Non-Invasive Networking - HomePNA vs. HomePlug?

zonker asks: "I live in a relatively new, moderately sized home that doesn't have conduit in the walls, nor does it have extra wires for networking. I am investigating getting a broadband connection, but first I have to decide how I will connect the network for the 6 computers in the house. As per the owners, I am not allowed to drill holes in the walls, and as per my girlfriend, I am not allowed to run Cat5 through the halls, so I am looking at my alternatives: wireless, HomePNA, and HomePlug. I'm afraid the house is a little too big for wireless without getting expensive, so it looks like either phonewire, or electric-wire. I've done some initial googling for people's opinions of these products and my quick findings where that magazine and website reviews seem to be favorable of some of them, while personal accounts seem to vary wildly. What solutions have worked for you? Are these things ready for primetime? Or should I suck it up and buy a few WAP's to extend the radius of a wireless network?"

Wireless not an option?

[Guspaz]

Wireless has a range of 100 meters, and if you place the access point in the middle of the house, the range between the farthest computers is 200 meters... It's impossible that your house is more than 200 meters accross unless it cost you several million dollars.

Regards, Guspaz.

No wires?

[Jonny 290]

Let me get this straight? She says that you can't run Cat5 along the hall baseboards?

Dump her and buy yourself a spool. You'll end up better off in the end.

In situations like this, the best solution is the bitchy-girlfriend-less network, rather than the wireless network.

Re:No wires?

[Hard_Code]

"You might be better off buying colored Cat5e to match the color of the walls."

Or even this fabulous rumored substance called "paint".

hmm...

[RedWolves2]

1. Break up with GF and run the wires down the hall. Where are your priorities man.

2. You want to network a house that you don't own? What a waste of money. Why don't you buy a house? Believe me the amount of money you pay in rent is about the same as owning plus that money you pay is equity you have later in life.

3. As already mentioned go wireless. No wires, no holes and it keeps the girlfriend happy. A little more money but it will get the internet to the 6 computers in your ... err ... your landlords house.