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To test the TP-Link AV500 Powerline Network Adapter Kit, we used Totusoft’s LAN Speed Test software to measure the real-world network throughput when transferring a 100MB file between a wired ‘server’ laptop and a wireless ‘client’ laptop. LAN Speed Test provides real-world performance results as it creates the file, measures the time taken to transfer it, and calculates the effective network throughput.
To eliminate potential bottlenecks, the ‘server’ computer was connected via Gigabit Ethernet to our Tenda N60 wireless router. As we wanted to test wireless performance, the ‘client’ laptop was connected via the powerline network adapters. For comparison purposes, we have also included results for a Linksys EA6900 Router and the ‘client' laptop in close proximity to the powerline adapters.
We tested the performance of the adapters and range extender in three different positions:
- Short Range: Both adapters positioned next to each other in adjacent sockets, to show the best performance scenario.
- Long Range: Adapters placed 30m apart at opposite ends of a house, with one on the first floor and one on the ground.
In our tests, the AV500 adapters did not offer great performance at short range, and fell well behind the high-end Linksys router in terms of transfer rate. At long range, however, the performance is impressive – at this distance the router was not able to connect in either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz modes.
I have these, and they are pretty good for the money expenditure. The one downside I would comment on is they are stuck on 100Mbps Ethernet connections, when I was expecting 500Mbps. What you end up with is UP TO 500Mbps per second behind the socket depending on your house wiring.
My results differ to those of KitGuru though, as I can reliably get just shy of 100Mbps anywhere in the house. I have a feeling that this may be due to the house I rent only just being re-wired. The longest and weakest connection I can get knocks me down to 88Mbps, which is pretty good considering I get no wireless router signal at all in that part.
My biggest complaint is the area I currently live can offer up to 150Mbps broadband, meaning that now my current connection can no longer take full advantage of downloading files. With faster and faster broadband speeds, I feel like if this technology can not even equip 1Gbps Ethernet ports then it is going to quickly fall behind wireless routers using bridges to expand the signal.
Due to the router I am using, the wireless signal can be flakey on occasion and this is pretty useless if internet gaming, so this is a wonderful substitute to using the wireless. However I am currently looking into one of two upgrades to phase this out after only having it for 6 months for the sole purpose of taking full advantage of the larger internet connection I have here.
Also have a pair of these and my consensus is simple. You could use these for the ease of setup, or get to areas where radio signal dont seem to get; If thats your goal, this is a superb product.
If you use these for getting a higher performance, well, … you are going to have a bad time in most situations.
What i found with the ether-line kit I had, was that not only the performance was not that great when you went over breaker groups. But the ping was not at all stable. for example ping was around 25ms then it could go 400ms or over a second later and back to 25ms again after. And also turning appliances like tv’s, computers or something could effect the performance for a shot time. So its a great product for checking mail or browse the web but gaming is not recommended (nothing beats the wire! Ok fibre does ;))