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Get a power line Ethernet kit for $24.99 shipped

This is the cheapest option yet for bringing a wired Ethernet connection to the far corners of your house, no drilling required.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
3 min read

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Newegg
Morning, cheeps! A quick housekeeping note before we go on: If you read The Cheapskate in a desktop browser, you may have noticed a slight formatting change that was rolled out last week.

Specifically, the comments section no longer appears by default. Instead, when you scroll down to the end of a post, you'll see another, related post you can start reading straight away. You can still leave a comment, of course, but to see what other readers are saying, simply click Show Comments.

Don't see a Join the Discussion box or anything else comments-related? You're probably using a mobile browser, or you have an overzealous ad-blocker that's preventing the Livefyre widget from running. If you whitelist that widget, you should be good go.

Today's deal

On to business! Do you need to run your Internet connection from here to there? Like, say, kitchen router to bedroom TiVo? Or basement router to attic office? Stringing Ethernet cables through walls, floors, and ceilings is not my idea of fun.

Fortunately, you can use the existing electrical wiring in your house. (Sorry, apartment dwellers.) Sounds kooky, but it works. All you need is a couple plug-and-play wall adapters, which leverage that wiring for Ethernet connectivity while still allowing regular old juice to flow.

These adapters can be pretty pricey (kits often sell for $100 or more), but not today: While supplies last, Newegg has the TrendNet TPL-406E2K Powerline Adapter Kit for $24.99 shipped. That's after applying coupon code EMCPAPB222 at checkout. (As with other Newegg coupons, you need to be signed into your account to use it.)

These really are a plug-and-play solution. Pop one of the adapters into an outlet near your router, then bridge the two with an included Ethernet cable. Then plug the other adapter into a wall outlet near whatever needs Ethernet: Blu-ray player, laptop, Roku, Xbox, and so on. Presto! You're done.

This particular kit promises speeds of up to 500Mbps and features 128-bit AES encryption. You can, of course, deploy more adapters as needed throughout your house, and in fact getting four of these for $50 is particularly tempting.

The nearly 50 user reviews on Newegg's site average out to about four stars, which is fairly typical for power line kits. (As with anything to do with networking, there are always a lot of variables that can affect performance.) What's not typical is this price. I've seen similar products as low as $30, but never quite this low. Update: Be sure to check out CNET's very positive review as well!

If you've tried the TrendNet kit yourself, hit the comments and let your fellow cheeps know what to expect.

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Lexar

Bonus deal: Running out of storage on that Chromebook, MacBook, Ultrabook, or other SSD-equipped laptop? Here's a cheap way to add a lot more: For a limited time, and while supplies last, B&H Photo has the Lexar S73 64GB USB 3.0 flash drive for $19.95 shipped. I've seen 32GB drives around this price, but 64GB? And USB 3.0?! Good heavens, that's cheap. And it has a retractable connector, which beats the heck out of easily lost caps. Update: This sale appears to be over, alas. The S73 is now showing a higher price.

Bonus deal No. 2: A good task manager is absolutely indispensable, and not just for business-folk. Todoist is widely regarded as one of the best. For a limited time, AppSumo is offering six months of Todoist Premium absolutely free.

When it expires, you can continue using the free version, or stick with Premium for $29 annually. Either way, this giveaway (which is good for both new and existing users!) is worth $14.50, so grab it now and get yourself organized. I'm a big Todoist fan; you will not be disappointed.