Belkin Powerline AV Network Adapters - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 27th Dec 2008, 08:34

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...pters-review/1

Building the perfect home network can be tricky, especially if you've got thick walls which interfere with Wi-Fi signals or don't want Cat5e trailed everywhere. We check out Belkin's Powerline AV starter kit which uses the existing electricity wiring in your home to carry a network signal and see if it's a decent alternative.

Jasio · 27th Dec 2008, 09:11

Neat. I'll wait for the prices to come down though, still a bit too steep imo. But if a kit like this hovered in the $50 range I'd happily pick one up.

Teq · 27th Dec 2008, 09:12

I had my Xbox attempting to run a media center extension via 802.11g and it couldn't even cope with SD signals, plugged this kit in (which just works btw - refreshing that there is no fiddling around to get it functional) and was instantly able to play hd media across the connection, no trouble at all, not only that but I am now also able to host 8 player games of Forza with friends and they have very stable connectivity to me. Sure it doesn't beat my cat5 to my main PC's (2 gaming rigs and a HTPC), but it makes anything other than the new 'n' standard wireless networking look absolutely appalling, my only small issue with them is that the first batch that arrived developed a fault within a couple of days.

Denis_iii · 27th Dec 2008, 09:23

at 30quid i'd pick up a pair

frojoe · 27th Dec 2008, 09:33

We have been using this setup(not Belkin) in our house for almost a year because one computer is out of wifi range. They are a generic provided by the ISP for 30 USD a piece. The box claims 85 MB/s, and that's probably a complete lie, but it has been plenty fast for browsing, and 100 percent reliable to the other end of the house. It's a great technology for this sort of thing. It would be nice if the price would come down a bit more though.

Sark.inc · 27th Dec 2008, 10:49

anyone have a good link to how this stuff works?

Glider · 27th Dec 2008, 10:53

Does this also extend your network to the outside world over the power cables?

SkOTT · 27th Dec 2008, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glider

Does this also extend your network to the outside world over the power cables?

Nope, attenuation gives the signal a maximum range, your neighbours will be lucky to even see it, let alone connect.

Wikipedia knows all.

Glider · 27th Dec 2008, 11:46

The maximum range could be closer then you imagine, think about apartments... I don't like the feeling of giving physical access to my network to my neighbours...

tank_rider · 27th Dec 2008, 12:11

simple router mac address filtering would take care of that though.

I do like this idea, even if it's to allow the optimum positioning of a wireless router. I see this tech being very useful in a few years once it has matured and improved a little more. Have most pc's connecting through the power lines, then have a wireless router for laptops, iphones etc.

Good review BT, nice to see the tech has improved

barrkel · 27th Dec 2008, 13:10

'm/s' is a unit of speed (metres per second), but I seriously doubt that the power-line transmission was that slow (24 metres per second).

'ms' is the prefix I believe you were looking for - milliseconds.

*Y@h00k@* · 27th Dec 2008, 13:13

I use a kit similar like this from Devolo. It's got a config utility which let's you set a password, so no one lese will be able to connect to it, and they also have a model which will give you wireless access.

Great stuff

cpemma · 27th Dec 2008, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glider

The maximum range could be closer then you imagine, think about apartments... I don't like the feeling of giving physical access to my network to my neighbours...

Similar devices on the market all give an on-the-fly encryption option which according to reviews doesn't slow them down much.

But as it's you, the Linux fan,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

However, some manufacturers only supply the password-setup software in a Microsoft Windows version; in other words, enabling encryption requires a computer running Windows

ch424 · 27th Dec 2008, 15:35

Quote:

There’s also the fact that every machine connected to the network via the power lines will be sharing the same bandwidth, which if you’ve got multiple machines connected could soon cause a problem.

Surely you would have that same problem with WiFi?

Skill3d · 27th Dec 2008, 17:48

You can't use these things if there's a dimmer on the same power group...

