LINKSYS PLWK400 Powerline Wireless Network Extender Kit Up to 200Mbps

Pros: Easy to setup (simple instructions too)

Easy to manage connections / add security key

Helped reduce lag spikes and inconsistent speeds while downloading / gaming

Linksys has been known to offer above average customer service in comparison to other brands (especially netgear and their iYogi outsourced tech support)

Cons: Price (when not on sale)

Take a look at similar models and you might find they have more jacks on them for less price. (although i am not entirely sure if they are of the same quality)

Other Thoughts: This product helped me with lag spikes i was getting at my home in my basement.

I live in a condo complex and the machine in my basement would have a lot of issues with lower speeds when everyone's wireless devices were on around the area. I found out that the only reason this was happening was due to interference from the other wireless devices. I tried everything to fix it i can promise you that...
(We recently moved and I'm in no mood to drag a 100ft ethernet cable down to the basement through the walls so thats why its not wired)

Pros: Took me 5 minutes or less to have this up and running. I live in a concrete home with rebar running all over it. Wireless signals die quickly when out of line of sight. I keep my modem/router upstairs in the media room, I can plug the remote in any outlet anywhere in the house and instantly have wired and wireless access.

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: I have read hear an elsewhere of people having to have this on the same electrical circuit. Can't say what the issue is there, but this had definitely NOT been my experience. The media room is deliberately set up with dedicated electrical circuits to minimize interference. I have yet to find an outlet anywhere in my house that does not instantly network to the main.

Pros: I could not get this item to work as advertised. If there are "Pros"...I don't know what they are

Cons: The unit connected to your router, and the unit that "extends your wireless network anywhere in your home" need to be on the same breaker. You cannot just plug it in anywhere.

Other Thoughts: Cisco does not advertise this fact on the web or even on the box it comes in (which I consider to be a deceptive omission.) The unit connected to your router, and the unit that "extends your wireless network ANYWHERE in your home" (<--exactly what appears on the box and in most product descriptions) actually need to be on the same circuit breaker. I cannot imagine a scenario in which a single power circuit in a house built to code would be a longer run of wire than your wireless signal would reach. The 100 year old, thick as a stack of bricks house I live in should be the poster child home for this type of equipment IF you could just plug it in anywhere you wanted BUT YOU CANNOT. Believe me. Save yourself hours on the phone with support trying to figure out why this product does not work as advertised. Pay your ISP ~$60 to drop a new hard line and plug a real network extender into it. If you decide to look for other power line adapters I highly suggest you research whether or not they will work when plugged into outlets on different breakers in your home/office. I would also recommend learning a little something about the electrical layout in hour home or office to make sure you can get out of the same room and still be on the same breaker and expect in many cases you will not.

Manufacturer Response:

Hi Eggbert,

We are very sorry to hear the powerline adapter does not function as you expected. For more information about how the device works, here’s a link http://homekb.cisco.com/Cisco2/ukp.aspx?vw=1&articleid=17153 . We appreciate you feedback and we will pass this to the team.

Thanks,
Cisco-Linksys Support
http://homesupport.cisco.com