Adapters included
Number of individual adapters included.
It makes sense to buy
one adapter if the network already has a Powerline signal source — for example, another adapter purchased earlier, or a Powerline Internet connection from an ISP. If it is necessary to build a “local” based on sockets, there must be at least
two adapters.
Wired speed
The maximum wired speed supported by the adapter.
When choosing according to this indicator, note that manufacturers usually indicate the theoretical maximum in the specifications. In fact, the wired speed can be noticeably lower (in particular, due to interference in the mains). In addition, it may be limited by other factors: for example, if the adapter has only one 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet port, then its actual bandwidth cannot exceed 100 Mbps, even if the specifications indicate a wired speed of 500 Mbps .
Nevertheless, the higher the claimed speed (
1 Gbps), the higher the practical one, all other things being equal. So for tasks related to the transfer of large amounts of data or requiring a quick response (watching/broadcasting high-definition video, working with torrents, online games), you should choose the “faster” models.
Range
The maximum distance at which the adapter provides reliable data transmission over the mains wires; in other words, the longest length of electrical wires between the adapter and another Powerline device that maintains a good connection.
Note that manufacturers usually indicate the coverage radius for perfect conditions (high-quality wiring with minimal resistance, no interference, etc.), which are far from always found in real applications. Therefore, the actual coverage radius is often less than the claimed one, and it is worth choosing an adapter according to this indicator with a certain margin. However, even the most modest modern models provide a range of about 150 m, and in the most advanced it can be 300 m or more — this is quite enough not only for an apartment or house, but also for a fairly large office space.
Compatible adapters
Models of Powerline adapters that this device is guaranteed to be compatible with. This information makes it easy to choose equipment for building a Powerline network. At the same time, manufacturers, usually, do not provide compatibility with adapters from other companies, therefore, in this paragraph, only the name of the model is given, without specifying the brand.
