Aztech Homeplug Wifi Setup

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I recently got a pair of Aztech Powerline Networking adaptors to hook up additional network devices. Powerline networking is great if you do not want to run messy LAN cables around your place but yet want to plug in that spanking new toy (e.g. Apple TV2) to the network.

The Aztech Powerline Adaptors (HL115EP) are advertised to have connection/data rate up to 500Mbps (megabits). So how do they really perform in reality? The Aztech 500Mbps Powerline Networking adaptor (HL115EP) managed to have a sustained network throughput of 94.12Mbps and 89.24Mbps for writing and reading respectively.

Just to set the expectation right, Wireless-N technology have connection/data rate up to 300Mbps but in practical scenario, it manages throughput of ~82Mbps (taking reference from SmallNetBuilder’s ASUS RT-N56U review). So comparing the Aztech HL115EP and Wireless-N, the powerline networking adaptor is not that bad after all.

Network equipments

I’ve quickly put together some hardware to conduct the speed test, they are:

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  • IBM T43 laptop – to execute the LAN Speed Test software
  • iMac 27″ 2011 – to act as the network share for reading/writing the test files
  • D-Link DGS1008D – 10/100/1000Mbps switch to hook up the devices
  • Aztech 500Mbps (HL115EP) – one side to the switch and power, the other unit to the laptop

Setting the test scenario

In the following tests, we will be reading and writing 1GB (1000MB) size files to the network share. This will be able to accurately measure the sustained average network throughput. Too small a file size might result in inaccurate throughput due to speed burst and too big a file might incurred too much hard disk read/writes.

Baselining the equipments

Watch naruto shippuden english dubbed for free. After hooking up the equipments, I first did a test to baseline the equipments in terms of network throughput without the Aztech HL115EP in place. This will tell me the maximum throughput I will get with the test set up.

The baseline test reflected that this set up is capable of measuring throughput up to 691.44Mbps and 424.72Mbps for writing and reading respectively.

Speed testing the Aztech 500Mbps Powerline Adaptors (HL115EP)

Hooked up the laptop to the Aztech HL115EP and conducted the network throughput test with the same settings. The Aztech 500Mbps (HL115EP) managed to have a sustained network throughput of 94.12Mbps and 89.24Mbps for writing and reading respectively.

Conclusion

Managed to find the speed test result of the Aztech 200Mbps powerline networking adaptor. Below are the network throughput of the Aztech HL115EP, Aztech 200Mbps and a Wireless-N setup:

Equipment Writing (Mbps) Reading (Mbps)
Baseline 1000Mbps 691.44 424.72
Aztech HL115EP 500Mbps 94.12 89.24
Aztech 200Mbps - 55.22
ASUS RT-N56U 300Mbps Wireless-N Ref: SmallNetBuilder 80.3 85.6

The Aztech HL115EP (500Mbps) adaptor’s performance is better than its 200Mbps counterpart but its performance is no where near 500Mbps (at least for me).

However, do not be dismay with the number because the performance of the Aztech HL115EP is sufficient for streaming 1080p and blu-ray videos as their (usual) bandwidth requirements are 4~8Mbps and 25~35Mbps respectively. The numbers also means that you can almost hit the max theoretical speed of that new 100Mbps Fibre plan.

As highlighted earlier, Wireless-N technology have data rate up to 300Mbps but in practical scenario, it manages throughput of ~82Mbps . So comparing the Aztech HL115EP and Wireless-N, the performance of the powerline networking adaptor is not that bad after all.

So if you need to wire that new toy of yours and don’t want to mess up the nice cabling in your apartment, do give the Aztech HL115EP a shot. Who knows, yours might perform better because the performance of the powerline networking adaptors depends on condition of your electrical cabling too.

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

The Rundown

  • Best Overall: TP-Link AV2000 TL-PA9020PKIT at Amazon, “With..its high-speed data transfer rate of up to 2000Mbps, you'll never have to worry about poor signal performance again.”
  • Runner-up, Best Overall: Zyxel PLA5456KIT at Amazon, “Will offer dramatically improved coverage for game consoles and televisions, including streaming Netflix in 4K.”
  • Best Budget: NETGEAR PowerLINE 1000 at Amazon, “With speeds up to 1000Mbps, the PowerLINE 1000 boasts enough horsepower to deliver expansive coverage and fast performance.”
  • Best Gaming: Extollo PowerLine LANSocket 1500 at Amazon, “Exactly what gaming fans need: a powerline network adapter with both high performance and low latency.”
  • Best Speed: D-Link Powerline AV2 2000 at Amazon, “A rock-solid network adapter with blazing fast speed.”
  • Best Value: Netgear Powerline PL1200-100PAS at Amazon, “More than ready to handle 4K and HD streaming, and lag-free gaming.”
  • Best Video Streaming:D-Link DHP-601AV PowerLine AV2 at Amazon, “Powers speed up to 1000Mbps, which is ideal for multiplayer gaming, larger file transfers and HD video streaming.”

