Powerline networking adaptors aren’t all that well known, but are enormously useful. Instead of stretching Ethernet cables from room to room, Powerline technology allows you to create a network using the existing mains electrical wiring in your home or office.
HomePlugs create a network from your mains wiring
This means you can extend the network to any room that has a spare power socket. This is especially useful for remote rooms where a Wi-Fi signal might not be able to reach.
See also Group test: What's the best powerline adapter?
It’s a great option – not just for computers, but also for devices such as games consoles or TV set-top boxes that require a wired network connection but may be some distance away from your router (or in a different room entirely).
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How many adaptors do I need?
You need one adaptor for your router and one for each additional device that you want to connect to your network. You can buy adaptors individually, but we’ve rounded up starter kits from a number of manufacturers that include two adaptors as that’s the minimum you need to connect a single computer or other device to your network.
Compatibility betweeen standards
In order to ensure compatibility between products from different manufacturers, most products have adopted a standard networking protocol called HomePlug. In fact, the terms ‘powerline’ and ‘HomePlug’ are often used as though they’re interchangeable, but there are competing standards. HomePlug is the most popular, though.
Kits that support the HomePlug standard may run at different speeds – most of the kits reviewed here adopt the HomePlug AV standard which nominally operates at 200 megabits per second (Mbps), which is fine for web browsing and most streaming video.
However, if multiple computers need to play high-speed online games and stream high-def video at the same time you might want to consider slightly more expensive kits that run at 500Mbps (also known as HomePlug AV2). There are also ‘gigabit’ kits starting to come out, which run at 1000Mbps, although these are still relatively rare and quite expensive.
You can mix and match Powerline adaptors running at different speeds and from different manufacturers – as long as they all support at least HomePlug AV. Naturally, faster adaptors can talk to slower ones only at the lower speed.
Beware of older kits still on sale that are based on an earlier standard called HomePlug 1.0. These run at a maximum speed of 85Mbps – which will probably still be adequate for many home users – but they’re not compatible with faster HomePlug AV products running at 200Mbps or more. They'll co-exist on the same mains wiring, but cannot talk to each other. Most home users should probably stick with newer HomePlug AV products in order to keep things simple.
Other features
As well as providing a simple plug-and-play network connection, there are other features that you might want to look out for too. Most Powerline adaptors only include a single Ethernet port, but you can buy adpators with three or four Ethernet ports, which makes them great for connecting multiple devices to one mains outlet.
If there are rooms in your home that can’t receive a good Wi-Fi signal, look for a kit with a ‘Wi-Fi extender’ option. You plug one of the adaptors into a mains socket in the room in order to create a wired connection to your main router, and then use the adaptor’s wireless features to set up a mini Wi-Fi network as well. Such adaptors also have one or more Ethernet ports.
Finally, some adaptors have a mains passthrough socket, which effectively gives you back the mains socket the adaptor would otherwise be occupying.
What are HomePlug's limitataions
There are a few things to bear in mind if you want to get best performance from your powerline network.
- The distance between sockets shouldn’t be a problem in most homes and office, but the age of the electrical wiring may affect performance in some older buildings.
- You shouldn’t plug a powerline adaptor into a multi-way extension either – they really need to be plugged directly into a mains socket in your wall. You can try your adaptors in a multi-way extension but don't be surprised if they can't connect to each other or have much reduced transfer speeds.
- Talking of transfer speeds, you may also find that some electrical devices, such as mobile phone chargers, can cause interference if they’re plugged in somewhere in your home on the same ring main.
- You can enable encryption in adaptors, but they will only talk to other adaptors on the same mains network (usually wiring that's attached to one electricity meter). This means your neighbours in a block of flats, for example, won't be able to access your network if they install some adaptors too.
For the most part, though, powerline networking really is enormously straightforward. It’s simpler than setting up an Ethernet network, and can reach further than a Wi-Fi network. That makes it ideal for both home and business users who want to connect multiple rooms to their network with the minimum of fuss.
