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4-Port Adapter Shoots 500Mbps Over Electrical Lines

- By - Source : TRENDnet

TRENDnet has unveiled a new 4-port Powerline AV Adapter that transmits network signals across the local electrical system at 500 Mbps.

Friday during the IFA electronics show in Berlin, networking company TRENDnet demonstrated a new Powerline AV Adapter that transmits network signals at 500 Mbps across existing electrical lines. What's more, the adapter featured four Ethernet ports, allowing up to four media center devices to access the Internet simultaneously – not via Ethernet, not via Wi-Fi, but by way of the local electrical system.

"Network-ready Internet televisions now make up to 50-percent of total television sales in select markets," said Sonny Su, Director of Technology for TRENDnet. "The need to connect multiple media center devices to the Internet is already here and we are excited to be able to bring compelling Powerline solutions to market."

A Powerline AV-based network system typically comprises of two components: one that bridges a router to an electrical socket, and one like the 4-port TPL-405E that connects to another power outlet located anywhere in a house or office building (while staying on the same electrical system). TRENDnet adapters connect automatically to each other over a secure encrypted signal with no CD installation required. Encryption keys can even be changed simply by pressing the Sync button.

"LED displays convey device status for easy power management and troubleshooting," the company said in a press release. "Embedded power saving technology lowers power consumption by up to 70-percent in standby mode—resulting in measurable power savings, given that the device is always on."

The 4-Port 500 Mbps Powerline AV Adapter, model TPL-405E, will be available this December for $109.99 USD. Additional 500 Mbps Powerline AV Adapter devices can be found here.

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maxinexus 09/04/2011 3:17 AM
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joytech22 09/04/2011 3:43 AM
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I could actually use something like this. Too many wires as it is from the kitchen to all the rooms, and wireless adds another 5-10ms latency on top of what our wired already gets.

We actually do use this technology in our house already, but only for the foxtel.

mister g 09/04/2011 3:54 AM
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bustapr 09/04/2011 4:08 AM
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bustapr 09/04/2011 4:21 AM
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otacon72 09/04/2011 4:48 AM
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christop 09/04/2011 4:51 AM
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pawessum16 09/04/2011 5:54 AM
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We have one of these things rated for 200mbps in our house (built within the last decade, so modern wiring) and it only gets maybe 8mbps (1 MB/s) on a good day, and on average half to a third that (often just barely out pacing the internet connection). Best just to save your money, and spend the extra time to go for the real deal and gigabit network your house (gigabit switches and cat6 are dirt cheap anyways nowadays).

mavroxur 09/04/2011 7:22 AM
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These have been around forever, and, like always, the performance will be dismal compared to the advertised specs. Sure, it's capable of 500mbit if the outlets are 5 feet apart. Back in the day, they'd advertise 200mbit, and would usually get about 10% of that in actual use. And with advances in wireless, i wonder how viable this really is in today's market.


cmartin011 09/04/2011 9:48 AM
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could u use DC electrical systems for this? would there be a speed improvement?

cmartin011 09/04/2011 9:55 AM
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oh if u would integrate this in to the electrical grid would that be a real smart grid? is this the future? AC bring the internet in, maybe DC for high speed home networks because of the solar and wind power thermal and what ever will be the source...

shanky887614 09/04/2011 1:24 PM
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why do people do this, its not hard to drag cat5 cable through the house

and if you dont want to do it yourself get someone to do it for you

abrunet 09/04/2011 2:15 PM
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No its not hard to run cat5, but sometimes you can't run cat5. New homes are usually all dry walled including the basement making running any wiring in your home almost impossible. Also not everyone is lucky enough to have great wireless signal across their whole home. There are a lot of factor to consider about wireless issues.

These devices have come a long way from when they first came out, as an ISP employee I can see the how these devices would be quite useful if you deploy a triple play service. Imagine how quickly you can turn up multiple set top boxes in a customers house and all set top boxes would be doing home dvr.

