Compare Powerline and mesh Wi-Fi options for achieving gigabit speeds.
Compare Powerline and mesh Wi-Fi options for achieving gigabit speeds.
I've worked with powerline adapters before in an older home with a complicated layout. The router sat centrally but was tucked near a closet and behind plaster walls, leading to poor WiFi performance even with a repeater. I didn’t go for the most advanced models, but streaming performed much better than browsing. I used them for a bedroom PC, a PlayStation 4 in the living room, and my ex’s computer, plus an extra one in the basement for Android TV. Apart from occasional resets needed, things stayed mostly smooth, and file transfers were reasonably fast.
Now I’m facing a similar situation (since I left my adapters with my ex). My wife and I rent a place, and I don’t like messing with someone else’s wiring for just a small speed boost. We have Gigabit internet at home, but coverage drops in the office corner near the master bedroom and the opposite side where TVs and phones struggle. I bridged the modem and got a better router, which helped somewhat, but it still felt unstable. A nearby AC1200 repeater did a bit more, but the house just isn’t large enough or troublesome enough for a full mesh setup. Honestly, I’d probably go back to powerline and install one of those combo adapters in the bedroom if I owned the place or knew I’d stay long-term. If you’re considering it, good luck!
I've been planning to transform the converted garage (current storage space) into an office, second lounge, or man cave. This gives me a great opportunity to move around and style it—maybe some large game displays would look nice on the walls. I might need to share a battle station photo once everything is done. The project has been pushed back by a few weeks, so a switch could happen in May or June. There are also 100Mb and 500Mb options that could suit my needs better, but more is always better!