Video summary

1.5 Gbps Internet using your old telephone cables?

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Goal / Problem

This demonstrates how to achieve ~1.5 Gbps-class speeds by using existing in-wall telephone wiring when it’s impractical to run new Ethernet (or other high-speed cabling)—for example in older/rented properties or messy UK house wiring.

Best-Practice Alternatives (Context)

  • Fiber is presented as the ultimate long-term / highest-speed solution.
  • 10 Gbps Ethernet typically requires copper Ethernet (e.g., Cat 6a), with notes that Cat 7/8 are often less practical.
  • When you can’t run new cables, the approach leverages legacy wiring already in the walls.

Standard / Spec Reference: GHN

The solution is based on GHN (Gigabit Home Networking), which supports up to about 2 Gbps over multiple legacy wire types, including:

  • Telephone wiring
  • Coax
  • Powerlines
  • Plastic optical fiber

Why This Can Be Preferable to Powerline

The speaker notes powerline is usually much slower than advertised, based on their experience (including a “tier list” perspective).

Key Hardware / Products Shown

  • G5201T (~€134)
    • Provides telephone-line connection
    • Provides Ethernet port
    • Provides power
  • G5204T
    • Provides telephone-line connection
    • Provides 4 Ethernet ports:
      • 1 port at 2.5 Gbps
      • 3 ports at 1 Gbps

Additional details:

  • Described as plug-and-play.
  • Max scaling: up to 16 devices (per the speaker).
  • Connectors:
    • RJ11 from wall → adapter
    • RJ45 from adapter → PC

Performance Results (Key Takeaways)

Claimed vs. observed expectations

  • Physical layer (claimed): up to about ~1.7 Gbps
  • Application layer (target/typical): around ~1.5 Gbps

Throughput depends on wiring quality

  • Local LAN over telephone wiring: typically ~1.1–1.3 Gbps
  • Peak local tests mentioned: up to about ~1.36 Gbps down and ~1.2 Gbps up (for short/ideal runs)

Internet throughput is ISP-limited

  • Internet tests become constrained by the actual ISP/internet speed.

Latency

  • Ping around ~1–2 ms
  • Low jitter, generally reported as small fractions of a millisecond

Bandwidth sharing

When multiple nodes use the network at the same time, throughput decreases due to shared bandwidth.

  • Example: with two simultaneous connections, total throughput is roughly ~1.1 Gbps
  • An overall upper limit is noted around ~1.5 Gbps

Setup / Management Details

  • Recommends connecting on a DHCP network.
  • Default management IP noted: 192.168.10.253 (web interface)
  • A default password exists (speaker advises changing it).
  • Link behavior responds to unplug/replug (sync/link light comes and goes).

Practical Installation Notes (Regional Compatibility)

  • The box may include adapters/cables, but country-specific wall connectors may be needed.
    • UK example: use BT connectors (RJ11-to-BT conversion or compatible hardware may be required)
  • If shipped as an EU plug, a switching power adapter may be needed.

Historical / Context Analogy

The speaker references an earlier concept: PhoneNet (using AppleTalk over telephone wiring), contrasting older lower speeds with modern GHN capabilities.

Tutorial-Like Demonstration Structure (What the Video Shows)

  • Explains a cabling hierarchy:
    • Fiber → Ethernet copper → legacy telephone
  • Introduces GHN-based adapters, including how ports/connectors map:
    • RJ11 (wall/telephone) ↔ adapter
    • RJ45 ↔ PCs
  • Walks through a multi-device setup:
    • Multiple PCs in different rooms connected via the wall telephone wiring
    • Uses OpenSpeedTest for LAN performance
    • Tests link behavior (unplug/replug)
    • Tests internet throughput
    • Tests simultaneous usage to show shared bandwidth
  • Performs a direct two-device test on short telephone runs to show peak throughput.

Main Speakers / Sources

  • Main speaker: David Bombal (explicitly identified at the end: “I’m David Bombal…”)
  • Source/product company referenced: Giga Copper Networks (via their “Giga Copper” site claims/specs)

Original video