Things to know about Powerline Adapter

Is there any part of your home that Wifi cannot reach? The best solution is to use a Powerline adapter (the device that transmits the Internet through a home electrical system).

These devices provide a quick and easy way to expand the network. They are affordable, no need to install additional cables indoors. Let's find out about this device.

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What is a powerline adapter?

So how does the Powerline adapter work? They extend the wired Internet connection throughout your home, not through new cables, it transmits the signal to the power line already in the wall. All you need to do is plug the adapter where you need it.

Powerline Ethernet is used to:

1. Extending your home network when one Wifi router is not enough.
2. Connect devices that do not support Wifi.
3. Provides faster network connection to rooms that cannot run Ethernet cables.

If the Powerline adapter seems to be helpful to you, here are a few things you need to know about this device.

1. Powerline adapter is a device with two adapters

Think of the Powerline adapter as a way to extend the network from point A to point B, where each point is a power outlet around the house. Therefore, Powerline Ethernet devices are usually a pair because one device is often useless.

You can buy more to expand the network around the house just to make sure all the devices are compatible.

Generally, you will plug one set into the wall next to the device to connect to and the other near the router. TP-Link is a popular and affordable powerline adapter you can choose from.

2. Powerline adapter needs to connect to the router

Powerline Ethernet devices do not perform the same functions as routers like IP assignment. For Powerline devices to work, a Powerline adapter needs to be connected to the router.

Basically, you can think of the Powerline adapter as an extension of a regular Ethernet cable. Connecting a computer directly to another computer won't work because the router is the device that grants Internet access to the computer.

3. Easy to set up Powerline adapter

Setting up Powerline Ethernet is easy. These devices are just plug and play. Just plug it into the wall, connect the Ethernet cable and you're done.

Some devices have a security function that requires a push of a button at the same time to synchronize, but the exact way depends on the specific device.

4. Powerline adapters are cheaper than wall cables

Unless the house is intended to be renovated, running cables over walls is impractical. You can use a Powerline adapter for less than 1 million VND, certainly cheaper than removing the wall to run the cord.

5. Powerline adapters are not very reliable

Check out some reviews of Powerline Ethernet devices, you'll see a few people complain about sudden disconnection and slow speeds, although there are also many 5-star reviews for easy setup and speed. great.

In some cases, this may be due to a faulty device. This could be because the indoor wiring is not suitable for Powerline Ethernet, due to the long distance between the two sockets, or there is interference on the line.

6. Connection is limited to indoor

Are you worried about security? Most Powerline devices offer some form of encryption, you should use it. But in most cases, the signal will not go out of the house.

If you have your own home, your neighbors can't use your Internet even if they buy a compatible device. However, if you live in an apartment building, your neighbors may be able to receive signals, so be sure to buy an adapter that supports encryption and turn it on.

7. A surge protector may interfere with the signal

Power surge protectors can protect computers, but they also interfere with Powerline adapter signals. Plugging a Powerline device into a surge protector will limit the potential speed or prevent it from operating completely. For the best possible connection, plug the Powerline adapter straight into the wall.

8. Less compatibility between brands

Although there are many companies that produce Powerline adapters, they do not cooperate with each other. If you want to ensure full compatibility, including the use of security features, the easiest is to buy the same model and model.

However, you may be able to use another company's Powerline adapter in some cases. The two main specifications are HomePlug and G.hn you need to consider when buying adapters from other manufacturers. In general, if there are two adapters that use the same specifications, they will work well together (although security protocols may not work).

Very old devices (such as HomePlug 1.0 devices) will not work with newer devices. Be sure to research compatibility before purchasing two different types of adapters.

9. Find Powerline adapter that supports Wifi

Finally, a question arises as Power adapters and Wifi, which is better? The answer depends on many factors.

Generally, wired connections are usually more stable than wireless connections, although in the case of a power line network depends on the quality of the power cable. Wifi is definitely more convenient.

Fortunately, you don't have to choose between these two. You only need to buy a Powerline adapter that supports Wifi. Many Powerline adapters that do not have this capability are especially cheap, but there are many reasonable options, see Netgear Powerline Kit as a typical example.

With this adapter, you can have a fixed wired connection for your desktop or game console, but you can also extend the WiFi network for iPads or other devices that use wireless connectivity.

Now that you know what the Powerline adapter is all about, what's the next step? Please choose a Powerline adater according to your needs, refer to the article Top 5 Powerline Adapters for the best home network.