Powerline - the digital home's secret weapon - TechRadar UK

I recently swapped out my 85Mbps Devolo HighSpeed powerline adapters for the faster 200Mbps dLAN modules. The powerline technology pipes broadband from a router in the living room over the electrical wiring to an Xbox 360 in the bedroom.

The result? Ethernet-speed home networking with a rock-solid connection, lower power consumption and improved QoS that prioritises video and audio data traffic.

While I also have a wireless network installed, powerline adapters are ideal for hooking up a games console. Online gaming demands a reliable connection and, with Microsoft's digital hub plans for the Xbox 360, the HomePlug AV technology in the dLAN 200s is fast enough to stream video around the house. True, you don't get the full 200Mbps quoted on the box. But you can expect 90-100Mbps speeds that can match a CAT5 set up.

The power of powerline

Powerline could well be the digital home's secret weapon. The powerline adapters are literally 'plug and play', making the technology ideal for DIY, wire-free networking. It's not designed to replace a wireless network, but complement it.

The 200Mbps powerline technology is also fast enough to provide a viable IPTV infrastructure in the home, without relying on a Wi-Fi network or installing extra cabling. BT is already using Comtrend Powerline adapters with its BT Vision box.

Powerline technology is arguably more flexible and secure than a wireless network. For starters, as data is sent across the copper wiring in your home, it can't be hacked by your next-door neighbour. In addition to broadband sharing and device interconnectivity, you can use it to plug in VoiP phones, audio/video streamers, network cameras, wireless extenders and NAS devices.

The only fly in the ointment is this: as there is no official IEEE specification for powerline, there are two competing standards. The Universal Powerline Alliance is waving the flag for DS2's Powerline chipset. While the HomePlug Powerline Alliance uses silicon from Intellon.

And as with any good format war, the two are completely incompatible with each other.

Good news and bad news

The IEEE plans to simplify the powerline market and has formed the P1901 Working Group to come up with a single, consumer-friendly standard. That's the good news.

The bad news is that the members of the P1901 group haven't been able to make a decision. The HomePlug AV specification is currently leading the way, supported by the likes of Intel and Cisco. But HomePlug needs 75 per cent of the member votes to shrug off the challenge of DS2's rival technology. At the last P1901 pow-wow, HomePlug could only muster 55 per cent, so the battle's not won yet. The next vote takes place on 28 September.

All of which means that if, like me, you've invested in HomePlug AV powerline adapters, there's no guarantee that the standard will survive long-term. It's especially galling for the DS2 camp, who have been getting close to eclipsing HomePlug AV's 200Mbps technology with an even faster 400Mbps version.

But if the HD DVD/Blu-ray battle taught us anything, it's that it's not necessarily the best technology that wins. Like the much-delayed 802.11n standard, perhaps powerline Ethernet just isn't quite ready for prime time.