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Blogs.

Power Line Adapters pros and cons

23/2/2018

20 Comments

 
Powerline adapters pros and cons
Powerline adapters are all the rage these days, but what are they? How do they work? And what are their pros and cons? In this post we’ll find out. (updated 7th March 2019).

What is a powerline adapter?

A Powerline adapter is a device which uses your homes electric wiring to transmit communications signals. The adapters (at least two) plug into your wall sockets and use Ethernet cables to connect to your router at one end and your device at the other (TV, games console, PC whatever it may be).  This provides a physical connection between your device and router as opposed to the wireless connection provided by your Wi-Fi. Powerline is now a well establish technology and over time the speeds they are capable of has steadily increased and they now theoretically match the top speeds of Wi-Fi (1300Mbps). Hopefully the diagram below will make it a little simpler to understand.
Powerline diagram

Other types of Powerline extenders

Powerline Wi-Fi extenders
Powerline Wi-Fi range extenders are also available, this is the same principle however instead of just having a plug for an Ethernet connection at the device end, they also transmit Wi-Fi. This means you can connect devices wirelessly as well as by Ethernet cable. 

Wi-Fi Powerline adapters come in single or dual band mode, the bands are the two frequency ranges used by Wi-Fi. If they are single band they only have 2.4GHz and dual band has 2.4GHz and 5Ghz. For more info on Wi-Fi bands you can click here to read out blog on the subject. 


Pass through Powerline extenders
Finally there are pass-through Powerline adapters; they allow the electrical socket to be shared by the Powerline and another item that needs to be plugged in; this is especially useful in situations when every socket is in use.
So now we know what they are let’s talk about some of the pros and cons.

The Pros of Powerline

1. They provide a wired connection without Ethernet.

Powerline uses you homes electrical cables so there is no  requirement to install any additional cables. As the installation of Ethernet cables can be time consuming (or potentially expensive), using Powerline could save you time and money. Having said that, Ethernet cabling trumps everything in terms of reliability of connection and speed (not including Fibre), so if you do have the option to install Ethernet do it! If you don't, maybe use Powerline instead.

2. They free up your Wi-Fi.

​Frees up your Wi-Fi. Powerline connects to one of your routers LAN ports via Ethernet cable, if you connect a device via powerline instead of Wi-Fi it will take some load off your wireless network and provide more capacity for other devices. For low demand devices you may not notice much of a difference, but if you use powerline instead of Wi-Fi for something like 4k streaming, you would almost certainly see an improvement in your wireless network’s performance.

3. They can extend your Wi-Fi. 

Powerline Wi-Fi range extenders are a great way to extend your Wi-Fi network, especially to areas that are some distance from your router. A Wi-Fi repeater may be able to do the job but if the distance is fairly large, Powerline is a better choice.  We actually never install repeaters, but that's another story. 

4. They are flexible.

Powerline adapters hold no allegiances; they can be moved around and used on a variety of devices without issue. Once plugged in they will only take a few seconds to reconnect.  ​

5. They are super easy to set up.

Powerline adapters aren’t just for the tech savvy, even if you consider yourself to be technologically impaired you shouldn’t struggle to set them up. Plug in, pair, done! If you want to change a few settings, such as SSID for your WiFi, then most have a user friendly app for the job. 

6. They can bolt on to any network.

It’s unlikely that you will want to run an exclusively Powerline network, at the very least you will likely have a wireless network provided by your router. Powerline adapters can be used to strengthen an existing network; they might even be a temporary fix for an Ethernet solution you are planning in future. 
A pretty strong list of pros, but with all those pros there surely have to be cons? Afraid so, but maybe not as many as you might think. 

 Cons of Powerline​

1. They only work if both ends are on the same circuit.

For most homes this won’t be a problem, however if your home has more than one circuit due to an extension or any other reason, then you may have problems. In my time, I have not seen this issue occur regularly, but normally they don't work for out buildings or garden offices.

2. They can be impacted by electrical Interference.

This is pretty common, for some devices the effect is temporary (tumble dryers, microwaves etc.) but for others the impact can be more consistent (fridges and freezers). The issue should be fairly easy to spot; as the Powerline units have an indication light which will normally be either orange or red if the connection is suffering from interference. However for intermittent problems you may have to don your detective cap and try and suss out the culprit. The impact of interference is degradation of connection speeds and this is the most common issue I have seen in with Powerline. Having said that in most cases, a Powerline unit suffering from interference is still still quicker than a weak Wi-Fi signal.
Update:
Sky TV have discontinued the use of Powerline on the basis that it is too unreliable. Instead they have started using repeaters.

