ActionTec MegaPlug AV Powerline Gaming Kit Score: 100% Developer: ActionTec Device Type: Networking

Function: Have you ever experienced the frustration of having Internet access, but not having it where you need it most? Perhaps you've looked into running LAN cable throughout your house, but you couldn't for any of several reasons: you're not experienced with running cable, you can't afford to hire someone to do it for you, you're renting and not allowed to run cables or maybe the place where you're living you are not going to be there very long, so it would be a waste to install LAN cable. Perhaps you've looked into wireless solutions, but your locations are too far from each other for a good signal or the walls stop the signal or you're afraid of people hacking your network or you're simply not willing to settle for the drop in bandwidth that comes along with wireless. Maybe, just maybe, you've got other scenarios that require networking that simply are so outlandish that you think they can't be done. What if you want to play a 360 or PS3 game over LAN with your next door neighbor, but they don't have Internet access? Or, let's say you want to have a party in your back yard and you want Internet access in a far corner of your backyard for people to be able to stream music or watch videos or, for that matter, just be able to check their email. The ActionTec MegaPlug AV Powerline Gaming Kit actually is capable of solving all of the above problems. Simply follow the (really easy) instructions, plugging one adapter where your Internet access is and the other adapter where you want your Internet access to be.

Performance: I have to start by saying that I was blown away by the ActionTec MegaPlug AV Powerline Gaming Kit. The only complaint I could possibly have is that it's really quite a mouthful to say ActionTec MegaPlug AV Powerline Gaming Kit. Hopefully, when they advertise this, they'll try to stress something small, like just the MegaPlug part. Installation: The first thing to look at when evaluating hardware is the installation. With the MegaPlug, there was no real installation. It has installation instructions that go through the motions, but basically you plug one of the two identical units into an AC outlet next to your Internet access and use the included LAN cable to connect it to your network and then plug the other MegaPlug unit into an AC outlet near where you want Internet access and connect it to your computer/Xbox 360/PS3 using the other included grey LAN cable, and you're done. Security: There is a CD included with the ActionTec MegaPlug AV Powerline Gaming Kit, but it's only needed if you want to increase the security of the system (which is highly recommended). All you have to do is install the software and launch it, then type in a new password and click the button to change the password on the MegaPlug you're currently connected to. Then, unplug the MegaPlug from your computer and replace it with the other one and push the button again. You're done. (Note: In order for the MegaPlug adapters to work with each other, they must all have the same password.) Speed: The box for the ActionTec MegaPlug AV Powerline Gaming Kit claims speeds up to 200 Mbps, but follows that up with a disclaimer explaining that this is "theoretical data throughput numbers," basically an under-lab-conditions type statement and that actual speeds of up to 90 Mbps have been recorded in a lab. The important thing to bear in mind is that a network can only be as fast as its slowest part, and the MegaPlug isn't likely to be the slowest part of your network. In fact, in a series of Internet connectivity speed tests I conducted, both with and without the MegaPlug device, the readings were very much in line with each other. I tended to get better results more often with the MegaPlug than with my PC on my wired network in the back office (some distance from the cable modem). Moreover, the test that had the fastest results of all was not only when I was using the MegaPlug, but when I was doing so on my laptop, outside and plugged into a 100 foot (30.5 meters), utility extension cord, as pictured above.

Features: Very Low Latency, Less than 3ms Faster, More Secure and Easier Install than Wireless Solutions Truly Plug-N-Play, No Configuration Required Makes Every Power Outlet a Possible Internet Access Point Works with PCs, Laptops, Xbox 360, PS3 or Any Other Device with Ethernet Support Great for Hard-To-Reach Places: Entertainment Center, Kitchen, Bedroom, Basement, Attic, Garage, Backyard No "Dead Spots" Like Wireless Solutions Have 128-bit AES Security Perfect for High Bandwidth Applications Compatible with All Routers, Gateways and Broadband Services

Drawbacks & Problems:: Hmmm... Drawbacks? Problems? The ActionTec MegaPlug AV Powerline Gaming Kit is amazing. This will be difficult... Okay, let's see... First of all, the units are rather large wall-wart type devices. I would have preferred to see them be a little smaller, but they seem well-vented, so perhaps the size is required. Personally, I didn't try to use it with a Wii, but the box indicates that to do so, an Ethernet to USB adapter (not included) is required. Also, I was thinking that it might work between houses. That might seem like a strange thought, but I have used intercoms that used the power lines to send the messages back and forth, and they would work between houses, as long as they are all behind the same transformer. I am not completely sure that my neighbor is on the same transformer as I am, but I would assume he is, but the device didn't work between our two houses. Actually, it looked like it was detecting the signal, but was unable to actually connect to the Internet. The message I received was that I had limited or no connectivity. So, it actually might work for you and your friend. This isn't that big a deal for me, as my neighbor does have Internet access and, besides that, the above mentioned 100 foot extension cable would reach from my carport right into his living room, and 100 feet of AC extension cord costs much less than 100 feet of LAN cable. Finally, there's the surge protector / uninterruptible power supply incompatibility issue. The MegaPlug AV Powerline Gaming Kit doesn't work when plugged into a surge protector. This is, I believe, because the electronic filters that correct any variance in the incoming AC power essentially "clean" away the data that's being transmitted. This means that the MegaPlug AV Powerline Gaming Kit receivers can't be on a surge protector or UPS, creating what could be a serious flaw in your PC's surge protection. I know firsthand that when lightning strikes, it can travel through the LAN cable and fry your PC. (That was a sad day.) However, there is a work around. Many of the better UPS and surge protectors on the market have a LAN cable pass through that protects against power spikes on your LAN cables. The solution is to plug the MegaPlug directly into an outlet, but run the LAN cable through your UPS or surge protector before running it to your PC. Voila! Potential safety problem avoided! In the end, I really think that the MegaPlug AV Powerline Gaming Kit is awesome and would highly recommend it to anyone with Internet access. Even if your house has wired LAN run throughout, you're likely to run into an instance where the MegaPlug AV Powerline Gaming Kit would come in handy.

-Geck0, GameVortex Communications AKA Robert Perkins

Minimum System Requirements: PC, laptop, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii (with Ethernet to USB adapter - not included) or any device with built-in Ethernet support. For changing password: Microsoft Windows 2000, XP or Vista, TCP/IP Network Protocol Installed.   Test System: Sony VAIO VGC-R820G: Intel Pentium 4E, 3.2 GHz (Intel Grantsdale i915), 1 GB RAM, AMI BIOS, Realtek HD Audio, Radeon X300 Series (128 MB), 200 GB 7200 RPM, Serial-ATA/150 Maxtor HD, DVD-ROM, Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-108, Sony SDM-HS73 Monitor, Floppy disk drive, Cable Modem. HP Special Edition L2999 Notebook PC: Windows XP Home Edition SP2, AMD Turion 64 ML-37 2.0 GHz/1MB L2 Cache, 1.0 GB DDR SDRAM, 80 GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive, DVD +/-RW/R * CD-RW Combo w/ Double Layer Support, 14.0 WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x768), ATI Radeon Xpress 200M w/productivity ports, 54g 802.11b/g WLAN w/ 125HSM/SpeedBooster, DirectX 9.0c, built-in keyboard, touchpad. Consoles: PS3, Xbox 360