Netgear Powerline Ethernet Adapter (HDX101)

Cool Yule rating: 3.5 stars
Price: $79.99
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Description: The latest powerline Ethernet adapters from Netgear include technology to allow data to travel over powerlines more quickly than before. The adapters are meant to be used to connect Ethernet-enabled devices that don't have the benefit of a wired Ethernet jack nearby, or those that don't have high-speed wireless connections. This includes home entertainment devices such as gaming consoles (Xbox 360, Playstation 3) and set-top consoles (including Netgear's EVA 8000 digital entertainment box).

Netgear claims up to 200Mbps of bandwidth (of course, mileage will vary), and no software is required – just plug one adapter in to an outlet and connect via Ethernet cable to your router, and then the other one to the device you'd like to have Ethernet-enabled. Netgear says that up to 16 adapters can be supported on one home network, and that it also works with the company's other HomePlug compatible products.

In testing, I could easily set up the adapters and get an Internet connection to a gaming console set up in the living room. On occasion I would lose network access from the adapter, but unplugging the adapter and plugging it back in usually solved that problem.

I'm not completely sold on the adapter's speed – for heavy-lifting transfers over a LAN, I still preferred a wired Ethernet connector, with wireless a second choice. But for simple Internet connections, the adapter allows for connections in areas where wireless is inconvenient.

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