[fatdoc]

only thing I've ever got from PCworld that has been useful. just plugged in and works. I use it for the ps3.. much less lag online and iplayer streams fine. dunno which one I got, £35 or so.

[slackline]

Not an issue, see first couple of posts, its mentioned as item four in the AVForums FAQ I linked that as long as all ring mains are on the same fusebox it'll be fine.

Don't assume that, it does depend how that fusebox/consumer unit is wired up. It may well be fine (and probably will be) but...

Yes, I realise this, but the house is 12 years old so confidence is high.

So I currently have....

Code: [Select]

                           |-------------------------------------->Wireless Router2 (in the loft) (three spare ports as when used as a bridge the ethernet comes into the port)
                           |
Modem--------------------->Wireless Router1----------------------->Desktop
                           |            |
                           |            |--------------------------> Printer / Second Computer
                           |
                           |---------------------------------------> NAS

I'm planning on moving the NAS to the loft and retiring the second computer, that way the NAS is out of sight and hopefully won't need touching very often, and I've got rid of another box from the study.  This would free up one port....

Code: [Select]

                           |-------------------------------------->Wireless Router2  (in the loft) -----------> NAS
                           |
Modem--------------------->Wireless Router1----------------------->Desktop
                           |            |
                           |            |--------------------------> Printer
                           |
                           |---------------------------------------> [1 Free port]

Now upon reading about HomePlug I'm thinking that that free port would be best utilised using HomePlug, as it would mean I then have an ethernet connection in every room (on the provisio that the ring mains shit is all fine and dandy which I'm going to cross my fingers on).

Code: [Select]

                           |-------------------------------------->Wireless Router2  (in the loft) -----------> NAS
                           |
Modem--------------------->Wireless Router1----------------------->Desktop
                           |            |
                           |            |--------------------------> Printer
                           |
                           |---------------------------------------> HomePlug--------->REST OF THE HOUSE


I've two devices (PS3 and Wii) in the living room to connect, so if I ran Cat5e cable downstairs, I'd need a splitter (generally bad idea from what I've read) or a switch to provide two+ ports.

I also might want to stream video to laptops in two bedrooms, this would require another switch the following

Code: [Select]

                           |-------------------------------------->Wireless Router2  (in the loft) -----------> NAS
                           |
Modem--------------------->Wireless Router1----------------------->Desktop
                           |            |
                           |            |--------------------------> Printer
                           |
                           |---------------------------------------> Switch (i.e. Extra ports)-----------------> Downstairs---------->Splitter/Switch-----------> PS3
                                                                                 /      \                                                         |
                                                                                /         \                                                     Wii
                                                                         Bedroom1     Bedroom2
   

only thing I've ever got from PCworld that has been useful. just plugged in and works. I use it for the ps3.. much less lag online and iplayer streams fine. dunno which one I got, £35 or so.

Another success story, good to hear, cheers.

[nik at work]

So you have 3 free ports on the router in the loft? A total of four free ports? Just put in 2 runs of Cat5 to the living room rather than one?
TBH you seem pretty keen on the HomePlugs so go for that, I guess it appeals to your geeky "try all new stuff and get it to run on Linux" mentality . Personally I'd run Cat5 and buy myself a new bouldering mat/climbing shoes/shit load of chalk...

[slackline]

I just think having two additional cables to run downstairs, then two to each bedroom is a waste of cabling (port socket availability aside) if there is already cabling that can be used (albeit with a few new pieces of hardware).  Add to that my lack of enthusiasm for pulling up carpets and nailing them back down again and the fact that of the people who have bought and installed these themselves, they've worked pretty seamlessly (your experience in France excepted, but feedback on experience with them is what I was interested in anyway) then it seems that whilst it may be more marginally more expensive it makes sense (to me at least).

No idea what software is inside the HomePlug's themselves (and it may well be embedded linux if any at all), but its independent of the OS running on the other computers.  Whilst the PS3 does run linux natively (mentioned here) this isn't really a geeky "coerce things to run linux" type project.