Comments
G Olivier said: I have a Netgear RangeMax Wireless-N Router It is not the HomePlug technology Can I use this router with the HomePlug adapters If so what Mbps adapters should I purchase
Daniel Franks said: What is the limitation of the power lines Can you share from one building to another across the street
Pat Lawrence said: I have bought HOME PLUG POWERLINE EXTENDER SO I CAN MOVE MY PC FROM UPSTAIRS TO DOWNSTAIRS WITHOUT MOVING THE CABLE I HAVE ONLY ONE SOCKET ON THE WALL DOWNSTAIRS AS I CANT PLUG THE ADAPTER INTO A FIVE BAR EXTENSION LEAD CAN I PLUG THE EXTENSION LEAD INTO THE BACK OF THE ADAPTER WHICH HAS THE SOCKET ON IT
S neil said: I have a logitec security camara on its own logitec homeplug can I use a different home plug eg a devenlo home plug av 200
Shlomo Amshalem said: HelloI have just discovered this possibility to extend my WiFi coverage in my home it seemes good My question is must the two devices be plugged into wall sockets that belong to the same phase I think that my home is tri-phased
Bill said: Wouldnt be a problem at all Its just another electrical device and has no impact
f4xtrafn said: Since virtually every household has multiple cell phones being charged would that not be a major problem for almost everyone
Henry Young said: Yourupstairsand downstairs may be fusedseparatelybut they are on the samecircuit
Hyltonian said: I use a powerline to bring a signal from an upstairs router to my smart TV downstairs These are on different circuits
Andy said: I am looking to buy a new compact hifi that requires a fixed ethernet connection This will then enable content to be transferred from my Mac to the hifi via AirPlay and also enable access to internet radio The Mac is in my study and I plan to put the hifi in my family room which is only a short distance awayI dont have the fastest broadband speed in my area and cannot get DAB receptionWould a homeplug suit the purpose to provide a connection I note from some comments that radio frequency may be affected so what are the implications of connecting to a hifi
GrandWazooo said: RSGB Document link httpwwwrsgborgnewsartic
John Edwards said: Note Homeplug or Powerline systems have one major drawback if you use radio equipment Tests have shown that even some distance from the installation away from the property these systems can radiate noise via the device and house wiringwhich acts like a radio ariel in the radio frequency spectrum This can interfere with any radio signalYou may suffer interference on your own broadcast receivers or your neighbours even many doors away may suffer These devices are supposed to conform to a standard and have filtering Sadly real situation tests have proved that the standards are not good enough It is worth considering the fact that this noise can also get into traditional wire telephone lines which act like a radio ariel and SLOW down your internet speeds by makiing data exchange between your house and exchanges noisy For more information contact the Radio Society of Great Britain Similar problems exsist with Plasma TV Sets that radiate noise from the front of the set
Alex said: what was the reply Sam regarding your powerline on different ring mainsAlex
The McGregor Club said: When I moved we were forced to go with the Virgin Media SuperHub and my desktop across the house from it Ittrulyis a bunch of rubbish so it went straight into Modem Mode and out come my trusty 40 TP Link Router and a pair of TP Link Powerline adaptersI recommend the TP Link hardware -httpwwwinfobarrelcomPowe
Samcooke said: I want to install a powerline starter kit for my SonY smart TVThe shop ass tell me that it will only work if both adaptors are on the same elect circuitIn my case the computer is up stairs on the upstairs ring mains the TVis downstairs on the downstairs ring main both circuits go back to the same distribution boardIs what he said correctSam
Paulkebab said: After suffering dropouts and hopeless transfer rates between a Virgin Superhub downstairs and a TP Link 300Mbps router upstairsI got a pair of TP Link 500mbps Powerlines set up the router in bridged mode to use as a port extender and no more problems No setup no headaches the Powerlines just work - highly recommended