What is Powerline Adapter and How to use it

Ethernet and Wi-Fi have become the go-to options for wired and wireless networking at homes these days. But what if your house cannot use either? I have lived in places that are too old to accommodate networking infrastructure. In these instances, you may consider powerline adaptors as an alternative. But what exactly is a powerline adapter? More importantly, how do you use it to improve the networking situation at home or in commercial spaces?

What is Powerline Networking?

Powerline networking is a technique that uses the existing power line infrastructure to transfer network data between devices. Instead of using Wi-Fi or Ethernet for data transfer, these devices utilize the electric wiring found in homes and commercial spaces.

Typically, one adapter is connected at one point of the power line network, and another adapter is connected at the other end, allowing it to communicate using the existing power line. You can think of a powerline as a form of wired networking system. However, instead of Ethernet cables, it uses the existing wiring at your house.

Powerline networking may come in handy in multiple instances. For instance, you may use this system when you want a wired networking system at home but cannot rely on Ethernet. It is also a great option if typical Wi-Fi extenders and repeaters don’t help you extend internet connectivity across your space.

Key Features of Powerline Adapters

Here are a few key features of powerline adapters explained. You can see if these features can benefit your networking requirements.

Plug-and-Play Installation

Because powerline adapters use existing infrastructure, the entire setup is hassle-free. It is plug-and-play in that you can connect two powerline adapters to any part of the house wiring. As long as things are working, you will have an active connection in a few seconds. Depending on the device model and manufacturer, you may have additional steps for pairing multiple adapters.

Speeds and Bandwidth

Even though powerline adapters are not the fastest networking method, they have become better. These days, you can find powerline adapters with speeds like 600Mbps, 1200Mbps, and 2000Mbps. So, if you have a Gigabit fiber connection at home, you can use powerline networking to extend the connection using existing wiring. More so, you don’t end up losing speed while you are at it.

Compatibility

As long as the wiring at your house is compatible with the standards in your country, you don’t have to worry about the compatibility of power line adapters. These devices are designed to work as plug-and-play devices, and there are no concerns over basic compatibility. You should also keep in mind that these devices will be using Ethernet to connect to end-point devices such as your smart TV or your tablet.

Range Limitations

The range from powerline adapters is based on the house wiring itself. For an ideal connection, the adapters must be set up with an existing wired network. However, you can find powerline adapters with Wi-Fi connectivity as well. So, if you get good network speeds at the receiving end, you can use a router or Wi-Fi extender to improve the overall range.

Additional Ports and Wi-Fi Extenders

Powerline adapters also ship with additional features these days. For one, these adapters may offer an extra port that you can use to connect electrical appliances. In some cases, you may also find a built-in Wi-Fi extender. These features convert powerline adapters into smart networking equipment. They are also more compatible with diverse computing devices, including gaming consoles and IoT devices.

How Does a Powerline Adapter Work?

As I said, powerline adapters are used for wireless networking. Compared to Wi-Fi, powerline adapters work simpler than you think.

You need two powerline adapters to set up a network using the technology. You connect both these adapters to power sockets, which are connected through the existing wiring in your house. During setup, you have to connect one of the adapters to an existing Ethernet setup. The adapter will then carry the signal through the powerline and get it to the second adapter. Depending on the technology, the second adapter may transmit the data through a Wi-Fi network or Ethernet.

Here’s a setup you can use if you have a multistoried building.

You have already placed an Ethernet-enabled router on the ground floor. However, instead of using a Wi-Fi extender or mesh network, you can use a powerline adapter to get internet access to the top floor. To do it, you can connect the first powerline adapter to a socket and connect it to the Ethernet. Afterward, you can use the second powerline adapter to connect devices on the top floor to the network/internet.

Since these devices are powered by electrical current, you can plug the second adapter into any socket at your home. As long as they are part of the central home wiring, everything should work fine, and you can get any device connected to the internet.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Set Up a Powerline Network

Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up a powerline network at your home. Of course, you may need extra steps depending on the powerline adapter model and features. It remains simple for the most part, though.

1. You first have to set up the primary adapter by connecting it to a wall socket. Once the device is on, you can connect it to your Ethernet router.
2. Now, you can set up the secondary adapter. During the initial setup, you can keep the secondary adapter in the same room. Post-setup, you can relocate it to where you need network access.
3. During the setup, you may have to pair these two devices. In most cases, powerline adapters work plug-and-play, meaning that they just work.
4. In some cases, however, you may have to press the Pair button on both units and wait for a few seconds.
5. Once pairing is done, you can connect your device to the secondary adapter using Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Depending on the device, you may have additional customization options as well.

As I said, setting up a powerline network is a piece of cake. Even though it uses Ethernet at both ends, you don’t have to worry about networking technicalities. Instead, you get to enjoy the benefits of better speeds and reliability using existing electrical wiring.

Is Powerline Networking Secure?

Compared to other forms of networking, power line networking is also secure. For one, it includes standard data encryption features, as these devices are designed to work with both Ethernet and power wiring. The adapter essentially converts Ethernet-based data into electrical data and vice versa at different ends.

Additionally, there is a decent level of network isolation since it uses the existing electrical wiring in the home. Therefore, unless someone has access to this infrastructure, there is little need to worry about network safety.

Thus, in many ways, powerline networking is a viable alternative to Ethernet and Wi-Fi in many respects.

Is Powerline Better than Wi-Fi?

I want to compare three aspects to help you answer these questions.

Stability

If stability is a significant concern, you may sometimes choose powerline networking over Wi-Fi. As powerline networking devices use wired infrastructure, you come across fewer signal interruptions. You also stay away from signal overlaps since these devices use an electrical wiring system. Overall, powerline networking offers decent stability compared to Wi-Fi.

Speed Considerations

Even though power line networking may not be as fast as the newest Wi-Fi standards, it is definitely faster than what you are used to in conventional houses. As I said before, you can get speeds as high as 100 Mbps to 2 Gbps. Therefore, power line networking is competitive enough to work alongside Wi-Fi when it comes to the speed you get for browsing and downloads.

Use Cases for Each

You should also consider which scenarios demand each technology. If you have a smaller space with minimal distractions, Wi-Fi may be enough. However, when stability and network isolation are the priorities, you should consider the benefits of powerline networking. The ease of setup of the powerline networking system would also be an attractive factor for many.

Overall, while Wi-Fi is the go-to option for many, powerline networking offers multiple advantages at times.

Top 3 Powerline Adapters

Here’s a quick look at the best three powerline adapters you can get today.

#1 TP-Link TL-PA9020P

The TP-Link TL-PA9020P is indeed the best-in-class powerline adapter you can get today. Despite costing less than $100, it offers impressive features like dual Ethernet ports and power pass-through. You get a top speed of 2Gbps, and the device checks all the essential boxes. These devices don’t have Wi-Fi connectivity, though.

#2 TP-Link TL-WPA7617

If you want Wi-Fi connectivity at both ends, you might want to check out the TP-Link TL-WPA7617. A quality product from TP-Link, these powerline adapters offer built-in support for OneMesh as well. It means you can enjoy seamless roaming across your home.

#3 TP-Link TL-PA7017P

If you have a relatively tight budget, you must check out the TP-Link TL-PA7017P. These powerline adapters are cheap but offer speeds as high as 1000Mbps. While you don’t get Wi-Fi support, the adapters have an extra power socket.

Conclusion

I hope this guide solved all your questions about powerline adapters and how they work. As you can see, these devices may use existing electrical wiring, but they have become quite powerful. In many cases, these handy devices can replace complicated Ethernet or Wi-Fi networking systems for home.