If you want to stream online content, you will need a reliable network to transfer the data. Wireless internet is a great solution, but for some people, the speeds and coverage are not good enough. Having a hard-wired home is the best solution. The speeds cannot be matched. For many, it can be difficult and costly to run Ethernet throughout the house. The other solution is to use powerline Ethernet adapters with the existing power lines and outlets in your home to transmit the internet. The idea is quite brilliant. You can use power adapters on specific wall sockets, to create a network to transfer files and stream online content. You can also use these adapters in conjunction with your existing router and switchers. It’s a great solution for anyone who wants the speeds of a wired connection without snaking and running Cat 6 cable.

How Do Powerline Ethernet Adapters Work?

The concept is simple; the power lines running in the walls of your house are all interconnected to a circuit breaker box. These powerlines consist of copper wire that can transmit data signals. It is similar to Ethernet cable, but not as efficient. Ethernet cable is made up of eight strands of twisted copper wire. Depending on how old the powerlines in your house are, may determine the speeds at which you are able to transmit data. In most cases, these powerline adapters should work fine for streaming most HD content and transferring data. The powerline Ethernet adapters plugin into the wall sockets and will communicate with each other to transmit the data. These adapters are great for rooms that a wireless connection can’t reach or older houses where walls are thick and not accessible.

Setup

The setup is straightforward. Just plug in one power line Ethernet adapter to a wall socket where your router is located and the other adapters to rooms in which you want to connect your devices. Then use the pair button on each adapter to sync them together. You can connect up to sixteen devices. You can also use these powerline adapters and up-link to another switch. This can expand your coverage and allow you to plug in multiple devices like a streaming box, game console, DVD player, or smart TV. These powerline Ethernet adapters are compatible with many different countries.

Speeds

Speeds may vary depending on how many devices you connect to your powerline network. You can reach speeds up to 500mbps and connect using Gigabit Ethernet up to 300 meters.  This depends on the model. TP-Link makes several different models for certain applications.

Security

Since the powerline adapters are broadcasting their network through your powerlines, it comes enabled with 128-bit encryption. This will ensure protection, just in case you are broadcasting on your neighbor’s powerlines. The encryption will secure your data so no one else can see it.

Where to Buy:

The TP-Link AV500 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit is available from these retailers:

eBay:

TP-Link AV500 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit

Amazon:

TP-Link AV500 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit

Other Wiring Options

Ethernet to Coax

If you are not comfortable using your power sockets, you can also use the existing coaxial cable in the house. By using an Ethernet to coax adapter you can utilize the cable wall outlets in the house. They work similar to the Ethernet Powerline adapters, they just use a coaxial cable instead. This will only work if you are not using the coaxial cabling and wall outlets for something else. Below is a picture explaining the setup.

Actiontec MoCA 2.0 Ethernet to Coax Adapter

• Speeds up to 670 Mbps
• Great for HD content and file transfers
• Works using the home’s existing coaxial wiring
• MoCA 2.0 with backward compatibility to MoCA 1.1
• Does not interfere with cable TV services or other home devices

Where to Buy:

The Actiontec MoCA 2.0 Ethernet to Coax Adapter is available from these retailers:

eBay:

Actiontec MoCA 2.0 Ethernet to Coax Adapter

Amazon:

Actiontec MoCA 2.0 Ethernet to Coax Adapter

Wire the House with Cat 6 Cable

The last option would be to wire the house using Cat 6 cable. Sometimes this is the best option. It still is the fastest and most efficient way to pass data around the house. All the major businesses still use this as their go-to method. It can take some time and planning but is worth it in the end. See our article on how to hardwire your house for the internet using Cat 6 cable.

Conclusion

Powerline Ethernet adapter kits are handy if you do not want to run your own Ethernet cable around the house. It is also a good way to supplement your existing wired or wireless network. Powerline Ethernet adapters offer a simple yet effective way to network your home or business for internet and streaming.