Legit Reviews

with the 85 MBPS POWERLINE 4-PORT ETHERNET ADAPTER XE104 do you have to have a ISP or does it just connect you through the powerlines ? and if you have to have a ISP does it run off whatever speed your internet is and is ALL home wall outlets compatible with it ?

Hi Hal,

The powerline equipment is designed to just offer local networking connections inside your house. So to share internet through your house with the powerline equipment you'd need a current ISP and broadband modem with an ethernet output to connect it to the powerline adaptor.

The powerline equipment will connect to each other as fast as they can (up to a max of 85mbps) and then your internet will be passed through that link. It won't make your internet any faster, but in a worst case scenario; if you have very fast internet, and for whatever reason, the powerlines connect at a very low speed, it could slow down your internet speeds.

I've used powerline equipment in the past, and while it does work, I'm of the opinion that a decent wireless network works better than the powerline setup. Is there a reason you would rather go for powerline over a wireless network?

Dan

PS. If you're looking at the Netgear XE104, be aware that you only get one in the box, and would have to buy at least one more to use it properly.

ok thanks !!

Agree with everything Dan said

I will say though, If I could find a power line networking solution that would be as fast as wireless N, I would jump at it in a heartbeat! Wireless signals SUCK in my house! 1 floor up and 50 feet away and I can hardly keep a wireless N signal, it's sad.

Mike