By putting an adapter here and an adapter there, it’s easy to set up a home data network, known as a powerline, especially in homes where connections have to cover multiple floors or pass through thick walls.
However, while powerline has its advantages over wireless local area network (WLAN) or a LAN cable network, there are issues of security and speed one must consider before taking the plunge.
Linking a router, a computer and a media player isn’t always easy. One can always opt for using network cables — which provide a stable connection — but laying all that cable can be a pain. WLAN has its practical sides, but can be patchy.
That leaves Powerline as the third option. It differs from the others because it uses something everyone has — a house’s electrical wiring — to transmit data.
Experts see powerline networking as a sensible option: “Powerline is a solid and reliable technology and especially interesting for sturdy dwellings,” says Siegfried Pongratz of Germany’s VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies.
Powerline is especially useful for bridging multiple levels. Anyone who has their DSL router on the ground floor but their PC one story higher can run into WLAN problems. And not everyone is skilled at laying cable.
That’s another strong argument for powerline, argues Pongratz: “You don’t just save on the extra laying of cable, but installation is comparatively easy.”
Prices for starter sets vary depending on speed, but cost between 50 and 150 euros ($69 to $208). Most sets come with two adapters. Further components can be bought individually.
The devices are about as big as a mobile phone charger, come with a LAN box for network cable and are plugged directly into a socket. Computers, modems and other devices are then connected directly to the device with LAN cables. The adapters automatically…