Using 2x 85 mbit Netgear HomePlug (or Power Line) adaptors - One is in my Dad's room hooked up to a BT HomeHub through a few switches, and the other is in my room and my PC is plugged into it directly.

Every 10 minutes or so, my PC seems to lose all internet connection. I don't *think* it's the modem (although on the older Belkin Vision it was fine...) as no-one else is having any issues - but I need to check this.

All the lights on the adaptor stay lit, although obviously the "incoming" data lights on the adaptor stop flashing.

When the internet dies on my PC, it also dies on PC#2 and the laptop using the Wireless access point hooked up to the same HomePlug adaptor - So I'm assuming that it's not my PC's or a software issue.

When I had a cable running from one end of the house to the other - it worked fine - but I only had the cable there for about 30 minutes before someone slammed a door on it and broke it so thats not a permanent solution.

Once the network breaks I'm unable to even connect to the router - and then about 2 or 3 minutes later it comes to life again.

Any ideas at all?

Quote from Jakg :

Using 2x 85 mbit Netgear HomePlug (or Power Line) adaptors - One is in my Dad's room hooked up to a BT HomeHub through a few switches, and the other is in my room and my PC is plugged into it directly.

Every 10 minutes or so, my PC seems to lose all internet connection. I don't *think* it's the modem (although on the older Belkin Vision it was fine...) as no-one else is having any issues - but I need to check this.

All the lights on the adaptor stay lit, although obviously the "incoming" data lights on the adaptor stop flashing.

When the internet dies on my PC, it also dies on PC#2 and the laptop using the Wireless access point hooked up to the same HomePlug adaptor - So I'm assuming that it's not my PC's or a software issue.

When I had a cable running from one end of the house to the other - it worked fine - but I only had the cable there for about 30 minutes before someone slammed a door on it and broke it so thats not a permanent solution.

Once the network breaks I'm unable to even connect to the router - and then about 2 or 3 minutes later it comes to life again.

Any ideas at all?

Wish I had an answer, Jack. I'm thinking it may be some sort of RF noise in the mains, not exactly sure where that might come from though (possibly a high-power device plugged in somewhere?)

I've got these homeplug adapters myself as I use them for connecting my PS3 to the router when I'm running Linux on the PS3. The connection is perfectly reliable in Linux but when I use the wired connection in XMB on the PS3, it drops out! Strangely enough, wireless is rubbish in Linux but perfectly reliable in XMB!!

So I'd look at noise on the lines mate, got to be something like that. Sorry I don't have a definitive answer but when I find it, I'll post back here for sure.

Just a quick update - If I try different sockets in my room or even something on a different ringmain I still have the same intermittent connection issues

Any ideas at all?

First thing i would do is phone BT and ask them to do a live test on the line.

If that comes back positive i'd then test each cable one by one, it could be something as simple as a loose connection in one of the plugs, it usually is . If they're all ok then check the hardware in isloation, i.e the routers, adaptors etc. It doesn't sound like a PC/software problem.

There is a possibility you're simply overloading the system, but that depends on how many different internets, phone lines and Sky TV connections you're running at the same time. But generally that shouldn't be a problem, that just tends to slow things down rather than cut the signal suddenly.

The interweb works fine when using a cable from the router directly - So it can't be an ISP issue.

Hadn't thought about it being an issue with the hub between the powerline thingy and the homehub though...

Unless you're with BT or Telewest your ISP will have nothing to do with the cables between the main exchange and your house, (or the cables running through the house for that matter).

When the internet connection is cut have you ever checked the phone line to see if you've still got dial tone ? Come to think of it, do you have a good clear dial tone ? If there is a problem somewhere in BT's network the phones are always the first to go (they use two wires, whereas the internet only uses one)

No I think you misunderstand.

When I use a cable coming from the BT HomeHub to my PC it worked for around 30 minutes before someone cut the cable - as it is the lights on the router all stay lit up, and no-one else has lost internet.

I will have a look in the router but I don't think it's losing sync - When the internet goes I can't ping any internet site, or even the HomeHub's IP address (both come back as a Timeout).

got a couple ideas, to test the adapters plug an extension lead into the same socket face as the home hub end of the adaptors is connected(i asume there is a double socket in the room were the homehub is) and then plug your adaptor into the extension lead, if thats fin then its probably to do with the wiring, although i persoannly think its either the adaptors themselfves or the netwrok of switches the adaptors are plugged into, you say you have plugged a lead directly into the home hub but have you tryed a lead into exactly the same port to which the adaptor is plugged into. also i know it sounds wierd but have you tryed changnie the adaptors around, i assume they are not specific

if all else fails why not run wireless for a while and see how it goes, wireless aint great but its better than what you have currently

Wireless won't go from the router to where I am, unfortunately - will try your ideas out tomorrow though thanks.

Ahh i get you, i thought you'd said in the op that all the PC's went down at the same time (including the wireless connection)

It is a bit odd that you've still got a full set of lights, but, if you're getting power but no communication, that could still be a cable problem. I'm assuming your using an ethernet cable ? can you connect them up with USB ? If so, try that, it'll be slower but might help to pinpoint the problem.

I've got 3 PC's hooked up with 4 cables in my room (laptop using wired and wireless from the homeplug thingy) so I can assume that the error can't be with either the software or cabling at my end. As such I reckon the problem is somewhere between the output of the router and the homeplug's themselves.

They won't hook up by USB.

FWIW it's 2x Netgear XE104...



They are an adaptor with a built in switch.

If you sign up to www.seloc.org and PM a user called "bogie" he can help you, i think he actually owns netgear and always helps people on that forum if they have problems with his products.

Poweline sucks anyway..I mean, it was fine when I had XBL but it was terrible for my PC. I guess it varies on application.

Quote from Jakg :

I've got 3 PC's hooked up with 4 cables in my room (laptop using wired and wireless from the homeplug thingy) so I can assume that the error can't be with either the software or cabling at my end. As such I reckon the problem is somewhere between the output of the router and the homeplug's themselves.

Now that makes sense. I had assumed all these PC's were dotted around the house - like normal people do - Are you running an internet cafe in your bedroom or something ? It's kind of you to allow your father to have one all to himself though, very generous .

But yeah, i think you're right, there's obviously a problem between the router and the homeplug. So just test each part in isolation, and if nothings wrong with any of that stuff, go to the tool shed and find a big hammer

Quote from S14 DRIFT :

Poweline sucks anyway..I mean, it was fine when I had XBL but it was terrible for my PC. I guess it varies on application.

If you want to lay a cable through the ceiling of my house then by my guest, or if you'd like to buy me a WiFi-N range extender and some top-of-the-range WiFi card so transfer speeds dont suck balls then again that'd be great.