It’s the way many used to network, before wireless performance became fast and reliable, but the good old-fashioned powerline adaptor still has a place in homes that are especially large or where Wi-Fi has trouble penetrating thick concrete or other materials.
The TP-LINK AV500s were used to test HD media throughput, which is still something many Wi-Fi networks struggle with. The adaptors connected as easily as we’d expect using the simple pairing button system. These too, we’re told, support many devices in a home network so adding more later shouldn’t be a problem.
Once connected, performance in the region of 500Mbps in a perfect environment can be expected, which is enough for several HD streams.
Importantly, the TP-LINK AV500 NANO goes into a standby mode when not in use, with the manufacturer claiming up to 85% reduction in power consumption as a result.
Verdict
The good old-fashioned powerline adaptor still has a place where Wi-Fi has trouble penetrating thick concrete or other materials.
Specs
