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Dokument informacyjny #795

Powerline connection is slow

The throughput of the powerline connection between two or more FRITZ!Powerline devices is low and the Connect LED on the FRITZ!Powerline device glows orange. Due to the low data rate, web pages load slowly, it takes a long time to download files, and video streams are not played correctly or are interrupted, for example.

Low throughput in a powerline network is usually caused by interference in the home's power supply. In the following we show how to rule out that your FRITZ!Powerline device is defective and how to optimize your powerline network.

1 Checking whether the FRITZ!Powerline devices are working properly

Check whether your FRITZ!Powerline devices function correctly in a test environment:

Setting up FRITZ!Powerline devices for testing

  1. Take two FRITZ!Powerline devices between which the powerline connection is slow and plug them in next to each other on a power strip.
  2. Remove all other devices from the power strip.
  3. Use a network cable to connect one of the two FRITZ!Powerline devices to your router (for example a FRITZ!Box).
  4. Use a network cable to connect the other FRITZ!Powerline device to the computer on which the FRITZ!Powerline software is installed.

Determining the throughput

  1. Start the FRITZ!Powerline software.
  2. Download a file from the internet or copy a file from a different network device to the computer with the FRITZ!Powerline software via the powerline devices in the power strip.
  3. The FRITZ!Powerline software shows the speed between both FRITZ!Powerline devices by the device that is not connected to the computer. Check the throughput given for "Send" and "Receive".
  4. Repeat steps 1 - 3 for further FRITZ!Powerline devices if the powerline connection between them is also slow.

If one of the throughputs displayed is at least 600 Mbit/s (with MIMO technology) or 300 Mbit/s (with diversity technology), the FRITZ!Powerline devices are working correctly.

What is MIMO or diversity?

With MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), all three wires of the household power supply (phase, neutral, protective) are used for signal transmission. Whether MIMO is used depends on the nature of the household power supply.

If both wire pairs (phase/neutral, phase/protective) can be used at the same time, MIMO is used. This doubles the throughput compared to powerline adapters that do not support MIMO. A maximum throughput of 1200 Mbit/s gross can be achieved with MIMO.

If it is not possible to use both wire pairs at the same time, diversity is used. In this case, the wires that offer the best transmission quality and a robust powerline connection are automatically used. A maximum throughput of 600 Mbit/s gross can be achieved with diversity.

FRITZ!Powerline models 1000E, 1220E, 1220, 1240E, 1260E, and 1260 support MIMO.

2 Reducing interference in the home's power supply

If the powerline connection is being affected by interference, observe the following to minimize the interference:

  1. Plug FRITZ!Powerline devices directly into a wall outlet and do not use them with a power strip with other devices, an extension cord, or behind a surge protector.
  2. For testing purposes, switch off other devices or briefly unplug them them to identify possible sources of interference and then minimize them.

    Examples of possible sources of interference are switch mode power supplies, dimmers, halogen systems and energy-saving lamps, as well as electric motors when they are running (for example in refrigerators, food processors, dryers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, or drills).

  3. Test different wall outlets and reduce the distance between the FRITZ!Powerline devices.
  4. Avoid powerline connections on different phases, fuse boxes, and ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI).
  5. VDSL signals can transmit interference to power lines. Note that cables with VDSL signals should be laid at least 10 cm away from electrical wiring and outlets.

If these measures do not sufficiently increase the speed of the powerline connection, the home's power supply is causing the issue and it cannot be further influenced by the FRITZ!Powerline devices.

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