Top powerline choices?
Top powerline choices?
I previously inquired about the optimal Wi-Fi router for a 3000 sq ft home. Now I want to know the most affordable powerline solution under $100.
Relies on your home's wiring setup. If it's newer than Powerline, it could work. With older systems you might face problems. The length of the signal path between adapters also matters. When both are on the same circuit, performance tends to be better. Crossing breakers or phases usually leads to worse results.
With my TP-Link adapters there is a utility on their site that shows your PL network and speeds. I've found that sometimes moving the adapter to a different plug in the room can made a big difference in speed. Sometimes even changing the adapter for a spare makes a difference. I've got several AV500 and AV600 models and sometimes the 500 is considerably faster than the 600.
Our home is relatively compact at about 1500 square feet. We’ve been using Netgear 1000Mbps powerline adapters, and they’ve performed excellently so far—very near the promised speeds. I believe I spent around $70 for two adapters. It seems I only needed to connect one adapter to my PC upstairs, which was situated directly above the router. Also, if your outlet is connected through a switch, make sure it stays powered on. Based on what I know, since the wiring in our house dates back to 2000 and hasn’t shown any signal loss, it shouldn’t be a major concern.