Best plc on the market 【2020】? best models?

We have created a guide to the best PLCs on the market because many users do not know these interesting devices. There is no doubt that WiFi networks are a wonder of the modern age, since it is easy to connect devices in your home without the need to connect cables.

But sometimes WiFi doesn't work the best way and there are times when you need to supplement your wireless network with other solutions. We tell you everything you need to know about PLCs!

In it we will take the opportunity to define in detail what a PLC is, how we should connect them and the characteristics that we should know about them. It is also worth knowing the differences with other adapters such as WiFi amplifiers and Mesh systems. We hope you find what you are looking for!

Index of contents

What is a PLC adapter?

Power Line Communications PLCs or network adapters, also known as HomePlugs, or simply powerline adapters, are devices that transmit data from one point to another through electrical cables, transforming an electrical circuit into a data network. This allows you to create a network cable with minimal work, and with no cables spreading throughout the home.

To start with the Powerline network you simply need two adapters and at most an Ethernet cable in case our router is not WiFi.

An adapter is connected to the broadband router and connected to it with a network cable. The other adapter can go anywhere on the same electrical circuit, which for most of us will be anywhere in the home. The other end could provide wired connectivity to a computer or game console or deliver an extensive wireless network by integrating WiFi antennas into the device itself.

Powerline adapters usually connect automatically and require no drivers. Once you have the second adapter turned on you can take internet connectivity and networking to any device on the other end immediately.

The speeds that we will be able to obtain with them are at the theoretical 1000 Mbps and even 2000 Mbps at present, although in practice this bandwidth will be reduced depending on the device. In any case it is enough to play multimedia content in 4K at 60 FPS without major problems and to give us a decent WiFi connection.

And its coverage usually runs around several hundred linear meters of electrical cable, normally 300 m. Of course, this will depend on the quality of the installation, its architecture and the condition of the cables.

How it is possible to transport data over the electrical network

PLCs are not new devices, they already have a wide range on the market. In fact, originally this technology was not intended to operate in home environments and internal networks, but was a much more ambitious project.

So much so that it was thought to implement it in the country's electricity grid infrastructure. And the truth is that it was an interesting idea to establish a data exchange network with similar benefits than ADSL through the electrical network. Who does not have electricity in an urban center today?

This promising project was implemented in some pilot cities such as Zaragoza to check its operability and possibilities. Finally, the project was discarded due to the appearance of technologies with cheaper implementation and greater possibilities of expansion in terms of bandwidth, for example, Fiber or wireless connections.

That said, a PLC needs the electrical cables to establish a data exchange communication. As almost everyone knows, the electrical installation of our house will consist of three conductors, phase, neutral and earth, operating at a voltage of 220-240V and a frequency of 50 Hz in Europe and 60 Hz in other countries.

Why are we interested in frequency? Well, because a PLC must separate the electrical signal from the data carrier signal, and it does this through a frequency filter. Then sending this data at a frequency between 1.6 to 30 MHz, that is, much faster than alternating current so that both will not mix. Obviously we cannot use a 380V network because these devices work with a lower voltage.

Basic differences with WiFi repeaters, and WiFi meshed

We already know in quite a detailed way that it is a HomePlug, now it is time to show the differences with respect to other devices that on the market have a very similar appearance and that could lead us to error.

When we talk about a WiFi extender or a WiFi repeater, we are referring to that device capable of expanding the coverage of the WiFi network of a router. A repeater connects as a client to the router through the wireless network itself or via Ethernet cable. And its function is to amplify this signal again to spread it over a larger area.

Unlike PLCs, the repeater or adapter never uses the electrical network to transport data, only 2.4 or 5 GHz electromagnetic waves. Like PLC adapters with WiFi, repeaters will create a new point WiFi access for clients, although the IP address will continue to be supplied by the router.

And we understand a meshed system or WiFi Mesh to be one that is made up of several routers that are exactly the same or, where appropriate, one router and several access points capable of interconnecting with each other. All together, virtually form a single network device to which our teams will connect automatically to the closest WiFi point and instantly.

