topic Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

jbrady — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 22:53:55 GMT

I've currently got Plusnet FTTC and a landline. I'm being transferred over to EE automatically if I don't do something but it has just occurred to me that if I move to a new supplier and get supplied with a new router, perhaps there will be a problem with my TP-Link power line extenders. We have a home office in the garden with PCs laptops and TV for streaming. The building is over 100ft from the house. So far those extenders have worked well. They were the only option we found for getting a reliable internet service to the office.

Although I have reservations re going to EE (past experience - but a long time ago), their offering is currently cheaper than Plusnet and their guaranteed minimum speed is higher. So I tried phoning them to ask if our extenders would work with their routers. The person I spoke to assured me I had nothing to worry about because BT, Plusnet and EE were all part of the same family, so anything that works with Plusnet equipment work with EE equipment. I wasn't convinced they knew what a power line extender was, but I clearly wasn't going to get any further, they just wanted me to sign up.

Has anybody got any experience of using power line extenders and changing routers and from FTTC to FTTP?

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

PhilipHeyes — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:05:04 GMT

The Powerline Extenders are unaware of the type of internet and will keep working as they do now.

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

Dan_the_Van — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:56:52 GMT

Everything should be fine, it was for me.
A word of warning don't expect the full product speed through the powerline adapters.
To save more changes you could match the wireless name and password to match your current hub.

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

bmc — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:13:48 GMT

@jbrady

Just to make sure - are you aware you can stay with PN and transfer your phone number to a VOIP provider?

Brian

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

jbrady — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:29:21 GMT

@bmc Yes - but EE are currently cheaper for the same speed and have a higher guaranteed speed. I don't know if their guarantees are reliable, but the only issue I had with Plusnet was that with every new contract the guaranteed speed went down . The speed wasn't linked to a service name.

I'm still undecided. I've just been looking through a few other threads and it seems some people have been having problems getting their phone number transferred to EE. So I'm looking at AA for voip. But then I'll need some kind of adapter (EE provide one). AA sell new phones but they are quite expensive.

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

jbrady — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:35:54 GMT

@PhilipHeyes Thank you for that assurance.

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

jbrady — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:47:32 GMT

@Dan_the_Van Thanks for that. I feel happier about moving forward now.

We currently have 3 wifi names. The Plusnet one, and 2 TPlink ones - one for 2.4 and the other for 5ghz. As long as the speeds in the office are no worse, we'll be fine. I would be nice to have faster speeds in the house though. When watching films on Netflix, it occasionally briefly freezes, then the voices get out of sync.

If we were to stay with Plusnet we presumably wouldn't have to change the wifi settings as we have a Plusnet hub 2 already.

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

Townman — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:02:31 GMT

@jbrady wrote:

@bmc Yes - but EE are currently cheaper for the same speed and have a higher guaranteed speed.

For the same product? That would seem unlikely. The only likely way to be offered a better speed is if you are on FTTC with Plusnet and EE are offering FTTP ... which is the same FTTP you could get with Plusnet.

If FTTP is not available in your area, then the service will be SoGEA and its minimum speed will be what it is (based on current line performance history) and it is incomprehensible that EE should offer a higher minimum than Plusnet. ISPs all take their speed forecast data from the same place - BTOR infrastructure stats.

One ISP offering a higher guaranteed speed than another for the SAME product is bunkum: the minimum guaranteed speed is derived from BTOR's hand-back threshold ... which is the same for all ISPs. It would be wise to double check that you are indeed comparing like for like.

As for Plusnet's price, is that the price on the account renewal page ... or the price offered by calling COTS?

Contact Customer Options Team (aka COTS)

COTs is the place to go to if you want to find out anything to do with your contract in respect of leaving, renewing or simply enquiring about early termination charges (ETCs). They have their own number and tend to answer quicker than the general customer service number.

Call this number 0800 432 0080 and press 2 and it takes you straight to a Sales/COT advisor. You get two simple options of 'are you an existing member' or 'are you new'.

Open

8am - 8pm Monday to Friday
9am - 7pm Saturday
9am - 6pm Sunday

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

bmc — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:53:04 GMT

@jbrady

I assume FTTP (Full Fibre) is not available.

