In reply to a post by GeoffB:

The reason the engineers won't fit them is apparently because of security/safety issues (I have a friend who works for BT). Something about adjacent houses sharing supply cables which could mean that your internet connection is available/viewable next door.

That's rubbish.

For a start adjacent houses don't share a power cable, they'll be on different phases. Only every third house shares a cable, and even then the signal has to go through two consumer units and two electricity meters in order to be even detected, never mind demodulated.

If that were the actual reason they don't supply them you have to wonder why they're so happy to provide wireless routers, which can certainly be picked up over much more than adjacent properties!

It's purely a cost-saving exercise.

An adjacent property on the same phase could in theory use the connection (not the same cable, of course). I agree that most configurations and ancient wiring make it unlikely. It has apparently been reported in a new build estate where the wiring is sparkling new and the properties are very close together. Then there is the question of radio interference which is another reason why they are not pushed out as much as before.

In reply to a post by GeoffB:

An adjacent property on the same phase could in theory use the connection (not the same cable, of course). I agree that most configurations and ancient wiring make it unlikely. It has apparently been reported in a new build estate where the wiring is sparkling new and the properties are very close together.

Which is why the security methods in homeplug should be used, although not everyone does, they now generally come preconfigured if bought as pairs.

Then there is the question of radio interference which is another reason why they are not pushed out as much as before.

That has been a hot topic, mostly caused by the non-homeplug AV units that BT and others were fitting a long time ago. The AV spec (200 and 500) ones are apparently radically different, but I don't know any local radio amateurs to test/check with.

The reason the engineers won't fit them is apparently because of security/safety issues (I have a friend who works for BT). Something about adjacent houses sharing supply cables which could mean that your internet connection is available/viewable next door.

Is that why BT have branded thier own powerline adapters source http://www.ebuyer.com/620076-bt-200mbps-smart-powerl... and http://www.shop.bt.com/category/networking,network-d...

Edited by deleted (Mon 19-May-14 00:04:16)

To conclude this thread, I got a couple of BT 500 powerline adaptors, hooked them up and they are working perfectly.
Thanks for all the replies everyone, much appreciated

The only thing I need to check out is to try a bit of online gaming and see if I get lag from the wife watching TV.