TRENDnet 500 Mbps Powerline Ethernet AV Adapter Kit TPL-401E2K (White)

by TRENDnet

• Includes two TPL-401E adapters
• 500 Mbps** networking speeds from any electrical outlet
• High performance Gigabit Ethernet port
• Seamlessly stream HD videos, play games online, and download media files
• Use one to transmit and up to 15* TPL-401Es to receive a networked signal

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.9 x 2.8 x 2.8 inches ; 5.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B004D9V8C8
• Item model number: TPL-401E2K
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #24 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Networking Products > Network Adapters > Powerline Network Adapters
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 21, 2010

Product Description

Size: AV Adapter Kit

Amazon.com

The 500Mbps Powerline AV Adapter Kit, model TPL-401E2K, uses any electrical outlet to create a secure building-wide high speed network. Connect one of the included adapters to your network, and plug the other in to any outlet on your electrical system for instant high speed network access.

Connect the included adapters quickly using the convenient one-touch Sync button. Use up to 16* adapters to network devices in different rooms without running new cabling.

A Gigabit Ethernet port on each adapter maintains high performance wired connections. Manage the Powerline adapters with the included Windows utility. LED displays convey device status for easy troubleshooting. Advanced 128-bit AES encryption secures your network. The included adapters are ideal for use in buildings that interfere with wireless networking signals.

Key Features

• Includes two TPL-401E adapters
• High speed building-wide networking over an existing electrical system
• 1 x 10/100/1000Mbps Auto-MDIX Gigabit port
• Connect one 500Mbps** Powerline AV Adapter to the Internet and then plug in up to 15* additional 500Mbps** Powerline AV adapters for instant building-wide connectivity
• One-touch Sync button networks adapters quickly
• Share data intensive files, play games, download music, and more at ultra fast data transfer rates
• Advanced 128-bit AES encryption to ensure total network security
• Power Saving mode reduces electrical consumption by 80%
• Neighbor network support for up to 4 overlapping networks
• Compatible with both 120 volt and 240 volt electrical systems
• Tri-color LED indicator
• Network signal transmits up to 300 meters (984ft.)
• Auto QoS support through traffic classification and multiple priority queuing
• Configuration utility compatible with Windows 7, Vista, and XP (32/64-bit) operating systems
  
• 3-year limited warranty

* Maximum of 16 adapters (nodes) recommended for streaming video across your network. Additional adapters may decrease performance.
** 500Mbps is the maximum theoretical Powerline data rate. Actual throughput will vary depending on environment.
*** Networked Powerline devices need to be plugged into power outlets that are on the same electrical system.
****It is not recommended to use this product on electrical systems that use AFCI circuit breakers or plugged into GFI protected outlets as this may cause performance degradation or loss in connectivity.

What's in the Box
2 x TPL-401E, Multi-Language Quick Installation Guide, CD-ROM (Utility & User’s Guide), 2 x Cat. 5 Ethernet cables (1.5 m / 5 ft.)

Warranty
3-year limited warranty

Full Specifications

Hardware: Standards IEEE 1901, HomePlug® AV, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3ab Interface 1 x 10/100/1000Mbps Auto-MDIX RJ-45 Port, Power Prong Modulation OFDM Symbol Modulation on link synchronization, 1024/256/64/8 - QAM, QPSK, BPSK, ROBO Carrier Dimensions 98 x 72 x 55 mm (3.9 x 2.8 x 2.2 in.) per unit Weight Total Weight: 300 g (10.6 oz) / Per Unit Weight: 150 g (5.3 oz) Temperature Operating: 0° ~ 40°C (32° ~ 104°F) Storage: -20° ~ 70°C (-4° ~ 158°F) Humidity Max. 90% (non-condensing) Certification FCC, CE Coverage Up to 300m (984ft.) Speed Powerline: up to 500Mbps** Ethernet: up to 2 Gbps with Full Duplex mode Protocols TDMA and CSMA/CA Buttons Sync, Reset

Utility OS Compatibility Windows 7 (32/64-bit), Vista (32/64-bit), XP(32/64-bit) Frequency Band 2 ~ 50 MHz Security 128-Bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) LED Power (PWR), Ethernet Link/Act (ETH) Powerline (PL) with Connection Quality Indication Best (Green) Better (Amber) Good (Red) Power Source 100~230V AC, 50~60Hz Consumption Active mode: 4.69 Watts (max.) Standby mode: 0.85 Watts (max.) Overlapping Powerline Networks Up to 4 (per electrical system) Nodes Up to 64 (max.) Recommended: Up to 16* per powerline network

