[Katsunami]

Today I set up a power line network with integrated WIFI to keep my phone, tablet and laptop connected better, as the router was barely reachable from the kitchen, where I often sit. I know WIFI is not the fastest, and power line isn't either but if I need to download some serious shit (tm), even if I need it at the laptop, I'll use the desktop computer and download to a USB3 stick. For 95% of day to day use, power line/wifi is fast enough.

Setup should be easy:

- (T)ransmitter: hold button 10 seconds to reset
- (R)eceiver: hold button 10 seconds to reset
- Wait 20 seconds for a reboot
- R hold button for 2 seconds to start connecting
- T hold button for 2 seconds to finish connection
- Within 2 minutes, the power line plugs should be connected.

I couldn't get this to work. Reason? "User error."

If the manufacturer says 10 seconds and 2 seconds to hold the button, they mean just that. You will *have* to release the button exactly before the 11th and 3rd seconds start, or nothing will happen. I had to grab my phone and start a stopwatch to get this stuff going. That was irritating, and even then I had to try 3 or 4 times.

It did work in the end, hoewever.

Using the webadress to access the power line setup is bonkers though; it only works if you connect by Wifi to the power line itself, and then, if you change any settings, you lose connection (obviously). It's much easier to connect to the router, log into it, find the IP-address the power line access point received, and use that (through the router), so you don't lose connection when changing the settings.

I've set the power line to use the same SSID and password as the router, and now I have full wifi coverage at a speed of 4.5 MB/s (35 MBit).

I don't know if the lowish speed is caused by the Wifi connection (it's quite busy around here) or the (old) wiring in this house (which has quite some electrical stuff going). I'd have to connect the laptop to the power plug directly to test this. It has two wired ports, but they're at a max speed of 100 MBit/s (12.5 MB/s) if the wiring and power connection is perfect.

Even though the internet connection itself is 150 MBit and the wifi/power plug setup is running at just 23% of that speed, I'm satisfied with the result, as Wifi (and thus the power line) is mainly used by the phone, tablet, and laptop for day to day use. 4.5 MB/s is quite enough for normal internet, some Windows updates, mail, and Whatsapp.

As said, I do the heavy duty online stuff, or "real work (c)(r)" at the wired desktop.

I still think they could have made that power line setup react in a 3 second time span instead of requiring and almost robot-like accuracy in pressing those buttons.