Powerline performance

WHILE YOU WON’T get anywhere near the maximum speeds advertised, powerline/HomePlug network adapters should be able to outperform Wi–Fi at range. If you think you’re not getting the speeds you should be, there are several factors to consider. First, make sure all the plugs are rated the same — if one is slower than the others, they’ll all run at the slower speed.

Second, while distance from the router does play some part in affecting performance, it’s the quality of your electrical circuits that’s crucial in determining maximum transfer speeds. But most modern circuits should perform adequately — just make sure your powerline adapters are plugged directly into a socket and not via an extension cable.

A big factor in reducing speed is electrical noise, particularly at the “receiving” end of the connection. One simple way to filter noise is to ensure other devices are plugged in to extension cables, which are then plugged in to a different socket than your powerline adapter.