Best powerline adapters in 2021: top picks for expanding your home network

Date:
Tue, 10 Aug 2021 16:57:39 +0000

Description:
The best powerline adapters provide a simple route to extending your home network.

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The best powerline adapters may seem complicated and unusual, but they may be the secret ingredient to bringing your network to the next level. Thats because they extend your networks range of coverage in a way that even the best mesh Wi-Fi systems can't. All you have to do is connect one to your router with an ethernet cable and plug it into a power outlet, and then plug another into a power outlet wherever you want to get access to the same network.

If youre having issues with your network and normal troubleshooting doesnt work, the best powerline adapters may be the perfect solution. Thats particularly true for networks that cant reach certain parts of the office or home. Some are even able to broadcast their own Wi-Fi signal thanks to attached Wi-Fi antennas.

To help you upgrade your network, weve rounded up the best powerline adapters here for you to choose from. And, considering they have speeds close to wired connections, this might be the perfect way to go. You'll also need one of the best Ethernet cables to set up your powerline adapter, so it makes sense to pick one up before you get started. Looking for the best Wi-Fi extenders instead? (Image credit: Devolo) 1. Devolo Magic 2 WiFi

Next-gen network power adapters Speeds: up to 2,400Mbps | Connectivity: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports | Features: 128-bit AES, WPA2 Fast data speeds Mesh Wi-Fi Integrated power socket Not backwards-compatible Only two LAN ports

Easily the best powerline adapter you can buy today, the Devolo Magic 2 WiFi delivers fast speeds and all the benefits of mesh Wi-Fi technology. Its an excellent jumping off point for the new G.hn standard, bringing to the table noticeable improvements to network speeds. Its pricey and its not backwards-compatible, but those are hardly deal-breakers especially for the benefits youre getting. Plus, its incredibly easy to install

Read the full review: Devolo Magic 2 WiFi

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi is only available in the UK. For US and Australian consumers, check out the D-Link Powerline Adapter AV2 on Amazon.com . 2. TP-Link AV2000 Powerline adapter

Another fast choice with Wi-Fi Speeds: Up to 2000Mbps | Connectivity: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports | Features: Wi-Fi, WPS, 128 Bit AES Very fast Wi-Fi included Two Ethernet ports

The TP-Link AV2000 takes the award for fastest power line adaptor, with a maximum speed of 2000Mbps - though of course actual speeds will be lower. Still, it offers fantastic speeds, along with built-in dual band wireless ac networks and a pass through socket.

In the starter kit you'll get two adapters, one has a single Ethernet port, which you should use to connect to your modem or router, and the second one has two Ethernet ports for connecting wired devices. (Image credit: Devolo)
3. Devolo Mesh WiFi 2

All-in-one PowerLine and mesh networking kit Bands: 802.11ac 5GHz and 2.4GHz
| Connectivity: 4 x RJ-45 10/100/1000M LAN ports | Features: multi-user MIMO technology, future-proofed G.hn Wave 2 standard, access point steering Mesh Wi-Fi networking Two Gigabit Ethernet ports on each adaptor Expensive Unhelpful app and documentation

Extend your network through thick walls and into the furthest corners of your home or office with the Devolo Mesh WiFi 2. Boasting both mesh Wi-Fi features and versatile powerline connectivity, this device can even follow you and
your mobile devices around, automatically switching you to the closest
adaptor and the fastest Wi-Fi band. It even has three adaptors that give you five Gigabit Ethernet ports for fast, wired connections. This is the best powerline adapter for games consoles, smart-TVs and other devices that work best with wired connections.

Read the full review: Devolo Mesh WiFi 2 4. Asus 1200Mbps AV2 1200 Wi-Fi Powerline Adapter

Great for wired and wireless Speeds: Up to 1200Mbps | Connectivity: 3 x Gigabit Ethernet ports | Features: Wi-Fi, WPS, 128 Bit AES Good speeds Wi-Fi External antennae are a bit ugly

Asus may not be the first company that comes to mind when you think about networking devices, but it makes some very good products - such as the Asus 1200Mbps AV2 1200 Wi-Fi Powerline Adapter.

As the name suggests this is a very fast powerline adaptor that is also able to broadcast a Wi-Fi network as well. Unlike other powerline adapters with Wi-Fi, the Asus 1200Mbps AV2 1200 Wi-Fi Powerline Adapter has external antennae, which allow you to angle them for increased coverage - though it does mean the units themselves look a little bit ugly compared to some of its competitors. 5. TP-LINK AV600 Wi-Fi Powerline Adapter Kit

A budget offering Speeds: Up to 600Mbps | Connectivity: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports | Features: Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi clone feature Cheap Easy to extend Wi-Fi network Not the fastest

If you're looking for a nice, cheap but reliable powerline adaptor, than the TP-LINK AV600 is a great choice. It's a lot less money than many of the adapters on this list, but it still manages to offer plenty of features.

For example, it can broadcast Wi-Fi, and with a Wi-Fi clone button, you can easily extend your existing wireless network. it also features two Ethernet ports, and the second adaptor in the set includes a pass through socket so
you don't lose out on a power socket when using the adaptor. While the
600Mbps top speed isn't as high as others on this list, it's still enough to transfer big files and stream media around your home. 6. Devolo dLAN 1200+ WiFi ac powerline adapter

Super fast with Wi-Fi Speeds: Up to 1200Mbps | Connectivity: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports | Features: Wi-Fi, WPS, 128 Bit AES Very fast speeds Can broadcast Wi-Fi Expensive Only two Ethernet ports

The Devolo dLAN 1200+ WiFi ac is one of the fastest powerline adapters on the market, able to reach speeds of 1.2 gigabits a second - though you should
note that you won't often get those kinds of speeds, as there are numerous factors that can affect powerline speeds.

Still, this is a very fast powerline adaptor, and the fact it can also broadcast dual-band wireless ac networks makes this a very versatile
powerline adaptor. The adaptor also has a pass through power port, which
means you won't lose a power socket - just plug other devices into the
adaptor itself. 7. Devolo dLAN Duo 500 Powerline Adaptor

Another great budget choice Speeds: Up to 500Mbps | Connectivity: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports | Features: 128 Bit AES Cheap Two Ethernet ports No
passthrough No Wi-Fi

This is an excellent entry-level power adaptor that does a very good job at transmitting your network traffic over your powerlines. It doesn't boast the highest speeds, nor does it have Wi-Fi or a passthrough socket, but it does the job well considering the price, and its low cost means it's easy to add adapters to your network in the future. Also check out our list of the best wireless routers



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