Customer Reviews

ZyXEL PLA400 200 Mbps Powerline HomePlug AV Desktop Fast Ethernet Adapter

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have had a pair of PLA-400 running for about a year now and the only problem I would warn you about is this: house wiring is not always consistantly good. I have had to move it to different sockets looking for the best connection. Also have a pair of PLA-100's connecting a router in one building to a computer in another building, works but same thing. In fact the quality changed after a while and I moved it. Later I found a loose connection in a socket. They run hot and I did have to return one PLA-100 for replacement but overall they work good and I have no fear of using PLA-400 especially. About to buy another pla400 to connect a media center PC in the viewing room to view downloaded movies on a plasma screen. I think the powerline adapters are more reliable than WLAN.

These particular powerline adapters work reasonably well, and have been adequately reviewed previously. The point of my review is to warn you that you will need TWO of these to create a connection, so double the Amazon price to give an actual usable starter configuration.

When you do that, and look around Amazon, you'll see you have other competitive options.

Burned again. Product listed as one thing, described as another. Unfortunately I took the chance and assumed "good faith" and was rewarded with an older version that was discontinued back in 2008. This is not the newer V2 version of this product from ZyXEL as the product description calls out more than once, it is the original and lacks the V2's newer chipset and easy encryption features. Buyer beware and forewarned.

Very pleased with the functionality of these powerline ethernet adapters. I've got my DirecTv,PS3,and a home PC all connected with reliable and fast results!

Got this from Amazon and was up and running within minutes. An update to Windows Vista screwed up the wireless connection on my wife's computer to our router. Plugged the little box into the outlet and a LAN cable into the computerr and - presto - ready to go. I'll most certainly buy another one.

I purchased the PLA-400 with a PLA-401 unit to connect a Gigabit router to an XBOX 360 for video streaming via Netflix. I have another XBOX 360 in another room that is wired ethernet through the same gigabit switch (and a separate Gigabit switch in another part of the house). Unfortunately I couldn't run ethernet to this particular location without tons of work, hence the reason to try this product. I first of all installed a Netgear XE1004 (85MBS) which worked fine for two PC's for general internet access, but was not quite good enough for netflix streaming, nor TV via Windows Media Center (using Xbox 360 as an extender). The PLA 400/401 combo, works well enough for standard TV and can stream neflix OK, however, it is not good enough to stream HD video from my media center PC (windows 7). It only shows enough bandwidth for standard TV. Since it's via an Xbox 360 and not a PC, I can't test the throughput. Simply using the Xbox 360 "performance tuning" faclity for the media extender. The units were truly "plug and play" however. I plugged them in, waited lesss than 5 minutes (probably more like 2) until they found each other and I had geen link lights (the units show red if you have <10MB throughput). I tried them in a couple outlets and got marginally better speed, but had to run a long ethernet cable which defeated the purpose. So far (1 month) it's working fine. I can stream DVD's files from the media center PC and recorded TV (even HD) is fine- just can't "watch" live TV via the media center PC.

They are pricey though- the pair was $105 from Amazon, which was cheaper than getting two of either at the time (which is why I got two different units). Zyxel indicates they will have Win 7 software utility by end of March. OK with me as the PC I use to monitor my network is still Win XP, but if you have Win 7, their website says it will work (and I have proven it works because my Windows Media Center PC is Win 7, you just can't use the utility software (evidently). It supposedly tests throughput and tells me I'm getting 40+ MBS, but given these are 200MBS (theoretical) throughput, I think I should get more. Also my home is only 10 years old.

I considered the Netgear 200MBS model, but they were $150 for a pair and given the less than stellar performance of their XE1004, I decided to try these. So they are good, but not great and for me they don't meet the advertised speed.

1/9/10- UPDATE - The PLA401 unit stopped working while watching a movie via netflix on xbox 360. Had it less than a month. Returned to Amazon and requested a replacement. Due to be received tomorrow. Experience with Amazon was great (assuming replacement comes tomorrow as I requested it Sunday night). Not happy with PLA401 unit dieing so quickly. Perhaps my above review jinxed things.

I bought the ZYXEL PLA400 because I can't run wired internet in my basement. I had so much hope for this device and I thought it will solve my problem and give me a high speed internet in my basement. Installation was really easy and according to the manual when the home light is on for both devices that means the internet should be working so there is nothing much to try other than that.

I was able to connect them but when I use the other PLA400 in a second room it doesn't transfer any internet even though electric wiring in my house are not old. I tried so many different switches in the house and I couldnt make it work except in the same room which defeats the purpose and the internet speed was Horrible when I tested it several times online.

I am not a construction guy or an electrician but how could this product advertised that it should work in any room, what if the electric wiring in the walls are not all connected together?


My advice to all who are thinking about buying this item, Save your money and either pay someone to run the wires in the wall or get an internet bridge because the wireless internet in my house was still faster than this machine connected in the same room.

This is an excellent product enabling ethernet connection to different rooms in the house. I bought two of them, hooked up one to the router and the other to a Blu-Ray DVD player in another room upstairs. I didn't have to do anything else. Truly plug and play. Internet connection through these seems stable. I have had it for well over a week.