I bought a 200mbsTP Link powerline kit to connect my sky box and dvd player to the internet. It works well, and if I do a speed test there's no noticeable slowdown connected through the powerline kit, or direct to the router.

 

It's my understanding that these devices are all compatible (i.e. follow an industry standard) as long as the speed rating is the same. Is that correct? So if I bought another 200mbs unit, even if it wasn't TP Link, it should connect ok?

Dont know about your question but I bought one of these kits too, brilliant and muuuch cheaper than the older manufacturers out there. TP link are brilliant in my opinion.

Might fall down on encryption. All powerline kits emit radio waves (if you've ham radio guys around you might get a very nerdy knock on the door soon) so they usually have some form of encryption built in and a sync button. I doubt different brands will sync together.

 

I've got a set too (from Aldi) and it works great for the back of the house where the wifi wasn't reaching very well.

Yup encryption is the killer for me.

Potentially anyone within 0.5km as a Conservative guess by most security folk, and on the same grid will be part of your network and could sniff your data.

Yup encryption is the killer for me.

Potentially anyone within 0.5km as a Conservative guess by most security folk, and on the same grid will be part of your network and could sniff your data.

The TP Link ones have their own encryption, I think?

Unless you buy the Gbit ones the most you will ever get is 100Mbps despite what the devices are rated at.

 

I have the TP Link 500Mbps ones but they have a 10/100 Mbps ethernet port on them.

 

http://uk.tp-link.com/products/details/?model=TL-PA411KIT#spec

 

I don't know how they can get away with advertising them as up to 500Mbps.

 

I understand that the TP Link ones use 128-bit AES encryption.

 

That aside, much easier to use than running cables everywhere.

Edited 21 January, 201412 yr by Chester

If the unit complies with the "HomePlug AV" standard, then it will work with other manufacturers compliant devices.

I've got two of one make and one of another all working together - can't tell you what they are I'm a long way from home.

I dont like them... they are a big security risk

...I have the TP Link 500Mbps ones but they have a 10/100 Mbps ethernet port on them...

Just like wireless, there are significant overheads. 802.11g runs at 54MHz but the actual real throughput is roughly half that.

To create a reliable link over power cables, you need an even greater overhead. Under perfect conditions, the real throughput is not much over 100Mbps.