11Jun/105
Cisco-Linksys PLK300 PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter Kit Reviews
Cisco-Linksys PLK300 PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter Kit
- Use your existing powerlines to network your computers and other devices
- Share files, printers, storage, and networked games throughout your home ¿ connect it to a router to share your Cable or DSL Internet connection
- Easily add more devices to your network by plugging additional adapters into electrical outlets
- HomePlug AV technology for data rates up to 100Mbps
- Kit includes one single-port and one four-port adapter
The Linksys Powerline AV Network Kit contains a single-port Powerline AV Adapter, and a four-port Powerline AV Adapter, which let you easily create a network using the existing electrical outlets in your home. Now you don't have to drill holes in walls and climb through the attic or cellar to install network cables -- just use the wires that already run through the building. With Powerline AV Network Adapters, you can connect computers or any other wired Ethernet device using the HomePlug AV
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(out of 147 reviews)
List Price: $ 179.99
Price: Too low to display
June 11th, 2010 - 18:29
Review by a reader for Cisco-Linksys PLK300 PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter Kit
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These units work as documented. You should not expect all pairs of devices to achieve the full nominal bandwidth (200Mbps) in all locations, and you should expect the bandwidth actually available to the user to be considerably less than the nominal bandwidth. (The same statements are true of WiFi as well – you don’t really get 54Mbps out of 802.11g.) Still, PowerLine AV is LOT faster than previous generations of powerline Ethernet.
If you live in an apartment and don’t want to share your network with neighbors (unlikely but possible), you probably want to turn on the secure (encrypted) mode. Many people report problems with this. Contrary to what some have suggested, you don’t need new firmware or additional administration software. It should work out of the box.
(1) As with any powerline Ethernet system, you should first find two power sockets through which you can first establish and test a good connection WITHOUT security/encryption. Don’t take shortcuts here – do this test. Start with two sockets that are close to each other so you can see both units at the same time. Not all pairs of sockets in your house will necessarily be wired to talk to each other, and sockets on surge-protectors will not work. (GFCI sockets should not be a problem.)
(2) Verify that the units will work on the sockets you actually want to connect (which are presumably not close to each other). If this fails, return the kit to the store as this solution apparently isn’t going to solve your problem…
(3) Bring the units back to your test location (where you can have them physically close). Now, just follow the instructions to turn on security. Seriously. Put both units into “security” mode by holding the button on each AT LEAST 10 seconds. Put one unit into “sharing password” mode by holding the button for EXACTLY 2 seconds and quickly releasing the button. And then immediately put the other unit into “sharing password” mode by holding the button for EXACTLY 2 seconds and quickly releasing the button. This is just what the instructions tell you to do (I’ve skipped describing some of the steps here), but they don’t emphasize how finicky the “2 seconds” part is. I can’t tell you how many times I failed to enter the “sharing password” mode because I figured it was “at least” 2 seconds and wasn’t releasing the button fast enough – now I can do it quite consistently, just counting “one thousand one one thousand two.”
(4) Now you can return the units to the desired final locations.
Really, Linksys should have just used two buttons instead of creating this usability problem with the button timing. But there it is. And once it’s set up, you don’t have to think about it again.
June 11th, 2010 - 19:07
Review by Gil Ortiz for Cisco-Linksys PLK300 PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter Kit
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To begin with I want to say that I did some serious researching before purchasing this product. I actually thought about it for about 2-weeks before making my decision. Since I have relied heavily on so many different customer product reviews, I decided it was time that I contributed by writing about this product.
My situation:
I’ve had a wireless network for a while now. The problem was that the Wireless Router was located upstairs and my PS3 was located downstairs. For some odd reason, my laptops seemed to work fine all over the house but the PS3 was hit and miss. It worked OK but when I attempted to play games that required more bandwidth, it would always drop the connection. So I needed an alternative to wireless. In addition, I have a DirecTV DVR connected to the same TV as the PS3. DirecTV now offers OnDemand programming but it requires an internet connection via an Ethernet wire. I needed a solution for both systems and chose the PLK300.
I now have my PS3 and DirecTV connected to the PLK300. They both work great! My PS3 no longer drops the internet connection when playing games that require a great amount of bandwidth such as Resistance 2 (in two player online mode). My DirecTV on Demand downloads programs very fast. I hit the download button, wait about 2-mins and then begin viewing my programing. I even tested it with a High Definition download and it worked flawlessly.
I highly recommend this product!
June 11th, 2010 - 20:06
Review by Der Doktor for Cisco-Linksys PLK300 PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter Kit
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I had problems getting decent download speeds using a wireless network here. So instead i installed this powerline-kit and i am very happy with it.
Pros: Speed is great, very easy to install, the units don’t need to sit directly on the outlet (like the others) but they come with powercables. One side has 1 ethernet-port (which goes into your router or cable-modem) and the other side has 4 ethernet-ports for your computers. It bridges the network between the two units.
Cons: When i tried to setup security on it, it took me 4 tries until i succeeded. The problem could have been that the units need some time to ‘see’ each other after they are plugged in. And funny: if you reverse the polarity of the AC-plug (!) it takes about 10 seconds before they see each other again.
June 11th, 2010 - 20:11
Review by Alyson D for Cisco-Linksys PLK300 PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter Kit
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We recently purchased a new TV and Blu-Ray player and we knew that both of them were capable of accessing the internet if we could figure out how to get the signal to them. We already have a wireless network in our home that was not set up by us and I was worried about how hard it might be to get everything to work with the new devices. After reading lots of other reviews, I took a chance and purchsed the Linksys PLK300 Powerline AV ethernet adapter kit. It seemed easier than trying to figure out a bridge.
There is a quick set up guide in the box and the directions are incredibly simple and not at all intimidating. You really do just plug one end of the ethernet cord into your router and the other into the adapter, attach the power cord and plug it into the wall. Then you take the other adapter to your TV, Blu-Ray, whatever and plug one end of the ethernet cable into the link and one into your device. Again, attach the power cord and plug it into your outlet. That’s it. Really! It could not have been simpler. The hardest part was finding room for more wires behind my computer and TV.
I highly recommend this to anyone who is venturing into the world of Blu-Ray and has no idea how to take advantage of things like BD Live and video downloads/rentals on demand. I suspect there are a lot of folks who just use their players to play their disks because they think it will be too complicated to get hooked up to the internet. With this product, it is quick and easy. You need not be a techie to do it.
June 11th, 2010 - 21:00
Review by War Eagle for Cisco-Linksys PLK300 PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter Kit
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Be warned!! Linksys does not provide a configuration utility for this product. They do offer a firmware upgrade, but no utility to install it. Go figure. And, Linksys has known about this shortcoming for quite awhile. Also, if you want to change the security password from the default, you cannot do it without some sort of configuration utility. There is a utility that works, but you have to search the forums for a workaround and even then it may or may not work. Hint: use the utility for the PLE200.
Having said that, I like the product. I have gotten rid of wireless adapters and print servers and USB cables, all of which added to the clutter around my computers.