Review: devolo dlan 1200+
Table of contents:
- Technical characteristics
- Manufacturer Information
- Devolo dLAN 1200+
- Test of performance
- Management Software: devolo Cockpit
- Final words and conclusion
In this review we deal with one of the latest products from Devolo, one of the most renowned and well-deserved brands in the PLC market, specifically the Devolo dLAN 1200+ model, its current high-end bet and one of the few models that promise theoretical 1200mbps.
These are two adapters with a RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet socket each, and with a plug connection so as not to sacrifice the connection in which we put these PLCs. However, the competition in PLCs has become really fierce, we will see next if this Devolo kit has what it takes to gain a foothold in the market.
Product loaned by Devolo:
Technical characteristics
| Standards | IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.3az, IEEE 802.1p
Auto MDI / X |
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| Protocols | CSMA / CA (Powerline) | |||||||||
| Transmission speed | Ethernet 10/100/1000 (mbps)
Powerline 200/500/600/1200 (mbps) |
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| Modulation • Carrier | OFDM Powerline - 4096/1024/256/64-QAM, QPSK, BPSK • Powerline 2880 | |||||||||
| Range (in m) | Powerline: 400 | |||||||||
| Security | 128 Bit AES | |||||||||
| LED | dLAN (multi) | |||||||||
| Push buttons | Pairing | |||||||||
| Bushing • Connector • Countries | Type F (CEE 7/4) • F (CEE 7/4) • (DE, NL, ES, PT, AT, SE, FI, NO, GR, HU) | |||||||||
| Output power in integrated socket | 16 A | |||||||||
| Device connection | 1 x RJ45 Ethernet | |||||||||
| Power consumption |
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| Power supply | internal
196-250 V AC 50 Hz |
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| Attenuation filter | 2 - 68 MHz | |||||||||
| Filter characteristics | -22 db to -45 db | |||||||||
| Temperature (Storage • Service) | -25 ° C to 70 ° C • 0 ° C to 40 ° C | |||||||||
| Dimensions (in mm, without plug) | 130 x 66 x 42 | |||||||||
| Environmental conditions | 10-90% air humidity (non-condensing) | |||||||||
| Operating systems | Windows 7 (32 Bit), Windows 7 (64 Bit)
Windows 8.x (32 Bit), Windows 8.x (64 Bit), Windows 8.x Pro (32 Bit), Windows 8.x Pro (64 Bit) Ubuntu-Linux 12.04 (32 Bit) MAC OS X 10.6, MAC OS X 10.7, MAC OS X 10.8, MAC OS X 10.9 |
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| Approvals | CE Class B (EU, CH, NO) |
Manufacturer Information
| Warranty (in years) | 3 |
| accessories | Triptych of installation
Ethernet cable |
Devolo dLAN 1200+
The package and accessories are expected for a high-end product, with well-used packaging in the typical brand colors (blue and white), two Cat 5E cables, an instruction manual and the PLCs themselves.
Detail of accessories and printed documentation included
Regarding the manual, although it is appreciated that it is very graphic and intuitive (all are images that can be understood immediately), we would have appreciated some more information and relevant documentation instead of referring to the full version in PDF format.
The devices are large but well designed, and as we anticipated in the introduction, they respect the plug socket in which we will connect them, being recommended whenever it is possible to dislodge the adjacent plugs and connect any device or power strip to the PLC socket so that their systems filter can act and a device with high consumption or a bad power factor affects performance as little as possible.
Installation is as simple as connecting a network cable to each device, connecting them to an outlet and we can navigate. The encryption key can be changed later in the management software, and adding more modules is a matter of a few clicks.
Operating temperatures are among the lowest of all the PLCs we have tested, at this point we can say that they have a considerable lead over manufacturers such as TP-Link, although we should note that we are analyzing a model without WiFi, which traditionally consumes and it heats less than the models that include it.
Test of performance
The performance is above the average for a modern PLC, although I must say that we expected much more from some PLCs of a traditionally leading brand, especially when they are offered as a team of theoretical 1200mps.
With the factory firmware the performance was superior to all the PLCs that we had previously tested, although perhaps not with the difference that we would want if we take into account that these PLCs conform to the following speed standard (theoretical 1200mbps). However, after updating the firmware we have seen a considerable reduction in speed, which is especially evident over long distances where performance drops to the same level, even below, the TL-WPA4220KIT, at a fraction of the price. In short distances, they are saved by their Gigabit ports, maintaining an advantage of around 20% compared to the second fastest in our comparison, even after updating.
Throughout the tests that we have carried out, we have not observed any of the failures that many users complain about in the forums after updating the firmware to the latest version (2.0.0.03-3 at the time of writing these lines), task which as we will see is very simple with the management software that accompanies them.
WE RECOMMEND YOU Asus TUF Gaming M5 Review in Spanish (Full Review)Management Software: devolo Cockpit
The software that accompanies these devices is undoubtedly one of their strengths, with detailed information on the real speed at which the PLCs synchronize, very comprehensive menus, the possibility to set and change the encryption password of our network, and many facilities to add new PLCs to our existing network.
Updating the firmware has been a matter of a click, very simple, fast, and totally transparent to the user. All an example of how the hardware that they are selling to us must be properly complemented.
Final words and conclusion
We found a really promising product, from which we expected a spectacular performance given Devolo's history, but unfortunately this was not the case, it is a good product, but it does not reach excellence, and with this premise it is difficult to justify its market price.
Just as they've fixed stability issues through a firmware update, we don't lose hope of seeing any substantial performance improvements in the future, but for the time being there are much more robust options that are considerably cheaper, such as TP-Link 4220KIT analyzed or the Devolo dLAN 650+, which by the way offer a real performance slightly higher than the model that concerns us in some scenarios.
The quality is undoubtedly very careful, without obstacles such as the use of Fast Ethernet connection (100mbps) in the TP-Link models, although from what we have been able to verify it does not really contribute too much in real use, only in nearby plugs, although as we say perhaps this point will change in the future.
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ADVANTAGE |
DISADVANTAGES |
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+ EASE OF INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION |
- GOOD PERFORMANCE BUT ENOUGH LESS THAN EXPECTED FOR ITS RANGE AND SPEED ANNOUNCED, ESPECIALLY AFTER UPDATING THE FIRMWARE |
| + GIGABIT ETHERNET CONNECTORS, UNLIKE MODELS FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS | - PRETTY HIGH PRICE |
| + STABILITY PROBLEMS SOLVED WITH THE LAST FIRMWARE | |
| + THE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE DEVOLO COCKPIT, THE BEST WE HAVE SEEN | |
| + POSSIBILITY TO TURN OFF THE LED FROM THE SOFTWARE |
The professional review team awards him the silver medal:
