Engadget

China builds $3.7 billion, 1,373 mile power cable, how was your afternoon?

Daniel Cooper — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:28:00 EST

The State Grid corporation of China is constructing a power line capable of transmitting a staggering 37 billion kWh per year. The record-breaking cable stretches from the power rich Hami Prefecture in Xinjiang to the industrial Zhengzhou in its east -- part of an area that's been suffering from power shortages since March 2011, according to China Daily. Costing a twitch-inducing $3.7 billion, when it's completed in 2014, it'll be the most capacious link in the world. Rather than rest on that particular laurel, the company is commencing work on a second, slightly smaller line that'll be used to transmit wind and solar power from Hami to the rest of the country -- here we were thinking that skipping our lie-in was an impressive feat.

China builds $3.7 billion, 1,373 mile power cable, how was your afternoon? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HomePlug Alliance AV2 specification promises gigabit class networking over electrical wires

Zachary Lutz — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

It's been a long time coming, but the Homeplug Powerline Alliance is introducing a new class of home networking technology known as AV2, which is meant to better facilitate HD content transmission over electrical wiring. With MIMO functionality (multiple-input and multiple-output) at its core, the new specification features gigabit class speeds and comes from a decade of field tests. What's more, the new standard promises to bring greater in-home coverage beyond WiFi capabilities while maintaining compatibility with existing HomePlug AV / IEEE 1901 products. Whether consumers are willing to embrace yet another new specification from the HomePlug group remains to be seen, although we can imagine a few Netflix junkies will be downright giddy. For the complete deets, the PR follows the break.

Continue reading HomePlug Alliance AV2 specification promises gigabit class networking over electrical wires

HomePlug Alliance AV2 specification promises gigabit class networking over electrical wires originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Qualcomm's sounding off about powerline networking for 2012

Daniel Cooper — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:31:00 EST

Qualcomm's taking to the stage at CES to unveil a new chip designed to make power-line communications less of a last-resort for people in lead-lined houses. The Qualcomm Atheros QCA6410 is a single chip designed to make powerline gear much smaller and cheaper than current models. It's also taking the moment to throw weight behind the IEEE 1905.1 hybrid networking standard, which'll be supported in the Hy-Fi portfolio of networking CPUs that coordinates WiFi, Powerline, Ethernet and Multimedia over Coax connections to make sure you can tweet about your new t-shirt in every square inch of your home. PR's after the break, folks.

Continue reading Qualcomm's sounding off about powerline networking for 2012

Qualcomm's sounding off about powerline networking for 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear at CES 2012: Powerline, wireless routers, home networking and more

Darren Murph — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST

As it seems to do every year, Netgear's chosen the Consumer Electronics Show to unveil, well... everything under the sun. Up first, the outfit's launching its WN2500RP, a universal dual-band WiFi range extender ($89.99) that runs both 2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands concurrently. Over on the home networking side, the Powerline 500 Nano and N900 convert a conventional wall outlet into a high-speed network connection, with the former shipping this quarter for $119.99 and the latter this summer for $79.99. Over on the non-product side, Netgear's trumpeting its reception of CableLabs DOCSIS 3.0 certification for the industry's first voice and data gateways (CGD3700B / CGE3700B) with concurrent dual-band WiFi. Head on past the break for specifics across the whole line.

Continue reading Netgear at CES 2012: Powerline, wireless routers, home networking and more

Netgear at CES 2012: Powerline, wireless routers, home networking and more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola joins HomeGrid Forum, gets on board with G.hn powerline networking

Michael Gorman — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:22:00 EST

Sure, we'd all like to have our home's wired with cat 5 cable, but that's not an option for most of us. Good thing there's powerline networking, and the HomeGrid Forum's G.hn powerline home networking standard just got another big name on board by adding Motorola to its list of supporters. With Moto in the fold, it's looking like IEEE's competing standard, P1905, has some catching up to do if it wants to win the hearts and minds of powerline aficionados everywhere. Get all the G.hn good news in the PR after the break.

Continue reading Motorola joins HomeGrid Forum, gets on board with G.hn powerline networking

Motorola joins HomeGrid Forum, gets on board with G.hn powerline networking originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat

Ross Rubin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:14:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

In the decade that WiFi has blanketed home networks across the United States, several technologies aimed at using existing wiring in the home have met with limited success. These have included MoCA (Multimedia over Coax, which has been adopted by some service providers for implementing multi-room DVRs) and HomePNA (originally for phone lines but later expanded to coax cable as well). At least three dueling standards have also sought to bring high-speed connectivity over electrical wiring. HomePlug, the most successful of these, has had several iterations. The latest - HomePlug AV - is rated at a theoretical throughput of 200 Mbits/sec. However, power line technologies have been held back by high prices and occasional interoperability problems.