3. They lose speed.

Almost a continuation of the point above. No matter how little load is on your circuit, its primary role is to provide electricity and you will always experience some loss of speed. How much of a problem this is will depend on how much speed you have to lose.
For example losing 100Mbps from 350Mbps isn't a huge problem, however losing 5Mbps from 7Mbps is a huge problem. In that situation you may want to either look at increasing your speed (if that's an option) or extending your internet with another method. 

4. They work better alone.

Powerline kits can have multiple end units, the number will depend on the model, and in theory this allows multiple connections from the router. However in my experience the more units the less reliable the connections. For me they are perfect for connecting to a single point but not really suitable as a complete home network solution.

5. They are limited by socket locations. 

Seems obvious I know, but these adapters don’t work as well on extension leads, so if you have a powerline feeding a TV on the end of a 20m extension lead or even a long line of daisy chained extenders, you will almost certainly find it doesn’t work or doesn’t work as well. Even on short extension leads you may see a significant loss in speed.

6. Different brands don't work together

This is based purely on experience, if for example you have a Divola Powerline set in your house and then you add a TP link set, everything will stop working. Sometimes you actually see the devices on their competitors app but ultimately the system will fail. 

7. They have limited configuration options

The selling point of Powerline devices are that they are very simple to set-up, meaning most people can simply buy them from Amazon, plug them in and they are good to go.
However this is a double edge sword, especially for the Powerline Wi-Fi extenders. In some areas, for example a block of flats, there can be a lot of WiFi networks and certain frequencies can become crowded. Too many people on a similar frequency can cause signal problems and interference causing your Wi-Fi to be slow or unreliable. Normally by switching frequencies this issue will be resolved, however many Powerline adapters do not have the option of switching frequencies, so you're stuck with a poorly performing device. 

8. They release low frequency RF pollution (my reluctant 8th con).

There are those that are against Powerline adapters because they cause your electrical circuits to emit low frequency radio waves. This can cause amateur radio enthusiasts some issues.

Update: Feedback from a reader
On a previous version of this blog I requested that anyone who had experienced this issue to get in touch, as I'd seen little evidence:

So thank you to Adrian Knott, who commented below, he has had some real life experience with Powerline causing interference, and actually requested OFCOM (the UK's telecoms regulator) have one shut down. Which they apparently did. This is certainly interesting to know as I was unaware OFCOM had the power to have someone stop using Powerline.

Adrian also makes the point that shielded Ethernet is the preferred option, with which I wholeheartedly agree (especially as the owner of a company that installs Ethernet). Ethernet will always be a far superior option,  however the whole point of Powerline is that it is a cheaper, quicker alternative to running cables. 

Adrian has also provided a website which is completely against Powerline on the basis of interference https://www.ban-plt.org.uk/. 
Unfortunately the website immediately looses credibility on the absurd claim that people using Powerline are deliberately causing interference. I doubt that many users are even aware Powerline can cause interference and I'm certain people aren't purchasing it to deliberately sabotage their neighbours radio signal.

However I do acknowledge that the issue of interference is obviously a real concern to some and I can appreciate how frustrating it must be for radio enthusiastic etc. 

If anyone else has experienced any issues other issues, I would really like to hear about them and continue the debate. ​

Conclusion

Powerline adapters are a good way to improve your home network if you want a quick easy fix; they are relatively cheap and require very little technical knowledge to install. They are ideal for someone looking to add a cable connection to one of their high demand devices, but wouldn’t necessarily suit someone looking for a complete home network solution. Overall a very clever bit of technology that is deserving of its success. 

Generally speaking we tend to suggest Powerline to our older customers, who are looking for a bit of extra coverage for their Wi-Fi, so they can browse on a tablet. For those higher demand users we would look at other options such as Ethernet cables, Access Points or Mesh systems.

I hope you found this post useful, if you did please like and share. If you have any questions please feel free to add them below and I’ll answer as soon as I can.
20 Comments
Adrian Knott
21/1/2019 09:02:31 pm

Yes they do cause interference to amateur radio stations. They also cause interference to international short wave broadcasts. I had to contact OFCOM to get one shut down (which they duly did). If OFCOM did not think this was a serious problem then they wouldn't have done so. Unfortunatley the technology is flawed as power lines were not designed for RF.

Take a look at this website: https://www.ban-plt.org.uk/

A much better solution is ethernet although this too can cause problems to radio amateurs but is less serious and using screened ethernet cables can reduce the problem to a much lower level.