Mesh systems are much more powerful in coverage and bandwidth than WiFi repeaters and PLCs normally. Although in any case it is possible to use a powerline to further expand coverage by the electrical network. In fact, some Mesh systems such as the TP-Link Deco P9 use the electrical network to amplify this coverage and improve bandwidth.

What type of PLC adapter should I buy?

There is a wide variety of powerline adapters with many extras to satisfy most requirements, so what should you look for? Let's see the main characteristics to take into account, where the WiFi standard will be a very important element.

PLC speed or bandwidth

The key differentiator to consider when choosing a powerline adapter or the best PLC is speed. This speed or bandwidth is measured in Megabits per second (Mb / s or Mbps) in the field of networks. We should not confuse it with Megabytes per second (MB / s), since 1 MB / s will be 8 Mbps.

When we refer to the maximum bandwidth we do it with the term AV1000, AV1200, etc. to refer to the exclusive bandwidth of the electrical network and not to other extra components such as WiFi.

The first PLCs were only capable of supplying a negligible transfer rate of 14 Mbps, but now the entry level of the offer models is 200 or 500 Mbps. The best PLCs on the market currently have speeds of up to 2000 Mbps which in practice will stay at about 800 Mbps.

If you're only using powerline adapters for web browsing and other low-bandwidth tasks, a 200 Mbps adapter will be more than enough. But if you are planning to use high definition video streaming or move large files regularly, it is worth opting for the higher speed of adapters with at least AV1200.

Finally, it is very important that you have a good network interface in the devices that you are going to connect to the electrical network. For a long time the speed standard for a wired network connection was 100 Mbps, so many of the computers and other hardware were limited to that rate. But currently the speeds have been drastically increased to 10 Gbps in Ethernet and up to 5 Gbps in WiFi, although we are not alarmed, the most normal will be Gigabit Ethernet ports, that is, at 1000 Mbps.

Integrated WiFi connectivity

We certainly believe that a competent PLC adapter is one that, in addition to RJ45 connections, also implements WiFi connectivity. In this way we will not only be able to extend the coverage of the router's wired network, but also add a wireless coverage area that can cover between 20 and 100 m ² or even more.

In this case, it is important to know the different WiFi standards and the frequencies in which they operate, since this way we will know reliably what the bandwidth will be that we could theoretically achieve. Always considering that the bandwidth of the PLC in practice will be reduced approximately in half.

• WiFi 4: operates on the IEEE 802.11n standard and offers connectivity in the two operating bands, 2.4 and 5 GHz, although the latter standard is currently in charge of the latter band. Over 2.4 GHz we can obtain speeds of 600 Mbps with three antennas (3 × 3). WiFi 5: in this case it operates on the 11ac standard , and only uses the 5 GHz band. It is the current standard in most routers, repeaters and PLCs, delivering a maximum speed of 1.73 Gbps for the most powerful access points, although it could go up to 3.39 Gbps with 4 antennas and 160 MHz of carrier frequency. WiFi 6: the most recent of all, operating on 11ax and that for now we only find in routers and clients of desktop, Smartphone and laptops. With only two antennas (2 × 2) it is capable of reaching 2.4 Gbps, or 4.8 Gbps in 4 × 4.

The best PLCs on the market

Without further delay, we are going to see the best recommended PLCs, a list that we always try to update as quickly as possible to be up-to-date in terms of models and possibilities.

We are going to group teams according to whether or not they have WiFi connectivity, since not everyone is interested in having it.

Better PLCs without WiFi

We start first with those HomePlug adapters that don't have wireless connectivity. Therefore, they can only be used through Ethernet cables connected to their RJ45 ports. Normally the packs come from two devices, at least it is the minimum we recommend, and can be expanded with more units.