Product Description

The 500Mbps Powerline AV Adapter Kit, model TPL-401E2K, uses any electrical outlet to create a secure building-wide high speed network. Connect one of the included adapters to your network, and plug the other in to any outlet on your electrical system for instant high speed network access. Connect the included adapters quickly using the convenient one-touch Sync button. Use up to 16* adapters to network devices in different rooms without running new cabling. A Gigabit Ethernet port on each adapter maintains high performance wired connections. Manage the Powerline adapters with the included Windows utility. LED displays convey device status for easy troubleshooting. Advanced 128-bit AES encryption secures your network. The included adapters are ideal for use in buildings that interfere with wireless networking signals.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fastest On The Market and Amazingly Easy To Set Up January 13, 2011

By Andrew J. Huang

Size Name:AV Adapter Kit|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am tremendously happy with the Trendnet Powerline AV 500. I've used it in two houses, a century old converted schoolhouse in Masschusetts and a decade old California house with far newer wiring.

In the Massachusetts location, even with the top Netgear wireless N routers on the 2.4GhZ band, I couldn't get a consistent signal from the top corner to the bottom corner of the place. The signal strength would report "3 bars" but the connection was spotty at best and would cut out constantly.

With the Trendnet, I can stream video consistently and the setup was as easy as plugging in both adapters into a standard wall outlet. Pushing the "connect" button seems optional. There's at least fifty feet of wiring between the two locations and the Trendnet handled it amazingly well with Skype video displaying consistently and beautifully.

In the California location, I have about the same fifty feet of wiring although the wiring is far newer and I can stream 1080p video from my PC to my PS3. I've never encountered a hiccup and once again the connection was amazingly easy to set up.

I've never done a stress test but while streaming video, the stream has gone to ~8MB/sec without stuttering.

The downside is that there's no power passthrough port. Some reviews complain about the powersaving sleep mode taking too long to respond but I've never encountered that.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More than meeting expectations June 2, 2011

By Marcus Hall

Size Name:AV Adapter Kit|Amazon Verified Purchase

I got this kit plus one additional adapter to test along with a new Linksys WRT-400n router and a pair of Airlink AWLL6075 Wireless N mini adapters to do comparison testing. I was amazed when I first plugged the two adapters that come with the kit. They were registering a 279Mbs connection between them. I am able to max out my 24Mbs comcast connection consistently on speedtest.net. I am also able to do the same wirelessly, though the connection Tx rate is only 65Mbs and the Rx rate is 117Mbs. However, test results are not consistent using the Airlink AWLL6075's connected to a Mac Pro tower and PC located less than 30 feet from the router. I have more testing to do with actual video streams but so far the TrendNet adapters are looking very promising. Will update later. Did not do any actual file transfers to measure real world throughput but will get to that next.

----Update (7/20/11)------
I finally got around to doing a bit of real world testing. I have so many projects going on I have not yet actually put these into production use yet. However, once I finish building my NAS box for I will need them for streaming full time. I did a file copy test of a 3GB disk image from a Mac Pro to a MacBook Pro and measured actual throughput at 68Mbps. Though nowwhere near 500Mbps it is good enough for HD streaming. This was with standard Apple file sharing. The NAS will be sharing NFS mounts so my hope is that the throughput will increase with NFS. We'll see. Also there is a firmware update available that I have not done. Hopefully that boosts performance also. I'll add another update when the NAS is online. So far still satisfied with them.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Super fast and easy! August 14, 2011

By Rikow

Size Name:AV Adapter Kit|Amazon Verified Purchase

The setup for these devices really couldn't have been any easier. Once you plug them into the outlets of your choice and connect the ethernet cables, they are ready to go. I have one in my basement connected via RJ45 (ethernet cable) to my Apple Airport Extreme router, and the other is in my den connected to a 5 port Netgear Gigabit Switch via RJ45. I have several devices with LAN ports in the den so this has been a much improved connection alternative to going wireless, which I've found to be intermittent and far too susceptible to interferences. I now effortlessly stream HD Netflix , Youtube, Vimeo, and many other video content services along with fast downloads to my PS3. I feel as though my money was very well spent.