Powerline AV

[ozymandius5]

Really hoping I'm posting in the right place.

I'm using a D-Link DHP-306AV Powerline AV Network Adapter and trying to get broadband to a fifth wheel. Of course this means I'm going through an AC to DC convertor. I get strong signal up to the fifth wheel, but nothing thereafter.

So the question I have is if powerline over DC the problem here, or something else?

 

[Mark Uhde]

Really hoping I'm posting in the right place.

I'm using a D-Link DHP-306AV Powerline AV Network Adapter and trying to get broadband to a fifth wheel. Of course this means I'm going through an AC to DC convertor. I get strong signal up to the fifth wheel, but nothing thereafter.

So the question I have is if powerline over DC the problem here, or something else?

Yup, the rectifier (to get DC) and inverter (to get AC again) configuration will wipeout any hope of getting powerline. Heck, it's hard enough to get it on the opposite leg of standard US household center-tap AC.

You have five common options:

1. Wireless. Ubiquiti makes their NanoStation Loco M5's. Dirt cheap wireless bridging, set one up as a WDS-AP and the other as a WDS-STA to get a true transparent bridge. Similar speed to 100mbps Ethernet.

2. CAT5e. Use direct burial cable and ideally make sure grounds are bonded between buildings (though Ethernet IS isolated). Gigabit speeds are possible.

3. Fiber. Ideal, the best connection. Costs a relative fortune and requires special tools.

4. DSL. If you happen to have an unused copper pair or need longer distances, it's an option. Probably not your best one, but mentioning it for the sake of completeness.

5. MoCA. Again, not much point. If you have to drop new cable, may as well drop direct burial CAT5e rather than direct burial coax... like DSL, this would be for existing cable running (unlikely since it's a 5th wheel).

If you were my client, I'd do the wireless route, for speed of installation.