Question 1

if i buy 2 of these and have 4 units, will i be able to establish 4 access points in my house? 1 connected to the router and 3 others plugged in different rooms.

Accepted Answer

In theory this will work (see Linksys support website).  Keep in mind that one PLE adapter must be connected from your output LAN connection in order to set up multiple rooms.  In other words, this is the order of equipment:  ISP line into house, modem/router, PLE number 1 connected from router to wall plug, PLE number 2,3, and 4 in separate rooms as receivers of PLE 1 signal.  Keep in mind that these are not wireless devices.  You'd have to get a different PLE kit to pass the wireless signal through home wiring.  I have both the PLEK500 and PLWK400.  The PLEK500 is before my router to get wired signal to my study where I connect into the router, then the PLWK400 is out of my router to get signal via wired connection to my living room where it becomes wireless.

Hope this helps!
-Tom

Question 2

Does it work with  Windows 7? I have some old Netgear powerlines that donot work with windows 7.

Accepted Answer

Hello,

We installed this at our business, as we have two separate buildings that use wifi. We use Comcast for Internet, so Linksys really helps boost our internet connection. I don't know about old Netgear lines, sorry.

Venice for Mike T.

Question 3

Will this work with a un-managed switch attached?

Accepted Answer

I had mixed results with these powerline unit and prefer the MoCA adapters which uses your cable tv wire to do the same thing and don't drop off much.

Question 4

So in my research in various ways to run ethernet through a large house with no option to run an ethernet line directly, I have not found any information on if a product like this would work or not in my situation. 
So my situation is this. I have a computer upstairs, that I like to use for gaming, but wifi is just not working well at all. The Modem (I think thats what it is? the box that transmits wifi?) is wired directly into the wall at the Phone line (I think), and there is absolutely no way I can run an ethernet cable up around a door and a staircase, and up two more staircases. And there is no way I can run it through the wall. I have read that these types of products can transmit internet signals through power lines on the same circuit (Breaker) but I cannot find out if they can be used between two outlets on different circuits? The two circuits are obviously on the same panel, and do not run through any other electrical devises (like a transformer as someone else had stated in their situation). I really would like to have a concrete answer on wether or not this will be a solution, before I go and spend a bunch of money on it.
Thank you in advance! :)

Accepted Answer

I'm a custom AV installer. I only use this type device when there is no other choice. 
   I have 3 different brands and models on the truck. In any given installation all three work but to different levels. Usually I will get a noticeable spread in performance.  One of the three will usually give me enough bandwidth to support streaming 1080i. 
  One may perform better than the others in one house but worse in another house. There seems to be no rhyme or reason.
  Differences such as age of wiring and lengths of runs effect the results.
  If you are on the same breaker they all work their best. Next choice is to keep them on the same phase of the breaker box. The left breakers are on one phase and the right breakers are on the other phase. Picking 2 outlets with their 2 breaker switches on the same side will keep them on the same phase. This usually works pretty well.
  The worst option is 2 units plugged into outlets which are on the opposite phase. Sometimes one of the three can get me by
with enough bandwidth to stream 720p.
   If your REALLY want internet and are willing....I suggestion is to order 3 different brands and models try all three keep one and return the other two.
   I use OOKLA Speed Test to verify download speeds. Do 3 or 4 tests and take an average for each.
   Its a lot of work, but if you can get one that works it may be worth it.
   If the units allow you to, update the firmware before you install them.
  I'm sure its not the answer you want to here, but, I hope it helps!

Question 5

I need 2 receivers and can't seem to find it on NewEgg. Anyone know where I can buy a second one? I don't need two complete sets.

Accepted Answer

These are only sold in pairs. You could by a 2nd set and sell the spare, as I'm sure there is someone else in the same boat. Or you can use another brand as they are mostly all compatible with each other.

Question 6

Is this unit compatable with older units and does it work well if you place more than the two on line?  I have multiple rooms too far away or otherwise blocked from my wifi signal.

Accepted Answer

I may be of only limited help here.  This is my first powerline networking equipment, so can't speak to compability with older equipment.  Perhaps the Linksys Forum (which I found useful) would have an answer.  My recollection from my own pre-purchase research was that you could certainly use more than two units, although I don't know the upper limit where the network speed overall is affected.  Perhaps another question for the Forum.  For what it's worth, I have found this equipment to be rock solid.  Highly recommend.

Question 7

I have a win 7 and a mac that are hooked up using Wifi not very successfully. I am told a powerline adapter will solve the connection problem.  In checking the compatibility I do not see Apple mentioned. Is there a special adapter that must be used for  Win and Mac?

Accepted Answer

Powerline adapters basically just turn your powerlines already in your house into ethernet cables. If you have a newer house these should work well for you. If you live in an apartment, and older house or have a breaker between the locations you are trying to connect these will not work well for you and you would be better off updating your wifi or running ethernet directly.

The operating system of your computers (mac or windows) does not matter in regards to these devices. As long as the computer has a ethernet port you can utilize these as you would regular ethernet cable between your devices (with a router in between most likely). If your wifi is currently your router you will most likely still need to keep that unless you plan on installing a stand alone router.

Hope that helps.

Question 8

Has anyone tried using in a detached garage?  The single would have to go thru the transformer, would this still work?  Garage is 150' from house.

Accepted Answer

It should be fairly easy to run cat6 in this situation directly. It wouldn't cost much more than these devices and would be FAR better performance. (Guaranteed to work at full speed versus MIGHT possibly work kind of sort of at somewhere around 20mbs best case / with intermittent signal drops)

Question 9

Will this work through a power adapter, e.g. converting from US to EU power plug? I note from the specs that it is dual voltage.

Accepted Answer

Plugged directly into house wiring it lost about 30% from direct modem speed.

Plugged into a surge protector it actually worked, but lost another 50% of speed attained from house wiring connect (wall outlet). The surge protector also caused it to slow all devices directly connected to modem to about half speed. All resolved for the network when it was returned to direct wall outlet but it still only transmitted at 70% of modem speed.

The device never transmitted full Ethernet modem speed under any circumstances.

Question 10

Can I connect one adapter directly to our ethernet/modem that is on one side of the house and connect my wifi router to the other adapter on the other side of the house? My mom doesn't need/want wifi near her desktop pc that is directly connected to the ethernet and my laptop gets poor wifi signal because it's so far away, so I'd like to plug the router in over near me. Thanks.

Accepted Answer

Just try it, I think it's OK.
By the way, my modem(Arris SB6183) offers only one Ethernet outlet, if you connect it to the adapter, where is the Ethernet connection for your mom? benye

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