Corinex GameNet
The first offering is Corinex's GameNet kit.
Advertised as having a two-minute installation time and greater-than-wireless performance, all seems promising. There's also built-in encryption between the adapters, based on 3DES, which is a nice and necessary feature, we feel.
The kit targets console gamers, with the packaging running through some of the features a fast network connection will facilitate, from 1080p-resolution video-streaming to a smooth online gaming experience without losing connections or undue lag.
Inside you'll find a pair of AV200 Powerline Ethernet adapters - one connects to your router, and another to your system, and both, obviously, connect to the mains sockets and deliver bandwidth by leveraging the internal wiring in the home.
The rear of the unit features the power plugs: you've seen 'em before, no doubt.
Shots from the side and top highlight the units' bulk; plugging into multi-gang connectors may prove bothersome.
Being advertised as offering up to 200Mbps speeds - hence the name - the AV200s are equipped with 10/100BaseT Fast Ethernet ASICs. Corinex indicates that 200Mbps throughput is based on the physical layer speed, but we're not entirely sure how it's ever going to reach that speed. Much like wireless, you'll never hit the maximum stated speed; too many other limiting factors come into play.
Further details and specifications for the Corinex GameNet can be found here.
