Networking over mains electricity

[dwarfer]

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Module...=1&doy=13m9

I'm not sure what to make of this, is it safe and will it affect electricity consumptions and other devices?

[DL.]

It's been around for some time now and as with all modern electronics it's probably quite safe.

I don't know about security though, but the site says it has some built-in encryption.

The speeds were said to be a bit lower than specified, or so I've heard.

It sure ain't cheap, but in some cases it might be a better solution compared to be using cables.

[arctirus]

I've seen those before but I never thought about the possibility of using them to connect two different homes. Is there any reason that wouldn't work if two houses are in close proximity and on the same transformer? The reason I ask, I know two people who share one cable modem connection with wifi which has worked 'okay' for them but has been slightly problematic. I wonder if this might be a possible solution.

[DL.]

I've seen those before but I never thought about the possibility of using them to connect two different homes. Is there any reason that wouldn't work if two houses are in close proximity and on the same transformer? The reason I ask, I know two people who share one cable modem connection with wifi which has worked 'okay' for them but has been slightly problematic. I wonder if this might be a possible solution.

I think that the distance and maybe the fact that many other devices share the same wire might have some negative effects on speed or packet integrity. In that case a larger antenna or a WiFi repeater might be a better option.

[phkninja]

Its not actually over the mains, its over the mains cable (think of the amount of cable buried in the walls to carry mains).

Secondly I dont think house to house will work because there is isolation at the supply board/fuse board/breaker board to stop any shorts in your wiring from effecting the entire network etc.