Devolo dLAN 1200+ ac
Thought it was the end of the line for HomePlugs? Think again
If you’ve ever had trouble getting your devices wired up to your router or have Wi-Fi deadspots in certain rooms, you’ll know all about powerline solutions.
The technology has matured to deliver theoretical 1,200Mbps speeds and this two-plug kit from Devolo goes further by adding 802.11.ac Wi-Fi. This broadcasts a second Wi-Fi network (with a default Devolo SSID), but uses the router’s DHCP so your devices retain their IP addresses. First time sync between the HomePlugs is simple with Devolo’s push button approach, and even when you move the second plug to a different room it syncs up, although not as fast as some products. Our tests delivered speeds around 700Mbps (dLAN 650s delivered around 500Mbps).
It’s a welcome speed boost, but what really makes these HomePlugs worth the steep price is the addition of Wireless AC and the clever Wi-Fi Move feature. The latter enables further network extension and connects your devices to the strongest available signal. It’s a joy to use with the Devolo Cockpit app for Mac or iOS and it plays nicely with your existing Wi-Fi setup.
We have two minor gripes. The Wi-Fi plug is bulky and can obscure the switch on double sockets. While the otherwise welcome powersaving mode has a continuously flashing red light. Christian Hall
The Devolo dLAN 1200+ ac is a great solution to home networking woes, both wired and wireless.