Now that's if they actually work correctly. I've tried a few of the Netgear and they do work. But don't get me wrong cat5/6 is always the preference.

Dave_69 09/04/2011 4:18 PM
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I've been using a kit like this for years. Granted the speed isn't that high, but what I have now is enough to pwn at BF:BC2 and stream 1080p content from across the house.

maxinexus 09/04/2011 6:33 PM
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As misterg said, it is theoretical speed SO it sucks just little less than the old brothers rated at 200. Not sure why I got thumbs down. I know truth hurts.

Wish I Was Wealthy 09/04/2011 6:47 PM
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It looks like it's okay,but I still like the idea of using wi-fi for printers,etc. Maybe one day I may try this type of technology.

Wish I Was Wealthy 09/04/2011 6:51 PM
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One point of view that I forgot to add,was that you'll need extra power sockets around your house,unit etc. Every body knows that most power sockets are taken up already & in most homes they just install enough power sockets in your home when they make the house.

sinfulpotato 09/04/2011 7:31 PM
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abrunet :
No its not hard to run cat5, but sometimes you can't run cat5. New homes are usually all dry walled including the basement making running any wiring in your home almost impossible.



It is not that hard. Run the wires through the ceiling, and fish them through an outlet in the wall.

CPU666d1 09/04/2011 10:02 PM
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May become useful in the future,but not for me though.

Camikazi 09/04/2011 11:21 PM
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sinfulpotato :
It is not that hard. Run the wires through the ceiling, and fish them through an outlet in the wall.


Not all houses are the same, running cat5 can be very hard depending on the house. Plus not everyone has the time, patience or the skill required to do it.

ccstooge 09/05/2011 2:42 AM
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Abrunet is an idiot, newer homes with drywall are easy as cake to run Cat5e/6 through. The 2x4 caps are what make cabling hard - I'm a network engineer and have cabled my entire house myself, build in 2003. Abrunet sounds like a typical Comcast employee reading from a script that makes no sense in the modern world.

ccstooge 09/05/2011 2:48 AM
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Also, no one is specifying 1 or 2 floor houses. 2 floor houses are obviously harder to cable, nigh impossible unless you rip up the entire floor. I am referring to a single story building.

Anonymous 09/05/2011 4:15 AM
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abrunet 09/05/2011 1:49 PM
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ccstooge sounds like you are a typical engineer who thinks he knows everything. You wire your one house and you think its all the same. All houses are designed different, and I did mention a basement in my comment that would make it a two story house mr engineer. Also why would a Comcast employee even bother posting a comment and reading a script. I can't speak for Comcast employes as I don't live in the United States but I guess that's just what every Comcast employee loves doing on their time off.

When I write about running cat5 I at least speak out of experience of doing it all the time. I know that sometimes these device would be an ideal solution.

Anonymous 09/05/2011 4:12 PM
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Recently purchased a house and found the performance of my 200Mb devices was rubbish, this combined with the requirements to stream HiDef content from my file server to the living room and bedroom the only option was to run CAT5e cable throughout the house (2 stories). Running the cable either through the dry wall or cavity was easy enough including a 2 floor drop from the loft space to the living room although it did take a few hours and a lot of patience to fish the cable out of the cavity if I am honest.
The install is NOT a cheap option, when you add the cable (never run 1 cable when 2,3, or 4 add some future proofing HDMI over cat5e/6) and the socket outlets which in the UK are upto £18 each for 2 gang 4 outlet EURO style in a metal finish (to match the other outlets).
There are also houses that dont have cavity walls or its a rented property that you can't run cables though the walls.

I still have the 200Mb devices and they work great for the internet radio which only needs very little bandwidth along with wireless for mobile access.

For some people without the knowledge to run some cables (although it is very easy and there is loads of info on the web to help) these are a very cheap option for plug and play internet access.

Anonymous 10/27/2011 10:58 AM
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