Devolo dLAN AVEasy Wireless G

Review Expanding its portfolio of powerline networking devices, Devolo’s new dLAN 200 AV Wireless G Starter Kit is designed to cover the parts other gear cannot reach. Relying on the HomePlug AV 2.0 standard, the kit uses domestic mains wiring to pump internet, IPTV and VoIP connectivity to any room in the home. The additional Wi-Fi functions carry 802.11b/g signals up to 300m beyond these bounds, enabling the Starter Kit to cover just about any nook and cranny in an Englishman’s castle.

Devolo's dLAN 200 AV Wireless G:

First of all, it should be stated that the dLAN 200 AV Wireless G Starter Kit doesn't have a built-in ADSL modem. It comprises of two main parts: the dLAN 200 AVEasy and the dLAN 200 AVEasy Wireless G. The former is a HomePlug AV compliant adaptor that plugs straight into the mains and is about the size of a typical ‘wall wart’ power supply.

With just three indicator lights - power, poweline network and Ethernet - an encryption button and an Ethernet port, the AVEasy adaptor does nothing more than take a feed off an existing networking set-up via an Ethernet cable and propagates this through the mains wiring.

Plugging in the dLAN 200 AVEasy Wireless G anywhere in the house will detect the presence of networking from the AVEasy adaptor and make this available either through its four Ethernet ports or with Wi-Fi. The unit itself has two antennae and, at around the size of a box of chocolates, is somewhat larger than your average Wi-Fi router.

But appearances can be deceptive: the Devolo wireless unit has an integrated power supply and not the external PSU found on many wireless routers. The front panel bears the same icons as the AVEasy adapter plus one for WLAN. Round the back, each of the four Ethernet ports features status LEDs, there is also a recessed reset button, an encryption switch, another that simply deactivates the WLAN, and a 'figure of eight' mains socket.

The dLAN 200 AVeasy adaptor: plug and play

It’s important to make the distinction between the networking the Devolo dLAN 200 AV Wireless G starter kit offers, as it effectively has three tiers of operation. It can be used as 54Mb/s Wi-Fi box, while its Ethernet connectivity can act as hub networking PCs at 10 or 100Mb/s.