But a new approach seeks to be the one protocol to rule them all, operating over phone lines, power lines or coax. Dubbed G.hn, the ITU standard promises up to 1Gbps theoretical throughput, with real-world usage over electrical lines expected to reach between 250Mbps and 400Mbps. If that sounds appealing to you, you're not alone. Service providers like the idea of G.hn since it allows them more flexibility than previous efforts. In fact, they like it so much that -- despite G.hn's capacity -- they have insisted on quality of service standards that could limit or prevent consumers from installing it themselves after they buy adapters from retailers.

Continue reading Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat

Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D-Link's Amplifi networking suite keeps the whole mansion connected

Michael Gorman — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:43:00 EST

Between our TVs, PCs, game consoles, and even refrigerators, most every room of our homes have devices needing an on-ramp to the information superhighway. To keep these gadgets connected, D-Link has debuted its Amplifi home networking equipment to bathe every square foot of your abode in ample bandwidth. There's the $150 HD Media Router 1000 that does 802.11n WiFi at 300 Mbps and has QoS technology to make sure your HD video streams and games are lag-free, plus four Gigabit Ethernet ports and an SD card reader. The Whole Home Router 1000 is $120 and sports similar specs sans the SD slot, but also packs D-Link's SmartBeam technology that tracks devices and "focuses beams of bandwidth" to keep you connected in every room. D-Link's $160 WiFi Booster also uses SmartBeam tech to extend your network's range via the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands and put four more Gigabit Ethernet ports anywhere you choose. Lastly, the Powerline AV 500 Adapter ($100) and Gigabit switch ($200) give you screaming 500Mbps speeds from any electrical outlet. Interested? Well, they're all available now, except for the laggard Whole Home Router 1000, which isn't available until August. PR's after the break.

Continue reading D-Link's Amplifi networking suite keeps the whole mansion connected

D-Link's Amplifi networking suite keeps the whole mansion connected originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D-Link outs hybrid powerline / wired / wireless router, does Atheros proud

Sean Hollister — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:24:00 EST

Many moons ago, Atheros had a dream, of a future where a single device could simultaneously extend Ethernet, WiFi and powerline connectivity to any part of your home. Well, gents, the future is now, as D-Link has taken the idea (and presumably a presumably paid a hefty licensing fee) to bring just such a device to market. The $130 D-Link DHP-1320 does 802.11n WiFi at up to 300Mbps, sends up to 200Mbps through your house's electrical system and sports three 10/100 LAN jacks as well. Oh, and never you mind that Netgear did something similar a couple months ago. PR after the break.

Continue reading D-Link outs hybrid powerline / wired / wireless router, does Atheros proud

D-Link outs hybrid powerline / wired / wireless router, does Atheros proud originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear announces MBR1000 for Verizon LTE, handful of other wireless routers

Ross Miller — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:08:00 EST

Because you shouldn't hog all that 4G LTE goodness for yourself, Netgear's announced a MBR1000 mobile broadband router compatible with Verizon's LTE network and its USB modems. It boasts four Ethernet ports and 802.11n WiFi... nothing mind-blowing, but isn't the LTE part enough? Additionally, we've got a quartet of routers with more traditional origins. Without further ado (and all in one breath, if you can): the N300 wireless router boasting Powerline AV (WNXR2000) coming this month for $119.99, the N750 wireless dual-band gigabit (WNDR4000) coming first quarter for $179.99, the N600 wireless dual-band gigabit ADSL modem router (DGND3700) in second quarter for $199.99, and a premium (albeit lacking ADSL) version N600 (WNDR3800) with ReadyShare hard drive / printer access from outside the network, a clear channel selector, and dashboard control for monitor / repair (also second quarter, for $179.99). There, wasn't so bad, was it?