Tenda PH3 (AV1000)

Tenda PH3 Gigabit PLC Extender Network Adapter (1000Mbps, Gigabit Port, Power Saving, Plug & Play, Compatible with Other Brand Adapters, Set of 2)

• Compatible with HomePluge AV2 standard; Transmission of Powerline data up to 1000 Mbps Gigabit port for streaming HD videos or video games. Effective transmission distance up to 300 meters Simple installation, no configuration required. Extend Internet coverage to every room PH3's smart energy-saving design helps you save up to 88% on energy consumption Chips Broadcom Gigabit Powerline. Class V0 fireproof housing. Innovative plate design process

Buy on Amazon

We started with one of the cheapest equipment that we can currently find and that will offer us a remarkable bandwidth through the 1000 Mbps power line. Also for less than 40 euros we have the two adapters, each one with an Ethernet port.

The system is scalable to the number of equipment we want and also other models of the brand, with a transmission distance of up to 300 meters of electric cable. Inside we have Broadcom chips for data processing and a fire resistant casing.

D-Link DHP-P601AV / E (AV1000)

D-Link DHP-P601AV / E, Powerline Kit Av2 PLC 1000 Network Extender, 2, White

• Kit of two PLCs with plug, to Gigabit (1000 Mbps PHY) The plug incorporated in the device itself, allows to continue having the power socket Connect this device to the wall socket, and to this, your power strip, from this Mode will avoid power line interference Compatible with HomePlug AV2 standard, which makes it compatible with third-party devices 1 Gigabit LAN port (10/100/1000 Mbps) on each adapter in the kit

48.99 EUR Buy on Amazon

Another slightly more expensive equipment that offers us a 1000 Mbps bandwidth is the TP-Link P601. A pair of adapters provided with 1 single Gigabit Ethernet port as normal. It is compatible with HomePlug AV2, so the actual bandwidth will be optimized by having frequency filters that improve the connection.

NETGEAR PLP1200 (AV1200)

Netgear PLP1200-100PES - Powerline Adapter Kit (1200 Mbps, 1 Gigabit Ethernet Port, Integrated Socket Outlet), White

• White wall format with built-in plug sockets Get the most out of your 4K Smart TV, video console or PC with the integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet Port Seamless Internet connection through the 1200 Mbps electrical installation and its GigabitLed Ethernet ports in green to indicate association and functionality between PLC devices. Plug and Play and savings of up to 60% of electrical consumption

78.07 EUR Buy on Amazon

We increased the benefits a little until we reached 1200 Mbps of bandwidth, and with that we were getting a little closer to the actual 1000 Mbps in the connection. These NETGEAR PLC devices implement Beamforming and MIMO technology to focus on bandwidth to the device that is currently active.

It is possible to connect up to 16 adapters of the same type on the network, aimed at their use for 4K video streaming and high definition transmissions. In this case, each device also has a single RJ45 connector.

AVM FRITZ! Powerline 1000E (AV1200)

AVM FRITZ! Powerline 1000E Set International - Powerline Network Adapter / Extender, PLC, HomePlug AV2 compatible, IEEE P1901, 1200 Mbps, Gigabit LAN port

• It stands out for its data transfer rate of up to 1200 Mbps, ideal for applications that need more bandwidth. It interconnects your router with PCs, printers, Smart TVs, game consoles and other network equipment through its Gigabit LAN port, QoS prioritizes transmission Video and IP telephony Compatible with 1000, 500 and 200 Mbps PLC adapters, supports IEEE P1901 and HomePlugAV2 standard, paired and factory encrypted with AES-128bit, ready without software installation The FRITZ! Powerline1000E stands out for its high transfer rates and very low power consumption (in standby mode only 1 W) Box content: 2 x FRITZ! Powerline 1000E adapters / extenders, 2 x 1.80m network cables, quick installation guide in Spanish

91, 13 EUR Buy on Amazon

AVMs are certainly not the cheapest adapters on the market, but they are one of the manufacturers that offers the highest quality. This model increases performance to 1200 Mbps with a Gigabit port on each adapter. It also has MIMO technology, just like virtually everyone from now on. QoS and factory data encryption using AES-128bit.

