Want to know how to use a powerline adapter? You're in luck, cause that's exactly what we explore in today's article...
How do you use a powerline adapter? Does it work like a router? Is it better than a WiFi extender?
Everyone knows that walls constrict signals from going from one room to another. In fact, if you stay at the bottommost part of your home farthest from your router, you’ll get a very low WiFi signal if at all. This is why people look to different alternatives in getting a good connection to their router. One such alternative is a powerline adapter.
Basics of a Powerline Adapter
A powerline adapter is a way to let the internet connection travel from one place to another without walls restricting the signal. It is made up of a pair of adapters with an ethernet cable connected to them. All you need to do is plug the ethernet cables to the adapter, plug the adapter to the wall socket, and connect the other end of the ethernet cable to your TV or computer. How does that happen?
A powerline adapter works by utilizing your home’s electrical wires connected to a wall socket. When you plug the adapter that is connected to your router and plug the other adapter connected to your TV, the router’s signal travels through your electrical wires and onto the TV. You get a fast and “wireless” internet connection then.
How to Setup Your Powerline Adapter
So how do you install a powerline adapter? If you’re eager to start connecting things wirelessly around your house, then you’re probably wondering how to use a powerline adapter. Fortunately, it’s very easy to do.
First, get one of the adapters and one ethernet cable from the box. Connect the ethernet cable to the LAN port of your router and then connect the other end of the cable to the adapter. Plug the adapter to the wall socket near the router.
Next, get the other adapter and ethernet cable. Similar to the first step, connect the ethernet cable to the adapter. This time, the other end of the ethernet cable should be connected to your TV or your disc player. Plug the adapter to the wall socket beside your device.
Once the two adapters are already plugged, they will automatically detect each other. Some adapters have a ‘pair’ button which turns on the connection between the adapters. There’s no need to look for them in a remote or screen (there won’t be a remote or any other device included in the box anyway). Don’t worry, you’ll know the two adapters were able to connect to each other once you see the setup instructions on your TV. From here, just follow the network setup instructions that will show.
Powerline Adapters vs WiFi Extenders
If you’ve been looking for a way to connect your other devices through WiFi, you might have come across WiFi extenders, too. While they’re also another way to get a network connection, they’re not the same with powerline adapters.
WiFi extenders are literally what the name says. It extends the WiFi signal it gets from your router and extends it to parts of your home. It’s a small hub that is ideally placed a few meters away from your router and a few meters away from the area you want to boost the signal in. Take note that WiFi extenders don’t eliminate the problem of having walls and doors block the signal. And since it also gets the same signal from your router, you can expect that you won’t have the same signal strength in the room you are extending it to.
Does that mean that powerline adapters are a lot better? The short answer is yes, they are. Powerline adapters are known to be more superior because they carry the actual WiFi signal from the router through the wires and directly to your devices. It surpasses the walls, ceilings, and doors that get in the way of the actual signal.
Another reason why powerline adapters are much better is that they make you go wireless. You don’t need to have a long wire to connect your devices from across a room. You also don’t need to cover those wires up with a carpet. Since powerline adapters are completely wireless, there’s less clutter and risk of someone tripping over your long wires.
Can You Connect More Than Two Adapters?
This is a common question people ask in the hopes of increasing their internet connection across all the rooms in the house. On top of all the advantages of a powerline adapter is that you can have more adapters connected to it. The steps are the same with how you connect the first two adapters. All you have to do is connect the ethernet cables to the adapter, plug the adapter, and press ‘pair’ if the device has it. If it doesn’t, then your computer or TV will automatically detect the network it’s receiving from.
Are Powerline Adapters Better Than Ethernet Cables?
In spite of the increase in wireless connectivity the powerline adapters give, it’s still not close to the reliability and signals an ethernet cable provides. The ethernet cable is much more powerful and optimal if you’re connecting straight from your router.
If it’s the distance between the rooms that you’re worried about, there are a lot of ethernet cables that come in different lengths. However, you will have to figure out a way for people not to step on the ethernet cable. Some place the wires close to the corners of the wall so that it’s out of reach of people. Nonetheless, that doesn’t take away the fact that it’s still visible and it ruins the aesthetic of your home.
Conclusion
Ethernet cables are still the best way of creating a network connection. However, this requires having your wires exposed. If that’s not an option, then the next best thing is to have a powerline adapter. A powerline adapter is simple to install and use and it will only take you a few minutes to set it all up. Plus, you can have more adapters to cover your whole home!