where telephony is still not a necessary attribute in the construction of houses), then the PLC technology gets practically unlimited development possibilities. It was these considerations that guided the developers of equipment for transmitting data over wiring lines. Power lines are everywhere, even in the most remote corners of the globe, so this technology does not require additional communications (and in some places the laying of new cables is generally undesirable or simply impossible), which significantly reduces its cost and increases functionality.

It is obvious that in the new millennium, the technology for transmitting digital traffic over power lines is becoming one of the most promising areas of development in the provision of communication services - the widespread prevalence of power grids, their availability and multifunctionality open up rich opportunities for using PLCs.

Home wireless networks

If there are several network devices in the house (desktop computer, laptop, media server, game console, photo frame, etc.), of course, there is a need to exchange data between them, while the traditional solution is to combine such devices into a local network, since this opens the ability not only to exchange data (which could be done with the help of external media), but also to access the Internet, watch video or network games. Moreover, it is desirable that the created local network is easily scalable, that is, so that in the future new devices can be connected to it, and its configuration can be changed without additional investments. Traditionally, home networks are organized by laying Ethernet cables (twisted pair) or by using wireless networks based on the 802.11 b / g protocol. However, each of these approaches has both undeniable advantages and significant disadvantages.

Yes, by connecting computers to a home network using a twisted pair cable based on the Ethernet protocol, we get a high-speed reliable network with a high level of noise immunity. And the financial costs seem to be low - given that almost all modern computers have a network controller, we only need to purchase a network switch and a cable. However, laying a network cable creates serious inconvenience in any home, and sometimes it is generally an intractable problem. Indeed, a rare hostess in a modern house will treat favorably the appearance of new wires. In addition, in the case of laying a wired local network, each workstation is "tied" to a power outlet, and in the case of redevelopment of the premises, it is necessary to lay the local network practically from scratch. And this is impossible without carrying out repair and construction work of one scale or another, so the problem of laying a wire network is aggravated from year to year, especially in connection with the steady rise in prices for building materials.

Of course, it is more convenient to use wireless technologies to build a home network, because then we can get rid of the wires that tie us to a certain place and get much greater mobility, but this approach is not without serious drawbacks. For example, if in a wired Ethernet network the distance between nodes can reach 100 m, then wireless Wi-Fi networks work stably at much shorter distances. At the same time, the range of wireless networks is highly dependent on obstacles encountered in the way, for example, reinforced concrete structures, which absolutely do not allow the 2.4 GHz waves to pass through. So modern houses are far from the best place to set records for the communication range of such devices. And if within the same apartment 802.11 b / g wireless networks can be considered a very effective solution, then communication with friends who live even in a neighboring apartment behind a capital wall may well turn out to be unstable or even completely impossible. In addition, the wireless standards of the 802.11 family and even the new version of 802.11n are not suitable for receiving IP-TV and high-definition video at any point in the house - the transmission of broadcast video content (Multicast) provided by IPTV operators is not provided for.

High definition electricity

But, for example, the range of the network over electrical wires in the HomePlug AV standard, which belongs to the family of PLC technologies that uses the most common electrical wiring as a network medium, reaches 300 m and does not depend on the number and thickness of floors in the room. Even in problematic cases, HomePlug AV technology provides a real speed of at least 40 Mbps. Moreover, the main advantage of this solution is that there is no need to lay additional cables to connect network equipment - it is enough for the room to have electrical wiring (220 V network). Thus, digital networks over telecommunication lines can today become the only alternative to direct Ethernet connection when watching, for example, digital video without delays and loss of quality simultaneously with data transmission.

Moreover, in a modern home, building a home local network using PLC technologies may be more preferable than alternative options. The latest, already the third version of the HomePlug AV specification for home networks over electrical wires, provides data transmission at a speed of up to 200 Mbit / s and can be used as a convenient channel for transmitting a high-definition television (HDTV) signal, IPTV, Internet and IP-telephony (VoIP ). The abbreviation AV stands for multimedia orientation - the specialization of transmission over electrical wires of audio and video content in real time.

Equipment for data transmission on wiring

One of the main manufacturers of HomePlug AV equipment is ZyXEL. The line of devices, which implements the idea of ​​data transmission over electrical wires according to the HomePlug AV specification, consists of the P660HWP Internet center and HomePlug AV PLA400 and PLA470 Powerline adapters. The P660HWP Internet Center is a universal device that serves to connect to the Internet and IP-TV via a dedicated ADSL channel with the ability to create a home network not only via Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but also through conventional wiring using HomePlug AV technology. With a built-in HomePlug AV adapter, the P660HWP Internet Center is a wiring connecting element of the network, and the PLA400 and PLA470 adapters allow you to distribute a local network around the apartment, while providing high enough speed and allowing you to connect a personal computer with any other network devices in other rooms. With adapters, you can transfer audio, video, IP telephony, and data over conventional wiring and create low-cost home LANs. Thus, it is possible to combine various devices in the house into a single multimedia space, and without laying any additional communications.

