linksys pltk300 powerline network kit review

Unfortunately, you CANNOT mix and match these two technologies – you either go for one or the other depending on your usage models. There is another standard out from the same group called “Home Plug 1.0 Turbo” that you will find in another new Linksys kit, the PLKT300, that supports datarates up to 85 Mbps. One of the benefits of using a standard technology like the HomePlug AV standard is that it allows you to connect other products from other vendors on the network as long as they stick to the same specifications. The theoretical PHY datarate limit on the design was set at 189 Mbps during the December 2005 release but seems to have crept up a bit to hit the magical 200 Mbps that Linksys advertises. The Linksys PLK300 kit we are reviewing here uses the technology from the HomePlug Powerline Alliance – the most recent specification ratified for home use is dubbed “HomePlug AV” and was meant to allow for enough bandwidth for HDTV and VoIP transmissions. While we are always fans of having a single standard, we have to deal with the split for now. That being said, both of Linksys’ primary competitors, DLink and Netgear, are behind the Universal Powerline Alliance. Of the two, the HomePlug group seems to have the most support with companies like Linksys, Cisco, Comcast, Intel, LG and ASUS on the roster. One of them is HomePlug Powerline Alliance and the other is dubbed the Universal Powerline Alliance. In today’s market there are two primary consortiums of companies that have competing standards for powerline networking. While the first in-home iterations of the powerline technology were limited to a few hundred kilobits per second we now have companies like Linksys talking about speeds of 200 Mbps. Powerline networking technology has progressed quite a bit from its infancy to what we see on store shelves today. Higher frequencies allow for more bandwidth but the range on that signal is much smaller and thus this type of technology makes more sense for in-home networking. Lower frequencies traditionally can span longer distances and are used for Broadband over Powerlines (BPL) implementations but they tend to have slower speeds measured in single digit Mbps. Sending data over a powerline work by created a modulated carrier signal over existing copper wiring with different frequencies over signal used for different transmission characteristics. Anywhere you have power outlets you can get powerline networking to work, though with some slight variations in performance. If you have thicker walls, heavily insulated walls or concrete floors that Wi-Fi connections won’t stretch through then using existing electrical lines will be much easier than running Cat 5 throughout your home. If you have ever had to run standard Ethernet cable through your house, over floors and around door frames you can quickly see how this networking technology would be a welcome addition to your arsenal.Īnother reason you might want to look into powerline networking is that it doesn’t care how many walls you have to pass through which you cannot say about standard Wi-Fi networking.

The idea behind powerline networking is simple: provide connectivity for PCs and other devices over pre-existing electrical powerlines. Originally thought to be the answer to connecting rural markets with broadband, powerline networking technology has faltered there and is instead finding a bigger audience with home users. You may never have heard about the many promises of powerline networking and how it applies to you and your future in computing. Is this struggling technology finally worth a look for your needs? Promise of Powerline Networking No New Wires Networking Powerline networking promised to bring you the speed and reliability of a hard wired network without having to run new wires throughout your entire home or business. Is this struggling technology finally worth a look for your needs? Powerline networking promised to bring you the speed and reliability of a hard wired network without having to run new wires throughout your entire home or business.

Linksys pltk300 powerline network kit review