Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Netgear XE104 Powerline Ethernet Switch

  1. #1
    HEXUS.admin
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    31,709
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    2,073 times in 719 posts

    Netgear XE104 Powerline Ethernet Switch

    Powerline is Netgear’s version of network using the electrical wiring in your home. We take their 4-port Powerline switch, the XE104, to task and see if it can match up to the competition...
    Read more.

  2. #2
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,023
    Thanks
    1,870
    Thanked
    3,381 times in 2,718 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish
    Gaming?

  3. #3
    No more Mr Nice Guy. Nick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    10,021
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked
    316 times in 141 posts
    Aye.. hooked up my Xbox 360, PS3 and PS2 to it...

    The whole point of getting it was to connect my consoles without having to run cables all over the house.
    Quote Originally Posted by Dareos View Post
    "OH OOOOHH oOOHHHHHHHOOHHHHHHH FILL ME WITH YOUR.... eeww not the stuff from the lab"

  4. #4
    awm
    awm is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    US
    Posts
    920
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked
    7 times in 7 posts
    I don't really see the issue with the 85 Mbit speed unless you are transferring files. For streaming the recieving computer needs to be able to decode it so unless you have very little compression having a PC that can decode such a huge stream would be implausible.

  5. #5
    No more Mr Nice Guy. Nick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    10,021
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked
    316 times in 141 posts
    Well streaming HD content from my Vista machine using my Xbox 360 as an extender was no-go, jirky framerates and dropped audio.

    Oddly enough, it was just about fast enough for streaming live TV but this again went a bit jerky with fast moving images such as a chase scene or football.

    However, for gaming purposes, it's perfect. It's a solid connection and I could hook up everything in one handy place without the need for masses of cabling all over the house or a separate switch behind the TV.
    Quote Originally Posted by Dareos View Post
    "OH OOOOHH oOOHHHHHHHOOHHHHHHH FILL ME WITH YOUR.... eeww not the stuff from the lab"

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Copenhagen, DK
    Posts
    1,893
    Thanks
    64
    Thanked
    100 times in 80 posts
    • Barrichello's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus VII Ranger
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7-4790 (3.60Ghz)
      • Memory:
      • 16GB
      • Storage:
      • 2 x (250GB) Samsung 840 EVO
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Geforce GTX 770 (DC2OC 2GB GDDR5)
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 750HX
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define R4
      • Operating System:
      • Linux/Win 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ XL2720T
      • Internet:
      • 100MB/100MB
    I been using powerline networking for a while now and really like it.

    Purchased a pair of these http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop...ProductID=3157 for the PS3 - main PC next to the cable outlet/modem/router - 1port going to a homeplug there and then coming out into front room with the PS3. Wireless may be ok for newbuild houses - but homeplugs is for sure the way forward if your walls are thicker than than 4 inches

  7. #7
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    47
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Your connection speed is very high with these units not far short of ordinary wired ethernet so its surprising you cant stream hid def TV, I suspect somethings not quite right elsewere.

    I believe these units despite being 4 port dont actually contain a switch so there may be issues with all 4 ports in use maybe try with just one device plugged in at each end?

    Would it also be fair to point out in the review that most WiFi will also NOT be hi def compatible if 80 mbps isn't working!

  8. #8
    Flying prans are the flalalum Veles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Bristol/Cardiff (Uni), UK
    Posts
    1,333
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    3 times in 3 posts
    Anyone know how these things fair if you try and use them in a house where the electrics are a bit gone?


    Veles on: Xbox live, My Halo stats
    Veles343 on: Xfire, Steam, BF2, BF2142
    My Blog

  9. #9
    No more Mr Nice Guy. Nick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    10,021
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked
    316 times in 141 posts
    Quote Originally Posted by errata View Post
    Your connection speed is very high with these units not far short of ordinary wired ethernet so its surprising you cant stream hid def TV, I suspect somethings not quite right elsewere.

    I believe these units despite being 4 port dont actually contain a switch so there may be issues with all 4 ports in use maybe try with just one device plugged in at each end?

    Would it also be fair to point out in the review that most WiFi will also NOT be hi def compatible if 80 mbps isn't working!
    That's what had me confuzzled, that I didn't appear to have the speed I had when I wired the Xbox 360 directly into the router.

    I did consider trying just one device at a time but then this was a 'real world' test and the whole point of having a 4 port switch was to have everything connected all the time...

    I think, tbh, that expecting WiFi, even the 104Mbps N draft stuff, to do HD streaming through the walls of a house is expecting too much. This is why I wanted to try a powerline solution.

