Cisco announces Linksys HomePlug AV Powerline

I have been using Ethernet over power line plugs for a few years now, in fact my Windows Home Server is still connected to my main network via a pair of old Netgear devices. Cisco today have announced a couple of Powerline kits for connecting home entertainment devices to the network and the internet.

The PLSK400 is designed for connecting things like smart TVs and games consoles to the network with a kit consisting of 1 port powerline adapter and 4 port adapter priced at £89.99

The PLKW400 is designed to extend the reach of existing wifi networks by adding a Wireless-N access point to the Powerline plug, so you could add one of them to an area in your home that doesn’t get a good wireless signal. The kit is priced at £119.99

Cisco announces Linksys HomePlug AV Powerline solutions

to help consumer connect home entertainment devices to the Web

 

Use existing electrical wiring to connect devices to

the internet or increase the wireless coverage in the home

31 January 2012 – Cisco today announced two new Linksys® HomePlug AV Powerline solutions that help consumers overcome two popular home networking challenges. Smart TVs, Blu-ray players or game consoles come with great on demand apps and services but need to be connected to the Internet to be enabled. The new Linksys Powerline AV 4-Port Network Adapter Kit can be used to transform any electrical socket into an Internet connection and can connect up to four multimedia devices simultaneously. The second challenge is the need for additional wireless range to use products such as tablets and notebooks around the home. For this Cisco developed the Linksys Powerline AV Wireless Network Extender Kit to increase the range of an existing wireless network.

 

Both solutions are HomePlug AV certified and are well suited for music and video streaming as well as online gaming*. By using existing electricity wiring and wall sockets; network connectivity can be delivered into rooms such as home offices, basements, attics, garages and back houses that may have limited wireless signal due to the location of the room or the use of building materials, such as concrete and steel.

 

“Our new Powerline products provide a plug-and-play answer for two challenges that many consumers are facing: the need to connect all these new smart devices around the home to the Internet and need to increase wireless network coverage around the home,” said Jens Hofmeister, director product management for Cisco’s home networking business.

 

Linksys Powerline products are easy to set up: just plug in one adapter in an electrical wall socket near the home router and plug in the other adapter where you want to connect your devices. After plugging in both adapters, advanced security can be enabled by pushing the HomePlug Simple Connect button on both ends.

 

Linksys Powerline AV 4-Port Network Adapter Kit (PLSK400)

This kit is ideal for consumers that want to connect their smart TV, Blu-ray player, media streamer or game console in the living room to the Web. Or if they have a home office in the attic or basement they can connect computers, printers, scanners and other devices to the Internet. The kit includes one 1-port powerline adapter and a 4-port powerline adapter.

 

Linksys Powerline AV Wireless Network Extender Kit (PLWK400)

This kit is ideal for increasing the reach of an existing wireless network by plugging in the Powerline adapter with Wireless-N access point in a wall socket close to where you need to increase the coverage. This is ideal for notebook, tablet or mobile phone users who want to be able to use their devices wirelessly and connect to the network from places in their home where a wireless signal is not available. The kit includes a 1-port Powerline adapter and a 1-port adapter with an integrated wireless access point.

 

Availability

Product	Expected Availability	MSRP
Linksys Powerline AV 4-Port Network Adapter Kit	February 2012	£89.99
Linksys Powerline AV Wireless Network Extender Kit	May 2012	£119.99