powerline

D-Link DHP-501AV review: Powerful power-line networking

If you can't live with the huge physical size of the Netgear XAV5501, there's now an alternative: D-Link's DHP-501AV PowerLine AV 500 Adapter Starter Kit (model HDP-501AV).

This kit includes two adapters, model DHP-500AV, which are based on the HomePlug Powerline Alliance's new Powerline AV 500 standard, the same standard that the XAV5501 is based on. The D-Link's DHP-500AV adapter, however, is much more compact, just about 40 percent the size of the Netgear.

The smaller size doesn't mean it's slow, and in our testing the kit showed superfast performance, significantly faster than … Read more

Get a power-line Ethernet kit for $75 shipped

This is an update of a deal from a few months ago.

Having trouble getting a Wi-Fi signal to go where you need it to go? It's a fairly common problem: I've been in houses where the signal won't reach beyond one room, let alone between floors. Now what?

One option is to run Ethernet cable through walls, floors, and ceilings. It's effective, but also a major pain in the tuchus.

A much easier option is to use a power-line networking kit, which takes advantage of your home's existing electrical wiring. It's a simple, … Read more

D-Link unveils Amplifi family of networking products

Awhile ago, Cisco refreshed its E series of routers and switches. Today, D-Link introduced its own by announcing its Amplifi family of high-performance home networking solutions.

The company says the new products are designed to offer fast performance for even the most demanding connected homes. They include two routers (the HD Media Router 1000 with HD Fuel DIR-657 and the Whole Home Router 1000 DIR-645), a Wi-Fi Booster (DAP-1525) and three Powerline 500 products (DHP-500AV, DHP-501AV, and DHP-540). Though announced today, most of these products were first introduced during CES 2011

D-Link says that the HD Media Router 1000 with … Read more

German auto companies support power-line standard for plug-in cars

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance announced today that German auto manufacturers Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche, and Volkswagen have agreed to support HomePlug's Green PHY standard for electric-vehicle charging technology.

HomePlug is a technology that turns electrical wiring into data cable, hence eliminating the need for a separate set of wires for networking. Currently the most popular application of the power-line technology is in HomePlug AV-based devices used for home power-line networking, such as the WD Livewire, or the Linksys PLK300.

According to the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, the power-line standard that the five German car manufacturers--"after intense case studies … Read more

D-Link ships hybrid power-line wireless router

After all the buzz at CES 2011 about a hybrid all-in-one option that combines Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and power line in one box, you now can lay your hands on an actual product.

D-Link announced today that it is now shipping the first hybrid router, the Wireless-N PowerLine Router (model DHP-1320).

The router combines a regular Wireless-N router with the 200Mbps HomePlug AV standard. This means the router's power cord itself provides power-line data connectivity, and you can use any other HomePlug AV adapters at the far end of the connection to extend the network there, via electrical wiring. Traditionally … Read more

Get a power-line Ethernet kit for $72.99

This is an update of a deal I wrote about many moons ago.

Having trouble getting a Wi-Fi signal to go where you need it to go? It's a fairly common problem: I've been in houses where the signal won't reach beyond one room, let alone between floors. So what do you do?

One option is to run Ethernet cable through walls, floors, and ceilings. It's effective, but also a major pain in the tuchus.

A much easier option is to use a power-line networking kit, which takes advantage of your home's existing electrical wiring. … Read more

Netgear out with 500Mbps four-port powerline kit

LAS VEGAS--Trendnet shipped the first 500Mbps powerline kit, the TPL-401E2K, a month ago, and now Netgear has upped this type of device another notch.

The company announced today its first 500Mbps powerline kit, the Internet Adapter for Home Theater XAVB5004; it offers four ports at the far end of the connection.

The XAVB5004 includes two adapters. The first one has a single Gigabit port to connect to an existing network via a router (or a hub); the second adapter has four Gigabit ports, meaning you can use up to four Ethernet-ready devices before having to resort to an additional hub. … Read more

Netgear AV 200 Nano power-line kit shrinks

LAS VEGAS--One of the nuisances about snap-on power-line adapters is that they are bulky and therefore obstruct the adjacent power sockets.

This is, however, not an issue with what Netgear announced today, the Powerline AV 200 Nano Adapter Kit (model XAVB2101). The company called it the "smallest 200Mbps power-line AV adapter currently available worldwide."

The kit includes two identical power-line adapters that are small enough to fit in your palm. When mounted on the wall socket, it's clear that the adapter won't be in the way if you want to use another socket nearby.

These adapters … Read more

Netgear debuts wireless router with built-in powerline support

LAS VEGAS--Powerline is a network connectivity solution that turns your home's electrical wiring into data cables and hence allows for expanding the wired networking through out the house without having to run network cable all over the place.

You can conveniently add a power-line connection to any existing network by using a power-line kit, such as the Linksys PLK300, the WD Livewire, or the Netgear AV 200. All of these kits include at least two adapters, the minimum you need to create the first power-line connection, since you need an adapter at each end. After that you can buy … Read more