Weird network problem - Help needed

[Admiral Huddy]

I have a problem with internet connection to my workshop which I can't resolve.

Network connectivity to my workshop is by use of 2 x Netgear Home plugs. One is a single port hub (Router end) and the other is a 4 port hub (workshop end). There are two PCs in the workshop that are always connected. One uses XP and the other Vista. The other two ports are used for incoming PCs and used as and when they are required. This has been my setup for years and never been a problem.

However, a few weeks ago, I couldn't access the internet on either machine even though the Vista, for example, shows internet is established but nothing appears appears in I.E.

When I PING the router, it times-out inconsistantly. . i.e. 0%, 25%, 75% or sometimes 100%.

Being that two PCs are having the same problem and I've changed nothing, it can't be these. I took the 4 port home plug into the main home and plugged my laptop into it and that worked so it can't be the homeplug or the patch cables being used.

I'm very confused as to why this all of a sudden has become a problem as it's been working up to now and I've changed nothing..

Any suggestions?

[Daz]

Have you got a long cat-5 you could use to bypass the powerline stuff temporarily?

[Admiral Huddy]

No, it's too long.. About 40'-50' :(

[Burble]

So a laptop plugged into the 4 port home plug works when the home plug is in the house? What about if the laptop is plugged into the 4 port home plug in the workshop?

Try a firmware update on the homeplugs. If that doesn't make any difference then you'll probably need to look at the electrical circuit to the workshop and check that all is well there.

[Del Lardo]

Despite improvements homeplugs still suffer from interference from other kit so it could be something new plugged in. I would try and eliminate them as a problem before looking any further, I'm looking through my ethernet leads and while I've got a big one (fnar) I'm not sure if it's 50'

Not going to be using it anytime soon so can post it if you want to try.

[Mark]

What Del said. It could also be something going bad in the house - anything with motors or big transformers can spew noise into the mains.

[Zirax]

Could be that one of your homeplugs has borked. Mine did exactly this when they died (drove me bonkers as it would work one minute and not the next). If you want I have a 30m cat5e cable around here somewhere. Alternatively you could borrow my powerline stuff at the weekend?

[Admiral Huddy]

I think you're right Matt, I tried again inside the house and the ping sent only half the packets successfully. Just have to fine out which one :(

[skolapper]

Ive recently picked up a client who called me in after another tech screwed up his small office network. I fixed their wireless security etc up and everyone was able to browse again. Hooray

Their setup is as follows:
A Vista Business Laptop
A WinXP Pro Laptop
A WinXP Pro Desktop
A HP LaserJet 3055 network Fax/Printer/Scanner
A D-Link DSL-G604T modem/router

The printer and the WinXP Laptop are connected to the router via ethernet cables. Due to the layout of the office and the cheapness of the owner the WinXP desktop and the Vista Laptop are connected via wireless.

Currently, the two WinXP machines can connect to the printer with no problem. The Vista laptop can ping the printer, can browse to its config page, can browse to its address in explorer where Im presented with an empty Printers folder but can NOT add it as a printer through any method Ive tried. And Ive tried adding it by its share name, by its IP.

Another problem is that I cant ping or browse to the Vista PC from the WinXP PC. Theyre in the same workgroup but they just cant see each other. I was unable to test anything further with the other WinXP laptop as the user was out of the office and took his laptop with him.

Can anyone help?