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Netgear 85 Mbps Powerline Ethernet Switch Kit XEB1004
by ste87
This gadget is a must have for people who have trouble getting wifi to work in their house, whether it be due to the walls being too think or metal beams or interference from other equipment. This gadget just plugs into your existing powerlines and passes your broadband from your router to wherever you want in your house. The product ... consists of two modules which you connect your Ethernet cable to, and then connect the module to power sockets, at the second point in your house you do the same in reverse. The modules are white plastic which feels fair in quality with leds to signify the various states.
These gadgets can be used to access the internet from anywhere in your house you can use them on your laptop, desktop, tv, blu ray, x box, ps3 or set top box, whatever realy. The speed is pretty good althought their is a faster model at 200mbps this one is fine for most needs. Installation is very easy its pretty much plug and play but don't have them in an enclosed space as they run hot, and you don't want them to burn out. At around £50 they aren't the cheapest powerline adapters but I think they will probably last a lot longer and be more reliable.
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Netgear DG834 ADSL Firewall Router
by Tycks
After moving out of the Stone Age of wired broadband and into (thank god) the WI-FI era a few months back, we bought this router so that we could all enjoy the internet on a various new devices.
So far, we have had absolutely no problems with the hardware itself. The installation was easy enough for someone who knows their ... way around computers; although I don't imagine that too many problems will present for those that do not.
The installation of the device was quite simple. A disk comes with the router to act as an install wizard, and allows you to easily set up a wireless environment at home. A step by step guide is presented on screen whilst you do what it says, and several "Has anything gone wrong yet" style checkpoints are given, like "Are all the green lights still on? If not, do this...". The amount of wires can seem a bit daunting, but the walkthrough severely simplifies it all. Because we were installing the device using our main computer (which, for some reason, wasn't Wi-Fi enabled) we had to use the Ethernet cable to connect the router to the back of our 'tower'. This potentially could have been a problem as our study is quite detached from the main living areas, which would mean our laptops and iPods may not get any signal, or severely struggle to. However, the exceptional signal strength means that this is not a problem, although travelling upstairs with these devices does significantly lower the connection's quality. Since we got a new computer, however, and managed to place the router in a more central area, almost everywhere in the moderately sized house has quite strong signal.
If the Ethernet cable is not in use, the router simply needs to be connected to a power source and a phone line. If the phone line is also being used for a phone, you will need a splitter which is handily supplied in the box. After this initial connection, which the customer is taken through step by step in the Installation wizard, the WI-FI network must be set up. This calls for the creation of a few passwords, one password to create the WI-FI account with Netgear, and another to create the security needed for devices to connect to the WI-FI network, known as a WPA key. IT IS ESSENTIAL YOU REMEMBER THESE PASSWORDS! I say this as a warning from experience! When we shifted the router from the study to the main living room, we had to reset the whole network because we hadn't noted down the passwords. In the end, we had to call Netgear and be put on hold for almost 2 hours just to get it all reset. This is the one complaint I would make, the awful customer services, but this is really not a fault of the product, so if you trust in your ability to not do anything wrong, don't count this as a complaint.
The router itself is quite stylish looking, with a white, sleek interior which is slightly reminiscent of Apple but I won't tell if you don't. It has 4 Ethernet cable slots if your devices don't support have WI-FI capabilities. Although only one Ethernet cable is supplied, so keep this in mind whilst purchasing. A great addition to this router is the ability to turn it off and on, without resetting it, which allows for peace of mind if you don't like leaving things on standby at night or whilst out. This also allows the unit time to cool down, as it does get hot, and overheating is a genuine possibility in devices like these.
A sleek, stylish, and efficient answer to WI-FI needs, this affordable device is fairly simple to set up, and if nothing goes wrong, a great and competent little gadget. However, if something does go wrong, which is not very likely, be prepared to be put on hold!
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Netgear Powerline HD Network Adapter HDX101
by Debbage
So here's the problem, you have wireless or wired internet around the house but from your main comptuer or gaming console you get a slow connection or have a ugly cable trailing all over the place. Solution...Powerline adaptor!!
~~What is it?~~
Basically the concept is your house or flat etc runs off a ring main. ... The adaptors work by carrying the signal around the mains anywhere in the house and you simply plug an adaptor in a mains socket in the room you want a connection in. Also acording to Netgear (havn't tested this out) it can some how jump ring mains?? As long as the connection is going to be in the same household the signal can jump from one to the other.
~~how to connect~~
When I unpacked this item I was baffled as to why there is only two adaptors and two ethernet cables. I was expecting some software to install, a thick manual but NO! Couldn't be simpler, all I had to do was plug one adaptor next to my router and run an ethernet cable from the adaptor to the router followed by placing the second adaptor (this case in my room) and run an ethernet cable into my X-box. Once turned on they automatically pick up the network settings, even if they have encryption on, simply wait for the lights to start flashing (indicates data being transfered) and away you go.
~~price~~
I got a pack of two for £99.95 from John Lewis but looking around there are some cheaper deals online, I just like the hastle free service.
~~features~~
The reason I went for this model and not the 1001 is because of the speed. In my opinion if you only want to use it mainly for browsing the internet in a room you can't normally get a signal then you want the cheaper model. If however you're into media streaming, gaming or transfering data then having speeds of up to 200mbps is what you want.
~~useful info~~
You can run these from a mains adaptor, just put the Netgear adaptor closest to the plug and it works fine. e.g. I have a four way adaptor connecting my TV, Blu-ray system, Router and Netgear adaptor, just plug the adaptor closest to the plug.
You can buy more individually if you need to and also ethernet switches which I won't go into but they work with those as well.
~~overall~~
When it comes to networking I've always chosen Netgear products, they are a bit more pricey than some other brands but they never fail me. For reliability and ease of use I recommend this product, you'll be amazed at how little work there is in setting it up.
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