Do you need to bring internet to a distant room that wifi cannot reach and where a cable is hard to run? Powerline (PLC) adapters can be the solution, carrying the network over the existing electrical wiring in the house. Let us explain how they work, when they suit and where their limits are.

What powerline (PLC) is

Powerline is two small adapters that carry network data over the electrical wiring you already have in the house. You plug one into a socket near the router and connect it to the router with a cable, and you plug the other into a socket in the target room, with internet running from it to a computer or wifi point. So internet literally “flows” from the socket too.

When it suits

Powerline makes sense where there is no ethernet cable and wifi cannot reach: through thick walls, to distant rooms, to the basement or the attic. It is an alternative to running cables and to a wifi repeater.

Advantages

  • Simple to connect, it works almost right away.
  • No running cables and cutting plaster.
  • More stable than weak wifi at the other end of the house.
  • Some models also have their own wifi, so they extend coverage right in the target room.

Disadvantages and limits

Here it is important to be realistic, because powerline is no miracle:

  • Speed depends on the wiring. Old or poor-quality wiring significantly lowers the speed.
  • Best on the same phase. Adapters are fastest on the same phase and circuit. Across phases they work too, but the signal weakens and the speed drops.
  • Extension cords and filters interfere. Plug the adapter directly into a wall socket, not through an extension cord.
  • The real speed is lower than the number on the box.

Powerline versus mesh versus cable

  • A cable is always the most reliable and fastest.
  • Mesh is best for covering the whole house with a wifi signal.
  • Choose powerline when a cable cannot be run and wifi cannot reach there.

Practical tips

Plug the adapter directly into a wall socket, ideally on the same phase as the router, and test it first. With an old house, count on a lower speed.

Not sure whether powerline suits your house, or dealing with coverage? Get in touch, we will assess your situation and design the best solution. More also in the article a home network: cable versus wifi.

This article is part of our Computer networks overview.