New Netgear Powerline adapters [DaddyTech]
For some reason no one that I know uses Powerline devices for home networking. And they should, because it’s incredibly easy.
You know all those cool new Blu-Ray players that can stream Netflix? New TVs that have built-in YouTube? They won’t work unless you connect the stupid thing to the Internet. Some home entertainment devices have built-in Wi-Fi, but frankly, Wi-Fi isn’t always fast enough to produce a smooth video stream.
Powerline, also known as HomePlug (the official name seems to be the HomePlug Powerline Alliance), lets you use electrical outlets to stream data. Plug one Powerline/HomePlug adapter into your router, then put another one anyplace you need it. I find that I get the best results using wired Ethernet; there are wireless Powerline adapters, but I think that defeats the purpose — wired Ethernet is stable, but running cable all over your house is very expensive. Even if you have the electrical knowledge to equip your home with Ethernet jacks, that takes a tremendous amount of time. (Does the phrase “I’ll install a drop ceiling and run wires that way!” sound appealing? Try running that one by your wife.) Plugging in a wall-wart-type of device is about as easy as it gets.
The speed isn’t what you get with real Ethernet jacks, but it’s better than wireless, and certainly more than enough for most users needs. You also don’t have to worry about dropped signals, Netgear’s new offerings include the Powerline AV 500 Adapter Kit (XAVB5001), which has a smaller form-factor than previous adapters, according to published reports. That’s important, because you can’t plug a Powerline adapter into a surge protector and expect it to work. It wants an outlet of its own, and since most electrical outlets are jammed close together, not blocking one or even two is important. (Note: I’ve read that you can make Powerline work if it is plugged into a surge protector; I’ve never tried it.)
The new stuff isn’t available yet. If you can’t wait, pick up the NETGEAR XAVB101 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit from Amazon.com. Or look for older model adapters from smaller companies, either on Amazon or even eBay. If you prefer to buy new gear, the Actiontec MegaPlug 85 Mbps Ethernet Adapter Twin-Pack is under 80 bucks on Amazon and has very good customer reviews. Remember that no matter what you buy, you’ll need at least adapters — one for the router, one for the device you want to connect to the Interwebs. In my experience, mixing brands doesn’t matter — I’ve used at least three different brands of Powerline/HomePlug adapters over the years and they all worked fine together.
Netgear brings the goods to CeBIT: HD streamers, HomePlug AV adapters [Engadget]
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