Powerline Networking...

In my recent trip to Fry's Electronics I bought the AirLink101 Powerline Turbo 85Mbps Ethernet Adapter (2-Pack). Being skeptical of the AirLink101 brand I immediately unpackaged them and hooked them up as soon as I got home. My wireless router is located upstairs in my bedroom and I have 2 computers downstairs that are wirelessly connected to my router upstairs.
I needed a more reliable connection between my router and the wifi computers, so I gave these powerline networking adapters a try.

I opened the box and found 2 AirLink101 APL85511 adapters, 2 ethernet crossover cables, a quick installation guide, a CD-ROM with manual and security software, and a warranty card. I ran upstairs and plugged 1 unit into a wall outlet (not sure how well it would work through a powerstrip) and the ethernet cable to a LAN port on my router. I went back downstairs and connected the other unit to a wall outlet and the ethernet cable to the computer. Started the computer up and in no time I was online! I loaded the security software from the CD, and saw that my transfer rate was 83Mbps! WOW!

I had also purchaed a Netgear 5 port switch at CompUSA and connected that up to the downstairs unit, and the computer to the switch. Still they worked great!

I was amazed! The units worked right out of the box! Now the real test is to see how long they will last. The old Netgear models seemed to fry after awhile. So we will see how long these last. I can't complain too much since the units I purchased were only $99+tax.

I must say that powerline networking is the easiest way to add computers to your network without stringing wires around the house. Setup was a breeze and they work right out of the box!

Why can't any company create what consumers really need?

Today I was cruising the net looking for some networking products that would make wiring the house I am living in, for network, alot easier. Currently I have DSL with a wireless router upstairs, and some computers downstairs connected to the wireless router via usb network adapters. As anyone who is running a wireless network knows, the more space and objects that are in the way of your wireless signal you lose connectivity (and transfer rate) to that wireless signal.

In my search for a better way to connect various computers around the house I looked into powerline networking. I have looked at various products from different companies in my search for the perfect solution. I have yet to find exactly what I want to integrate into my home network.

Netgear just announced some new powerline networking adapters that can handle HD streaming video across them. There previous version had a 4 port switch integrated into the adapter, and a previous version of that had a wireless range expander module. Why can't they integrate the two models to make an overall awesome product?

They should integrate the WiFi into the adapter with the 4 port switch with 1 port dedicated to do HD video / gaming bandwidth. Wouldn't that be the best of all worlds? Check it out... a powerline adapter with a built in switch, one of which can handle high bandwidth, with built in WiFi range extender. That is what I want. Can anyone out there make it? The problem is that all these companies want to make products that do 1 thing and not multiple things. So far now my solution is to buy the powerline networking adapter with the 4 port switch and connect an external wirless access point to it.

What is nice about the powerline networking adapters is that when you move, you can take them with you, and connect them up in the next place you live.