Reviews - Powerline networking - can it deliver?

[HEXUS]

We take a look at Ethernet-over-powerline products from Corinex and ZyXEL - how do they perform? Read on.

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[aminal]

Why on earth did you not test this against a wireless connection? Surely the whole idea of ethernet over power lines is to make it easy to connect hardware in your office/home/wherever without installing gigabit ethernet cabling everywhere, making it much more of a competitor to wireless than for real ethernet.

What was the point of comparing it to gigabit ethernet? It was never going to begin to compare?

[s_kinton]

I agree with Aminal, Powerline is more of a replacement for wireless than wired. Most people won't entertain wired, leaving only wireless vs powerline.

I would also have liked a 720p video playing over the Powerline system, as thats what the majority of peoples HDTVs ouput at.

[b0redom]

Or at least 100Mbit rather than Gigabit - the 200Mbps even if it is achievable over a power line (which it almost certainly isn't) is going to be throttled back to 100Mbps as that's what the RJ45 port allows for.

Of course YMMV, but these devices didn't work for me at all on my home wiring.

[nichomach]

The thing that bugs me about the powerline technologies is that it doesn't necessarily do you many favours if you have to sacrifice a power socket to plug them in. I know a lot work over multi-socket adapters, but the manufacturers frequently say that that isn't supported (understandably, I guess). These devices'd make much more sense to me if they featured mains pass-through, i.e. plug them into a wall socket and then plug other stuff into a passthrough socket on the device. After a quick shufti on Amazon, something like THIS.

[Nelviticus]

One thing you didn't mention is power consumption. I have a pair of Zyxels (slightly different model with a plug-and-cable going to a separate box, rather than a box that plugs straight into the socket) and they get stupidly hot - enough to be uncomfortable to touch. If you leave these things plugged in all day long I shudder to think how much power they're burning even when nothing is being transferred.

It's not just Zyxels either, I had some other-brand 14Mbps ones a couple of years ago and they were just as hot.

[errata]

We could do with a bit more explanation of your office wiring, I would suspect that it is nothing like the simple ring main home environment (the intended home of these units) and power consumption is relevant in the home as already noted (but then agin this is never quoted fore ethernet or wifi either).

[Rosaline]

Or at least 100Mbit rather than Gigabit - the 200Mbps even if it is achievable over a power line (which it almost certainly isn't) is going to be throttled back to 100Mbps as that's what the RJ45 port allows for.

Given that cat5E and cat6 both use RJ45 connections, and are designed to run faster, it is possible to run faster speeds over such a physical port. After accounting for the cable grading in use, the controller hardware is typically why such low (by modern standards) maximum speeds are quoted. Delightfully, this is actually mentioned for the Corinex powerline units

[CrazyMonkey]

I've been using some more expensive 250Mbps homeplugs (Devolo DLAN) for a good year now, they are FANTASTIC. Best networking item i have ever bought.

I also had/have that Zyxel router and it seems to have died (well the power adaptor has gone..) Although i havent bothered RMA'ing it to scan etc...

I achieve fast file transfers between my pc and my server (connected via homeplugs). Although i have found that using the homeplug in a room which has heavi power usage (such as my room - 4 pc's, tv, speakers etc) results in a slower performance that using a plug for instance in my spare room (only a singly pc drawing power in there).

And regarding the heat problem, i had this on some cheaper 80Mbps homeplugs from amazon (were fantastic too btw) but my Devolo's dont suffer from this problem (Just touched this moment... perhaps when they are hardstreaming data they become hot, but havent checked.)

[blinky]

Powerline rocks.

The cheaper 85Mb units are more than enough for most peoples use.

I use it with my main PC to connect to the internet and it's stable, fast and reliable - much more reliable on wireless.

[b0redom]

Given that cat5E and cat6 both use RJ45 connections, and are designed to run faster, it is possible to run faster speeds over such a physical port. After accounting for the cable grading in use, the controller hardware is typically why such low (by modern standards) maximum speeds are quoted. Delightfully, this is actually mentioned for the Corinex powerline units

OK, semantics, what I meant is that the RJ45 interface is incapable of transmitting at more than 100Mbps. So comparing a 100Mbps interface with a 1Gbps interface is not IMHO a reasonable test.

[s_kinton]

Would be nice if someone from Hexus would bother to respond or shed some more light on the testing methods etc?

[Rob_B]

You want a wireless/homeplug comparison?

Well, over wireless (2m from router) I get 3meg from speedtest.net, over homeplugs its 5-6meg. Nuff said!

These things are great, expensive versions used in this review though considering you can buy them for under £40 for a pair that would do most folk fine.

[Howard - AKASA]

Hi all
I personally run both AV200 from Zyxel(6) & Devo(2) now for six months in my mixed network (Wired,wireless & Homeplug) for my security , IGMP video streaming 300 ch & gaming networks (running Private vlans), the Devo is the worst to configure and last week each had one unit fail (but has better physical size to fit on multi plug extensions).

I have tried multiple uses for the Zyxel and all are flexible / good (from a wireless AP relay - Server I/F-gaming via stream) the AV200 is the best multi role device but pricey but the physical size does have some limitations , also works quite on mains extension cables .

So Homeplug has its benefits -over structured wire & wireless does upset the wife with stray cables and good for quick deployment , but the benefit for the home is how to mixed all three type for a good lifestyle with no comprises .

[M0AFJ]

Good afternoon,

It may suprise some of you but there is some doubt as to the legality of PLA adaptors. The units do not meet the requirements of the EMC Directive (EN55022) as they put out broadband hash over the majority of the HF radio spectrum. Where complaints are made OFCOM are investigating and instructing BT or the owner of them to remove them and replace with CAT5 or wireless.
It is possible to hear the PLA units at over 100M from the device, also it seems that they can interfere with routers slowing down transfer speeds. It can only be a matter of time before they are hacked...
It is not only hobby radio people who are being affected, the CAA who use the HF spectrum for communicating with aircraft and the MoD are increasingly worried about the increase of the general noise floor across the shortwave bands.
You may think that what is the use of Short Wave, surely if you want to listen to world wide radio it can be done on the net...true, but in times of strife sometimes short wave is the only way of getting round the censors..., see what has just happened in Iran.
Sorry if I might have upset one or two people but you need to be told that using these may mean a knock at the door from OFCOM.

[Nelviticus]

Tim, your very first post on this forum is to resurrect a tiny dead thread that no-one has posted to for nine months.

Just in case anyone stumbles across this, basically OFCOM have had a handful of complaints from radio enthusiasts and have pretty much dismissed them, at least as far as action is concerned. OFCOM are not going to come knocking on your door if you use Powerline networking devices.

Further reading:
OFCOM answer the complaints
Google