Moving to an ISP who does both Internet and VOIP is the easiest option. Note if you're anywhere near the end of your contract you could consider others like Zen Internet. Not the cheapest but have a good reptutation and provide a well regarded router.

As you state for independent VOIP you may need to buy an ATA. Others can offer suggestions on this. A&A are a good choice if you don't make many outgoing calls and / or have a good mobile signal.

Brian

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

jbrady — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:46:33 GMT

@Townman

I have several speed options for FTTP with Plusnet if I stay without a phone service.

The Full Fibre 500 is being offered for £32.99 per month (I have a screen grab that I'll try to attach). 275Mb minimum guaranteed speed.

On the EE website, following a link from Plusnet and using a code supplied by Plusnet, again there were several speed options for FTTP.

The EE 500Mbps Core is available to me for £29.99 per month. 425 Mbps speed guarantee. With a phone service it was £31.99. When I spoke to somebody at EE they quoted £34.99, but when I said I could get it cheaper online on the EE website, they said they'd match that if I signed up.

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

jbrady — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:50:58 GMT

Screen grabs attached

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

jbrady — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:57:58 GMT

@bmc FTTP has recently become available in my area so I would have upgraded anyway, but because Plusnet are no longer supplying the phone service I have to decide whether to stay with Plusnet without phone (and potentially get voip from another company) or move to a supplier who do supply a digital phone service too.

My Plusnet contract ended in August so I am now paying a lot.

I looked at Zen but they are quite expensive although not as much as my out of contract charges with Plusnet.

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

ExForce9 — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 23:13:59 GMT

@jbrady

Have you checked to see whether your address can get FTTP from an AltNet (non-Openreach) network ?

as AltNets are often less expensive than Openreach FTTP, and typically have much faster upload speeds.

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

spile — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 06:34:10 GMT

I'm still undecided. I've just been looking through a few other threads and it seems some people have been having problems getting their phone number transferred to EE. So I'm looking at AA for voip. But then I'll need some kind of adapter (EE provide one). AA sell new phones but they are quite expensive.

Our parents moved from Plusnet to EE as they wanted to keep the phone. The process was seamless.

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

PhilipHeyes — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:53:31 GMT

My parents also moved from Plusnet FTTC + land line to EE FTTP + digital voice, the internet and phone were tested and working before the engineers departed. They need an all under once roof support service where an engineer can be called on site to fix any issues with the entire internet & phone service.

We have used VoIP since 2017, we have three VoIP numbers, Sipgate is our provider and use Cisco VoIP kit, I almost never recommend this to others as VoIP is so far from the plug and play that people are used to, most would fail to get it working.

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

bmc — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 09:14:58 GMT

@jbrady

Do you make a lot of outgoing calls on the landline or is the phone being kept for old times sake?

A lot of people (me included) have ditched the phone entirely and use mobile for our phone needs.

If you don't make a lot of calls then A&A are a good choice. Apart from anything else you can set the number to automatically go to A&A Voicemail who email you a copy of the message. Eliminates the need to set up your phone - you simply use mobile to reply.

Brian

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

bmc — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 10:02:02 GMT

@jbrady

Your other option for staying with PN and using a VOIP provider is to source your own router which has a built in ATA. Have a look at the FritzBox 7530 - a highly recommened router with far more bells and whistles than the basic Hub2. I use one as do several others on the forum. the AX version supports WiFi 6.

https://uk.webuy.com/search/?stext=fritzbox+routers

Brian

Re: Compatibility of TP-Link power line extenders

mwwagain — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:12:47 GMT

A third option is Plusnet and buy (from eBay etc) an office VOIP phone.

If you make sure it is a type which A&A (or your chosen alternative) fully support so you can follow their instructions.

I got a new Yealink T41S for peanuts. No adaptor - it is LAN plugged directly into the router and easy setup.

I would not recommend setting up an ATA from scratch - pay the money. The Fritzbox may be OK as they are already UK set, but the likes of Grandstream802 from eBay are not