The PLA400 has one Ethernet port, and the PLA470 has a built-in 4-port switch, allowing you to connect multiple network devices, such as a computer and game console, through a single electrical outlet.

HomePlug AV-adapter PLA400 (with one Ethernet port) is sold in Russia for 2000-2200 rubles. (less than $ 100), PLA470 (with 4-port Ethernet switch) costs about 2500-2700 rubles in retail today. (up to $ 110), and the P660HWP Internet Center with a built-in HomePlug AV adapter, a 4-port Ethernet switch and an 802.11g Wi-Fi access point is sold for 4,700-5,000 rubles.

As a result of testing this equipment in the conditions of ordinary Moscow electrical wiring, it was, of course, not possible to achieve 200 Mbit / s (the connection was established at the level of 50 Mbit / s with minor drops when household electrical appliances were turned on), but high-resolution video was transmitted over the power grid without failures and distortions. That is, this technology does not reach the speed of a 100-megabit Ethernet network, but the WiFi 802.11g wireless network is significantly ahead.

It is especially important that all HomePlug AV adapters have built-in Quality of Service (QoS) support mechanisms, which provide guaranteed bandwidth required for the transmission of voice, sound, video and data encryption for secure transmission of information (information is reliably protected from eavesdropping and interception by the protocol AES with 128-bit key). All this works great and does not cause any complaints, and the effect of interference created by various household appliances on the communication line installed between two PCs using HomePlug AV adapters turned out to be minimal in practice (as it turned out, neither a working drill, nor fluorescent lamps with pulse converters significantly do not affect the quality of data transmission). The installation process for the aforementioned devices is extremely simple and will not raise questions even for unprepared users. The P660HWP Keenetic and HomePlug AV adapters for connecting to the Internet and IPTV are configured using the ZyXEL NetFriend program. To configure the equipment using the "Network Friend", you need a minimum of skills and about 10 minutes of time. You just need to choose your city, provider and tariff plan. The rest of the settings, such as Wi-Fi and IPTV, are optional.

When using IPTV services, you need to connect a set-top box to the ZyXEL P660HWP Internet Center, select the required tariff and indicate to the program the port to which you connected the set-top box. And if the set-top box is connected to the PLA400 or PLA470 adapter through the wiring, then using the same program you need to select HomePlug AV. The adapters also do not require any special knowledge from the user for installation and configuration - at the household level, HomePlug AV technology can be presented simply as an Ethernet network extender.

Thus, this technology and its implementation in devices from ZyXEL can be recommended as an alternative to traditional technologies where the above disadvantages of the latter become insurmountable, costly or simply inconvenient.

Greetings!
Today's topic about Homeplug AV technology and PowerLine adapters working with it will be of interest to those who are too lazy to understand all the intricacies of setting up a Wi-Fi router for a long time or pull cables through the whole apartment, but really wants to connect the Internet to more than one computer in the apartment, but and then to a TV or smartphone / tablet. And I want to please you - there is such an opportunity! And we will use the usual electrical wiring in your house to bring our idea to life - the Internet and WiFi will be where there is an electrical outlet.

About HomePlug AV technology and PowerLine adapters

A special device of the HomePlug standard - the so-called PowerLine adapter (I used a set from Tenda) allows you to connect the Internet through an outlet. Or rather, several such devices - one for each computer. It looks like a small box with a plug - like a charger from a mobile - and has an RJ-45 network connector for a twisted pair.

The scheme of the network is outrageously simple - you buy several HomePlug adapters - as many as you need to attach computers. Insert a patch cord into one of them, connecting it to a router configured for an Internet provider. And plug it into an outlet - hence the name of the technology ("PowerLine" means "electrical wiring" in translation).

In the next room, you insert exactly the same PowerLine adapter and connect it with the same twisted pair to another computer - that's it, the Internet is connected through a 220 V outlet. The rest of the parameters of the local network (IP, gateway, etc., etc.) are configured in the same way as if you were pulling the network cable in the standard way.

How it works? The HomePlug standard, which is the basis of the described local PowerLine network, is characterized by converting the data received through the Ethernet network port into a high-frequency signal, which is transmitted through the socket to the electrical network. In another room, the same adapter no longer receives pure 220 volts, but a combined signal with transmitted data packets. All that remains is to recognize this high-frequency signal, convert it and output it to the network Ethernet port, from where they go to another PC, or via WiFi.

This type of connection is much more stable than when using a regular WiFi repeater, since the interference is minimal and the signal quality is almost never degraded.

