I would like to network two PC's in my apartment. I have a 4-port hub right next to my Windows box. The Linux box will go in my other bedroom. The problem is there is no easy way to run CAT-5 between the two rooms. My first thought was to look at 802.11(b,g) products, but for this very simplistic application (networking two desktops) it seems excessive to go wireless... It's not like I'm going to be roaming around my house with a laptop or anything. And then there's the whole security issue.

So I had heard a little bit about home networking through power lines (as is used by the Rio Receiver, IIRC) and did a little searching. It sounds like a lot of products have appeared which will bridge Ethernet LAN's to home electrical lines. So I figure if I bought two of them, I could have a relatively fast connection between the two rooms.

So does anyone have experience with these products? I think the maximum theoretical speed is 14 mbps, which is slower than the fast ethernet I would be getting if I ran CAT-5, but for my purposes, it might be fast enough. Do these things flake out with power surges or anything like that? The one that seems to be getting the best reviews is the Siemens product, and I could have two of them for around $90. Is it worth the expense, or should I try to find a way to jerry-rig CAT-5 between the rooms?

Do the two rooms that you want to network share a wall? If so, you could see if your power outlets are back to back - in which case there is probably a hole in the wall for the outlet boxes that you could slip a ethernet cable through. I did that in my apartment. I got a couple of RJ-45 jacks and connected them with a 4" patch cable through the outlet holes - worked rather nicely.

- trs

Or - you could run ethernet cable through the air ducts. That has worked well for me in the past, too.

- trs

Man, those were the days...THE days

Do the two rooms that you want to network share a wall?

Nope, no shared wall, there's a bathroom in between the two rooms. Air ducts are also out of the question.

Basically, if I did run CAT-5, it'd probably have to go under the carpet (along the walls) in Bedroom #1, then go through the doorway into the bathroom, then along the base of the bathroom cabinetry, through the other bathroom door, into Bedroom #2. Really yucky.

Nope, no shared wall, there's a bathroom in between the two rooms. Air ducts are also out of the question.

Well, that sux... I've never tried the powerline ethernet - but if it works anything like the powerline phone line then I wouldn't recommend it. Another option would be to get a couple of wireless PCI cards. You could get a couple for even cheaper than your powerline ethernet solution. There are a bunch listed here (although, the cards with an actual wireless card in them and not just a chassis start at about $38). You could then set up a direct link between your linux box and the other pc. I would trust that connection a lot more than one over the apartment power lines.

- trs

That's true, then there'd be no wireless accesspoint and you set up each to only allow from each...

Hmm. Interesting. A little less appealing though, because instead of both PC's going into my hub, I'd have PC1 going into the hub, and PC2 only networked with PC1... So it'd have to use some kind of bridged networking to access the broadband connection that comes into the hub. And the speed of 802.11b is supposedly less than that of the power line adaptors, but who knows what the real world speed will end up at.

Just set up PC1 to allow internet connection sharing over the wireless card.

Just set up PC1 to allow internet connection sharing over the wireless card.

I do this very thing with my xbox at home. Over a ethernet NIC, though not a wireless - but the concept is exactly the same and easy to do.

Hmm. That could work. I'll have to weigh the pros and cons. Haven't seen too many people trying the power line thing yet.

How about HPNA?

See this thread about my experience with powerline ethernet. Overall, I thought it was very good.

How about HPNA?

Hmm. I can't remember if there's even a phone jack in the second room... That's an interesting idea... Except I can't even remember if there's a working phone line in the 2nd bedroom. I'll have to check tonight... But that's probably better than the power line thing. 10mbps speed is probably good enough... And you can't beat $8.95 per card.

See this thread about my experience with powerline ethernet. Overall, I thought it was very good.

Cool. I thought someone had taken the plunge, and now that you repost it, that thread rings a faint bell.

If I don't have a phone jack in the other room, I'll probably go with the power line solution. But for $8.95 a card, I can't say no to the PNA solution.

WAS very good - as in, you don't use that method of connectivity any more?

No need for it in my current house. Wired ethernet and 802.11g.

I still have the equipment (Netgear brand). I think I have 3 of them in packed in a box somewhere.

I don't know... At roughly the same cost as the wireless (.11b) equipment and at 1/4 the bandwidth (14Mbs as compared to 54Mbs) - I don't see the value of it.

- trs

Just get in there and run wiring...much better and you could use it as an excuse to drink a 6pack

I bit the bullet and ran wiring in my last house. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Get plenum-rated CAT5 if you do.

Just get in there and run wiring...much better and you could use it as an excuse to drink a 6pack

I need no excuse to drink a 6 pack, the very existence of a 6 pack in my fridge is reason enough to celebrate.

Having said that, running wire is an option, but not a particularly attractive one at this point.

I am glad we stand on the same page with the 6pack

Seriously though, if you run your own wiring you're only out the cost of wiring/jacks/etc. Nothing else to buy

you're only out the cost of wiring/jacks/etc

Don't forget those little plastic wire wall mounts with the nail in em. You'll need those too.

- trs

There is really less to go wrong/break/burnout that way

Would agree if it were his house but an apartment????

Maybe if the landlord would pay for the materials (wiring and outlets) but I'd hate to put work in someone else's place unless I was going to stay there a long while.

Wireless would be easier to setup and when you move easier yet to setup in your next wild and crazy bachelor pad.

Well, I always had the 'run all sorts of wiring through the apartment and then spackle like hell in the end' mentality back in those days...