* D-Link's latest device
D-Link last week shipped a kit for delivering Ethernet over electrical power lines at 200Mbps.
No, this isn’t Power over Ethernet – that’s when you run electricity to devices via the cables you’re already using to send signals to them. This is the flip side – where you run Ethernet signals over the electrical wiring in your house.
This is an interesting alternative to running a wireless network throughout your home. The kit comes with two PowerLine adapters. You stick one adapter into an electrical socket and stick the second adapter into a different socket. Just like that, you have a long Ethernet cable running through your house or building.
You could plug an Internet-connected router into one adapter and an Ethernet-capable device into the other adapter, and they’re connected. The range of Ethernet-capable devices available out there is growing, as home networking becomes more prevalent. So, you could see this connecting to a television, game console or other device.
D-Link is pitching the adapter kit for applications for the home that could need a lot of bandwidth, such as transferring music files, high-definition video or playing games. It can also be used in areas where it’s hard to run a separate Ethernet cable or get a strong signal from a wireless LAN.
D-Link’s entry into this market joins a large number of other devices that support Ethernet over power lines. A list is available here.
The PowerLine Network Kit is shipping now with a suggested retail price of $220.
