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(More customer reviews)I'm a bit of a networking guru (as deemed by friends, family, and coworkers) and in my tenure, I've had significant hands-on experience with just about every kind of home/small office networking kit including wireless routers, network switches, wireless Ethernet bridges, specialized antennas, etc. I'm relatively new to networking over power lines, but I do have prior experience with an older 85Mbps Linksys system. After using the NETGEAR Powerline AV200, my opinion remains the same: I'm sold on the concept of Homeplug's power line networking solution since it is a fantastic way to expand the reach of an existing network, but your mileage will depend on the quality of internal wiring. (Giving credit where credit is due: Homeplug's technology powers most of the power line networking devices such as my older Linksys system and NETGEAR's AV200.)
Setting up a new power line network is extremely simple... just plug one of the AV200's into the wall with its Ethernet cable into your router/switch, and plug the other module anywhere you'd like to add an Ethernet connection. The beauty of Ethernet is that you can either directly connect the AV200 to a single device, or you can hook it up to a multi-port switch so multiple devices can be served by a single AV200. It should be noted that there's nothing stopping you from plugging in a second wireless router set to AP mode into the AV200 and effectively expanding your existing wireless coverage.
Since the AV200 (and all power line networking units) use your existing electrical wiring as the physical transmit medium, there are inherent advantages and disadvantages compared to traditional wireless internet. One advantage is relative immunity to common sources of radio interference, so Bluetooth, microwave ovens, and other devices that potentially wreak havoc on 2.4GHz 802.11B/G/N networks won't cause your connection to spontaneously drop. Another advantage is wiring simplicity-you don't need to make dedicated Ethernet cable runs and chances are the device you're trying to network is already connected to the AC wiring.
One of the disadvantages is that power lines were not designed to carry data and the overall topology can vary wildly, so this is really a case of "your mileage will vary." For example, it's entirely possible that different outlets will work better than others since sources of interference on your power lines are relatively localized. Also, since the network medium is power lines, the maximum range of your network is a little fuzzy and can extend beyond the boundaries of your residence or office. Although the signal will degrade over distance, a shared common element such as a transformer can propagate the signal, theoretically putting your network in range of multiple residences. You can mitigate this issue, in part at least, by turning on the security/encryption function which is thankfully very easy to use, but I suspect many users will not.
Overall, I think that the NETGEAR Powerline AV200 is a fine product that's powerful and easy to use. From my experience, it's much easier to use this device to extend my network versus wireless Ethernet bridges or repeaters and it's more reliable to boot. I am disappointed, however, that the AV200 doesn't have a built-in 4-port switch like as my old Linksys kit, considering the AV200 costs significantly more. In the end, I am very satisfied with the AV200 and am happy to conclude that power line networking is ready for the prime time.
Below, I've come up with a list of my Power Line Networking Best Practices
1) Things with big motors such as blenders, fans, vacuums, etc. are notorious for generating electrical noise and this can impact performance.
2) Some surge protectors / UPS units will block the signal that the AV200 needs to operate. For best performance, plug the unit into the wall.
3) Circuit breakers and fuse boxes will degrade the signal, but it's entirely possible to use Homeplug devices that are on different electrical circuits eg. upstairs/downstairs.
4) The 200Mbps AV200's didn't work with my 85 Mbps Linksys.
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NETGEAR Powerline AV 200 Adapter KitWhy NETGEAR's Powerline AV 200 Adapter Kit? Extends a high speed Internet connection to any power outlet1, Perfect for connecting HDTVs, Blu-ray players, DVRs, PCs and game consoles to your home network and the Internet, Compact design with push-button security, Just plug into any electrical outlet. NETGEAR Green Features Automatically powers down when not connected or not in use, Disable LEDs to help save energy, Packaging manufactured with at least 95% recycled materials. Disclaimers: Requires use of HomePlug AV compatible Powerline devices (two XAV2001 devices included).
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