If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know that network-ready HDTVs and other home theater devices almost exclusively rely on an Ethernet port for their Internet connectivity, even if most people don’t have an Ethernet jack into their living room and would find built-in Wi-Fi far more useful. Luckily, there are some workarounds to this dilemma, including the improved powerline networking technology that turn your power outlets into a wired networking system. Using a conversion kit that plugs into a typical electrical outlet and provides an Ethernet connection, you can circumvent your lack of an Ethernet jack built into your wall.
Most powerline kits, however, only offer an adapter with one Ethernet port. As you accumulate more connected devices, adding more kits becomes inconvenient and expensive. Though this is a future scenario for most people, Netgear is anticipating a demand with its new Home Theater Internet Connection Kit (XAVB1004), which lets you hook up four Ethernet devices (including videogame consoles and networked attached storage) to a single switch. It uses port-based Quality of Service, so you attach the most important device to the high-priority port. In addition to the switch, the XAVB1004 also comes with an adapter that connects to your router and a pair of Ethernet cables.
The HomePlug AV standard the switch uses can’t match the transmission rate of an Ethernet connection, but at a maximum throughput of 200Mbps, it’s competitive with wireless networking speeds (unlike previous generations of powerline tech). Considering a kit with an adapter with one connection can cost $100, Netgear is pricing the Home Theater Internet Connection Kit pretty reasonably at $179.99. Additional switches, if you own the most connected devices in your state, will be available for $99.99.