Gallery: Netgear's CES 2011 router / networking launches at CES 2011

Gallery: Netgear's CES 2011 router lineup

Netgear announces MBR1000 for Verizon LTE, handful of other wireless routers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear's Push2TV HD WiDi adapter launched with 1080p support, WiFi range extenders follow

Darren Murph — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:59:00 EST

If you've been scouring the world for an adapter to enable your Intel Wireless Display-enabled laptop to do more than just look pretty in the living room, Netgear's got a refreshed box that deserves your attention. The second generation Push2TV adapter has been unveiled today, with an "HD" suffix finding its way in. The revised box now supports 1080p and Blu-ray transmissions, marking a vast improvement compared to the version launched at last year's CES. The PTV2000 is (thankfully) compatible with both existing and future generation WiDi laptops, and the dual-band wireless connectivity ensures that things will hum along just fine over 5GHz when that 2.4GHz band gets too jammed. It's expected to ship later this month in the US for $119.99, with the rest of the world to get it by the end of Q1.

In somewhat less exhilarating news, a trifecta of WiFi range extenders are also being revealed. The Universal WiFi Range Extender (WN3000RP; $99.99) touts a compact wall-plugged design, and a pair of powerline solutions should work well for those looking to make better use of their home's power cabling. The Internet Adapter for Home Theater - HD+3D (XAVB5004; $169.99) is hailed as the fastest powerline networking solution currently available on the market, while the Powerline AV 200 Nano Adapter Kit (XAVB2101; $139.99) is described as the world's smallest 200Mbps powerline AV adapter. Per usual, you can find the releases in full just below the break.

Gallery: Netgear's Push2TV HD, home networking launches at CES 2011

Continue reading Netgear's Push2TV HD WiDi adapter launched with 1080p support, WiFi range extenders follow

Netgear's Push2TV HD WiDi adapter launched with 1080p support, WiFi range extenders follow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HomePlug Powerline Alliance and Wi-Fi Alliance align, hope for wireless home nirvana

Darren Murph — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:02:00 EST

Ah, now we're talking. Over the years, HomePlug and wireless HD / HDMI haven't exactly "taken off." Routing internet signals over a home's power network has been hampered by subpar transmission rates, and using wireless in the home for anything other than basic web duties has shown to be either too costly or too much hassle. Now, however, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance and the Wi-Fi Alliance have seen the light, and they're joining hands in order to jointly push their technologies to homeowners. Focused primarily on " facilitating interoperability of smart grid applications," these organizations are fixing to enable SEP 2.0 applications to operate across a diverse mix of wireless and wired networks, and hopefully they'll reach out to product manufacturers while they're at it. Here's hoping they'll be able to nail it -- the demand is certainly there, but the execution thus far has been downright depressing.

Continue reading HomePlug Powerline Alliance and Wi-Fi Alliance align, hope for wireless home nirvana

HomePlug Powerline Alliance and Wi-Fi Alliance align, hope for wireless home nirvana originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atheros Hybrid system merges WiFi with powerline networking in one tidy bundle

Tim Stevens — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 21:20:00 EST

Network routers are increasingly becoming our portals to the world, and the latest model from Atheros, the Hybrid Router, is making that doorway wider than ever. Naturally it supports 802.11 WiFi and Ethernet, just like any good bit of networking kit, but it also adds in HomePlug AV powerline networking. By just plugging the thing's AC adapter into the wall you're extending your network signal throughout your abode and, by plugging in one of the company's Ethernet or WiFi adapters, you can extend your access to places that even microwaves fear to tread. Atheros hasn't announced pricing for the Hybrid Router or either the wired or wireless powerline range extenders, but all are said to be shipping before the end of the year, so we'll all be finding out soon enough.

Continue reading Atheros Hybrid system merges WiFi with powerline networking in one tidy bundle

Atheros Hybrid system merges WiFi with powerline networking in one tidy bundle originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear announces NeoTV 550 & 350 HD Media Players plus other networking goodies

Ben Bowers — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:39:00 EST

This week Netgear made a battery of new product announcements related to home entertainment and Powerline networking. On the media side, the NeoTV 550 & 350 HD players look a lot like last year's Digital Entertainer Elite, minus the 500GB of internal storage and access to VOD services like CinemaNow. Both are however capable of playing a robust list of codecs in full HD from a variety of attached sources like USB, eSATA (in the case of the 550) or SD storage, as well as streaming content from UPnP, DLNA or WMP11 networks. The 550 adds in support for external Blu-ray drives and BD-Live too, all for $219, which should appeal any of the poor souls with an unused standalone drive.

