[outofmyshed]

Sounds like the author just needed to set a non-default network key.

Powerlines suck, but when you have no other option, they suck a little less than no connectivity at all.

If your VDSL line runs anywhere near your mains wiring, they can cause crazy interference and erroring as the frequencies overlap. Some kit has a notch-out mode to avoid this (Devolo I think).