Can I use a switch with ethernet over powerline?

[DigitaLx2001]

Due to a variety of factors, I think I will be going with ethernet over powerline.

I found this Netgear product which seems pretty decent, favorable reviews, etc:
Netgear XAVB101

However, I need to make sure I can put a switch on the end of one of these units so I can connect more than one computer. It seems like I should be able to, but I was thinking twice after I saw that they sell a version of the adapter than has a built in switch. None of the reviews I read could really give me a clear answer.

So does anyone know, either with the above product specifically, or just in general, if I can use a switch with ethernet over powerline?

 

[InvisiBill]

I don't have personal experience with it, so I can't say for sure, but I see no reason why you couldn't. The one with a switch built-in is probably just for people who need both parts anyway and/or don't understand how to hook the two together.

Actually, the description there says to plug one into your router, which will actually be a switch the vast majority of the time. Now I'm even more confident that you'd have no problems plugging it into a switch.

Keep in mind that your powerline link will still be limited to the speed of this unit. If you plug one into a switch with 4 PCs on it, those 4 PCs will all be sharing that 100Mb connection to whatever is on the other end.

For example, in Netgear's diagram, there would be a single 100Mb link between the living room and the home office.

If you put a gigabit switch in the living room and hooked up the TV, console, and STB all at once, those devices could talk to each other at 1Gb/s. However, each of those could only communicate with the office at a max of 100Mb/s, and if multiple living room devices were trying to communicate with the office, they'd all be sharing that 100Mb/s.

 

[Grentz]

It just acts like a network cable run, but over powerlines. Obviously there is speed differences/etc, but as far as what you can put on either end it works the same as a wired run.

You can put a switch/router/whatever on either end no problem. I ran one for a customer that went from his current router to another wireless router to act as a second access point and wired connections to some devices.

 

[DigitaLx2001]

Thanks, just wanted to double check. I figured since it was 802.3 it was pretty standard and just another medium for the data transmission... but i read that they had some standard (to get better speeds, QoS, etc) called HomePlug. So I wasn't sure if this was something that may limit what can be placed downstream. I just wanted to be sure I didn't drop $120 only to find out I needed a different product instead.

"...based on the new spec--HomePlug AV--which specifically address the need for QoS for latency-sensitive services such as HDTV and VoIP (HomePlug AV is backward-compatible with HomePlug 1). The theoretic throughput of HomePlug AV products is 200Mbps, but real-world performance is pegged at around 100Mbps."

 

[yujie]

What you need is the switch version. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015U0FE0/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

I have it and it is so easy to install. Plug one to router and outlet and connect other to pc and outlet. Connection and speed is more stable than my wireless.

 

[xphil3]

What you need is the switch version. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015U0FE0/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

He doesn't need this, this version just has a built in switch. What he wants to do is basically use this device as an intermediate connection point between two other switches, and for that the single port version will work just fine.