Powerline Networking Can Clear Up Dead Spots

Powerline networking provides an Internet connection through your ordinary electrical outlets. Powerline networking is not new by any means, but it's one of those technologies that fall into my "most improved" category and offer a solution for particular networking problems.

I first bought a powerline adapter kit in the early 90s because we didn't want to string wires around our apartment for Internet connectivity. Powerline technology was slow and often unreliable (turn on the light and your Internet connection vanished). But I'm betting that as powerline technology improves and more and more people start connecting more digital things to weird places in their homes powerline is going to have a resurgence.

To use powerline technology: You need to buy at least two powerline adapters (approximately $50 to $100 each) and plug each one into an electrical outlet—one near your router (where your high speed Internet comes into the house) and the other near the PC or other digital device you want to connect. You can connect your TiVo, game console, digital DVD player, even another router to extend your wireless network.

There's no software to install, no technical skills required. If you can plug it in you can build a network. When you plug the device into the powerline adapter it's as if the router and your device were right next to each other in the same room.

The HPA (HomePlug Powerline Alliance) dictates most of the standards being used by the products on the market today. Today's powerline adapters are fast, with data rates up to 100Mbps. A new specification is being worked on that would bring broadband directly to your home via powerlines (BPL or broadband over powerline) and promises to double the speed. Plus, powerline networks can be made just as secure as wireless networks with built-in encryption.

What kinds of problems does it solve? Many. Most homes are not set up for wired Ethernet or good wireless LAN reception. In two-story homes, homes that have thicker or mirrored walls, or homes that take up large areas even the best wireless networks can have trouble.

One of the biggest problems I think you'll see powerline networking solve is the entertainment room problem. You've got your new HDTV. You want to connect your digital world (game console, digital DVD player, TiVo) to the new TV, but alas, the TV is in some back room or basement with no good Internet connection. Powerline could provide an ideal solution. Lots of stuff accumulating at the base of your new TV? Wireless LANs send signals through the air and often have trouble reaching game machines and other things that get squirreled under the TV. Powerline may help.

Or maybe this is you. You've got a little outbuilding—a garage or artist's garret—and you want Internet connectivity out there but don't want to string wires. Again, powerline is a great solution. Of course it's not a problem-free solution. Some homes have older wiring or mixed wiring systems that would make powerline a bad choice. It's probably best as an addition to your existing network for those pesky, hard-to-reach network points.

I'm curious. Have any of you tried a powerline adapter? What's the verdict?

Some popular powerline products to investigate:

Linksys Instant Powerline USB Adapter allows you to connect your PC using a standard USB connection. For more Linksys Powerline Adapters. NetGear carries a variety of Powerline products as well. D-Link offers a Powerline HD starter kit with two adapters for under $200.

Good articles for getting started:

Small Business Computing

How Stuff Works

To learn about the functionality and various flavors of powerline technology: