Power-wired for sound, internet and computers

By RICHARD WOOD

What a great idea, using your existing electrical wiring in the walls for connecting extension phones, computer networks, and sharing an internet connection.

No more running cables or paying to have data sockets put in each room.

Plus, you can move phones and computers from room to room - even into the garage. As long as all your power sockets are coming off the same switchboard they are part of one readymade network.

We tested two products that do all of the above from German firm Powertec, distributed locally by Bender Info Tech and available in stores soon.

The technology is different to that used for sending the internet down the street powerlines (now being tested in New Zealand), but just as revolutionary.

Bender showed the units at the ICE technology expo in Auckland last weekend.

To install extra phones, simply connect the TeMoX telephone base unit to your master phone socket and then into a powerpoint. You then plug a phone into a TeMoX extension unit and plug into any powerpoint in the house.

Both units have an extra socket for a second phone, fax or modem.

My first attempt to use the phone across a powerline took less than a minute to set up and worked without a hitch. The tone of the phone seemed slightly damper than usual but was perfectly acceptable.

At $171 (including GST) for a base and extension unit, and $85.50 for additional extensions, many will think twice - especially when you consider a cordless phone is about $100.

But if you want regular handsets and live in rental housing, or move often, a TeMoX system is a superior alternative to having wiring installed. The money spent on these devices will not be wasted when you shift.

For computer networking, the Powertec PowerLAN 16 creates an apparent 10Mbps ethernet link across a building's power wiring - requiring ethernet ports or cards (about $20 each) in each of your PCs.

Connecting two Windows XP PCs was a breeze. Just plug the PowerLANs into separate power sockets and then connect a PowerLAN 16 to each computer's ethernet port and restart.

The network worked immediately with no change of software settings. Using standard Windows internet sharing, we could get internet on the second computer.

Another way to use the devices is as a "hub" for your fast internet (Jetstream) router. Plug it into your router and the power and then you can access your internet from power sockets throughout the house using any other PC equipped with PowerLAN 16.

We tested breaking and reconnecting the connection, first by pulling out the data cables from the computers to the PowerLANs, and then by unplugging the devices from the power sockets. The latter disrupts both the connection and the power to the devices.

Window XP identified when a data cable was unplugged, but not when power was disconnected from a distant computer's PowerLAN. But this is not a significant issue, and the network re-established itself happily each time when reconnected.

At $218.25 (including GST) for each unit, the PowerLAN 16 is slightly pricey compared with similar home networking products found on the web in the United States, but compares reasonably well with wireless networking products sold in New Zealand.

TeMoX

$171 for base plus extension, $85 for extra extensions.

Pros: 1 minute setup; take with you when you shift.

Cons: Pricey compared with cordless phone.

Rating: 8/10.

PowerLAN 16

$218 each, with at least two required.

Pros: Easy setup; secure; take with you when when you shift.

Cons: Pricey and not as mobile as wireless.

Rating: 7/10

Powerline Comtech