LINKSYS “Instant PowerLine Series”
Company: LINKSYS
EtherFast 10/100 Bridge #PLEBR10 ($99.00)
LINKSYS “Instant Broadband Series”
EtherFast Cable/DSL Router #BEFSR41 ($79.00)
http://www.linksys.com
MyMac.com is privileged to be the initial publication covering a new way of sharing broadband Internet service among two or more Macintosh computers. This technology must be sophisticated, but the concept is simple: plug your broadband Ethernet source cable into a router, which distributes the 14Mbps (that’s fast!) signal over your normal electrical lines to the destination Macs via “bridge” units using additional Ethernet cables.
Wireless broadband sharing (think: AirPort) is supposed to be straightforward, but this isn’t always the case, believe me. Using PowerLine technology and electricity, your most reliable utility doubles as an affordable, always-on routing stream.
David Pogue http://www.davidpogue.com introduced the HomePlug PowerLine Alliance concept in a recent Circuits article in the New York Times, and he generously put me in contact with Linksys. Thanks, David!
If you are the sort of person who has trouble programming your VCR, roll over and go back to sleep. But if you like working with settings, preferences, and cables, stick around and enjoy the show. I’m going to walk you through the entire process of sharing one incoming broadband Internet line with two legacy iMacs, although every Ethernet-equipped Macintosh has the potential to work with PowerLine bridges.
NUTS AND BOLTS
My goal was to learn how to distribute a single high speed Internet feed to additional home computer(s) for cost savings and convenience. Your broadband provider may have specific rules governing such signal sharing. MyMac.com does not encourage cheating or theft.
Apple’s AirPort and third-party wireless solutions are one alternative, as is using a broadband router with lengthy cables. With the equipment under discussion, which is explained on the Linksys web site, your only additional cable requirements are standard Ethernet “patch,” or CAT5e cables, sold in lengths from 3′ to 50′.
In answer to your questions, “Is this safe? Can I get hacked?” and “Can I run a web server at my home and contact it from the Internet?” I must say I honestly don’t know, but I will try to address these matters in future columns. Linksys provides security features for Windows systems, but since Linksys doesn’t officially support Macintosh at this time, users are on their own regarding safety and hacking. Web servers are beyond my knowledge, but I will investigate if readers express an interest. I have the same response to your question, “What is a switch and a router, and can you explain about the security involved in being behind the router?”
David Pogue’s article mentions other companies that manufacture and sell PowerLine components, but David specifically suggested I begin my investigation with Linksys gear. By spending roughly $300 on hardware and cables you should weigh the long-term cost savings versus the convenience of a PowerLine setup.
NEMO THE NUMBSKULL
Realize, dear readers, that I had no experience with routers prior to hooking up my Linksys gear. I wasn’t afraid to get routed, but I wasn’t in a hurry to find out how incompetent I am.
Not fully grasping how to begin, I called Linksys’ 24/7 toll-free (hooray!) phone tech support, and spoke to Alex. He was comfy with Macintosh (amen) and gave me basic coaching, including crucial information that no Mac driver is required for my BEFSR41 router. I could ignore all the scary Windows instructions on the Quick Installation guide. I watched Linksys’ Tech Helper video on CD, which brought my heart rate down a few hundred beats per minute.
Oops: no Ethernet cables are included. Why not, Linksys? Couldn’t they provide one 3′ cable with each product? I purchased three (Belkin CAT5e, $10/each) at CompUSA, in different colors to help me keep track of what plugs into what.
Then I printed screen shots of my Sprint Broadband TCP/IP OS 9.2.2 Control Panel settings, plus the Network Overview section in Apple System Profiler for peace of mind, in case I really messed things up. For extra insurance, I archived my entire hard disk onto a 30GB FireLite removable drive.
PLUG AND PRAY
My second helper at Linksys phone tech support told me to shut everything down and plug in my router, as itemized in the BEFSR41’s Quick Installation guide, then type “http://192.168.1.1” in my Explorer browser’s Address field. While getting the cables in place, I knocked over my left SoundSticks satellite speaker, which bounced on its round dome top before resting safely (whew!) on the hard floor. I started everything up again, and my Internet connection and speakers worked as usual, with the router’s new IP address of 192.168.1.100.
After entering 192.168.1.1 in Explorer, I followed several on screen directions for activating the router setup. I didn’t understand all the arcane numerology, but I expect Linksys’ phone support staff can explain it, as needed. What mattered was the message that my “settings are successful.”
