Potential Problem - Homeplugs

[systematic]

My setup:

VM 200mbps
Asus RTAC88U
Running Latest Merlin FW

Ok so i bought a new homeplug - TP Link AV2000 2 port gigabit powerline starter kit. This is a one unit device with 2 x 1gigabit ports.

So you plug one LAN cable into one of the two gigbit ports and have a continuous ping running - everything runs magic and the ping continues seamlessly.

Plug both LAN ports in and bye bye ping, bye bye router, bye bye internet. You cannot even manage the routers homepage. Ping keeps timing out and the moment you unplug one of the two ports, hello ping, hello router, hello internet

I can only presume it detects some sort of loop and spanning tree resolves it? Just stretching with this theory but would be grateful if anyone can advise. For now, steer clear from using the TP LINK TL-PA9020P KIT.

Please feel free to respond. Together we become stronger.

 

[fr33z0n3r]

I use this one with minimal issues. Which could be power related, not network related. I do have a netgear switch that separates them. Only one plugs into the router.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UVN4318/?tag=snbforums-20

 

[Jack Yaz]

My setup:

VM 200mbps
Asus RTAC88U
Running Latest Merlin FW

Ok so i bought a new homeplug - TP Link AV2000 2 port gigabit powerline starter kit. This is a one unit device with 2 x 1gigabit ports.

So you plug one LAN cable into one of the two gigbit ports and have a continuous ping running - everything runs magic and the ping continues seamlessly.

Plug both LAN ports in and bye bye ping, bye bye router, bye bye internet. You cannot even manage the routers homepage. Ping keeps timing out and the moment you unplug one of the two ports, hello ping, hello router, hello internet

I can only presume it detects some sort of loop and spanning tree resolves it? Just stretching with this theory but would be grateful if anyone can advise. For now, steer clear from using the TP LINK TL-PA9020P KIT.

Please feel free to respond. Together we become stronger.

What 2 devices are you connecting to it?

 

[systematic]

What 2 devices are you connecting to it?

Device 1 - MAG254 STB
Device 2 - Samsung Television

Plug the MAG - works
Plug the Samsung with MAG - everything dies and router starts dishing out APIPA
Plug in Samsung - works
Plug the Samsung with MAG - everything dies and routers starts dishing out APIPA

No idea why this happens. I think separate homeplugs will be fine but a dual adapter homeplug is no joy.

I could do a different test and plug two other devices in it but I don't think it makes a difference.

 

[systematic]

Hmm interestingly, I have just plugged the second device in after waiting for a while and all is well.........will report back soon.

 

[systematic]

WTF this just gets weirder and weirder.

Woke up this morning and none of my WIRED devices are online (link lights flashing) but they do not appear in the 'Client List' nor are they pingable....meanwhile all my wireless devices are working perfectly fine.

Rebooted the router.. and only one wired device is showing online.

LAN Port Status is as follows:

PORT 1 - Down even though it is connected to an alarm system directly
PORT 2 - Up connected directly to a home automation device
PORT 3 - Down, connected directly to a brand new Linux Server
Port 4 - Down, connected to Samsung TV via HomePlug (port 1 of 2)
Port 5 - Down, connected to Satellite Box via HomePlug (port 2 of )

Please someone help!?!

 

[systematic]

Unplugged the 2 cables that were connected to homeplug - ports 4 and 5 and rebooted. Now LAN ports are working for 1, 2 and 3.......

Some serious shirt going on here with this homeplug.

 

[Jack Yaz]

So u have 1 cable from router to homeplug a

Then homeplug b elsewhere in the house with the 2 devices

Is that correct

 

[systematic]

So u have 1 cable from router to homeplug a

Then homeplug b elsewhere in the house with the 2 devices

Is that correct

No sir.

You have two homeplug devices (a pair), each one has 2 x gigabit Ethernet ports that correspond with each other.

I have homey 1 plugged near the router and from it I have two cables going from it and then into two dedicated LAN ports into the router.

I have homey2 plugged into a socket near my electronics and have two cables going from it. The first goes to my STB the other to my TV

Hope that explains your response.

Now since my last message you can see I unplugged the network cables from the router connected to homey 1 and rebooted. All other LAN devices came up.

I took this opportunity to upgrade the FW on both homeys (just in case) and also to disable their 'Power Saving' for the function.

I then reconnected one cable at a time. One on router side port 4 and one on device side (STB). This device started pinging and was on the network.

I left the continuous ping to STB ip address.