For clarity, look at the product overview of one company that produces such adapters - by the way, they are made by all firms involved in the production of network equipment, so the choice is yours.

Pros and cons of PowerLine

Despite the great convenience of such an Internet wiring around the house, PowerLine technology has several disadvantages:

• The network works only within 1 meter and only in a single-phase power network, although only 2 wires are enough for it (phase and zero)
• The supported range is about 300 meters, but depending on the distance, the signal is received worse
• Powerful household appliances may interfere with operation.

And the last condition, which in itself is self-evident, is that there must be a configured local network in the house through a router.

How to connect a smartphone via HomePlug?

But what does a smartphone have to do with it, you ask? And despite the fact that another wifi router or access point can be attached to such a device with a cable. Moreover, there are Powerline adapters with a built-in WiFi module, that is, by inserting it into an outlet, you can bring the Internet out through an electrical outlet not only by cable, but also wirelessly, which means you can connect to it from any device that supports WiFi without purchasing a separate one. equipment for relaying a wireless signal.

Therefore, I recommend not to be stingy and immediately purchase several of these adapters with built-in WiFi - fortunately, in price they are not much different from simple HomePlug cable adapters. Outwardly, they can be recognized by the presence of a characteristic antenna, although it may not be there - you need to look at the description on the box or in the instructions.

Unfortunately, this method has its drawbacks. Firstly, working electrical appliances can create significant interference due to which the communication quality and speed will drop. The total bandwidth of the network built on HomePlug adapters is divided among all clients, which means that the more computers, the lower the speed and reliability.

Secondly, the range of the network is limited to 200 meters and strongly depends on the quality of the wiring. If most of us are quite satisfied with the footage, then the wiring in old houses without repair leaves much to be desired. But even if you live in a new home, it's too early to rejoice. In modern apartments, the power line often has a three-phase structure, in other words, not one, but three power grids work in an apartment at once. In this case, in order to implement the Internet through an outlet, it is necessary to install a phase interface device in the electrical panel, which is located on the staircase. But this problem is completely solved by calling a specialist from the house management.

In simple terms, it is best to plug these devices into paired, parallel-connected sockets.

Despite the disadvantages described, it's worth a try, especially since the configuration of these devices is very simple and will allow you to organize a local network over a very decent distance. If, when building a local network in a private house, you have to use several repeaters and antennas to stabilize the Wi-Fi signal, or drill ceilings and pull tens of meters of cables, then here you just need to buy an additional adapter for expansion.

The prospects of PowerLine technology are also very tempting - after all, in this way you can combine all household appliances into one smart system with a single control center on your computer - I think that this is a matter of the very near future.

How to set up HomePlug PowerLine adapters?

In the meantime, in our present, I will show you how to configure adapters to distribute the Internet through an electrical outlet.

We plug the first adapter into an electrical outlet, and connect it with a patch cord to the router in its LAN port. Subsequent - we connect to other sockets and connect to computers that will be included in our local network.

After going through all the purely technical stages of connecting cables and inserting devices into sockets, we find the "SYNC" or "PAIR" buttons on their cases.

We press them one by one on all adapters and they will automatically connect with each other and begin to exchange information. In case of successful connection to each other on the case, among other indicators, the LED in the form of a "house" should light up. Also, when working properly, the “Power”, “Network” and “WiFi” indicators (if there is a wireless module) should be on.

As I already said, all other settings necessary for the operation of machines on a local network are made in the routers and the computers themselves. However, you need to consider what IP addresses these adapters have by default in order to be able to get into their configuration panel. These data are most often indicated on a sticker on the adapter case.

Let me give you an example - PowerLine adapters from Tenda, which I purchased, have an IP of 192.168.0.254. Accordingly, the entire network should look like this - the router has an internal IP 192.168.0.1, and the rest of the computers have addresses like 192.168.0.XXX, where XXX is a number from 2 to 253. If you have a DHCP client on your router that distributes IPs automatically, it means just change the address of the router to the above.

This also raises the question of security - after purchasing an adapter from the same company, any neighbor who is somehow connected to your electrical wiring will be able to use your Internet for free. But this is not a problem either - to ensure maximum protection, the kit comes with a special utility on CD, with which you can control all devices connected to the sockets from one PC. Let's look at one of these programs from TP-Link.

After installation, in the main window, we will see the MAC address of the adapter to which this computer is connected. Click on it and press the "Connect" button.

If the connection is successful, the message “Connected on High Speed” will appear and scanning of the entire network will start, and the detected adapters will be displayed in the list below. Pay attention to the empty password field ("Password"). Click on the line, click on the "Enter Password" button and manually set the unique key indicated on the sticker placed on the bottom of the adapter case.

