The Next Gen of Powerline Network Adapters

Many systems builders involved in small office, home office (SOHO) networking are aware of the two main choices for building out a network: wired or wireless. But they should also be aware of a third alternative: AC wires--the electrical circuitry that's already inside home and office walls.

AC wires can be accessed anywhere a computer is in use. What's more, with "powerline adapters," systems builders can deploy those AC wires inside the walls to replace Ethernet cable. Working with powerline adapters can free systems builders and their clients from situations where a spot is hard to reach with an Ethernet cable, or when it would be unsightly to use Ethernet cable. Powerline adapters offer systems builders yet another class of product they can confidently resell.

Proprietary versions of powerline adapters have been around for a few decades. Today, a new generation of adapters offers higher speeds, more robust performance and greater interoperability.

Some Choices

We review four of these new-generation powerline adapters. Three of them use the HomePlug AV specification from San Ramon, Calif.-based HomePlug Powerline Alliance, while the fourth uses a competing spec from Universal Powerline Association (UPA), based in England (see "Plug it in, Plug it in," center). Each adapter is quite small, and each has three indicator lights: One for power, one to detect a data path to another adapter and one to detect a connection to the Ethernet port.

While each adapter is shaped differently, all can be plugged into a standard two-plug outlet without blocking the second plug. But the documentation for all four brands warns against plugging them into surge protectors or uninterruptible power supplies, which would obliterate the signal.

Next: HomePlug Units