I then reconnected second cable to router port 5 and hooked up my TV on the other side.

Ping to STB started timing out. Nothing is pinging on network (same issue as last night).

I unplugged port 5 and STB (connected to port 4) and all other devices in network start pinging again.

At this point I am guessing I will leave one device connected. In an hour I will try and reconnect the second device and see if like last night it will just start working again.

At this point I am concluding 2 port homeys (or this specific model) has an issue with either the router or the FW on the router. No idea.

 

[systematic]

To confirm the issue is with the 2 port device and now with the home electrics, i have just introduced an additional homey - 1 x gigabit homeplug.

Router Side

2 x wall power sockets
power socket one - TP Link 2 Port Gigabit Homey
power socket two - TP Link 1 port 500Mbps Homey

Electronic Side

2 x wall power sockets
power socket one - TP Link 2 Port Gigabit Homey
power socket two - TP Link 1 port 500Mbps Homey

Network Cable Setup - TP Link 2 port gigabit device

1 CAT6 going into ONE of the ports of the TP Link 2 port Gigabit homey. Other end goes into router port 4. NOTE - I am now only making use of 1 of the 2 ports available.

On the electronic side, I have 1 CAT6 going into ONE of the ports of the TP Link 2 port Gigabit homey. Other end goes into STB. NOTE - I am now only making use of 1 of the 2 ports available.

Network Cable Setup - TP Link 1 port 500Mbps device

1 CAT6 going into the TP Link homey. Other end goes into router port 5.

On the electronic side, I have 1 CAT6 going into the TP Link 1 port homey. Other end goes into TELEVISION.

Result

EVERYTHING IS WORKING

Conclusion

Stay away from 2 port Homeplug devices for now. If you need two ethernet ports near your electronic devices either buy 2 separate homeplug devices or buy one home plug device and use a switch (something i have not tested).

 

[Jack Yaz]

You only connect 1 cable from router to homeplug. You do not need both. That is not how homeplugs work.

You can still use both ports on other homeplug at tv end

 

[Jack Yaz]

You have a fundamental misunderstanding of the technology.

 

[systematic]

Surely it cannot be as simple as that? LOOOOL

Why have two ports on each device if you only need two ports on one end?

 

[Jack Yaz]

Surely it cannot be as simple as that? LOOOOL

Why have two ports on each device if you only need two ports on one end?

I will double check, but I think the second port at router end can be used to connect another device, so that you're not losing use of a port on the router (since it's now connected to a homeplug)

 

[systematic]

So in summary its:

2 x Plugs
4 x gigabit ports (2 on each device)

3 endpoint devices (3 of the 4 gigabit ports) and one goes to router?

That would explain the loop.

 

[jpclarke]

I think the ports on the homeplugs are essentially switches, by connecting 2 ports from the router's switch to the homeplug ports you have essentially connected 2 of the router ports together and this would cause a broadcast storm.

The broadcast storm will make your router die very quickly.

 

[systematic]

I think the ports on the homeplugs are essentially switches, by connecting 2 ports from the router's switch to the homeplug ports you have essentially connected 2 of the router ports together and this would cause a broadcast storm.

The broadcast storm will make your router die very quickly.

Exactly what i was thinking, the network traffic would loop as I was experiencing. What they could have done is put the 4 ports in 2 VLANs. Port 1 of homey one and two in VLAN 10 and port 2 of homey one and two in VLAN 20. Two Broadcast domains and sorted.

I am also in agreement with Jack regarding 'not losing a router port'. I could see many people falling down this rabbit hole.

I am tempted to get a homeplug solution where you have one port on router end and two ports on the electronic end. Let me have a google

Many thanks both!

 

[Jack Yaz]

No problem!

 

[beboptrumpet]

I had a similar set. Used to connect an access point in a rented house where I couldn't run wire. Just verifying that jack, & jpclarke are spot on.

I was never satisfied with the performance...it varies too much by which outlet they are plugged into--especially with certain crosses in the the circuit breaker.
i never got more than 10% of the rated speed, & only got 25Mb with where I wanted them. I ended up getting a MoCa coax solution. I've moved, but I still use the moca solution for the ap in my garage

 

[systematic]

Mine is currently transmitting at between 550 - 650Mbps. The only advantage I get is having two ports available on one side in a neat plug as opposed to have two separate plugs or a plug + switch combo.

I'm tempted to use my Chromecast Ultra in wireless mode as my AC88U is likely to transmit much more quicker than the wired speed.