Here is the review of the TP-LINK AV1200 Gigabit Passthrough Powerline Adapter Starter Kit (two different models out now: TL-PA8010PKIT with one Ethernet port and TL-PA8030PKIT with three), we are testing the TL-PA8030PKIT with three Ethernet ports.
Most of us nowadays have either a smart TV, Sky+, PC or laptops, games consoles and more. These come with Ethernet ports on the back so you can get super speedy Internet connections for catch-up TV, over-the-internet gameplay, or Web access.
But your Internet router/modem is usually in a different room to all these digital home-entertainment devices. Who wants to stretch ugly Ethernet cables all over their house?
You get two Powerline adapters, two Ethernet cables and resource cd with the manuals.
Plug one Powerline adapter into the wall socket near the router, and then connect the adapter to the router via Ethernet cable. Then take the other Powerline adapter and plug that into a power socket near the TV/Sky+, Xbox etc. You can now connect these to the second adapter via another Ethernet cable, then press the pair button on the side of the adapter. Now the two powerline adapters are now configured to use your home’s electrical wiring as the Ethernet cable.
The TP-Link’s AV1200 Gigabit Passthrough Powerline Adapter Starter Kit is totally easy to install. It really is Plug & Play. No need to install software or configure your settings.
The latest Powerline adapters are being hailed as Gigabit as they have a theoretical maximum speed of 1,200Mbps. Slower 500Mbps and 200Mbps Powerline adapters are also available.
Their “Multiple Input Multiple Output” (MIMO) functionality within HomePlug AV2 significantly improves data-transfer rates. It uses any two electrical wire lines within a three-wire network to boost performance.
Wifi speed test before using the TL-PA8030PKIT
Speed test done after installing the TL-PA8030PKIT powerline
Specs
•TL-PA8010PKIT: HomePlug AV2 standard compliant, high-speed data transfer rates of up to 1200 Mbps
• 1 x Gigabit port per adapter
• Integrated power socket. TL-PA8030PKIT: HomePlug AV2 standard compliant, high-speed data transfer rates of up to 1200 Mbps
• 3 x Gigabit port per adapter
• Integrated power socket
Conclusion
The TP-Link AV1200 Gigabit Passthrough Powerline Adapter Starter Kit (TL-PA8010P KIT or TL-PA8030P KIT) matches its rival Gigabit Powerline adapter sets in our real-world speed tests. The TP Link TL-PA8030P (£69.99 from Amazon UK) is better value as it boasts three Gigabit Ethernet ports, compared to the TL-PA8010P’s single port adapters (£64.99 from Amazon UK). Both version neither versions includes functionality to add a new Wi-Fi hotspot in your house, as some other Powerline adapters do.
