Cisco Powerline adapters get a makeover

The 4-port HomePlug AV PLS300 adapter.

(Credit: Cisco)

It doesn't matter how powerful your home wireless router is, there might still be some corner in the basement the signal can't reach. This is when you need an alternative solution, such as a pair of Powerline adapters. Powerline adapters basically extend the length of the network cable by using the existing electrical wiring--this means you can bring your network port anywhere in the house where there's a power outlet.

The Home AV PLK300 PowerLine adapter kit.

(Credit: Cisco)

For that reason, it's pretty exciting that Cisco on Monday will announce its third release of Linksys by Cisco Powerline adapters. The new lineup includes both the HomePlug Turbo and the HomePlug AV specifications. The former caps at 85Mbps and is suitable for regular traffic such as Internet browsing or sending and receiving e-mail. The latter caps at 189Mbps and is optimized for applications that require more bandwidth, such as high-definition video streaming or gaming.

Improvements over the previous generation include a better, more compact design and more ports. They won't obstruct the wall sockets anymore and now you can use them to connect up to four devices right out of the box without buying an additional switch.

The new Powerline products from Cisco are delivered with a preconfigured password that can be changed by running the installation wizard. The products work straight out of the box and are compatible with any other HomePlug-certified Powerline adapters.

Both the new Powerline Turbo and Powerline AV will be available in November, costing $150 and $180 per kit, respectively. A kit includes one Powerline 4-port Ethernet adapter and one 1-port Ethernet adapter. You can also buy a single adapter but you need at least two to cover the two ends of a network connection.

[streamline35]

This seems like a pretty cool option, and the speeds seem more than adequate for most needs (189 mbps is quite a bit faster than the most common 100 mbps ethernet switches/adapters right now, though definitely not up to gigabit standards). The only problem I find with it is that compared to wireless, it's still on the expensive side and not quite as free. Seems like a good option for desktops spread throughout the house though (or at least roughly comparable to N wireless in terms of speed and cost)

[scuuba]

It's also a good option if somebody wants to have internet capability in their home theater stup without running cables everywhere