Final Thoughts

Strangely, the installation disc doesn't have anything on it! There's not a logo, not a label, nothing! I have no idea what is on this CD if it's separated from its sleeve. Even then, I don't know if this is the official CD or a CD that someone slipped into the box with malicious intent, that is, until I put it into my computer.

It is absolutely imperative that there are no surge protectors or power strips between the AV 200 unit and the wall outlet. The system will either not work or be ridiculously slow. I tried it on a surge and it wouldn't work at all. I tried it on a simple strip and I was getting pings in the 8000 ms range.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the results would probably be different in another house or if the devices are on the same circuit. However, I think that most users' computer, console, or router/modem locations would not be on the same circuit. Newer wiring would probably help the most, too.

There is a noticeable buzz on all of the speakers on the circuits to which the devices are connected. It's very high pitched and quite annoying. The devices cause intereference, and that intereference must be defeated by a filter similar to that which is used on phone lines when there's DSL on the line. Potential buyers of any powerline networking equipment will have to keep this in mind.

I also tried to use one of my own patch Ethernet cables since the first outlet I tried in my room was too far from my switch. It didn't work, and I'm sure it's not the cable: I tried another, and it didn't work. I'm pretty sure that the AV 200 requires a crossover cable in order to connect to a device. Fortunately, two six-foot cables are included with GameNet. Some consumers might need to buy longer cables, though.

At approximately $150, a consumer really has to have a need for powerline networking instead of wireless networking.

Pros

• Decent solution for a rapidly assembled network
• Adequate for gaming, which is targeted application of GameNet

Cons

• There's got to be an easier way to configure these so they work out of the box.
• Speeds not great, certainly nowhere near the theoretical limits of powerline networking.
• Must use crossover Ethernet cables to connect the AV 200 adapters to anything.
• Expensive

Bottom Line

If you need something to connect your console and have something against wireless (radio waves going through your head, etc.), then the Corinex GameNet and its AV 200 Powerline Ethernet Wall Mount adapters or similar products are probably the way to go.

If you have a powerline networking success story, let us know in the forums!