Three new Powerline kits -- AV 200, AV 500, and AV+ 500 -- were also announced to help consumers avoid the pain of stringing Ethernet in every direction. The entry level AV 200 appears to improve on the previous HDXB101 kit by offering the same theoretical 200mbps in addition to push button security enhancements and greener power consumption. The AV 500 kit provides the same and ramps the networking speeds to up to -- you guessed it -- 500mbps, while the "+" version throws in a pass-through filtered AC socket to avoid sacrificing precious outlets. Priced all below $200, every kit will available be by mid November for all the fall home networking your heart could desire. Peep the galleries and PR below for further details.

Gallery: Netgear NeoTV 550 & 350 HD

Gallery: Netgear Powerline AV 200, AV 500, and AV +500

Continue reading Netgear announces NeoTV 550 & 350 HD Media Players plus other networking goodies

Netgear announces NeoTV 550 & 350 HD Media Players plus other networking goodies originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WD intros HomePlug-compatible powerline networking package

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:42:00 EST

Western Digital's bread and butter is (and will likely remain) storage, but as we all know, all the storage in the world is useless if you can't access it. It only makes sense, then, that the company would get behind the HomePlug bandwagon for networking all your connected devices over your home's existing electrical power lines. The WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit includes two HomePlug AV adapters with four Ethernet ports each, boasting data transfer speeds up to 200 megabits per second. And it's HomePlug compatible, meaning your previous investments in the technology won't go to waste. Available now for $140. PR after the break.

Continue reading WD intros HomePlug-compatible powerline networking package

WD intros HomePlug-compatible powerline networking package originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Power line inspecting robot isn't afraid of getting juiced

Laura June — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:57:00 EST

Inspecting power lines isn't the safest job we can imagine having, so we're pretty happy to see that robots -- which don't have the same... feelings we do about getting injured -- can be hacked to do the job. Hydro-Quebec's LineScout can get past most power line obstacles by partially detaching itself from the line and then grabbing a hold of it again once said obstacle has been cleared. It can also easily get from one section of the line to the next relatively quickly, and of course, the best part of this bot's ability is that it can pull all this off while the lines are powered. Check out the video below to see the bot in action.

Continue reading Power line inspecting robot isn't afraid of getting juiced

Power line inspecting robot isn't afraid of getting juiced originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HomePlug Powerline Alliance reveals features of new HomePlug AV2 spec

Ben Bowers — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:06:00 EST

After a few years of teasing and smoke blowing, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance has finally released the skinny on major enhancements we can expect to see integrated into the HomePlug AV2 powerline networking specification that's scheduled for finalization in Q1 of 2011. Chief among them is MIMO (Multiple-Inputs Multiple-Outputs), which will expand home coverage by increasing the throughput speeds, and transmission ranges, without additional signal power or requiring more spectrum -- but you knew already that didn't you, MacGyver? Compounding this efficiency gain will be the expansion of the operating spectrum by an order of magnitude. Tallied together with other upgrades, the end result for consumers will be a "reported" 5x increase in performance, not to mention support for bigger, more reliable networks. Oh, and it'll also play nicely with original HomePlug AV technology, too. Frankly, that's jolly good news for our dreams of pushing 1080p HD video streams to every room in our house with an outlet -- including the pantry. Doing the same thing for 3D and 4K HD content... well, that's just brilliant! For more details peep the PR below the break.

Continue reading HomePlug Powerline Alliance reveals features of new HomePlug AV2 spec

HomePlug Powerline Alliance reveals features of new HomePlug AV2 spec originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IEEE P1901 powerline networking standard passes key hurdle

Donald Melanson — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:44:00 EST

You may not realize it, but powerline networking is growing up before your very eyes. It's latest milestone comes courtesy of the IEEE P1901 Working Group, which largely relies on HomePlug AV as its baseline technology, and has now seen its initial sponsor ballot pass with a whopping 80% support. That, according to the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, offers clear evidence that there is "overwhelming industry support" for the standard, and that final ratification of the standard could come as soon as the third quarter of this year. In fact, the draft standard is already so far along that companies can purchase it from the IEEE store, and get to work on products that will comply with P1901.

Continue reading IEEE P1901 powerline networking standard passes key hurdle

IEEE P1901 powerline networking standard passes key hurdle originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Innoband HomePlug AV+802.11n AP Starter Kit review

Darren Murph — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:59:00 EST

HomePlug has been around for years now, nearly as long as mobile broadband, Windows Mobile and sliced bread... combined. Unlike any of those three, however HomePlug hasn't exactly caught fire in the industry. For those unaware, the general principle with these devices is to send network signals (or other signals, we suppose) over a home's existing power network. In theory, this would prevent someone from being forced to run a 50 foot Ethernet drop, instead using the 50 feet (or more) or power wiring that already resides within the walls of a given abode to transmit the same signals. For whatever reason, early models were plagued with flaky performance and speeds that were far less than advertised. Granted, things have progressed quite aways since the HomePlugs of old, but has the tech finally reached a place where it could be adopted en masse?