We do the same with all devices from the list, after which we go to the "Privacy" tab - this is where security is configured. by default, the entire network is open, that is, a neighbor can easily wedge into it. But we can make it private. To do this, you need to set your unique name in the "Private Network Name" field to activate the DES encryption protocol. Next, click the "Set All Devices" button to add all the computers available in the LAN to it.

That's all - now whoever tries to break in to you will fail.
That's all for today - try it, share your experience in the comments. By the way, the other day I ordered myself such a set in China, so wait for a video review in three weeks.

Thanks! Did not help

Good afternoon friends! Welcome to our training Internet portal "From Computer to" YOU ".

In the previous article, we talked about, sorted out the most popular. But sometimes it happens that the usual connection methods (Ethernet network cable or Wi-Fi wireless connection) cannot be used.

The reasons for this may be a recent renovation and not a desire to make extra holes in the walls for laying the cable; steel reinforcement in the walls and ceilings of monolithic buildings, preventing the penetration of radio waves, and much more.

If you find yourself in such a situation, then your choice is. In this case, the role of a computer local area network will be performed by the usual electrical wiring at home. HomePlugAV is the most common technology that connects a 220-volt outlet to an Ethernet port.

The provision of Internet access via the power grid is possible thanks to the development of PLC technology (Power Line Communication). PLC in its capabilities is no different from other technologies, only it does not require a special cable or wireless channel with a dedicated frequency. The data is transmitted over the home power grid.

To create such a network, you will need two adapters: one is plugged into an outlet and connected with a twisted pair cable to a computer or router that provides Internet access. To provide other computers Internet through an outlet an additional HomePlugAV adapter must be connected to the same mains.

The principle of operation of such adapters is quite simple. As you know, the current is transmitted through the wires of the home electrical network at a frequency of 50 Hz. The adapters convert the computer data into an electrical signal with a higher frequency (2-32 MHz) and superimpose it on the alternating current of the mains. On the receiving side, the reverse transformation takes place.

types of HomePlugAV adapters

1.With an Ethernet port... In this case, data transfer between the computer and the adapter is carried out using a conventional twisted pair.

2.With a WLAN module... Communication with the computer is established over a wireless network. In addition, these adapters are usually equipped with an additional Ethernet port.

3.With a connector for connecting a satellite dish... This type of adapter includes the most recent and newer models that use the home electrical network to transmit the signal from a satellite dish to a computer or TV receiver.

Advantages of the technology "Internet through a socket"

• Lack of additional wires. There is no need to lay network cables, just plug the adapter into the socket of the appropriate room.
• Large range of action. Since in modern apartments and houses sockets are present in every room, the Internet is also available in any corner of the apartment. The same cannot be said about the Wi-Fi network: the signal already weakens when passing through two walls. If the house is 2-storey, then you cannot do without a signal repeater.
• Expandable quickly. It is enough to purchase an additional adapter.

disadvantages of the "Internet through a socket" technology

• HomePlugAV adapters can interfere with radios and shortwave radio transmitters. This is because adapters convert computer data into a short wavelength signal and transmit it along with the electrical signal from the mains. Because electrical wiring, unlike coaxial wiring, is not shielded; it, like a transmitting antenna, emits a short-wave radio signal. Many manufacturers equip their adapters with special filters in order to eliminate radio interference.
• Other electrical appliances (washing machines, power supplies for computers or TVs) can also interfere with the data transmission channel. As a result of the influence of such devices, the speed of data transmission over the network drops very sharply.
• Modern apartments are usually equipped with a three-phase power line, i.e. not a single power grid is installed in the apartment, but three. In this case, in order to transfer data over the power grid, it is necessary to install a phase interface device in the electrical panel (on the staircase).

data security in PLC networks

Because the power grid is not limited to one apartment or even one building, then the likelihood of connecting to your network is very high. However, the HomePlugAV standard has not only a high data transfer rate (about 200 Mbit / s), but also a high reliability of data transmission (using the AES encryption algorithm with a 128-bit key). And if we take into account that there is no ubiquitous equipment of digital devices with this technology (as is the case with Wi-Fi), then we can say that the “Internet through a socket” has sufficient security and reliability.

technology development prospects

Despite the widespread development of the wireless network, PLC technology (in particular the HomePlugAV standard) will still gain its popularity. Long distances, the need for high bandwidth, radio-absorbing obstacles - all this makes the "Internet through a socket" in demand among users.

This technology has its drawbacks, just like any other technology. But progress does not stand still, the standard is being improved, the speed and noise immunity of the channel are growing.

Among other things, the proliferation of PLC networks is facilitated by another technology that is gaining popularity in the near future - smart home networks (“Smart” home). No one will argue that the future belongs to a unified monitoring and control of all household appliances and all life support systems - from a light bulb to a door lock. And the PLC power grid data transmission technology is perfect for this.