HourBeforeDawn · 27th Dec 2008, 19:23

so I wasnt sure if it was mentioned as I skimmed the "review" but how does this effect your power, wont it dirty your power even further?

OleJ · 27th Dec 2008, 19:58

Quote:

testing real world right/copy/read

That would be "write/copy/read".

sandys · 27th Dec 2008, 20:49

Been using the 200Mbps ones from Netgear with similar results, been running for over 2 years no problems whatsoever, so much better than wireless for me, as a warning they don't work in all houses which makes the outlay a little risky if you have problems returning it

Impossible · 27th Dec 2008, 22:03

I only had chance to skim read the artical, but wont the ethernet ports on these have to be GbE to be able to meet there maximum 200Mb/s?

Or are they 100Mb ports and the powerlines can do a 200Mb network, eg to allow more than three computers hogging the bandwidth.

andyp06 · 28th Dec 2008, 00:20

I've been running 3x200Mbps Netgear Powerline plugs as part of my network for about a year, as my WiFi was drowned out by the 12 or so other users in the neighbourhood. I love the Netgears as they give a consistent 85Mbps+ & the data dropouts I had with WiFi are no more. They work with dimmers but do need to be plugged into the wall socket, not an extension. The only thing that stops them is the electric meter, so the neighbours can't snoop, which is another bonus. Setting up secure encrypted WiFi was a royal pain which I don't need to do with the Powerline's, they are quite literally 'plug & go'.

27th Dec 2008, 08:34	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Belkin Powerline AV Network Adapters http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...pters-review/1 Building the perfect home network can be tricky, especially if you've got thick walls which interfere with Wi-Fi signals or don't want Cat5e trailed everywhere. We check out Belkin's Powerline AV starter kit which uses the existing electricity wiring in your home to carry a network signal and see if it's a decent alternative. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

27th Dec 2008, 09:11	#2
Jasio Made in Canada Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: BC Posts: 454	Neat. I'll wait for the prices to come down though, still a bit too steep imo. But if a kit like this hovered in the $50 range I'd happily pick one up. __________________ [[Asus P6T \| Intel Core i7 920 @ 2.67Ghz cooled by Noctua UH-P12 Push-Pull Config \| 6GB DDR3-1600 Patriot Viper Xtreme XMP C8 \| nVidia GeForce 280 GTX 1GB \| Corsair HX620 620 Watt PSU \| Antec P182 Case]]

27th Dec 2008, 10:53	#7
Glider /dev/null Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 4,102	Does this also extend your network to the outside world over the power cables? __________________ There Are 10 Types Of People, Those Who Know Binary and Those Who Don't

27th Dec 2008, 11:46	#9
Glider /dev/null Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 4,102	The maximum range could be closer then you imagine, think about apartments... I don't like the feeling of giving physical access to my network to my neighbours... __________________ There Are 10 Types Of People, Those Who Know Binary and Those Who Don't

27th Dec 2008, 12:11	#10
tank_rider Ultramodder Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London, England Posts: 1,067	simple router mac address filtering would take care of that though. I do like this idea, even if it's to allow the optimum positioning of a wireless router. I see this tech being very useful in a few years once it has matured and improved a little more. Have most pc's connecting through the power lines, then have a wireless router for laptops, iphones etc. Good review BT, nice to see the tech has improved __________________ Main - e5200 @ 3.5GHz (akasa 965) \|\| GA-EP31-DS3L \|\| 2X2GB Crucial Ballistix \|\| xfx GTX 260 \|\| 500GB Seagate 7200.10 sata + 250GB Samsung sata + 160GB Samsung ide \|\| NEC DVDRW \|\| Enermax Liberty 400W \|\| Antec P180 \|\| 22" Fujitsu Siemems TFT Media - X2 4400 @ 2.4GHz \|\| Epox 9NDA3+ \|\| 2GB RAM \|\| 6800gs \|\| 80GB Maxtor Diamond Plus 9 \|\| LG DVD RAM \|\| Iiyama Vision Master Pro 454