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: TP-Link AV2000 TL-PA9020PKIT

4.8

With the TP-Link AV2000 TL-PA9020PKIT powerline adapter kit and its high-speed data transfer rate of up to 2000Mbps, you'll never have to worry about poor signal performance again. Setting up the TP-Link is a snap: The first adapter gets plugged into the wall and router via Ethernet cable and the second adapter gets plugged into a wall outlet near the device(s) you want to signal boost. With two Gigabit ports available, you can connect to two devices at one time such as a video game console and television. The inclusion of pass-through technology allows the electrical outlet to remain usable even when the adapter kit is plugged in.

Aztech homeplug wireless extender setup

Aztech Homeplug Av Utility

One-touch pairing features 128-bit AES encryption for maintaining a secure signal alongside intelligent LED indicators for notifying users about the strength of their connection. Compliant with Home Plug AV2, the 5.2 x 2.8 x 1.7-inch TP-Link features 2x2 MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) beamforming technologies creating simultaneous and pointed connections for minimal impact to Internet speed while using multiple devices. Beyond performance, there’s good news for energy-conscious users: The TP-Link will power down when not in use, cutting energy use by up to 85 percent.

Runner-Up, Best Overall: Zyxel PLA5456KIT

Offering pass-through and Home Plug AV2 2000 compliance, the Zyxel PLA5456KIT is an excellent powerline networking kit. Featuring two Gigabit Ethernet ports for multiple device connectivity, the front of the Zyxel features LED status lights for notifying users of signal strength on its 7.4 x 9.2 x 3.8-inch design. Plus, with MIMO technology, the Zyxel will offer dramatically improved coverage for game consoles and televisions, including streaming Netflix in 4K. Setting it up is easy, so you'll be up and running right after creating the hardwired connection into the router with the first adapter and placing the second adapter at or near the device seeking a performance boost. Offering speeds up to 1800Mbps, the Zyxel can easily be monitored through the downloadable smartphone app. You can even block potentially intrusive devices to keep your network connection secure.

Best Budget: NETGEAR PowerLINE 1000

If you want to extend your wired network, the NETGEAR PowerLINE 1000 is an excellent budget choice. Utilizing the existing electrical wiring in your home, internet is delivered to nearly any area that’s lacking signal. In a day and age when so many devices require fast internet to properly function, this inexpensive solution can be a lifesaver. With speeds up to 1000Mbps, the PowerLINE 1000 boasts enough horsepower to deliver expansive coverage and fast performance.

Easy to set up, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be ready to go with the PowerLINE 1000 in a few moments. The included adapter plugs directly into your modem or router. The PowerLINE 1000 Wi-Fi adapter is then plugged into any outlet near a coverage dead zone. You can set it up anywhere in a home regardless of where walls and doors are located; but obviously, the best performance is found with the fewest number of obstructions.

What makes NETGEAR's budget-friendly products so great? Simplicity. This is a plug and play device that has almost zero barrier to entry. Performance is ideal for 4K streaming or multiplayer gaming online.

Aztech Homeplug Wifi Setup Instructions

Best Gaming: Extollo PowerLine LANSocket 1500

When it comes to online gaming, you want a super strong signal to ensure a lag-free experience. And the 2.5 x 1.5 x 4.5-inch Extollo PowerLine LANSocket 1500 is exactly what gaming fans need: a powerline network adapter with both high performance and low latency. Ideal for both gaming and online video streaming, the inclusion of MIMO and beamforming technology works to provide each device connected to the Internet with the best possible signal. The addition of 512Mbit (64MB) of DDR memory helps maintain and boost signal strength, which makes it one of the most reliable network adapters available today. The plug-and-play installation allows users to be connected and online within minutes and the pass-through outlet means you’re still able to connect a second connection to the outlet. All in all, with speeds up to 2Gbps, there’s no question the Extollo is ready to tackle whatever signal challenge lies ahead.