We recently had the chance to test out Innoband's HomePlug AV+802.11n AP Starter Kit, which is a two-piece solution that consists of a transmitting unit (which connects to your router or modem via Ethernet and plugs into a nearby wall outlet) and a 802.11b/g/n WiFi transceiver, which is designed to be plugged into a different wall socket where you need an Ethernet connection or extended wireless coverage. Curious as to how things stacked up? Tap that 'Read More' link for the rest of our review.

Gallery: Innoband HomePlug AV+802.11n AP Starter Kit

Continue reading Innoband HomePlug AV+802.11n AP Starter Kit review

Innoband HomePlug AV+802.11n AP Starter Kit review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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brite-View LinkE pipes content to four Ethernet sources over existing powerline network

Darren Murph — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:59:00 EST

The market is darn near flooded with HomePlug AV-compatible powerline solutions, but Zinnet has seen fit to one-up the networking mainstays by dishing out a product that serves not one, but four Ethernet-packin' devices simultaneously. Designed for use with its brite-View CinemaTube (but fully capable of working with game consoles, Blu-ray players and media streamers), this two-piece kit allows internet content to flow through your home's existing powerline network and hit up to four devices on the other end. Simply plug the solo port adapter into a wall socket beside your router or broadband modem, and the four port adapter in your home theater room (or den, for the simplistic among us). From there, you can connect your Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Roku set-top-box, Blu-ray player, CinemaTube deck or any other AV device that benefits from a wired internet connection; just like that, you've got a makeshift connection to four devices, and you'll never have to worry over WiFi dropouts again. All that's required to bring this joy into your life is $89.99 and a basic understanding of online checkout procedure, both of which we're sure you can handle.

brite-View LinkE pipes content to four Ethernet sources over existing powerline network originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear brings the goods to CeBIT: HD streamers, HomePlug AV adapters

Darren Murph — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:45:00 EST

Another month, another blockbuster trade show. CeBIT's show floor doesn't open up until tomorrow (and yeah, we'll be storming it like no other), but Netgear's wasting precisely no time in unveiling its latest wares. The two pieces that are nearest and dearest to our hearts are the WNHDB3004 and WNHDB3004, the former of which is an 802.11n HD Home Theater Kit and the latter of which is a universal WiFi adapter that adds wireless support to any AV product with an Ethernet jack. Users interested in streaming "multiple, simultaneous, jitter-free 1080p HD video streams wirelessly throughout the home" should certainly give the first a look, as it enables instant wireless streaming from your existing router to any component with an Ethernet port; think of this as the beautiful alternative to running a 50 foot patch cable through your living room and simultaneously eroding your relationship with Mr. / Mrs. Significant Other. The outfit also doled out a few SMB-centric ReadyNAS devices and a couple of HomePlug AV boxes with AC outlet passthroughs, all of which are detailed there in the source links.

Gallery: Netgear brings the goods to CeBIT: HD streamers, HomePlug AV adapters

Netgear brings the goods to CeBIT: HD streamers, HomePlug AV adapters originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D-Link's DIG-1320 Powerline router eyed at CES

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:55:00 EST

Looks like Netgear isn't the only one bringing its Powerline data-over-power line devices to Las Vegas this week! Our fine friends at gdgt have just hepped us to a couple new D-Link boxes, including the DIG-1320, the company's first Powerline router -- with 802.11n WiFi to boot!. If using the ominous power of electricity to watch The Fall Guy on Hulu seems a bit much, the company has also unveiled DIR-632, its first consumer dot-n router with (count 'em!) 8 Ethernet ports. No word on price or release date, but if any of these things "fall off the back of a truck," we'll drop you a line. We know a guy.