27th Dec 2008, 09:12	#3
Teq 69 Dude!! Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 69	I had my Xbox attempting to run a media center extension via 802.11g and it couldn't even cope with SD signals, plugged this kit in (which just works btw - refreshing that there is no fiddling around to get it functional) and was instantly able to play hd media across the connection, no trouble at all, not only that but I am now also able to host 8 player games of Forza with friends and they have very stable connectivity to me. Sure it doesn't beat my cat5 to my main PC's (2 gaming rigs and a HTPC), but it makes anything other than the new 'n' standard wireless networking look absolutely appalling, my only small issue with them is that the first batch that arrived developed a fault within a couple of days.

27th Dec 2008, 09:23	#4
Denis_iii Hypermodder Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 874	at 30quid i'd pick up a pair

27th Dec 2008, 09:33	#5
frojoe Multimodder Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 87	We have been using this setup(not Belkin) in our house for almost a year because one computer is out of wifi range. They are a generic provided by the ISP for 30 USD a piece. The box claims 85 MB/s, and that's probably a complete lie, but it has been plenty fast for browsing, and 100 percent reliable to the other end of the house. It's a great technology for this sort of thing. It would be nice if the price would come down a bit more though.

27th Dec 2008, 10:49	#6
Sark.inc Multimodder Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 148	anyone have a good link to how this stuff works?

27th Dec 2008, 13:10	#11
barrkel What's a Dremel? Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 19	'm/s' is a unit of speed (metres per second), but I seriously doubt that the power-line transmission was that slow (24 metres per second). 'ms' is the prefix I believe you were looking for - milliseconds.

27th Dec 2008, 13:13	#12
Y@h00k@ What's a Dremel? Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brussels, Belgium Posts: 17	I use a kit similar like this from Devolo. It's got a config utility which let's you set a password, so no one lese will be able to connect to it, and they also have a model which will give you wireless access. Great stuff

27th Dec 2008, 17:48	#15
Skill3d Multimodder Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 149	You can't use these things if there's a dimmer on the same power group...

27th Dec 2008, 19:23	#16
HourBeforeDawn a.k.a KazeModz Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cali, USA Posts: 1,796	so I wasnt sure if it was mentioned as I skimmed the "review" but how does this effect your power, wont it dirty your power even further? __________________ Current Rig: RubyRED • Lian-Li A05B • (2) Swiftech 220 Radiators • (2) D5 Variable Pumps • (2) Res • and a whole lot of modding • Retired Rig: Project F.E.A.R. • TT Lanbox Lite • Swiftech H2O-120 • Q6600 G0 OC@3.6ghz • 2900XT • 4gb SuperTalent Memory •

27th Dec 2008, 20:49	#18
sandys Hypermodder Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 925	Been using the 200Mbps ones from Netgear with similar results, been running for over 2 years no problems whatsoever, so much better than wireless for me, as a warning they don't work in all houses which makes the outlay a little risky if you have problems returning it __________________ Into Gaming and around Bristol, UK, Click Here

27th Dec 2008, 22:03	#19
Impossible Multimodder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Cov Posts: 88	I only had chance to skim read the artical, but wont the ethernet ports on these have to be GbE to be able to meet there maximum 200Mb/s? Or are they 100Mb ports and the powerlines can do a 200Mb network, eg to allow more than three computers hogging the bandwidth.

28th Dec 2008, 00:20	#20
andyp06 What's a Dremel? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Dereham, UK Posts: 6	I've been running 3x200Mbps Netgear Powerline plugs as part of my network for about a year, as my WiFi was drowned out by the 12 or so other users in the neighbourhood. I love the Netgears as they give a consistent 85Mbps+ & the data dropouts I had with WiFi are no more. They work with dimmers but do need to be plugged into the wall socket, not an extension. The only thing that stops them is the electric meter, so the neighbours can't snoop, which is another bonus. Setting up secure encrypted WiFi was a royal pain which I don't need to do with the Powerline's, they are quite literally 'plug & go'.