TP-Link AV200 VS AV500 – Which is the Better Network Extender?

Despite the increasing popularity of wireless networking, signal strength is rarely uniform in all corners of the house – especially the corner you like!Can thisTP-Link AV200 VS AV500 review help you rectify that?

Now more than ever, there is need to have enough internet support to be able to work from home.Many times you have to content with hard-to-reach-spots by your standard Wi-Fi provider. Or maybe you have few Ethernet cables but many devices you need connected to complete your day’s work.With Powerline adapters,you can connect as many devices as you requirein whatever corner you choose!

Powerline adapters are an ingenious way of ensuring your existing internet network sends adequate network from room to room. They are easier and cheaper to install than drilling holes in your walls to insert Ethernet cables. Though they may not give you the Ethernet Gigabit speeds, they more than suffice for your everyday internet needs. So, how do you choose the right one for your needs from the very many brands and models, available in the market today? We are confident that this TP-Link AV200 VS AV500 discussion will give you a few pointers.

What are the Differences Between TP LINK Av200 and Av500 adapters?

TP LINK Av200 Vs Av500 – How do they compare?

Speeds

The TP-Link AV200 is said to have maximum speeds of 200Mbps, while the TP-Link AV500 has 500Mbps. Speed is usually the deal breaker in any internet related device. It is frustrating when you spend precious time waiting for files to download, sometime being forced to give up in frustration. Though the theoretical maximum data transfer rates (derived from specifications on the Home Plug AV2 optimal network environment) always appear high enough for your needs, the actual data transfer rates never reach them. Actual speeds are affected by network traffic, noise on electrical wires, distance and quality of electrical installation, to name just a few. Moreover, charging of phones and tablets, washing machines and microwaves affect adapter speeds, with use of power-surge protectors completely scrambling their signal. It is also important to note that adapters plugged directly into the wall have higher speeds.

In a test to compare the performance of theAV200 and AV500 adapters, the following results were obtained:

Due to factors similar to those mentioned above, no 2 homes have the same configuration, so these figures may not be the same in your home. In this regard then, relative performance is more important than the absolute figures.

These results are meaningful if you need the powerline adapter to extend wired internet into a room without internet. As can be seen, the wiring in the home, and the adapters significantly drop speeds compared to direct connection. From the same plug sockets, the speed drop is less in the AV500 adapter.

When write speeds for writing 10MB files were compared in a Lan Speed Test, this is what the landscape looked like.

Laptop                                                  81Mbps

AV200                                                   36Mbps

AV500                                                   41Mbps

The test avoided using the Gigabit Ethernet port. The AV500 again showed a decent improvement over the AV200 one.

Many users are dissatisfied when it comes to HD video streaming using the AV200 adapters. The AV500 adapter’s performance is better. Generally, the rule of thumb is: 200Mbps devices though a lot cheaper, are suited for simple web browsing. If what you need is streamlining movies and having several devices run simultaneously, then go for devices with 500Mbps and more.

Connections

For both adapters under review, their starter kits come with a manual, 2 plugs/adaptersand Ethernet cables. The AV200 has one such cable, while the AV500 has two.The older versions of the AV200 starter kits used to have a driver CD that had to be installed during set up. This is no longer the case, though.

Both the AV200 and the AV 500 do not have a pass through feature. This is simply having a socket on the adapter, into which a device can be plugged when the adapter is also plugged in. Not having a pass through feature is a disadvantage where a room has limited sockets. Newer models of the AV500 however have incorporated this feature.

Whereas the AV500 has one Ethernet port, the AV200 has two 100Mbps Ethernet cable ports. This is very beneficial when one has more than one device that need to be connected to the internet. Newer versions of the AV500 have upgraded to the faster Gigabit Ethernet ports.

Set up and Security

Both adapters under review are quite easy to set up. Theyuse the simple plug-and-play technique.One of the 2 plugs is plugged in a power socket. It is then connected to the existing internet source using an Ethernet cable. The other plug connects to the device that needs connection to the powerline network and another socket. Older versions of the AV200 use an installation CD for setting it up.

Because transformers scramble powerline signal, chances are, yourbangalow neighbor can not pick up your signal. However, when it comes to apartment blocks, it may be possible for neighbors to pick the signal. It is always advised to secure your network through the encryption.

For both models under review, when the adapters are idle over a period of time, the adapter’s power saving feature automatically switches to power-saving mode from work mode. This significantly cuts down the power consumption.

Distance and Size

Though both adapters under review claim to offer internet to ranges of up to 1000 ft, many users have complained on the adapter’s poor performance at these extremes.  Noise on electrical wires, network traffic, interference on the powerlines,distance, construction and building materials, adverse conditions, and electrical installation quality are some factors known to affect internet speeds. Poor quality wiring, in very old houses for example, has been known to ruin AV200 performance.

Size and aesthetic appeal are alsoimportant considerations in an adapter. Bulky adapters are not only unappealing aesthetically, but block adjacent sockets, which denies other devices access to the socket.Both the AV200 and the AV500 adapters are small in size, ensuring adjacent sockets are not obstructed when the adapters are in use. The newer version of the AV500 that has a pass through socket feature is however quite big, compared to the AV200. Even if it blocks a socket, it offers you one as well!

