First impression / delivery
The Powerline Adapter Starter Kit comes with minimalist basic equipment: 2 Adapter, 2 RJ45 cable, a quick start guide as well as the mini-CD with drivers and comprehensive operating manual are enclosed. The adapters are about the size of a timer, processed fairly solid and veneered on the front with shiny white plastic. Taken to find the 3 visible in the picture green LEDs that light up but quite bright when plugging. So if the computer or the router is running at night in the room, may expect a blink concert (the right LED flashes when data is transmitted via Ethernet). Toll: the built-in power save mode turns off the adapter when there is an active terminal is connected. There is ever a connection for the RJ45 cable and a small connector button at the bottom. Although this protrudes slightly to press him by mistake should be almost impossible anyway. (4/5 stars)
Handling
The start-up was very straightforward with me. Both plugged and plug the router or the computer with the included cables to connect, hold down one after the pairing button on both devices for 5 seconds each and -Please note- wait a minute! Solange takes pairing namely, so do not panic and plug it if it does not work right away but wait until one minute everything. The adapters were found in me immediately, even the 2 connected downstream multiple-power strips and an intervening switch were for the adapter no problem. However, the adapter may not be plugged directly into a multi-pin connector, but must directly into the wall socket. That should not be a problem in most households but because the Adapter yes thankfully brings its own outlet. In addition, the included Ethernet cable are each 50cm length a little short, so I had to use your own cable. Router and PC should therefore be in the immediate vicinity of an electrical outlet. Tip: Alternatively, plug the adapter into an extension cord (not in a multi-pin bar!). (5/5 stars)
Power:
Here you can hear in powerline again and again horror stories, in my case, they have however dispelled very quickly: Reported with 200 Mbit / s adapter creates it in my miserable cabled old cottage (ground floor, distance to the router approximately 8m in a straight line, electricity meter in the cellar) on sizable 100 Mbit / s, making it just as fast as a conventional Ethernet cable. So if you with the Powerlan adapter will "only" connect to the Internet, here is super served: Most DSL connections have so depending on the tariff only 2-50 Mbit / s. So there will be no new "bottleneck". Unfortunately I can not test how changes the transmission rate when adding additional adapters, probably the speed between different powerline adapters is however divided as required (as it indeed does, the router with the Internet speed). However, if you want to move large amounts of data over the powerline network, or even HD movies will stream from a central media server in the home (as per iTunes), should probably invest in an adapter with wider bandwidth (500 Mbps or more). Compressed movies (about DivX) can be streamed but generally without any problems. By comparison, the data transfer rate in wireless (802.11g) is just 54 Mbit / s, with 802.11n theoretical 600 Mbit / s, (in practice about 150 Mbit / s). (5/5 stars)
Software:
To start up (and how to use the equipment), no additional software is actually needed. However, the network of the powerline devices is then publicly, that is, with the right adapter, anyone can "to phone", has access to the network behind the same electricity meter. This problem is in powerline adapters but right-handed and nothing special, etc. in single-family homes can be entirely dispensed with it. Critically, it is only when multiple parties share an electricity meter, eg subtenants, shared apartments, dormitories certain and so on. The Network ID should be changed in this case, a software is included. This runs on Windows computers and is not very easy to use, even if the operating instructions explained in detail. So you must enter an adapter-specific password that on the back of the adapter is printed. Just stupid, if you have to pay off the PC again, because it is connected to the same outlet as the adapter. So write off before connecting passwords! In addition, not all adapters appear occasionally through the software, the security configuration they accept but nevertheless. (3/5 stars)
Pro:
+ Uncomplicated pairing
+ Good value for money
+ Good, stable data transfer rate for fast DSL connections
+ Passthrough so that no electrical outlet is lost
+ Power Saving Mode
Contraindications:
-helle LED lights
-the enclosed cable with 50cm are a bit short
-something cumbersome adjusted safety functions
-to slow for HD streaming over LAN
Conclusion:
Great, uncomplicated device for surfing, LAN parties or HD streaming should not be expected, however. Who has a technophile acquaintance, can also set the security settings for shared power grids quickly.