TP-Link TL-PA8010P and TL-PA8030P (AV1300)

TP-Link TL-PA8010P Starter Kit Powerline Passthrough Gigabit AV1300, 1300Mbps, White Plug & play - Just by pressing a button, no additional configuration; Extra plug - Keep your devices powered, without wasting the previous plug 72, 00 EUR TP-Link TL-PA8030P KIT - 2 Powerline Communication Adapters (AV 1300, PLC, Extender, Network Repeaters, Internet Coverage, 6 Ports, Plug, Smart TV, PS4, Desktop) Plug & play - Just by pressing a button, without additional configuration; Extra plug - Keep your devices powered, without wasting the previous plug 99.99 EUR

TP-Link is one of the manufacturers with the largest number of PLC adapters, and this time we cannot avoid placing these two as brothers and in the same section. These are two pairs of devices with bandwidth at 1300 Mbps with the only difference that the 8010P has an RJ45 in each adapter while the 8030P has no less than 3 ports.

In both cases we have 2 × 2 MIMO technology with Beamforming, Plug and Play and HomePlug AV2 technology . The price rises while more benefits we have, but for 100 euros we have 5 useful RJ45 ports to connect devices.

TP-Link TL-PA9020 (AV2000)

TP-Link TL-PA9020 KIT - PLC 2 Power Line Communication Adapters (2000 Mbps AV, PLC, Extender, Network Repeaters, Amplifier, 2 Port, Smart TV, PS4, Nintendo Switch)

• AV2000 Gigabit with two gigabit ports up to 1000 Mbps, provides a secure wired network for computers, smart TVs or game consoles. LAN transmission; Support for LAN transmission, without Wi-Fi 2 X 2 MIMO with beamforming, multiple simultaneous connections, allowing you to enjoy higher speed and stability Compatible with all AV2000, AV1200, AV1000, AV600, AV500 and AV200 Power Line Adapters by simply pressing a button, no additional configuration

86.39 EUR Buy on Amazon

In the PA9020 model there will be two ports that we have in each adapter, but the bandwidth goes up to no less than 2000 Mbps, costing less than the 8030P. In the rest of the characteristics they are the same as the previous cases, with 2 × 2 MIMO, Beamforming and of course HomePlug AV2. Its coverage range can reach up to 300 m on the electrical circuit.

D-Link DHP-701AV (AV2000)

D-Link DHP-701AV - Powerline PLC 2000 Network Extender Kit for household electrical wiring (2000 Mbps Phy, 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit LAN Ports) White

• Incorporates data transmission technology through household electrical wiring Ideal for 4K video transmission over electrical network High-speed data transfer with transfer rates up to 2000 Mbps PHY, best performance is obtained when electrical installation is grounded Compatible with HomePlug AV2 standard, which makes it compatible with third-party devices1 Gigabit LAN port (10/100/1000 Mbps) in each adapter of the kit

104, 90 EUR Buy on Amazon

That is the highest performance PLC without WiFI that we have from this manufacturer, also delivering a bandwidth of 2000 Mbps. A small disadvantage that we have in it is that it only offers one RJ45 port per unit, so the Gigabit is practically guaranteed for the device that we connect thanks to HomePlug AV2.

Better PLCs with WiFi connectivity

Now we turn to see the PLC adapters that in addition to Ethernet connectivity by RJ45 also have WiFi connection over 802.11ac and 802.11n, with total bandwidths of up to 1200 Mbps.

In our humble opinion, they are the most recommended devices, since in some cases they are at a price similar to the previous ones and offer that extra coverage, which will come in handy to get where the router can without buying separate WiFi repeaters.

Asus PL-N12 (AV500 + N300)

ASUS PL-N12 - Powerline Network Extender Kit (WiFi N300 Mbps, AV500, no configuration, button to clone / pair)

• Without using network cables: connect to the Internet using the electrical installation Solve 2 problems: fast and reliable connection HomePlug AV at 500 Mbps and powerful WiFi access point 802.11n at 300 Mbps Simple configuration: Plug and play and simple copy of WiFi network data Security: Encrypted pairing to block unauthorized devices Flexible connectivity: connect multiple devices via electrical installation, two Ethernet LAN or WiFi ports

61.87 EUR Buy on Amazon

The Asus PLC is one of the most basic and economic that we can find with built-in WiFi connectivity. However, its speed remains at 500 Mbps through the power line, and the WiFi connection is made only on the 2.4 GHz frequency at a maximum of 300 Mbps.

It is certainly not the fastest equipment but for tight budgets and users who need WiFi for basic use it is not bad.

NETGEAR PLW1000 (AV1000 + AC1000)

Netgear PLW1000-100PES - Gigabit Powerline Adapter Kit (1 Gigabit Ethernet Port, WiFi Access Point, AC 1000 Mbps), White

• Minimum product price in the 30 days prior to the storage and connectivity promotion week: 61.9 Compact wall format with 1 gigabit ethernet port and 1000mbps ac wifi access point Converts the home electrical network into a high-speed network for the internet and creates a wifi ac access point for mobile devices Uninterrupted internet connection through the 1000 mbps electrical installation both cable and wifi This device allows you to connect to your wifi ac access point 1000 devices such as tables, smartphones, laptops to the highest speed

98.88 EUR Buy on Amazon

We continue with the NETGEAR PLW1000, an adapter kit with an RJ45 port for each adapter and 1000 Mbps bandwidth. The extension adapter has WiFi Dual Band connectivity , we imagine that working at 300 Mbps at 2.4 GHz and at 700 Mbps at 5 GHz, as the manufacturer indicates that I work on the corresponding protocols.

D-Link DHP-W611AV (AV1000 + AC1200)

D-Link DHP-W611AV, WiFi PLC Kit Ac1200 Network Extender by Electric Cable (PLC at 1000 Mbps Phy, WiFi up to 1200 Mbps, Gigabit 10/100/1000 Mbps, WPS, Wpa2), Ethernet, White

• PowerLine speed of up to 1000 Mbit / s PHY and WiFi speed of up to 1200 Mbit / s, compatible with previous WiFi standards Gigagit RJ-45 10/100/1000 Mbps connectors, for maximum speed in wired connection Allows connection of a network device wired, for example, a TV, console, network switch, while connecting Wi-Fi smartphones, tablets, laptops Compatible with all Powerline HomePlug AV and AV2 (IEEE 1901) devices WPA / WPA2 encryption to protect your communications from intruders

84.90 EUR Buy on Amazon

The W611AV adapter system is one of those that offer the best performance / price ratio, since in addition to 1000 Mbps per power line it also has a double external antenna to offer very good WiFi coverage. It also operates in both bands delivering 300 Mbps at 2.4 GHz and 867 Mbps at 5 GHz as usual. It is compatible with HomePlug AV2, although it only has an RJ45 GbE port.

Asus PL-AC56 (AV1200 + AC1200)

ASUS PL-AC56 - AV2 1200Mbps Gigabit Powerline Network Extender Kit (Wi-Fi AC1200, 3 Gigabit Ports, External Antennas)

• Powerful HomePlug AV2 powerline connectivity with Dual-Band AC1200 repeater 1200Mbps Wi-Fi MIMO 3 Gigabit and Wi-Fi LAN ports for flexible connections Instant configuration and cloning of Wi-Fi network Encrypted pairing to block unauthorized devices Integrated plug-in for maximum energy utilization

152.04 EUR Buy on Amazon

This is the other model that Asus has, in this case with much higher benefits but also higher cost as is logical. It is an extremely interesting kit, since the second adapter has 3 RJ45 LAN Gigabit ports offering AES-128bit encryption.

To this we add the WiFi coverage operating over 2.4 GHz at 300 Mbps and over 5 GHz at 867 Mbps. Of course we have WPA / WPA2 encryption.

