Linksys announces HomePlug AV PowerLine adapter

Linksys announced the PowerLine AV Ethernet Kit, its first HomePlug AV release. The bundle includes two PLE200 PowerLine AV Ethernet adapters and companion cables, and allows data to flow around your house as fast as 100Mbps (as in Ethernet, theoretically enough to support HD streams). Currently a HomePlug AV network will support up to 16 devices, and can "combat electrical noise generated by appliances, electronic [products] and halogen lights." A quick refresher for those unfamiliar with the concept, PowerLine allows you to create a home network via electrical outlets rather than running CAT-5 cables up and down the stairs. You plug any internet ready device into one adapter, and connect the other adapter to your router, plug both adapters into a wall socket, and like magic you've got internets. It is backwards compatible with PowerLine 1.0 (a sigh of relief for early adopters) and the kit and additional adapters are available now for your enjoyment.

[Via Crave]

[Twist @ Jan 9th 2007 5:38AM]

Might have to grab one of these for my sisters POS Dell that can barely connect to our WiFi network. I can take my iBook outside so that the Dell is between it and the router and get a stronger signal than it can. Sitting my iBook right next to the Dell I will have 4 out of 4 bars while she only gets 1 out of 5. Be handy for networking the Xbox 360 when it is connected to the HDTV as well.

[Emma @ Jan 9th 2007 5:42AM]

"you've got internets" ??

[Grammar freak @ Jan 9th 2007 10:09AM]

In the words of Nancy Kerrigan, "WHYYYYYY?" Wifi is so much more stable and supported than these gimicky powerline and phoneline nets. I used to have a phoneline network running at my parents' house... nightmare. No drivers, horrible performance, etc. I think it would be rather foolish for someone to invest in this technology.

[dthorpe @ Jan 10th 2007 11:59AM]

Why? Here's why:

1. Distance - wireless goes nowhere in a steel and concrete building. Wireless latency and throughput is terrible for point to point bridging (between buildings), even after you set up special dedicated wireless links.

2. Reliability: wireless is inherently intermittant. You lose signal all the time. For most web browsing or email situations, it's not noticeable, but for hours of continuous streaming video (ie, video conferencing) wireless is almost unusable.

WiFi is great for ad-hoc, follow-you-around edge connectivity, but it's not great for building the backbone of your network. Now that powerline ethernet is in the 100+ Mbps range, it's a serious alternative to running hundreds of feet of new ethernet cable through and between existing structures.

[badbob001 @ Jan 9th 2007 12:12PM]

Lets see how well your wifi works between two condo apartments on opposite sides and different floors. I got the netgear powerline hd units and while I don't get the highest bandwidth at this distance, it's still good enough for streaming TV from mediacenter to an extender. I'm curious if the homeplug AV would perform better than netgear's DS2-based gear.

[Zuke @ Jan 9th 2007 12:18PM]

Cool. Hope the pricepoint is decent.

I have problems w/Wifi in my house because of so many devices sharing that 2.4ghz range that they interfere with each other (microwave, portable telephone, A/V wireless extender for TV...).

[Kevin @ Jan 9th 2007 12:26PM]

I currently run a network with two Netgear HDX101 adaptors. They claim this is 200 mbps and can stream HD as well. What is the difference between this and the new linksys products?

-kevin

[john @ Jan 31st 2007 11:57PM]

I've been waiting for some real Homeplug AV units for a while now.

I run a Linksys Media Center Extender on Wireless-G and I still get occasional loss of signal (especially when my wife pops pop-corn or my neighbour answers his 2.4 GHz cordless phone!).

With my extender on Homeplug - I won't have those interference issues any more....

Kevin - The Netgear HDX101 are ok units - but the reviews say that they chose early release over compatibility with the Homeplug AV official standard. I can't wait until Small Net Builder or Tom's Hardware get hold of them and start doing some real stress testing.

[nobody @ Feb 21st 2007 4:59PM]

> It is backwards compatible
> with PowerLine 1.0 (a sigh of
> relief for early adopters)

Actually, they are not compatible with older powerline adapters. The "HomePlug AV" name is misleading, because they are not compatible with "HomePlug 1.0" products.