    Quote Originally Posted by Veles View Post
    Anyone know how these things fair if you try and use them in a house where the electrics are a bit gone?
    Aye, Bob over HEXUS.lifestyle reviewed the Devolo versions.

    http://lifestyle.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=4728

    In chatting to him about these you do need to have decent wiring for the best speeds, especially so if you're going from one wiring ring to another.

    What these XE104's do is to throttle back to a stable speed if you're suffering dropped packets etc.

    Other things you can do, and this is mention in the manual for them, is to plug them directly into a socket, and NOT an extension lead. Plugging them into a surge protected extension lead is a big no-no too.

    I had no problems sticking mine into a double socket that had an 8 way extension coming off the other socket but a browse of various forums suggest that plugging them into sockets with the XE104 as the sole equipment on that socket may also improve performance.
    Quote Originally Posted by Dareos View Post
    "OH OOOOHH oOOHHHHHHHOOHHHHHHH FILL ME WITH YOUR.... eeww not the stuff from the lab"

  10. #10
    Flying prans are the flalalum Veles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Bristol/Cardiff (Uni), UK
    Posts
    1,333
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    3 times in 3 posts
    Probably easier and cheaper to just buy a £30 wireless router, the wiring hasn't been done in my student house for well over 10 years.

    Great review though, it's a very interesting technology, would be sweet if they started augmenting electrical wiring with this in mind to make high speeds possible.
    Last edited by Veles; 07-08-2007 at 11:11 PM.


    Veles on: Xbox live, My Halo stats
    Veles343 on: Xfire, Steam, BF2, BF2142
    My Blog

  11. #11
    No more Mr Nice Guy. Nick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    10,021
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked
    316 times in 141 posts
    Just wait... I'm now testing the 200Mbps versions...
    Quote Originally Posted by Dareos View Post
    "OH OOOOHH oOOHHHHHHHOOHHHHHHH FILL ME WITH YOUR.... eeww not the stuff from the lab"

  12. #12
    Chillie in here j.o.s.h.1408's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    a place called home
    Posts
    8,545
    Thanks
    757
    Thanked
    256 times in 193 posts
    • j.o.s.h.1408's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P6T Delux
      • CPU:
      • Intel core i7 920 @ 3ghz
      • Memory:
      • 3GB DDR RAM
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung F1, 500GB Seagate baracuda + 320gb Seagate PATA +150GB WD PATA
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA 480GTX SC edition
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic M12 600W Module PSU FTW
      • Case:
      • Lian Li PC-A7010B (the rolls royce of pc cases)
      • Operating System:
      • vista ultimate edition and windows xp
      • Monitor(s):
      • 22inch 2005FPW dell monitor
      • Internet:
      • 24mb BE There Broadband
    i have the 200mbps version and i get an average of 40/50mbps then again i got one connected to the main house and the otehr connected at the end of our garden which is over 50 feet long

  13. #13
    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    I'm a Jessie
    Posts
    35,176
    Thanks
    3,121
    Thanked
    3,173 times in 1,922 posts
    • Zak33's system
      • Storage:
      • Kingston HyperX SSD, Hitachi 1Tb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Nvidia 1050
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster 800w
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT01
      • Operating System:
      • Win10
      • Internet:
      • Zen FTC uber speedy

    Re: Netgear XE104 Powerline Ethernet Switch

    Quote Originally Posted by Nick
    In fact, given the number of LANs I’ve been to in people’s homes, the XE104 is a near perfect solution. Instead of everyone having to bring switches or some enterprising fellow ‘borrowing’ a 20 port switch from his work, a few of these XE104s would do the job brilliantly... and the stairs would be a safer place to walk without a bundle of network cables tangled all down them.
    this would also increase the productivity of the company who's Switch got stolen for a 3 day LAN, and the only other thing you don't mention is.......

    does it come with an AirZooka?

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
    "The second you aren't paying attention to the tool you're using, it will take your fingers from you. It does not know sympathy." |
    "If you don't gaffer it, it will gaffer you" | "Belt and braces"

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Ethernet Switch Question
    By Tejstar in forum Networking and Broadband
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 23-02-2007, 12:01 AM
  2. Dynamode 8 Port 10/100 Ethernet Switch - £4.70 + del
    By silentphoenix in forum Retail Therapy and Bargains
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 29-09-2006, 10:24 PM
  3. Ethernet Switch Question
    By milanlad in forum Networking and Broadband
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 20-05-2006, 11:44 AM
  4. New Switch Needed ! - Netgear maybe ?
    By elneckio in forum Networking and Broadband
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 09-09-2003, 10:46 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •