Homeplug or long Ethernet cable?

Good evening everyone. Hope you are enjoying the bank holiday! I have BT Infinity 2 with a download of 46Mbps. I am considering Devolo Homeplugs to connect up my blu-ray player and digibox. I could also get a long Ethernet cable through my loft over the living room and drop it down in the corner. I have a 20m Cat 5 cable and get about 20Mbps through that (was surprised at the drop off to be honest. My house is 40 years old (detached bungalow) so I don't know what sort of speeds I would expect. Would I be best getting a 30m Cat 6 cable or trying the Homeplugs do you think? Thanks.

20Mbps on a 20metre Cat5e cable suggests something is wrong at one end or teh other. That cable should be capable of handling Gigabit connections.

I would suggest installing a pair of RJ45 sockets next to the router and another at te remote location and use Cat5e cable to connect them both. Then a set of short patch leads at each end.

If you can get the cable in easily it will be cheaper and more efficient than plugs.

MHC - thanks for the speedy response. I shall have to check again re: the speed over Cat 5. Do you know the longest length of Cat 5/6 I could use? I'm connected to one if the 100Mbps ports on the Home Hub 3. One advantage of the Home plugs is that I could extend the wireless range into the living room.

100 metres is the specification. I have managed almost 400m on one connection - so your distances are well within.

Why not install four RJ45 sockets in one faceplate and then run cables to where to want? Install another socket at each location.

Each cable will run a full 100Mbps whereas with plugs then rarely reach full potential and any bandwidth is shared.

Thanks MHC. I didn't know you could get faceplates. Does one Ethernet cable power all three sockets?

Hi giggsy1977,
I am also in the process of setting up a home "wired" network.
You may find some really helpful ideas/tips on my thread Advise for future proof home wired network
But it seems your in good hands already as MHC is already on the case

majika2007 - thanks for that. I shall certainly have a look at your thread. I'm a bit of a novice in respect of networks but I'm sure I will get something from it!

Check for a duplex mismatch - does your NIC think it's connected at full or half duplex?

JonRennie - sorry but you've lost me with both the NIC and duplex thing there!! Still a bit green I'm afraid.

Right, I have been doing my research tonight and I see some Cat 5e cables described as UTP and some as just Cat 5e. In addition some are referred to as patch cables and some aren't. What are the differences between them all?!