D-Link's DIG-1320 Powerline router eyed at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear intros EVA9100 media streamer, DGN2200M WiFi / WWAN modem and more at CES

Darren Murph — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST

Some crazy stuff is going down in Vegas -- fancy that, right? Netgear is doing its darnedest to make its own scene with the introduction of three new items here at CES, so we won't waste any time in breaking 'em down. Up first is the now-available $249 Digital Entertainer Express (EVA9100), which incorporates the media prowess found in the EVA9150 in order to give users instant access to "Blu-ray quality digital video up to 1080p, MP3s and high-resolution digital photos from PCs, Macs or NAS devices." Portals to YouTube, Flickr and RSS feeds will be readily available, and the free trial of PlayOn will provide access to Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, BBC iPlayer and CBS.

Next, we've got the $179.99 DGN2200M wireless router (available in April), which actually pulls double duty as an 802.11n-enabled DSL modem and a WWAN modem. Hailed as the only wireless-N product on the retail market with dual WAN capabilities, this one can get users online via a 3G or 4G USB dongle whenever they leave their home broadband connection. Finally, the $159 Powerline 200 AV+ Adapter (XAV2501) -- which will ship early next month -- enables homeowners to create a 10/100 Ethernet connection from any ordinary electrical outlet that already supports a powerline network. This one's also a HomePlug AV-certified device, so it should have no issues pushing through data at up to 200Mbps. We'll be scouring the show floor for a little hands-on action, so stay tuned!

Gallery: Netgear intros EVA9100 media streamer, DGN2200M WiFi / WWAN modem and more at CES

Continue reading Netgear intros EVA9100 media streamer, DGN2200M WiFi / WWAN modem and more at CES

Netgear intros EVA9100 media streamer, DGN2200M WiFi / WWAN modem and more at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear's Home Theater Internet Connection Kit spreads content on power lines

Darren Murph — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:29:00 EST

Not so fond of those wireless streaming solutions? Unable to strew Ethernet cables all across your abode for fear of an SO beating? Fret not, as Netgear's now-shipping Home Theater Internet Connection Kit has you covered. The $179.99 bundle consists of an XAVB1004 Powerline AV Ethernet switch and a single Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter (XAV101) to get you started; just connect your web-ready wares to these adapters via Ethernet, and connect said adapters to your home's vast array of power outlets. It's magic, really.

[Via HotHardware]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Networking

Netgear's Home Theater Internet Connection Kit spreads content on power lines originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear's Home Theater Internet Connection Kit spreads content on power lines

Darren Murph — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:41:00 EST

Filed under: Media streamers, Others

Netgear's Home Theater Internet Connection Kit spreads content on power lines originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HomePlug fires back with powerline IEEE P1901 Draft Standard adoption

Steven Kim — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:19:00 EST

Highly variable real-world performance aside, the lack of a well-defined standard for powerline networking isn't helping the technology take off; but sticking consumers between the warring G.hn and HomePlug AV factions doesn't help anybody. In the latest round of the fight, the IEEE P1901 reached Draft Standard acceptance, and -- wouldn't you know it -- the onus of coming up with compliance and interoperability testing for products will fall upon the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. Just to raise the stakes, the Draft Standard is aiming for backward compatibility with existing devices. Sounds like herding cats to us, but with finalization of the Standard slated for 2010, it looks like things are going to heat up in the coming months.

Filed under: Industry, Cables, Other hardware

HomePlug fires back with powerline IEEE P1901 Draft Standard adoption originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meralco planning internet over power lines in the Philippines

Darren Murph — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:46:00 EST

While the concept of channeling the internet over power lines is far from new, it has yet to be implemented in any significant manner. If a top power distributor in the Philippines has its druthers, however, all that will change in the not-too-distant future. Manila Electric Company, better known as Meralco, is gearing up to use its power lines to bring broadband internet to more of the country, which currently sees just 20 million out of its 90 million inhabitants with access. In fact, the company has already made clear that it is "set to implement the pilot test," with the results guiding it in "determining scope and coverage of the project." Come to think of it, we've got a few dollars to spend on a rural broadband initiative here in the States. Hmm...

Filed under: Internet

Meralco planning internet over power lines in the Philippines originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belkin's Gigabit Powerline Adapter ups the ante for electrical outlet networking

Ross Miller — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:46:00 EST

We don't know exactly how, but Belkin's claiming its new Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit adapters can outpace the current 200Mbps standard speed of most other powerline devices (not all of them, mind you) by five fold. Of course, the caveat here is that the touted 1000Mbps is under ideal settings, and there's no telling what other network traffic, interference, or problematic wiring could lower that figure -- still, assuming all conditions are sound, we're talking some hefty numbers for an HD streaming network run via your home's electrical system. It's available now in North America at a penny under $150 for a pair of adapters, with a European release in early August.

