D-Link PowerLine AV Network Starter Kit DHP-307AV

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 23 June 2011 14:35

Networking

D-Link's adaptors worked where others didn't.

Home entertainment gear often features Ethernet interfaces - think TV, Blu-ray player, Foxtel IQ, Internet radio, and game consoles. But you might not want to go to the trouble of having permanent cabling installed, and draping a length of Cat 5 or 6 cable around the loungeroom doesn't look too hot even if it is a potential solution. Similar situations can occur in an office - maybe the otherwise ideal location for that new printer doesn't have a network point.



If Wi-Fi isn't suitable, HomePlug AV might be - this is a industry standard that sends Ethernet signals across standard electrical wiring. Such devices usually resemble oversized plugs with an Ethernet socket and some indicator lights.

My previous experience with such products has been mixed. While HomePlug AV nominally provides 200Mbps, the actual speed will be less than that. How much less depends on your wiring, any sources of interference, whether you can plug the devices directly into a mains socket (their size means they may foul an adjacent socket, so that's not always practical), and - presumably - the quality of the specific product.

And that brings me to D-Link's DHP-307AV, a starter kit providing a pair of DHP-306AV adaptors - you need two devices you need to get going, one for each end of the link. Running between two power points that had yielded indifferent operation with other similar products despite fairly new wiring, the D-Link adaptors proved equal to the task of streaming 1080i video. The reported link speed was usually around 80Mbps.

While functionality is a primary requirement, cosmetics do come into the story to some degree. The adaptors are more stylish than some other brands, but they are still quite large. If the other half of a twin outlet is occupied by anything other than a normal plug (no plugpacks, no surge protectors) you may need to use a double adaptor under the DHP-306AV to provide sufficient clearance. Another potential problem is that an outlet close to the floor may not sufficient depth for the DHP-306AV.