2. Basic Features

The SpeedStream Powerline family includes the 2521 and 2502 that I already mentioned, as well as the 2501 Powerline USB adapter. Although Siemens sent all three to me, I won't be reviewing the 2501. Its powerline performance should be the same as the 2502's, and I'll give Siemens the benefit of the doubt that they know how to implement a USB interface.

All three products come in the "wall-wart" form factor. This means that they look like a largish power-supply "brick" that comes with virtually every consumer electronics product these days. Although a little on the large side (about the size of two decks of playing cards stacked on each other), this second-generation form-factor is both more convenient than the first-generation desktop boxes, and will eventually be less expensive to produce, once the products start shipping in volume.

All three products use Intellon's second-generation INT51X1 Integrated Powerline MAC/PHY Transceiver chip as their heart and have a low parts count and clean board design. The 2521 also uses a Ubicom IP2022 Internet Processor for the Access Point chores, along with a Compact Flash card radio.

The card is complete CFII format 802.11b adapter, and by looking up its FCC ID, I determined it's an OEM version of BroMax's BPW250-i. Since it's completely removable (it just plugs into a slot in the 2521's innards), you can always use the card with your PocketPC by just downloading the drivers from Bromax' website. Of course, as the label on the card explains, your 2521 won't work with the card removed, so you don't really get two products for the price of one!

The five status lights on the front surface of the "wart" include Transmit and Receive activity for the Wireless side, and Link, Activity, and Collision for the powerline side.

Not much more to tell for the feature set. Let's go see how easy it is to set up!