Filed under: Media streamers, Others

Belkin's Gigabit Powerline Adapter ups the ante for electrical outlet networking originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belkin's Gigabit Powerline Adapter ups the ante for electrical outlet networking

Ross Miller — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:46:00 EST

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

Belkin's Gigabit Powerline Adapter ups the ante for electrical outlet networking originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D-Link ships $139.99 PowerLine HD Ethernet Adapter Starter Kit

Darren Murph — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:21:00 EST

While we wait for the phenomenon that is wireless HD to actually matter, D-Link's forging ahead with technology that's here, now. Starting today, the outfit is shipping a new PowerLine kit that can stream high-def footage throughout a home's integrated electrical wiring system. In other words, it's not wireless, but it's far from being messy. The PowerLine HD Ethernet Adapter Starter Kit (DHP-303) includes a pair of wall plugs / adapters which convert power sockets into access points for streaming media across the network. D-Link promises that users will see up to 200Mbps of throughput, and of course, the tried-and-rarely-true "plug-and-play" buzzword is thrown in as well. Assuming it actually works, the $139.99 asking price ain't too bad.

Gallery: D-Link ships $139.99 PowerLine HD Ethernet Adapter Starter Kit

Filed under: Media streamers, Others

D-Link ships $139.99 PowerLine HD Ethernet Adapter Starter Kit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D-Link ships $139.99 PowerLine HD Ethernet Adapter Starter Kit

Darren Murph — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:19:00 EST

Gallery: D-Link ships $139.99 PowerLine HD Ethernet Adapter Starter Kit

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Networking

D-Link ships $139.99 PowerLine HD Ethernet Adapter Starter Kit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Linksys by Cisco PLTK300 Powerline kit is pretty, sluggish

Darren Murph — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:17:00 EST

And to think, this here box had so much promise. At first glance, it's easy to fall head over heels with the PLTK300 Powerline box. After all, it features a four-port adapter that easily manages game consoles, Blu-ray players, AV receivers, etc., and passes those signals along your home network via power wiring. The rub? It's based on the older 85Mbps standard and not the fresher, speedier 200Mbps protocol. In other words, you may see dropped frames and the like if trying to push too much HD through here at once. Ah well, at least that news makes the Asia-only availability that much easier to live with.

Update: So, these seem to be shipping now in the US. Huzzah! [Thanks, Dave!]

Filed under: Other hardware, Others

Linksys by Cisco PLTK300 Powerline kit is pretty, sluggish originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UPA and HomeGrid Forum agree to support G.hn networking standard

Darren Murph — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 10:16:00 EST

While wireless HD / HDMI attempts to find itself a place in the market, G.hn is racking up its fair share of support from those who still get along with wires. Universal Powerline Association and the HomeGrid Forum have just announced an agreement to support the G.hn wireline networking standard. If you'll recall, G.hn was just recently ratified by the ITU as a new global standard for HDTV home networking, and while it's tough to tell how it'll react to HomePlug AV vying for those same customers, we can already see a battle shaping up. Still, a universal format for transmitting 1080p content around the home is certainly something that's easy to dig -- it's getting everyone on a single caboose that's difficult. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading UPA and HomeGrid Forum agree to support G.hn networking standard

Filed under: Industry, Cables, Others

UPA and HomeGrid Forum agree to support G.hn networking standard originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS2 shows off embedded powerline module

Darren Murph — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:52:00 EST

While powerline as a whole still has quite a ways to go before it's considered mainstream, DS2 is apparently hoping to bring it a touch closed by embedding it in places we'd least expect. At CES last week, the company was spotted showing off an embedded PLC module which gave powerline capabilities to whatever item it was integrated into. Now, let's see DS2 convince router companies and the like to follow suit.

Filed under: Misc, Media streamers, Other formats, Other hardware

DS2 shows off embedded powerline module originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HomePlug Alliance hits some milestones, rallies the troops at CES

Steven Kim — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:17:00 EST

We've been disappointed by the fits and starts that powerline technology has suffered in the past, but an honest look over the past year's HomePlug Alliance achievements isn't without bright spots. Growth in the install base (now at 25 million devices), products and vendors (18 new members) are nothing to sneeze at, and HomePlug AV2's promise of 600Mbps speeds sounds promising going forward. Kicking of at CES this week and moving forward, the alliance wants to see lots more household connectivity for HDTV, HDMI and all manner of data transfer you want to get done without tearing down the sheetrock in your home. Could this be the year that HomePlug really takes off, or will disappointing real-world performance continue to dog the technology? Hit the link for the alliance's rosy view and let us know your predictions in the comments.