Reply
John Jacobs
23/10/2020 11:27:03 pm

The author commented that in most homes use on the same circuit is not a problem. In the US, most homes have many receptacle cirucuits and as such powerline extensions have never worked reliably. If the signal would have to "jump" from one circuit to another in your main panel or a subpanel, it just won't work. An example would be my home of ~3,000 sq. ft. (~330 sq. m.) there are some 15 receptacle circuits which are all isolated from each other through individual circuit breakers. I suspect the author was imagining most people live in 500 sq. ft. apartments or condominiums where all receptacles are likely on the same circuit. In that case, a powerline extension would likely work just fine.

Reply
Andrea
28/10/2020 05:49:18 pm

I would like to add another CON. Security of those plc are rerally BAD. Often people tend to think of plc as a closed system working only inside their homes. This is a BIG mistake! The Radio frequencies transmission of PLC will travel well beyoind the owner home to neighboring home. In my appartment I made an experiment with different brands and I could connect to my neightbour network with plc with default user and password. Of course PLC are banned inside my appartment for my own use. I destroyed them all after the experiment. Why? Well, 73 de PE4CE!

Reply
Guy Laughton
28/11/2020 09:35:24 am

I am a radio amateur and I also have power line units, they are a pain as I have to switch them off to use anything trying to receive shortwave especially on 10m band (28MHz) and also CB as these power line things use the whole house electrical system to transmit signals around between 6 and 30MHz. The strongest part of their spectrum is between 25 and 30MHz right where I want to be receiving. So, they are useful but also annoying. I can also pick up my neighbours powerline comms on my shortwave radio when mine are switched off and he's 100 metres away, but it's low enough signal not to swamp everything. More annoying is a nearby farmer's electric fence which emits a wideband crack every few seconds and hits my radio's hard.

Reply
j walker
10/12/2020 05:30:34 pm

As a radio amateur , i have just resolved a plt issue the idea of placing internet over mains wiring dates back to 2011 , ofcomm required that they be installed with amateur band filters ,the one next to my house was not (cheap inport fitted by virgin media ).
My nieghbours were pleased as they thought it was me cuasing the issue ,( FM and DAB intererance ) these things are not green either , the same power taken as leaving a 40w light bulb on 24/7.
Now i can report to ofcomm the noise from BT broadband VDSL interferance which the PLT was masking, banned in europe by the way

Reply
James link
7/6/2020 09:43:03 am

Sound like grumpy got in post above. If you take away my plt I will shove them in yours.

Reply
Paul
9/8/2020 07:18:29 pm

If moving from one room to another does the users Device automatically switch to The stronger WiFi signal .?

Reply
Daniel
14/10/2020 07:45:08 pm

This is a wired unit. It does NOT give off a wireless signal.

Reply
Andrea
28/10/2020 05:38:29 pm

Looks like you have no idea of what you are talking about. Power Tine Transmission DO USE Radio FREQUENCIES to TRANSMIT data over those power lines. The Radio Frequencies travel throuth those power line wires the same way they travel through air. Every piece if wire is also an antenna transmitting and reveiving Radio Frequencies. House hold power line are VERY LONG antenna's therefore PLC's DO emit wireless signal! That's how they are able to communicate with each other. The only differce with WiFi is the frequency they work in. WiFi uses 2,4GHz and 5GHZ while plc operate between 6-30MHz and even higher.

Overhead Powerline Covers link
8/9/2020 07:47:25 am

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Reply
Kevin link
14/9/2020 02:53:04 pm

I had a recent issue with 30mA RCD tripping in the house. I tried to isolate previous causes such as dodgy pond pump, and shutting down some linux servers to reduce PC leakage current, I even purchased a new RCD. However it was not until I removed 4 power line adapters that the problem was solved.
Although not conclusive, the RCD has not tripped in the last 4 days (it was tipping daily).

Reply
Wayne
29/9/2020 02:58:43 pm

Many comments here have mixed up the concept of using power line adapters, or extenders, with WiFi. Ok, probably 10 out of 10 people nowadays use wi-fi for internet connections. That's where you got things mixed up.

WiFi is wireless, but ethernet connection is wired or via cables!

Power line adapters are NOT extending WiFi signals via the power lines, but data streams from your service provider optical fibre modem or your wireless router, depending on how you hook them up. With a pair of decent power line adapters, you are getting a fast, stable, and secure cable connection for signal transmission.

Will it suffer from interferences?

Yes, but that would be so minimal that it could only be detected by testing equipment.

Whereas with WiFi, which is a wireless transmission, the quality of transmission is subject to a lot more factors: distance, obstacles blockade, and other signal transmissions within the same wave spectrum in your neighborhood.

