Homeplug: mix-n-match?

[memilanuk]

So... I've got 4 Netgear AV200 adapters - one connected to the router on the main floor, one connected to a switch upstairs, and another connected to a switch downstairs. Everything is working great - faster than wifi in the house, no wiring hassles, etc.

I'm interested in adding some more adapters - based on the review/round-up from November, possibly one of the ZyXEL AV500 kits - to replace the ones @ the router, and the one @ the switch upstairs, and relocate the AV200 units to other locations as needed.

Any issues with mix-n-matching brands, and speeds - AV200 vs. AV500? I would expect that an AV500 unit communicating with an AV200 unit wouldn't be able to go faster than the AV200 is capable of... but would it limit the throughput between the two AV500 units? Would having the two different types of units on the same 'network' muck things up completely?

TIA,

Monte

 

[thiggins]

Yes, a 500 Mbps HomePlug AV device communicating with a 200 Mbps device will operate at 200 Mbps link rates.

200 Mbps and 500 Mbps devices use the same frequency band. So if a pair of 200 Mbps and a pair of 500 Mbps devices are active at the same time, throughput of each pair will be lower, yes.

 

[rhombus]

Hi Monte

It shouldn't muck things up completely, because they are designed to be backwards-compatible. But I also don't know the exact answers to your questions. I think, correct me if I'm wrong, these amount to: if there is a single Homeplug network of 1x500Mbps at the router, and 1x500Mbps at Location A and 1x200Mbps at Location B, then what is the impact on throughput Router-to-A if B is switched on? And what is the throughput impact if traffic is also actively passing to B?

Which country are you in by the way?

 

[memilanuk]

US of A

Most of my network gets by just fine (for now) on the AV200 stuff. I do have 2Mbps up/ 10Mbps down on my fiber Internet account, and I recently discovered SABnzbd and Sick Beard so my link between the upstairs computer (with the large screen, good speakers and big HDD) and the router is maxed out @ 2Mbps pretty muuch all the time Eventually I want to be able to add streaming media to a HTPC if possible.