Final thoughts and rating

We've said it before but it's worth repeating; if you have the option to run Ethernet cables from room to room, don't waste time looking for alternatives. The cabled route will deliver the best performance, and by some distance.

But where hard-wiring just isn't an option, Powerline networking makes a lot of sense. Simple to install and seamless in use, these adapters fit well in many situations and deliver second-best performance that's well suited to common tasks such as multimedia streaming and online gaming.

The £80 price tag makes Netgear's Powerline Nano 500 Set an expensive prospect - slower 200Mbps sets are widely available for around £30 - but if you need the extra speed, Netgear's high-performance kit is the quickest Powerline solution we've tested and well capable of delivering strong, stable performance to those pesky areas that wireless just won't reach.

The Good

Strong, stable performance
Very simple installation
Compact design

The Bad

Not a patch on Cat 5 cable

HEXUS Rating

Netgear Powerline Nano 500 Set
(XAVB5101)

HEXUS Awards

Netgear Powerline Nano 500 Set
(XAVB5101)

HEXUS Where2Buy

The Netgear Powerline Nano 500 Set can be purchased from Scan Computers*.

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*UK-based HEXUS community members are eligible for free delivery and priority customer service through the SCAN.care@HEXUS forum.

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What would be really handy for reviews of these devices would be a comparison of an equivalent 500Mbps set that we know performs well so that its easy to see which 500mpbs set is the one to go for if possible :o)

I like the develo kit and they have lots of options for the 200mpbs stuff like 3 port switch with passthrough and wireless ap built into one unit - the only thing they lack is this in one of their 500mpbs units - that would make it perect.

Granted running a proper cable would be better but there are times when this can just not be done and for this it's perfect.

Apex, What's wrong with the Devolo 500AV Triple?. 3 Outlets and pass through power. I am using them and am delighted with their simple and effective performance

I wasn't aware that they offed them now…. last time i checked their website they did not have any of that listed (wonder if they have put a wireless ap in one of the 500mb units yet)

<edit>
Just checked they do not currently offer one of the adapters on the 500mpbs spec with the wireless ap that they do in the 200mpbs setup - that would be the killer unit really :D

Quick question, will these work through a multi-socket extension cable?