Product Reviews

Powerline networking is great for getting to places that wireless won't reach, but one remote Ethernet port may not cut it in some circumstances. Enter the PLA-85-3E, which integrates a three-port switch into the housing, and for a cost comparable to a switch alone. It isn't the last word in speed - the nominal 85Mb/sec rating is split between the ports, and the maximum throughput will depend on your wiring (we saw a reasonable 25Mb/sec) - but the price is good, and the extra flexibility potentially very useful. There's 56-bit DES encryption and, as it's HomePlug 1.0-compliant, you can add one of these to an existing setup - once you've wrestled with the slightly esoteric software. Also available in an extended lead version if the integrated design puts you off.