Continue reading HomePlug Alliance hits some milestones, rallies the troops at CES

Filed under: Industry, Other hardware

HomePlug Alliance hits some milestones, rallies the troops at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HomePlug Alliance hits some milestones, rallies the troops at CES

Steven Kim — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:10:00 EST

Continue reading HomePlug Alliance hits some milestones, rallies the troops at CES

Filed under: CES, Home Entertainment, Household, Networking

HomePlug Alliance hits some milestones, rallies the troops at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear's CES showcase: powerline / MoCA gear, Internet TV player

Darren Murph — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST

Netgear isn't kidding around here at CES, and if you thought three new routers was the extent of it, you're sorely mistaken. The company is also debuting its new Internet TV Player (ITV2000; pictured), which is essentially an internet set-top-box that brings online media to the TV with all sorts of elegance. It'll be able to stream content from CNN, ESPN, NBA, TMZ, YouTube, Google, Yahoo and MetaCafe, though we're going to need a little Hulu mixed in before we take it seriously. We're also being reintroduced to the Digital Entertainer Elite (EVA9150) box, and in slightly less interesting news, we've got the XAV1004 Powerline AV adapter with 4-port Ethernet Switch holding it down within you walls. Lastly, we've got the MCAB1001 MoCA coax-Ethernet adapter kit and the WNMR834 Wireless-N MoCA router, both of which enable users to rely on their existing in-home cabling to distribute signals over Ethernet. All the gory details (minus price and availability, naturally) are just past the break.

Gallery: Netgear's CES showcase: powerline / MoCA gear, Internet TV player

Continue reading Netgear's CES showcase: powerline / MoCA gear, Internet TV player

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware, Others

Netgear's CES showcase: powerline / MoCA gear, Internet TV player originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic set to unveil powerline networking prototypes aplenty at CES

Donald Melanson — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST

Panasonic already has a few powerline networking products to call its own (including the adapters pictured at right), but it looks like it's going to be expanding things in a fairly big way at CES next month, with it even set to bring some electric cars into the mix. That latter bit comes in the form of a prototype networking system that promises to let a variety of devices connect to an electric vehicle as it charges in the garage, letting you ensure that everything is set just right for when you drive out the next day. Other devices apparently on tap include an HD-PLC adapter for a security camera, and an electrical monitoring system of some sort. As you might expect, however, details on any of them are pretty light at the moment, but you can be sure that we'll be digging up what we can as soon as Panasonic officially takes the wraps off 'em.

[Via Digg]

Filed under: Cables, Media streamers, Other hardware

Panasonic set to unveil powerline networking prototypes aplenty at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic set to unveil powerline networking prototypes aplenty at CES

Donald Melanson — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Networking

Panasonic set to unveil powerline networking prototypes aplenty at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HomePlug's powerline technology incorporated into IEEE P1901 standard

Darren Murph — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:02:00 EST

Powerline technology has been hanging around for years, but due to a combination of subpar real-world performance and a general lack of structure around the tech, it never really managed to take off. Now, it appears that we've stumbled upon yet another format war, this one over the power cabling within your walls. Within the very same month, we've seen the ITU ratify G.hn as the global standard for HDTV home networking and the IEEE bake HomePlug technology into its P1901 draft standard. Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, said about the development: "The formation of a ubiquitous IEEE standard will help to unite the industry, create even faster market growth and provide strong benefits to the consumer." Right, except now we're in the midst of yet another war of the protocols (or so it seems).

Filed under: Industry, Cables

HomePlug's powerline technology incorporated into IEEE P1901 standard originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS2 already concoting a G.hn-compatible chipset

Darren Murph — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:07:00 EST

Man, these guys are really on top of things. Just days after the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) ratified the G.hn home networking standard, DS2 has emerged to announce that it is already working to introduce a G.hn-compatible chipset as early as next year. When brought to market, the DSS9960 chipset will enable manufacturers to jump in and attempt to revive the obviously flagging powerline niche. Will interoperability be what finally turns this segment into a viable business model? We'll wait 'til the wireless HD fiasco gets sorted before attempting to answer that.

Filed under: Industry, Cables

DS2 already concoting a G.hn-compatible chipset originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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