I've been a Network Engineer for over 10 years and ever since I've dealt with computers, cabling is one of the worst aspects of the job. I can't tell you how many times I've run/extended CAT3/CAT5/CAT5e/CAT6 cabling and ended up terminating both ends and testing them. Some situations are easier than others when you're allowed to run a cable across the floor or above ceiling tile... but in other situations like getting networking in a certain room in your house can be a total pain in the butt.
For the average home user, the only way to get networking from point A to your house to point B is either wired with cabling or use WiFi & bridging if the WiFi didn't extend far enough. When Powerline technology came out it added convenience of using existing power cabling but still was a little flaky and troublesome. But since then, Powerline has jumped leaps and bounds since and is much more reliable & faster.
When it came time to buy originally back in July 2012, I put a lot of research into looking into the latest powerline solution for my home. I wanted something with high performance and the current version of "high performance Powerline devices" allows 500Mbps transfer rate. Even still, I was having trouble selecting which manufacturer to go with (Belkin, Cisco, Netgear, etc). After my homework (and despite Netgear's horrible sales support), I ended up with the
NETGEAR Powerline 500Mbps Nano Adapter - Starter Kit (XAVB5101)
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Despite the insane price point (currently $87.99 on Amazon - 12/13/2013; I bought these for $108 back in July 2012), the Netgear adapters worked wonderfully in my home. I was able to maintain faster throughput from device to device while on wired Ethernet while not saturating my WiFi network. However, over the course of a year and a half, the number of devices I had in my house grew considerably (especially over WiFi).
In the past year, I added a few cell phones, a laptop, a tablet, a Roku 3, a Western Digital TV Live, 2 Chromecasts, and a new Smart TV. Because of that, my WiFi started to become degraded because every single one of those new devices was connecting to my network over WiFi. When multiple devices would start streaming things like Netflix and I was doing transfers from my media server to a PC, Netflix would stutter and my WiFi throughput would literally crawl slower than a snail on a salt bed. That's when I realized I needed to invest in more Powerline Adapters for certain rooms to speed up transfers as well as help reduce the load of my WiFi network.
But you see, despite being pleased with my Netgear adapters, I didn't want to spend another $100. A friend of mine (who I told the Netgear adapters about) bought another brand of Powerline AV 500Mbit adapters from a company called TP-Link to save money. He said they worked pretty good. After finding out that they were $35 on Amazon, I immediately pulled the trigger. I mean after all, I had a word of mouth approval from a friend and you can't argue saving over $50 vs another set of my Netgear adapters... the result? Absolutely no difference in speeds.
Just like the Netgear adapters, these are essentially Plug & Play. There were literally no problems connecting these in my house. I went to the living room where I needed wired connectivity and plugged these up to the wall. The TP-Link adapter immediately recognized my existing Netgear Powerline adapters and the 2nd LED (Powerline LED indicator) immediately lit up. I plugged in my small 10/100 switch to it and then my Roku & TV up to it and the 3rd LED (Ethernet indicator) lit up and the devices could not only talk to other devices on my LAN, but they had Internet access as well. I personally noticed NO DIFFERENCE in throughput speeds both within the LAN and the Internet.
The *ONLY* difference between the TP-Link set and the Netgear is the that the TP-Link doesn't tell you the "current speed" of that adapter's Powerline network. The Netgear has multicolored LEDs that indicate the speed of your Powerline network. While this normally won't matter to a lot of people, it will tell you whether you are having degraded performance within your home's electrical wiring. It also aids in troubleshooting as well. But it's not a show stopper...
Personally, I would recommend this product over the Netgear adapters I have.
1. The price is a LOT cheaper.
2. TP-Link has a TWO YEAR WARRANTY vs the Netgear's ONE YEAR WARRANTY. If you're really concerned on whether you're buying "a crap product", rest assured that this works just as good as the bigger name brands and you have an extra year of product care!
Highly recommended.
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From the brand
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Founded in 1996, TP-Link is a global provider of reliable networking devices and accessories, involved in all aspects of everyday life.
With a proven heritage of stability, performance, and value, TP-Link has curated a portfolio of products that meet the networking needs of all individuals.
Now, as the connected lifestyle continues to evolve, the company is expanding today to exceed the demands of tomorrow.
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WiFi 7
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USB to Ethernet Adapters
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From the manufacturer
Quickly Expand Your Home Network
Comes in a set of two adapters to quickly and easily expand your home’s Ethernet through your power outlets and into hard to reach areas using HomePlug AV technology.
