My house is old. And big. So wiring it with network cable would be a pain.  Wireless connections are fine, except when building walls are made of unknown quantities of unknown materials!

So this week while doing some work on a couple of websites during my err … bi-daily … distraction break I came across HomePlug, which I had heard of before. Basically it’s a technology that allows the electricity grid inside a house to be used as a range extender. You can have four APs out of one source signal, but what I’ve done is brought a wireless router acting as slave into my room, and creating a ‘new’ wireless network upstairs.

We picked up a new wireless modem router and access plug from Maplin. I recommend you give it a go, the fact that you can rip out the plugs and put them in other places without any configuration is bliss (Xbox in living room, why not!?)

p.s. Pete, this is the solution to your house’s problems…