Now routers come with dual band, 2.4 GHz and 5Ghz. If your neighbourhood is crowded with users with their home routers falling within the same channels, you might suffer from periodic degradation of reception quality. But modern routers are all designed to automatically seek the best channels to work in.

So what I'm saying is, you need to register the right concepts at the base of things before you can comment whether they are better or worse.

Reply
Colin link
12/10/2020 08:13:47 am

Thanks for your 'blog'.
I have issues with Wifi speed/connection which is frustrating to say the least. I have always looked towards my broadband provider/telephone line connection as a major cause of this, but after reading some of your 'pros & cons', there's a chance that isues might be solved a little closer to home. Wifi connection aside, One other issue I constantly suffer is interference on my cordless telephones. It has been described as ''frying eggs', and has been an ongoing problem for over a year. I've countless 'engineers' trying to solve the problem, and things reached a peak when complete new telephone line was installed in to my home. The problem still exists,(I've reached the point where I give up), but during all this, one suggestion came to light,(after 10 months), and that was that my 'router' could be causing the problem,(same frequency ??). A 'Sky' engineer said It could be this, and a 'BT' engineer said it wouldn't be the router. I asked 'Sky' if they would send me a replacement router, but they refused,(even they're man suggested it).
Could you offer any suggestions please ?
P.S.
My contract with 'Sky' is due for renewal in the next few weeks, I'll se it they chance their mind about a replacement.

Reply
MMD
17/10/2020 02:27:51 pm

This is a great post, thank you for taking the time to put it up.

With respect to:
"Unfortunately the website immediately loses credibility on the absurd claim that people using Powerline are deliberately causing interference."

The phrase "loses credibility" comes across as an unfair pejorative that characterises the content of that website as untrue. From browsing through ban-plt.org.uk it is obvious there is a lot of detailed, accurate and complicated information there, though presented with a particular slant and emotional content.

The facts are what they are and the emotion is so obvious that it's easily separated. Unlike what we get from journalists that write emotional content first then pepper it with cherry picked facts.

I was thinking that powerline adapters would reduce radiation and provide fast consistent speeds. This was a very useful post. Thanks again.

Reply
Rob D
22/10/2020 11:10:27 am

A useful summary of the situation. With a home office separate from the main house and concrete or tarmac everywhere in between, Powerline has been a useful technology. I have worked from home about 50% of the time for the last fifteen years. For six of those years I've used a pair of Netgear EoP units (prior to that I had another brand which ran hot and eventually burned out). Regardless, a decent pair of units should be able to run reliably and continuously. The ones I currently have are on permanently and they bridge the house to garage power circuits which are separated at the mains box to bring the FTTC feed from the bedroom to the office. The line speed is good enough to stream HD video from a NAS to the house, and supports video conferencing with no issues. Generally the maximum speed is about 20Mbps. These units occasionally need a full on/off reset (maybe once every month), and more frequently while the link is live, a power cycle on the office end will be needed to reset connectivity (once every day or so).

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Colin
5/12/2020 02:25:52 pm

Just experiencing RF pollution mentioned above. I have a powerline system in the house and have been using it happily with my turntable and phono preamp for years. Bought phono preamp for present for someone, a Project Phono Box Ultra, not cheap, and when connected to the same turntable it emits a low frequency clicking plus additional random noise. Switch the powerline off, the noises disappear. Begs the question why does my existing preamp (which is older) not pick this up but the new one does? I suspect a degradation in RF sheilding standards though they are supposed to meet the same CE requirements. Are there any cost effect means of filtering out the powerline interference?

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Bill
25/12/2020 02:33:00 pm

As you noted the older amp probably has additional filtering the new one lacks. If the power plug of the new one is the non-polarized type, try reversing (180 degrees)
how it’s plugged into the wall. I’m assuming you’re on USA AC household power.

Reply
Indraneelan
29/12/2020 12:38:49 pm

My admittedly old powerline adapters suddenly dropped to 1/10th the speed of the wifi and I've no idea why. I used to recommend them to everyone, but asking for help on the internet has only yielded responses saying they're unreliable and i should use a different solution. I'd really like to understand why they stopped working. The light remained green, and the connection speed was reliable - at 4Mb/s.

Reply
KiK Girls New Mexico link
28/1/2021 09:14:41 pm

Grreat blog post

Reply
Greg Patt
18/2/2021 07:38:58 pm

Maybe too technical of a question, but why doesn't it jump circuits? They ARE connected at some point, aren't they?

It would seem logical that this could be adopted on a wide scale to provide internet service to a neighborhood through the power system wouldn't it?

Thanks for any additional info anybody could provide.

Reply



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