To set up, plug one adapter into a nearby outlet and connect it to your router using the included Ethernet cable.
Then, take the second adapter and plug it in and connect it to any device, also using an Ethernet cable. Your powerline adapters should automatically detect and establish a strong AV600 connection.
Better Connectivity Across Your Home
· Expand your network with AV600* speeds without needing to drill holes or add wires.
· Give a wired device a secure and reliable Internet connection in any room.
· Compact design lets it fit in with home décor and sit on outlets without blocking wall outlets.
· Quality of Service protocols constantly monitors wireless transmission for a more efficient network.
. The terms 'AV600' and '600Mbps' are derived from applicable specifications and refer to the theoretical maximum physical-layer data transfer rate. Those terms are used on this product solely to indicate its compatibility with other 'AV600' or '600Mbps' PowerLine devices. Actual data speeds vary and are limited by the product’s Ethernet port and other network conditions such as data traffic, electrical noise, and wiring issues. If you are uncertain about your network conditions, you should consult an IT professional to assist in selecting a networking product.
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Ethernet PortConnect a wired device, such as a game console or smart TV, to a stable connection. |
Advanced SecurityPressing the Pair button enables greater network security and data protection with one-touch 128-bit AES encryption. |
Power Saving ModeEach adapter considerably reduces energy consumption when not in use. |
22+ Years of ExperienceOur world class R&D team, streamlined vertical manufacturing and strict quality control have enabled us to consistently create exceptional high-quality products for the last 22 years. |
Compare with similar items
This Item  TP-Link AV600 Powerline Ethernet Adapter - Plug&Play, Power Saving, Nano Powerline Adapter, Expand Home Network with Stable Connections (TL-PA4010 KIT) |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | -15% $33.99 List: $39.99 | -17% $99.99 List: $119.99 | -16% $37.99 New Price: $44.99 | -10% $53.99 List: $59.99 | $26.99 | $43.98 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| WiFi signal | ||||||
| Tech Support | ||||||
| For gaming | ||||||
| Easy to install | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amor Tech | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Atomipro |
| data transfer rate | 100 megabits per second | 1300 megabits per second | 1000 megabits per second | 1000 megabits per second | 1000 megabits per second | 1200 megabits per second |
| data link protocol | Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet, Ethernet | Ethernet | Ethernet | Ethernet | Ethernet |
| hardware interface | usb | ethernet | ethernet | usb | usb | ethernet |
| operating system | Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP/2000, Mac, Linux | — | — | nintendo switch | nintendo wii | — |
Videos
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How to setup TP-Link powerline adapter
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TP-Link TL-PA4010 powerline AV600 - Installation tutorial
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Reviews with images
Speed tops out at around 60-80 Mb/s, not physically possible to reach rated maximum
The signal quality isn't what I would describe as "fast", but "steady" would be a good word for it. Ping is good, packet loss minimal, but the adapter seems to top out at around 60-65 Mb/s testing on fast.com, and actual file transfer speeds on my LAN are around 8.8 MB/s, which is 70 Mb/s. My Internet speed is 200 Mb/s from Comcast, tested during non-peak hours. This is for two adapters connected to wall outlets mere metres apart. Performance seems to suffer for longer ranges, for example, when I move one of the units into the basement (about 15 m away, straight-line distance), the speed drops to around 40 Mb/s.For gaming and basic streaming, this is more than enough, but don't expect it to perform anywhere near the claimed 600 Mb/s. It's not even theoretically possible, because it only comes with a 10/100 Ethernet port on each unit, topping out at a theoretical maximum of 100 Mb/s. So if it were marketed as a 100 Mb/s unit, it would have performed to 70% of the rated speed and I would have given it five stars. But since it claims 600 Mb/s, it only gets around 12% of the rated speed, and thus I can't really give it full marks for that.But if you're just looking for a reliable, decent Powerline adapter, the $34 I paid for this is really not a bad price, so I guess it just barely scrapes by with my recommendation. Three stars for a decent product but dishonest marketing.
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Top reviews from other countries
Ana
Perfeito! Internet chega sem perda de sinal
Reviewed in Brazil on August 9, 2022Color: WhiteVerified Purchase
Sergio P.
Atende muito bem a necessidade
Reviewed in Brazil on March 15, 2022Color: GreenVerified Purchase
Jesús
Muy contento por su gran utilidad
Reviewed in Spain on December 15, 2023Color: GreenVerified Purchase
B Langeweg
Plug en wifi
Reviewed in the Netherlands on November 4, 2023Color: GreenVerified Purchase