CALL NOT WAITING
Lloyd, my third new best friend at Linksys, explained I needed to unplug and replug my broadband modem to reset it. He gave a crash course on where to insert my CAT5e Ethernet router cables in the BEFSR41, insisting I test the connection first with both iMacs plugged directly into the router. Lloyd told me Linksys does not specifically support Macintosh, but that everything should work after an accurate setup.
He admitted the PowerLine bridge technology is so new that phone tech staff don’t even have spec sheets to help their first set of callers (specifically, that’s me). Linksys was introducing their PowerLine units at the Networld/Interop technology trade show in Las Vegas during the week I was sweating bullets in Tucson.
Going to TCP/IP control panels on both computers and setting them to Ethernet and “Using DHCP Server” worked like a charm. My router connection was fine, and two iMacs were sharing one broadband line.
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED POWERLINES?
Next I plugged each PLEBR10 bridge into an electric outlet. My Ruby iMac’s bridge had a direct Ethernet connection to one of the four router ports, and the other bridge’s Ethernet connection went to Barbara’s Blueberry iMac. I did a Restart on the iMacs, and … nothing happened. Fiddlesticks. What was the problem? No idea whatsoever!
I attempted to tweak various TCP/IP settings (no success), reset my broadband modem again (nope), tried reaching the Linksys PowerLine product manager on his cell phone (left a message), and then took a long mental health break for some lap swimming and dinner.
KURT PROVIDES THE MISSING “LINK”
My friend Kurt in Los Angeles is one of the smartest networking professionals in the country. Over the phone, he helped me troubleshoot my floundering network, explaining how certain fixed IP numbers are set aside for specific diagnostic and configuration purposes, as opposed to those numbers you normally see coming from your Internet provider. “There is a difference between public IP addresses and private IP addresses, John, because if the person picks a private IP address for their inside addresses it could have some negative consequences for them. On the other hand, if they just stick with 192.168.x.x like you did, everything’s OK.”
Kurt’s punch line came when he told me to plug my Ruby iMac bridge’s Ethernet cable into the router’s UPLINK port, and not into one of its four numbered ports. All of a sudden every LINK indicator light on the PLEBR10 bridges lit up, and my TCP/IP connections were 192.168.1.100 on Ruby and 192.168.1.101 on Blueberry. Thanks, Kurt! My two-adjacent-iMac network was alive and well, using PowerLine bridges.
HOME ON THE STRANGE
My office is in a small structure separated from the house, where Barbara uses her iMac. Each building has its own set of power breakers, though they share one electric meter. (Can you guess what I’m leading up to?)
I brought her Blueberry iMac, PowerLine bridge, and Ethernet cable into Barbara’s study, and plugged everything in once more. No network. I dragged a 50′ extension cord from my office across the yard and through the house to her iMac, and now the network burst into life.
Lesson learned: Linksys’ EtherFast routers and bridges are magnificent for sharing broadband Internet service within a normal home’s single power grid, but not between two separate electric lines.
TIME FOR TEN
What’s next, you ask? Let’s test the whole shebang in OS X.
Being new to OS X, I was concerned that the new operating system’s TCP settings would grumble when confronted with my PowerLine network. I had trouble getting everything working, and Linksys’ phone helper was clueless this time around.
I took a deep breath, shut EVERYTHING down, make sure all cables and plugs were secure, rebooted into X, and presto!, PowerLine ran perfectly once more. Thanks go to Robin Williams’ The Little Mac OS X Book, for explanations and diagrams on working with TCP/IP in X. Additional kudos to WiebeTech for providing me with a DesktopGB powered FireWire bootable drive, which David Weeks configured to boot from my 400MHz iMac DV.
Reviews coming soon for Robin Williams book and WiebeTech equipment. Watch this space!
NEMO’S NETWORK
Here is a linear description of my two iMac PowerLine network:
It took me many, many hours to understand how to use my router and bridges to share broadband service. If I knew even a tiny bit more about networking before getting started, my network would have been operational in fifteen minutes!
This is an exciting product concept that should work effortlessly for years.
MacMice Rating: 4 out of 5
A very decent product. Worth the time and investment, but look for competing products.
Nemo’s MyMac.com “Q/D/S/V Standard” for all product reviews:
Q = QUALITY, including ease of installation, performance, stability, and general happy relationship with everything on my system;
D = DOCUMENTATION, both printed and electronic, plus appropriate website material;
S = SUPPORT, in the form of email, phone, and web updates;
V = VALUE, which includes both original cost and subsequent expenses
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.