TRENDnet Launches Compact 200Mbps Powerline Adapter

News
By Kevin Parrish
published

This compact network adapter extends your current network in a home or office through the electrical lines.

Looking for a way to extend your home or office network without the hassles of Ethernet cords and spotty Wi-Fi signals? Why not use the power outlet mounted in your wall instead?

On Wednesday TRENDnet released the latest edition to its Powerline AV series, the 200 Mbps Compact Powerline AV Adapter (TPL-306E) and Adapter Kit (TPL-306E2K). This adapter essentially establishes a network connection from a router to a PC via a building or home's electrical lines, but consumes less physical space on the wall outlet than previous models.

"The TPL-306E replaces and is approximately 30-percent smaller than the older TPL-303E series," the company reports. "Its small form factor saves space when plugged into a crowded electrical outlet. Network one adapter to a router and plug another adapter into any outlet on the same electrical system for instant high speed network access."

The TRENDnet adapters connect automatically to each other over a secure encrypted signal with no CD installation required. They also feature an LED display which relays device status for power management and troubleshooting. And because they're always on, TRENDnet has implemented its embedded power-saving technology which lowers power consumption by up to 70-percent in standby mode.

End users looking to set up a powerline-based extension to their network will need at least two TPL-306E adapters, costing $54.99 USD for each. However for $99.99 USD, the 200 Mbps Compact Powerline AV Adapter Kit provides two adapters to get you started.

Kevin Parrish
11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • jdog2pt0
    These things are cool, but the latency on them is just too high.
    Reply
  • DRosencraft
    I've been looking at these things the past few months. My current wireless router (a cheapo Belkin 150 we bought a year ago in a pinch) keeps dropping out for no reason other than looking at it the wrong way. But i've read some older homes can't use them becuase they aren't compatible with older style wiring. Plus, these tend to be more expensive when compared to similar wireless router, and of course you still need to connect an ethernet cable to the thing. They're certainly not for everyone in every situation, but if you just want to get high speed internet to a single stationary unit near an outlet, these look to do the trick.
    Reply
  • toothchatter
    Ive tried two different versions of this product, both in houses that were less than 5 years old. it simply didnt live up to the hype. Hopefully this product works for some, but it was a no go for me.
    Reply
  • dimar
    Tried the older version few years ago, and recently tried the 500Mbps one. It was just too slow.
    Passing ethernet cables was the best option.
    Reply
  • dthx
    I tried several powerline adapters, in different (and quite modern) houses... They were ALL very unreliable and even slower than WiFi most of the time (even when their specs were 200mbps).
    Reply
  • extremepcs
    The $50 I spent on a spool of Cat 5e was the best investment I have made in a while.... Gigabit to every computer in my house.
    Reply
  • DRosencraft
    9335934 said:
    I tried several powerline adapters, in different (and quite modern) houses... They were ALL very unreliable and even slower than WiFi most of the time (even when their specs were 200mbps).

    Yeah, unless you go with the big money ones, these don't tend to be gigabit (they're 10/100 not 10/100/1000).

    9335946 said:
    The $50 I spent on a spool of Cat 5e was the best investment I have made in a while.... Gigabit to every computer in my house.

    I wish I had an organized way to this too. :pfff:
    Reply
  • nikorr
    Well we'll see what the real numbers are gonna be...
    Reply
  • azgard
    DRosencraftI've been looking at these things the past few months. My current wireless router (a cheapo Belkin 150 we bought a year ago in a pinch) keeps dropping out for no reason other than looking at it the wrong way. But i've read some older homes can't use them becuase they aren't compatible with older style wiring. Plus, these tend to be more expensive when compared to similar wireless router, and of course you still need to connect an ethernet cable to the thing. They're certainly not for everyone in every situation, but if you just want to get high speed internet to a single stationary unit near an outlet, these look to do the trick.
    Sound's like I had a similar situation to you and this solved it perfectly for me, once I plugged them in and configured them it worked. I would also like to add as a testament to the quality these products have now, is that I was in a building unit that most likely had 16 individual apartments in some form or another sharing noise on my line, and again worked flawlessly.
    The only thing I don't like is that without looking this product up, without a doubt its really a 10/100 device with deceptive duplex speed advertising.
    Reply
  • del35
    Just make sure that before using these adapters to create a network you create a customized encryption key, or your network will be accessible to anyone using the same device and less than 1000 feet in electric wire from your network. The same model devices have the same encryption key. The key is easy to change however.
    Reply