2 Responses to: Powerline Networking still in business

1. Lance Watson

   January 29th, 2007 at 12:21 pm

   1

   In your article “Powerline Networking still in business” (http://techzoogle.com/powerline-networking-still-in-business/) , there are a number of inaccurate statements to which I would like to bring your attention.

   You mention that the D-Link-301 powerline adapter is based on HomePlug AV technology. It is not. It is based on the standards from the Universal Powerline Association (see www.upaplc.org). Universal Poweline Association equipment is based on open stanadards and Plug tests (see http://tinyurl.com/2jkk7c) guarentee interoperability (Homeplug 1.0, Homplug Turbo and Homplug AV based equipment cannot inter-communicate). UPA standard equipment has better coverage, as recognised by independent tests (see http://tinyurl.com/2n5aog). These are just some of the reasons that the major branded manufacturers such as Netgear and DLink have opted for UPA based technology in their new products.

   You state that “Considering the fact that WiFi products are now much cheaper than they used to be, easy to install and have far greater flexibility/ operability, I just can’t see the justification of the further investment in this technology.”,
   If you compare the prices of an 11n router and a 200Mbps adapter from the same brand there is a factor 2 difference $79 for powerline and $149 for 11n wireless (based on amazon.com prices for the wireless product *http://tinyurl.com/2t495v and the powerline product (**http://tinyurl.com/2kkef9)*

   Basing recomendations to your readership on findings that you made when you “tried out powerline networking years ago” hardly seems appropriate in the fast moving technology business. Other journalists who have tested more recent products have been very pleased with both the performance and the ease of use when compared to the currently available wireless alternatives (see *http://tinyurl.com/3cf5cy) - comments include “* they’re a doddle to connect and get running” and “I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for performance”

2. Mark Johnson

   January 30th, 2007 at 12:19 pm

   2

   Thanks for your comments. I did modify some parts of the post.

   With the pricing, I beg to differ. To use powerline, it needs two points of connections, therefore two powerline adapters. And with users nowadays not just sticking to a one to one connection, they’ll need some kind of router too. Going further, to capatilize on the same speeds of the powerline adapter (up to 200 mbps), they’ll need to invest in a 802.11n router or else it would be pointless to buy a 200 mbps powerline adapter. So if I were to take the forementioned powerline item from Amazon totalling it with the extra router (worth $150), it will set me back $308 ($79×2+$150). If you were to buy the new Dlink DHP 301 kit (which includes 2 adapters and cabling @ $220), it cost me $358. On the otherhand, for a user to buy a 802.11n router and network pcmcia card, it’ll costs about about $250 in total (with my price estimates being $150 for the router and $100 for the card). I can’t see consumers opting for the *extra middleman* in the powerline adapter and spending an extra $100 when they could have settled for buying a 802.11n product (with at least 4 ports) straightaway.

   The only justifiable place in my mind that powerline networking is used is when there is a lot of concrete or metal. Either than in industry, I don’t see many houses with that problem.

   It is not even worth comparing the price if we go down to the slower powerline products, the prices with the slower 80 mbps powerline products cannot compete at all with the cheaper 11b/g products (even with the 20-30mbps faster speed capability).

   There is also a case of supply and demand. Powerline Networking operates in a small niche market, it has been like that for many years. The demand will be much smaller than its 802.11n counterpart. 802.11n is (or will potentially be) huge as it is a logical step from 11b/g. Laptops will soon put it in as a standard (if not already). It is an intelligent guess to realize that the price will drop tremendously too due to competition and abundance. I don’t see that happening for the powerline networking market. The lower demand for these products will not make the price any cheaper and I don’t see it dropping very much in price (or at all) anytime soon. On the otherhand, you’ll soon see the price of 802.11n products equaling the current 802.11b/g products and the 802.11b/g products getting cheaper yet.

   Lastly, an important area to point out is the convenience factor. Consumers are trending more towards cableless environments. To be able to work outside in the garden, in the middle of the living room, outside in the patio etc. without plugging something in and out is priceless. Then comes the added bonus of being able to work in public places, restaurants or even anywhere in the Wifi cities that are popping up now.

   My opinion is that it is a great concept, but a little too late for its time. Whatever pushes or standards that have come up should have been done years ago. Why would you want to fight a losing battle with Wifi when it has already a stronghold in the market.

   The powerline industry alliances should should kick themselves in the butt and hurry with making all the standard compatible - they have only themselves to lose. After that, all powerline manufacturers should go to the computer vendors and try to persuade them to incorporate it into the computer’s power cord i.e. so that every laptop or computer out there comes with a powerline standard right out of the box likened to Wifi being as a standard in computers nowadays. That could and would offset the cost of buying extra accessories just to make powerline available. Pitching to install powerline in the very same restaurants that offers wifi would then be the next smart step so that those who have the inbuilt functionality in their powercord (but not wifi) can just plug their powercord into the power socket to get on a network (at the same time charge their laptops). Then again, I don’t foresee many laptop NOT having Wifi capability… so it goes back to my state above — it is a little too late for its time.