Aiming to bring networking to mass market via powerline communications and networking, Plaster Networks has added a new low cost Ethernet adapter to its family of powerline networking products. Incorporating company's advanced management and diagnostics features, the AV200 provides a more cost-effective way to build a reliable, high-performance network, said the maker.

 

Designed to deliver broadband network connectivity with PHY rating of 200 Mbps using existing home wiring, the AV200 works with any HomePlug (News - Alert) AV-compatible adapter. It transmits data securely using 128-bit advanced encryption standard (AES). And accommodates a variety of home network devices quickly and easily with support for up to 64 adapters on a local area network (LAN), according to the supplier.

 

The company release shows that the users can now deploy any number of low-cost AV200 adapters with a single PLN3 intelligent Ethernet adapter for advanced management and diagnostics features. This combination offers a more cost-effective alternative to a network of all PLN3 units, without sacrificing the advanced management and diagnostics feature enabled by the PLN3, Plaster Networks said.

 

To make it easy for newcomers, the company is offering a specially priced 'starter kit' that includes one PLN3 adapter and one AV200 adapter for a total price of $129.90. Individually, the AV200 alone is priced at $64.95 each and PLN3 at $89.95 each, respectively. Thus, by adding more AV200 units to this network, users can expand their existing powerline network cost effectively, said the manufacturer.

 

PLN3 is an intelligent powerline networking adapter that offers advanced management and diagnostics tools to ensure optimum performance and reliability of the powerline network. Unlike other powerline adapters, the PLN3 adapter includes a dedicated network processor running Plaster Networks' proprietary software. The software enables management and configuration locally through a free, built-in administration console, or remotely through its service. In both cases, users can access this functionality easily via a standard browser, according to the supplier. For improved reliability, the intelligent PLN3 adapter also has automated upgrades to the HomePlug software.

 

Some target applications for the powerline adapters include home networking, online  gaming, video streaming, Wi-Fi optimization, and IPTV (News - Alert).

 

Plaster Networks was founded by Paul Baran, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur widely known as the inventor of packet switching, the foundation technology for the Internet.