Nothing easy without cost: network powerline adapters

[tdxloki]

I am seeking advice, thanks. 

I am using some powerline adapters to get "better" speed to my basement and kitchen.  They do provide faster than wifi speed, at a cost, a ton of electrical noise, I'm not sure which, EMI or RFI.  It is most noticeable when using headphones.

 

Here is the setup:

NAS->FiOS Router->ZyXEL Powerline PLA5205 Adapter->Computer (Gigabyte Gaming 5 motherboard with DACUP USB)->Audioquest Dragonfly->Audioquest Golden Gate Cable, 3 meter->NAD HP50 headphones

 

I can hear the noise, pops, crackles and clicking, in the headphones  when no music is playing or during a quiet section of a track.  When I unplug the network cable the noise completely goes away.  Playing from a local drive is the same, noise when the network cable is plugged into the jack, quiet when unplugged.  Furthermore, if I transfer a file to my NAS from the local drive or to my local drive from the NAS the line  noise "intensifies."  It is a bit louder and more of a consistent buzz.  The motherboard has the so-called DACUP USB ports which supposedly supply "cleaner" power to the USB ports over conventional USB ports.

 

What have I tried?  Not much, but here is some data.

 

NOISE:

1. I tried a ferrite clamp on the network cable - no effect.

2. I tried different outlets for the powerline adapter (probably same circuit) - no effect.

3. I tried USB3 ports (non DACUP ports) - no effect.

4. 1/8" female/male 6 foot extension cable - no effect.

5. I plugged the powerline adapter into my surge protector.  (It worked but at 1/2 the speed when plugged in the wall outlet.) - no effect

 

NO NOISE (but not a workable setup):

6. I temporarily moved my FiOS router to the basement to bypass the powerline adapter.  (The NAS was disconnected so I could not test file transfer noise.)  The line is silent, all conditions.

7.  Stock headphone cable  (too short to use without extension) and "lower quality" 1/8" inch cable.  The line is silent, all conditions.

8. Cheap external powered computer speakers - no EMI/RFI.  The line is silent, all conditions.

 

 

What can I do to eliminate the noise but not filter out the throughput of the powerline adapter?

A power conditioner?  (Hopefully inexpensive, i.e., <$100)

A network switch between the powerline and my computer? (Hopefully inexpensive too)

String RJ45 along the floor about 60 feet?  Yuk.  I cannot string cable though walls, so if I have to use a direct line, it will be very long and tacked down along the floorboard, doorways, and stairs - not cool.

 

Thanks for your help!!

 

 

[AlrightMister]

I would try something like this. http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-LC1200-Conditioner-Outlet/dp/B0000512LA/ 
Plug your PC into it but the powerline adapter will have to go straight into the wall or it will not work. What kind of throughput are you getting with your adapters? Western Digital makes a wireless AC bridge that is very fast if you have an AC router at the other end. It is much faster and more reliable than any powerline ethernet adapters I have used. Consider getting a quote on having the cable run done by an electrician. It might not be as bad as you think.

 

[billybob_jcv]

Yeah, I would like to know what wireless router you are using and what WLAN cards you have in your PCs. Have you tried using a wireless survey tool and finding a less crowded channel? As was mentioned above, I have had excellent luck with using wireless bridges. The bridge handles the wireless connection, and the PC just sees a wired connection. It also allows you to put the bridge a distance away from the PC, so it might get a better signal.

Finally, don't forget that it takes both sides to get a good wireless connection. The router can have strongest transmitter in the world, and that might allow your PC to see the router, but if the PC can't transmit back to the router, they can't talk.

 

[tdxloki]

  I would try something like this. http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-LC1200-Conditioner-Outlet/dp/B0000512LA/ 
Plug your PC into it but the powerline adapter will have to go straight into the wall or it will not work. What kind of throughput are you getting with your adapters? Western Digital makes a wireless AC bridge that is very fast if you have an AC router at the other end. It is much faster and more reliable than any powerline ethernet adapters I have used. Consider getting a quote on having the cable run done by an electrician. It might not be as bad as you think.

Thanks for all the suggestions.  Very reasonable indeed.  I like to do things myself but an electrician could make quick work of stringing the cable I am sure.  I think I will give someone a call.
 
Nice suggestion about the power conditioner.  Have you ever used this model?  My setup is also very quiet and I would hate to have some 80 mm fan spinning wildly to keep the power cool.
 
(I did plug the powerline adapter into a surge protector, against recommendation, I know.  It still worked.  The speed was cut in half.  It did nothing for EMI noise.)
 
In my house, the adapters get me about double the wifi speed.  I have wifi n, not ac.  When I copy to or from my Synology NAS the powerline gives me about 8-9 MB/sec.  (I never get advertised or published review speeds for any of my tech.)
 
Considering upgrading to AC I hesitate but still a good idea.  It would be nice, but I have to deal with a FiOS router.  In the past I used a very nice Asus RT N66R, much better performance than the FiOS router.  You mention reliability, the Asus wifi never failed, the FiOS does, powerline corrects the FiOS flaws.  On my wishlist is to convert the FiOS to a bridge and us the ASUS again but its a pain, mostly because of the FiOS.  Also, most of our devices are n, nevertheless, progress marches on.
 
Anyway, the location in question is a new PC, located in the basement.  It does not have a wifi card so I thought powerline would be my most straightforward path.
 
Thanks for your help!!

 

[tdxloki]

Yeah, I would like to know what wireless router you are using and what WLAN cards you have in your PCs. Have you tried using a wireless survey tool and finding a less crowded channel? As was mentioned above, I have had excellent luck with using wireless bridges. The bridge handles the wireless connection, and the PC just sees a wired connection. It also allows you to put the bridge a distance away from the PC, so it might get a better signal.

Finally, don't forget that it takes both sides to get a good wireless connection. The router can have strongest transmitter in the world, and that might allow your PC to see the router, but if the PC can't transmit back to the router, they can't talk.

 
My current wireless router is an Actiontec MI424WR Rev. I, for verizon FiOS.  The PC in question does not have wifi, only a gigabit network port (although, I could add a card or usb receiver).  My laptops have intel wireless n cards and, incidentally, when I connect my laptop to the powerline adapter I get the same EMI in the headphones.
 
The Actiontec would seem ok, but compared to the router I used previously, Asus RT N66R, its junk.  The Asus was very, very, stable, not so with the Actiontec.
 
I currently use channel 6, or 11, but I have not tested with a survey tool.  I am no real hack.  I can get along but my weakest skill in networking.  Thanks for the suggestion about a bridge.  I haven't used them so I will have to do some learning.
 
As for the good wireless connection, I get your point.  What do you think?  I could bridge the Asus to the FiOS router and install a nice wifi card or wifi usb on my basement PC.  With this setup the router would be n.

 

[tdxloki]

UPDATE:
I may have a ground loop issue! I used a cheater plug on the 3-prong powerline adapter and it eliminated all the noise, even during file transfers when the noise was the worst.
 
So, now what? Do I need an electrician? Is it unsafe to leave the cheater plug attached?
 
At least I found the source of the noise. Now how can I fix it?

 

[billybob_jcv]

I'm not an electrician, but I think leaving the 3-prong->2-prong adapter is fine, as long as you don't plan on plugging something in while standing in a bucket of water.

 

[tdxloki]

I'm not an electrician, but I think leaving the 3-prong->2-prong adapter is fine, as long as you don't plan on plugging something in while standing in a bucket of water.

 
Ha!  Nice.  I think I can manage that.