Trendnet TPL-401E2K Powerline AV Kit

Published: February 20, 2011

Editor: Amber Lupala

Provider: Trendnet

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Setting up the ethernet adapters was extremely simple. As per the instructions the first one should be connected to the existing ethernet and then the 2nd one to the target location. In our experience however it did not matter which was plugged in first – as soon as the 2nd device was plugged in they immediately synced up and began transmitting. From opening the box to having a fully functional ethernet over the powerline it took us around 2 minuets, the bulk of which was unboxing.

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The main selling point of the Trendnet TPL-401E2K is not the ease of setup, but the 500Mbps advertised speed. In our tests however we were unable to replicate anything near these speeds. For our speed tests we connected the adapters in two different rooms roughly 30 linear feet away and recorded the speed for transmitting and receiving a 100Mb and 500Mb file. For writing the file we saw speeds of around 215Mbps and for reading only around 105Mbps.

Conclusion:

While the results of the speed test were disappointing, however they were not totally unexpected. The advertised 500Mbps is a theoretical max under perfect conditions and will significantly drop depending on the distance between the adapters. Given the ease of setup, acceptable speeds, and small adapter size the Trendnet TPL-401E2K Powerline AV Adapter Kit is a solid choice for those users looking for a simple wired ethernet solution.

Pros:
+ Very easy setup
+ Small adapters
+ Included ethernet cables

Cons:
- Actual speeds only around 250Mbps for a typical application