TP-Link TL8630P (AV1200 + AC1200)

TP-Link TL-WPA8630P 2 PLC - WiFi Repeater KIT (WiFi AC1200 Mbps, Extender, Network Repeaters, Wifi Amplifier, 3 Ports, Plug, ideal Smart TV, Ps4, Nintendo Switch)

• AC1350: Dual-band Wi-Fi with combined speeds of up to 1350 Mbps. HomePlug AV2: Offers ultrafast power line speed transfers of up to 1300Mbps. 2X2 MIMO: Establish multiple simultaneous connections for greater power line speeds and greater stability..Automatic Synchronization: Add additional extenders to your powerline network using the pairing button, uniform synchronization of settings for all network devices like SSID, password, Wi-Fi programming and LED programming. Additional Power Plug: You can also power other devices through the integrated socket.

119.99 EUR Buy on Amazon

Like the Asus Adapter, this TL8630P also has 3 Ethernet ports on the all Gigabit secondary adapter. Its WiFi function is exactly the same and without secrets, with Dual-Band capacity of 300 Mbps 2.4 GHz and 867 Mbps 5 GHz. Likewise, the reach of the electric line is 300 meters.

AVM FRITZ! Powerline 1260E (AV1200 + AC1200)

AVM FRITZ! Powerline 1260E WLAN Set International - Powerline Network Adapter / Extender, PLC, IEEE P1901, 1200 Mbps, integrated WiFi AC base, Mesh, 1 Gigabit port, interface in Spanish

• Extends and links the router network through the electrical network with 1200 mbps and wifi ac up to 866mbps in 5 ghz and wifi n up to 400 mbps in 2.4 ghz, without installation of software immediately ready Increases the range of the wireless network through the function of repeater or as a wifi access point, includes mesh, wpa2 and wps They interconnect the different devices such as routers, computers, printers, smart tv, blu-ray, game consoles through its gigabit lan port, it supports qos Compatible with 1200, 600, 500 plcs and 200mbps, supports ieee p1901 standard and homeplug av2, for applications that need higher bandwidth, factory paired and encrypted with aes-128bit Box content: 1 x fritz Powerline 1260e, 1 x fritz Powerline 1220e, 2 x network cables, quick installation guide in spanish

131.45 EUR Buy on Amazon

Another device that exceeds 1000 Mbps is AVM, in this case the version with AV 1200 and double Gigabit Ethernet connection in the second adapter. The bandwidth and WiFi configuration does not vary compared to the other AC1200 models.

Devolo 9381 dLAN (AV1200 + AC1200)

Devolo 9391 - Pack of 2 communication adapters per power line (dLAN 1200+ WiFi AC, dLAN 1200+, 128 bit AES), White

• WiFi Move Technology automatically connects multiple adapters to a Wi-Fi network.With two integrated Gigabit LAN connections you can connect to the internet via a network cable.Fast Wi-Fi connection with an ac speed of up to 1200 MbpsData transmission through the facility electrical thanks to MIMO technology Compatible with all adapters in the 200/500/550/650/1200 Mbps product line

Buy on Amazon

Finally we have another of the best-selling adapters and the most recognized manufacturers, the Devolo 9381 which for practical purposes offers the same capacity as the previous ones. The second adapter features dual Gigabit Ethernet connectivity as well as Dual-Band AC1200 WiFi with MIMO or HomePlug AV2 technology.

The only bad thing is its price, which rises considerably above the rest of the devices for squeezing the bandwidth of the electrical network a little more and getting closer to those 1200 Mbps.

Conclusions on the best PLCs on the market

So far this complete list of the best PLCs on the market comes, where we believe we have put all those with a relevant importance in the market. Surely we will find cheaper equipment, but know that neither the width of will approach the promised nor will they offer the same functions and reliability.

Without further ado, we leave you with more network hardware guides for those of you currently thinking of a router, or any other equipment.

Which one have you decided on? If the one you have found ideal is not in the list, leave it in the comments and explain the reason, we can always expand with your suggestions.