Zyxel G.hn 2400 Powerline Ethernet Adapter Kit | Pass-Thru Power | Plug & Play | MIMO | Next-Gen G.hn | Gigabit Ethernet | for Smart TVs, On-Line Games, 8K Streaming | Brown Box [PLA6456BBKIT]

I have four computers in my personal studio, all connected to an Ethernet switch. I used to have my cable modem/router next to the switch but when I upgraded my home entertainment setup, I moved my cable modem/router to the living room so I could run Ethernet to my Xbox and smart TV.My attempts to run Ethernet from my living room to my studio were thwarted by the pitch of the roof of my house over the room in which my studio was located. I couldn’t get to the area where I needed to run the Ethernet cable down inside the wall, so I was stuck using WiFi. My connectivity was sporadic (to say the least) and my throughput was terrible. On a good day, I was getting 12-15 Mbps downstream (MAYBE), and “good days” were rare. I use Synergy (virtual KVM software) to work across six monitors on four PC’s and it was all but unusable over WiFi.Enter these powerline adapters. I plugged one into the outlet adjacent to my cable modem/router and connected it with one of the included Ethernet cables. I plugged the other one into an outlet in my studio and connected it to my Ethernet switch with the other included cable. Press and hold a button on the powerline adapter for two seconds, do the same thing on the other one, and you have a secure connection between the two.I am now getting consistent 70+ Mbps speeds in my studio. The plan I have with my ISP is capped at 75 Mbps. I haven’t checked the actual speed between the two powerline adapters, only the downstream/upstream speeds I’m getting from my internet connection through the powerline adapters. The indicator lights on the adapters themselves say I’m getting over 80 Mbps but again, I have yet to actually test it.These things are worth every penny if you need to extend your network with something more reliable than WiFi. They’re simple to install and there is essentially zero configuration. You take them out of the box, plug them in, and they work.The only negative criticism I can offer up is that the top of the adapter is a bit too large and renders the other outlet useless if you need to plug in a wall wart or something with a grounding prong. Other than that, these are great!

Ever wonder how to get wired internet into another room of the house without having to snake an Ethernet cord through the walls or up the stairs? Years ago someone discovered you could use your home electrical copper wiring to transmit your internet signal, but the technology had been pretty flaky. Until now.I just bought the ZyXEL PLA54526 HomePlug AV2 Powerline Ethernet Adapter. I had been holding off on buying a home powerline adapter for over a decade. ZyXEL finally put a unit together that meets all of my criteria: high speed, two 1-gigabit Ethernet ports on each unit (for use with say a computer and a home video system), outlet pass-through design so it doesn’t eat up the available outlet space, really simple to set up, encryption, and it works great.I have a pre-internet circa-1980 house without the best wiring. My modem and router are downstairs and my Roku 3 and computer are upstairs. (I have a Roku 3 instead of renting a second cable box from the evil empire). I had been using Wi-Fi to stream upstairs, which works great for my computer, but no so great with the Roku 3. Several channels took way too long to load streaming content and many gave up in the process.So I researched powerline adapters and jumped all over this one. The box includes two adapters, two 4-or-5 foot Ethernet cables and a set of quick setup instructions. Basically I connected 1 end of an Ethernet cable to my router and the other end to the first powerline adapter and plugged it into the wall. I then went upstairs and connected an Ethernet cable between by Roku 3 and the second powerline adapter and plugged that adapter into the wall. Both units powered up and gave me 3 green bars (best case scenario).I turned on the Roku 3, changed my network setting from Wi-Fi to wired, and… it didn’t work. Easy fix. I went back downstairs and unplugged both the modem and router; waited 15 seconds; plugged them both back in and returned to the Roku 3 to set up the wired network connection again. It quickly found the network and was working like a champ. All the channels that weren’t working well under Wi-Fi were suddenly lively.I am very pleased with this purchase.Only downsides I have found so far are that:1. The unit takes up a little too much space on the lower outlet plug, to the extent that I cannot plug in a 3-prong cord into the upper outlet. A 2-pronger is no problem. And of course a 3-pronger can be plugged into the powerline adapter itself.2. Although you may not need it, the full manual can only be located as a download on ZyXEL’s website. Search for model #PLA5456.3. The utility software (also a download) is not yet compatible with Windows 10. Again, you may not need it.