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Why-Fi?
They're not as glamorous, but home networks that use existing power lines could be a better solution than wireless for many.
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By John Morris
Executive editor, CNET Reviews
(6/17/02)
My old house has resisted the Internet age at every turn. After some truly awful experiences with DSL, I finally got decent Internet access with cable. But sharing it has proven more difficult.
For some odd reason, when they were building the house back in the 1920s, they neglected to install Cat-5 wiring--maybe because Ethernet hadn't been invented yet. I tried phone-line networking, but only a few rooms had jacks, and it wasn't very convenient. And, of course, I tried 802.11b wireless. But whether it was the thick plaster walls or the competition for airwaves with cordless phones, baby monitors, and the microwave, Wi-Fi left me high and dry. Now, I've found a more practical solution in HomePlug.
At first glance, HomePlug, also known as Powerline, networking seems like sort of a hare-brained scheme. It's hard to believe that you can stick a plug into any old outlet and have an instant data network. But that's pretty much what products just hitting the market from companies such as GigaFast, Linksys, NetGear, and Phonex do. And while it doesn't have the same gadget appeal as a wireless network, it has some advantages over other home networking technologies.
How to HomePlug
To create a HomePlug network, you need an adapter for each node, a node being your desktop or notebook. One end plugs into a USB port; the other end goes into a standard AC outlet. The USB adapters cost about $100 each and vary in size and shape. GigaFast was the first to get me its USB adapter, a compact box creatively named the HomePlug USB Adapter. The Linksys Instant PowerLine USB looks more like a mini surge suppressor and the Phonex PX-801 NeverWire 14 stands upright and resembles a cable modem.
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It's hard to believe that you can stick a plug into any old outlet and have an instant data network.
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If you already have a router--say, for an Ethernet network in your home office--you can also get a HomePlug bridge that effectively extends the network to any room in the house. Linksys plans to offer a router with HomePlug built in so that you can connect it directly to your cable or DSL modem. If HomePlug catches on, I expect to see consumer electronics devices such as digital video recorders and digital audio receivers with the technology built in. It would easily let you connect your electronics with your Internet connection in any room.
Power to the people
Aside from the fact that just about every room has a power outlet, HomePlug offers other advantages. First, with a speed of up to 14Mbps, it is theoretically faster than both phone-line networking (HPNA 2.0) and 802.11b. In practice, I've been getting speeds of more than 4Mbps, which is comparable with wireless products on CNET Labs' tests. The quality of the wiring shouldn't make a difference--a big plus in my house, believe me--though major appliances turning on and off can cause hiccups. And HomePlug has a longer range than Wi-Fi, about 7,000 square feet, which is more than enough in my zip code anyway.
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But the biggest advantage of HomePlug is its simplicity.
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HomePlug is also inherently more secure than Wi-Fi, which you could argue isn't too hard at this point. For peace of mind, all HomePlug products use encryption and offer password protection, but since the data doesn't pass through your electrical meter, there's not much chance of a problem. I'm pretty sure I'd notice a strange extension cord running out the window and across the front lawn. However, if you use a peer-to-peer setup, at the very least the host PC (the one connected directly to the Internet) should still have a personal firewall and an antivirus utility.
But the biggest advantage of HomePlug is its simplicity. There's no need to open your PC to stick in a card. The drivers are already in Windows XP, so there's no software to install, though you may need to tweak some of the network settings. And you don't need to take a crash course in SSIDs and WEP to keep your neighbors from borrowing your broadband. You just plug the thing in.
Ultimately, wireless will win out for its convenience, but there are still some real usability and security problems with Wi-Fi. In the meantime, HomePlug will find a home with those who just want a simple, inexpensive solution or an easy way to extend existing Ethernet and wireless networks to the far corners of their houses.
John Morris is an executive editor for hardware and software coverage at CNET. Have a question for him? Let us know!
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