wireless bridge or powerline-ethernet adaptor (or something else?)

[fba827]

Just hunting for opinions/experiences.

Short version: have a wireless network setup downstairs (the router and all adaptors currently in use are all linksys). Now, a room upstairs was recently converted to an office - he wants to set up 2 computers in there.

Option 1) I can go out and get wireless network adaptors for each of the computers - no big problem there and it's the fall back plan

Option 2) I can get a wireless bridge, plug all the computers to that, and let the bridge get its uplink from the wireless network. I am fine with that too (I know my way around setting things up), but I have zero experience in selecting wireless bridges, etc.

Option 3) I could dabble in to powerline-ethernet adaptors (where you connect the router to an electric outlet, which in turn lets you connect a device to another electric socket as if it were ethernet wires). I understand how they work and all, but, again, no experience with it so I wouldn't want to fork over the cash for it unless they 'generally' work alright... i know, house wiring and all play a huge factor.


I'm not looking to spend huge wads of cash, and want something that will generally be stable. So I guess the point of this post -- anyone have much experience with wireless bridges or powerline ethernet adaptors or some other option I'm not even thinking about?

[babomb]

Well, you could:

4.) run ethernet cables connecting the router downstairs to the computers up stairs (or run only one and connect it to a switch upstairs that connects to both computers). But maybe you don't want to run the cable.

5.) relocate the modem, router, and wireless access point upstairs. It might save you buying a couple of wireless network adapters, assuming all of the computers downstairs are using wireless connections already.

I don't recommend powerline networking if any of the other options will work, as they will be significantly slower than the other options, even if you have good wiring. See this review for comparison.

[XCorvis]

Powerline networking is slow, from what I hear. If you're already willing to get wireless adapters, don't even bother considering powerline.

Do you expect to do any heavy sharing directly between the computers upstairs? Like streaming music or videos? If that's the case, I'd use the bridge so they can be wired directly to each other, it'll be faster and support the streaming better. That will also reduce the amount of shared wireless bandwidth they eat just talking to each other. I imagine they'd be pretty easy to set up, at least as easy as a wireless router.

[fba827]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Unless someone has any last minute thoughts, I think I'll try my hand at the wireless bridge mainly because I can get one for a little less than the cost of 2 wireless adaptors and it'll be less I have to do on the computers itself (so there would only be one point of potential failure rather than 2 with drivers and compatibility and what not).

I've never bought a wireless bridge before, so I guess i have some reading and comparing to do now.

[azhrei_fje]

This is your best choice for a couple of reasons. First, using a bridge doesn't require that the two computers compete for "air time" if they are both doing something network intensive. Second, if you do have wireless interference, you know which component is having the problem.

Powerline networking has come a long way in the last 2 years or so. I didn't pay much attention to an article in my IEEE magazine recently, but there have been major improvements in performance and noise reduction. If the products are not already out there, they will be soon. So what you know (or think you know) about powerline networking has either changed or will very soon...

(Of course, doesn't help the OP since he wants his network now! )