Best Speed: D-Link Powerline AV2 2000 DHP-P7101AV

Offering the latest in AV2 MIMO 2000 technology, the D-Link Powerline AV2 2000 DHP-P7101AV is a rock-solid network adapter with blazing fast speed. Capable of hitting speeds up to 2000Mbps (2Gbps), the P7101 can handle 4K/HD multimedia, transfer large files and take on online gaming without skipping a beat. The integrated pass-through socket is ideal for ensuring that no outlet goes to waste and, with a built-in noise filter, you’ll hardly notice the P7101 presence in a hallway or near an entertainment center. The P7101 offers the same energy-friendly design as its competition and it shuts down after a few minutes of inactivity, saving up 85 percent of power consumption. Setup remains simple as ever, thanks to a plug-and-play approach that has one adapter connecting to the router and the second connecting to a wall outlet near the devices that are hungry for an Internet signal boost. Additionally, there’s one touch security for added network encryption, which secures the D-Link against any potential network intrusions that could compromise the entire home network.

Best Value: Netgear PowerLINE PL1200-100PAS

Capable of offering up to 1200Mbps speeds, the Netgear PowerLINE PL1200-100PAS is more than ready to handle 4K and HD streaming, and lag-free gaming. It can even connect multiple adapters to continuously expand the network signal throughout a home. The inclusion of MIMO and beamforming technology adds simultaneous signal connections directed at active devices on the network and provides them the best possible signal strength. The 6.54 x 7.28 x 3.23-inch PL1200 sets up with a plug-and-play approach. Just connect the first adapter to the router via Ethernet cable and the second adapter into an outlet near the device you want to provide with a performance boost. Once both connections are set, the PL1200 does the rest while offering a one-touch button for encrypting the network to protect against intrusion. Like competitive models in this space, the Netgear adds an energy-friendly mode that powers down after a set time of inactivity, which helps minimize the impact on your energy bill.

Best Video Streaming: D-Link DHP-601AV PowerLine AV2

Small and compact at 3.4 x 0.2 x 2.4 inches, the D-Link DHP-601AV PowerLine AV2 1000 is a standout offering for HD streaming. While the D-Link lacks a pass-through power socket, the focus here is on the compact design alongside AV2 technology that powers speed up to 1000Mbps, which is ideal for multiplayer gaming, larger file transfers and HD video streaming.

Adding an additional level of security to your home network, the D-Link features one-touch security that automatically encrypts its connection at 128-bit AES, although there’s no software available for smartphones or PCs to monitor the network to detect and prevent intrusion. What the D-Link lacks in software and pass-through it more than makes up for with a rock-solid signal performance that handily works with HD video while allowing additional units to be connected to create an umbrella signal around the house eliminating dead spots.

Tested by

How We Tested

Our reviewers spent 360 hours testing one of our readers’ favorite powerline network adapters. To get the most comprehensive results, they placed the adapter in areas of their homes that had poor Wi-Fi signals or where their connections needed a boost. We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using this adapter, from connection speed to usability. We've outlined the key points here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.

What to Look for in a Powerline Network Adapter

Homeplug Wifi Extender

Speed - One of the first features that should be considered when purchasing a powerline network adapter for your home is its speed; ensure your unit supports faster “gigabit” Ethernet speeds. If you are a gamer, look for units that offer “low latency” rates.

Security - You are utilizing your home’s electrical wiring to transfer data, so it is essential that you purchase a network adapter that secures the information traveling through your walls. Most adapters offer some level of encryption such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) — look for this in the description or on the box.

Usability - Lastly, consider whether a powerline network adapter is a correct solution for your needs; these network adapters only work when they are on the same circuit. For example, if you plug one adapter into your living room and the other into your home office, and they are on separate electrical circuits, the solution won't work for your situation.

Test Results: TP-Link AV2000 TL-PA9020PKIT (Best Overall)

192.168.1.1admin Wireless Settings

4.8

Wifi Setup Access Point

What We Like

  • Quick and easy setup

  • Good download/upload speeds

  • Cost-effective solution

Homeplug Network

“It's a really good alternative to running additional networking cable if you're trying to get a connection in another part of your house,” one reviewer revealed. He added, “For something that's relatively inexpensive, it's removed a lot of frustration.” Our testers particularly liked how simple the setup was and their improved connection speeds. The adapters are a bit bulky, which is good to be aware of if you’re trying to place it behind a sofa or other furniture, noted one reviewer.