The TP LINK Av200 Vs Av600 – A Comparison Overview

The TP LINK Av200

TP-Link AV200 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit, up to 200Mbps (TL-PA2010KIT)

• Up to 200Mbps speed for seamless HD video streaming and online gaming
• 300-meter range over electrical circuitry for better performance through walls and floors

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The TP LINK Av200 is a standard HomePlug AV compliant adapter, thus promising high speed data transfers of up to 200Mbps through 1000ft of walls and floor. It is miniature in design and comes in a compact housing. It can therefore be plugged anywhere in the house and wouldn’t block an adjacent socket.Its installation is easy, simple plug-and-play, with no configuring, drilling in the walls or wiring involved. The older versions of the adapter however had installation CDs.

It is equipped with an automatic power-saving feature that helps it cut power consumption by up to 75%. With the powerful, inbuilt AES encryption, one is assured of data security and protection.

Though it is not very reliable with bandwidth intensive tasks, its relatively high speeds make it ideal for VoIP, online gaming and HD video streaming. The network supports multi IPTV streaming

Pros

• Miniature, ultra-compact design
• Power saving mode
• Plug and play
• Security encryption
• Fairly priced

Cons

• Some users complain of constant connection drops
• Improper wiring (especially in old homes) can ruin it.
• No Gigabit port

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The TP LINK Av500

TP-Link AV500 2-Port Powerline Starter Kit, Up to 500Mbps (TL-PA4026 KIT)

• Expands your home network by establishing a Powerline connection with one TL-PA4010 and one TL-PA4020...
• 300-meter range over electrical circuitry for better performance through walls and floors

Check Price

The TP LINK AV500 is one of the most popular TP-Link powerline adapters. It is HomePlug AV standard compliant. Though the model under review has plugs small enough to not block any adjacent sockets, newer models having the pass-through feature tend to be bigger. All the same, these still don’t block sockets!The plugs have a cool two-tone color: a plastic that is gloss-grey at the front plate and matte-white on the main body. The 2 Ethernet ports are placed on top of the unit, ensuring that in most power sockets, cables will protrude upwards. What’s more, the plugswork straight out of the box!

Located at their front are the pair button, and the LED lights showing power, connection to the Ethernet and connection to the powerline network. The adapter has a mains filter which enhances powerline communication making performance better.

Instead of exponentially increasing power consumption the adapters automatically cuts down the consumption of power by up to 85% when there is no data transmission or reception for a period of time. This is thanks to the patented Power Saving Mode. Due to the AES encryption (128-bit), the network is secured by a simple button press on the paired device.

One of the best features of these adapters is that they come with two 100Mb Ethernet ports, making it possible to connect two device on the other end, without springing for another switch. In itself, the 100Mbps Ethernet port supports decently fast speeds. However, newer AV500 models like PA 551, even have the speed enhanced Gigabit Ethernet ports, plus a socket pass through feature. This enables the socket to be used by another device, while using the adapter, a plus where sockets are few.

In addition, this AV500 powerline system enables extension of coverage to other areas, by supporting additional adapters. The adapters come with a warranty of 2 years and 24/7 technical support. Unfortunately, a few users complain of poor technical support.

The AV500 has sufficiently high speeds to support HD video streaming even across different floors in the house by optimizing IPTV streaming. The adapter is therefore ideal for video streaming and online gaming.

Pros

• High speeds
• Plug-and-play
• 2 Ethernet ports
• Data protection and security
• Power saving mode
• Supports IPTV streaming
• Decent long range performance

Cons

• No pass through feature
• No Gigabit Ethernet ports
• No Wi-Fi feature

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Conclusion

Coming from the same manufacturer, the 2 models have standard good quality features, like 2 Ethernet ports and data protection and security. The AV200 are miniature, fairly priced and proven to have decent speeds. They are convenient for travel. If you are tight on budget, and all you need internet for is surfing and browsing, or if you don’t mind the low speeds really, then the TP-Link AV200 is a good bargain. However, if you need some HD video streaming or online gaming, you will be better off not gambling. TP-Link AV500 has better speeds. It may just cost you a little more. There is a newer version of the AV500 that costs even more but offers Gigabit Ethernet ports. It could prove to be the best deal.

Verdict: So which is better? The TP-Link AV200 or the TP-Link AV500?

Being from the same manufacturer, both adapters have very good features. However, when it comes to internet based activities, speed is always the defining point. Since the one advantage the AV500 has over the AV200 is speed, theTP-Link AV500 is the better deal in the TP-Link AV200 VS AV500 debate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q 1.Can I add another TP Link to my network?

Ans: Yes it is possible to add more adapters to the initial pair. The limit to your additions will be guided by your house capacity, type, make and brand of the powerline adapters you are using.

Q2. Does the AV200 adapter come with Ethernet cables?

Ans: Yes, 2 short Ethernet cables are included in the starter kit.