Price : Too low to display
This review is from : ZyXEL NBG318S 200 Mbps HomePlug AV Powerline Router w/4Port Fast Ethernet Switch and PLA401 200 Mbps Powerline Wall-plug Adapter (Starter Kit)
Exactly What I Was Looking For . I needed wireless coverage to extend to the front yard and bedroom of my home. I bought this, plugged in my current wireless modem the powerline adapter, then plugged in the new wireless router in my front room. It synched in seconds. I returned to my computer to set the WAP password. Piece of cake. Very simple. This was exactly what I needed.
Exactly What I Was Looking For . I needed wireless coverage to extend to the front yard and bedroom of my home. I bought this, plugged in my current wireless modem the powerline adapter, then plugged in the new wireless router in my front room. It synched in seconds. I returned to my computer to set the WAP password. Piece of cake. Very simple. This was exactly what I needed.
ZyXEL NBG318S 200 Mbps HomePlug AV Powerline Router w/4Port Fast Ethernet Switch and PLA401 200 Mbps Powerline Wall-plug Adapter (Starter Kit) Reviews
It works but there are kinks that I had to work out. . Pros:
inexpensive, it works, seller delivered quickly
Cons:
HOMEPLUG AV PROBLEM: the POWERLINE connection to some plugs is intermittent.
DOCUMENTATION/SECURITY PROBLEM: Must disable WPS to get Static WEP option. Using WEP since I can't seem to get the laptops to connect using the WPA PSK.
Other Thoughts:
I bought two NBG318S 200 Mbps HomePlug AV Powerline Routers and two PLA401 200 Mbps Powerline Wall-plug Adapter (came as starter kits from supplier#. Used them to replace my old tried and true WRT54GSs and NETGEAR XE102s that I've had for years. Over the years, I've had a couple of the XE102s fail, hey this stuff doesn't last forever. A new XE102 is now over $100.
There are kinks that I had to work out and that's taken a couple of days. First, out of the box, configured and tested everything in one room, spread things around the house, everything worked great. One NBG318S is used to connect to COMCAST the other is a router/WAP. We can't see a single wireless access point from everywhere in the house. The PLA401s connect the printers and AV devices.
HOMEPLUG AV PROBLEM: Then, when the wife and kids came home and started connecting with a half a dozen wireless devices, the router/WAP stopped connecting to the internet. Finally figured out that it was the HOMEPLUG AV that was cutting in/out and causing the internet access to drop. Wireless stays active; it's the HOMEPLUG AV that drops out. Only happens when you drive lots of traffic over the HOMEPLUG AV. Seems that once the HOMEPLUG AV drops out, it doesn't reconnect. Unplug, replug, it resyncs, but that wasn't going to work long term. Tried other plugs in the house and found ones that work together reliably regardless the traffic. Almost thought that I had one bad NBG318S. Fortunately, the HOMEPLUG AV LED goes out when it drops out, wish I'd noticed this sooner.
DOCUMENTATION/SECURITY PROBLEM: I can't seem to get the laptops to connect with WPA PSK turned on. #Laptop problem) To get the option for Static WEP, you have to disable the WPS, this should have been documented somewhere. After I changed the security settings, I had to reboot the NBG318S to get security working with the laptops, this should have been documented somewhere. Perhaps the web page where you change it?
It works but there are kinks that I had to work out. . Pros:
inexpensive, it works, seller delivered quickly
Cons:
HOMEPLUG AV PROBLEM: the POWERLINE connection to some plugs is intermittent.
DOCUMENTATION/SECURITY PROBLEM: Must disable WPS to get Static WEP option. Using WEP since I can't seem to get the laptops to connect using the WPA PSK.
Other Thoughts:
I bought two NBG318S 200 Mbps HomePlug AV Powerline Routers and two PLA401 200 Mbps Powerline Wall-plug Adapter (came as starter kits from supplier#. Used them to replace my old tried and true WRT54GSs and NETGEAR XE102s that I've had for years. Over the years, I've had a couple of the XE102s fail, hey this stuff doesn't last forever. A new XE102 is now over $100.
There are kinks that I had to work out and that's taken a couple of days. First, out of the box, configured and tested everything in one room, spread things around the house, everything worked great. One NBG318S is used to connect to COMCAST the other is a router/WAP. We can't see a single wireless access point from everywhere in the house. The PLA401s connect the printers and AV devices.
HOMEPLUG AV PROBLEM: Then, when the wife and kids came home and started connecting with a half a dozen wireless devices, the router/WAP stopped connecting to the internet. Finally figured out that it was the HOMEPLUG AV that was cutting in/out and causing the internet access to drop. Wireless stays active; it's the HOMEPLUG AV that drops out. Only happens when you drive lots of traffic over the HOMEPLUG AV. Seems that once the HOMEPLUG AV drops out, it doesn't reconnect. Unplug, replug, it resyncs, but that wasn't going to work long term. Tried other plugs in the house and found ones that work together reliably regardless the traffic. Almost thought that I had one bad NBG318S. Fortunately, the HOMEPLUG AV LED goes out when it drops out, wish I'd noticed this sooner.
DOCUMENTATION/SECURITY PROBLEM: I can't seem to get the laptops to connect with WPA PSK turned on. #Laptop problem) To get the option for Static WEP, you have to disable the WPS, this should have been documented somewhere. After I changed the security settings, I had to reboot the NBG318S to get security working with the laptops, this should have been documented somewhere. Perhaps the web page where you change it?
ZyXEL NBG318S 200 Mbps HomePlug AV Powerline Router w/4Port Fast Ethernet Switch and PLA401 200 Mbps Powerline Wall-plug Adapter (Starter Kit) Opinions
Does what you need it to! . I purchased this product to get my FIOS/LAN connection downstairs to my PS3, XBOX360, and Media server- it delivered. Router and powerline plug were setup in less than 15mins, I didnt even have to install the cd that came with it, just configured the router and off I went. One of the easiest tech setups I've EVER done. Highly Recommend!
Does what you need it to! . I purchased this product to get my FIOS/LAN connection downstairs to my PS3, XBOX360, and Media server- it delivered. Router and powerline plug were setup in less than 15mins, I didnt even have to install the cd that came with it, just configured the router and off I went. One of the easiest tech setups I've EVER done. Highly Recommend!
Cons Review
Big problem with reliability . Well, this is my first review on Amazon in the last 10+ years.
I purchased this router + adapter in July last year. I was really happy to see power line worked, and I could get network to my living room without much change to current home network setup. Some of the boxes in my living room only take wired connection, e.g. xbox360 and the BlueRay DVD. It is nice to bridge them through the power line to the office network. However it only worked till last month, when the 'homeplug' of the router stopped working. So it is just a wireless router now. I wanted to keep the network connection. This router is not supported by DD-WRT, therefore I switch it with my main router which runs DD-WRT, and set up DD-WRT to bridge to it. Now it becomes really unbearable. It drops the connection and reboots itself now and then. Something I noticed but didn't pay much attention before, cause I was thinking it is the powerline noise and it only affected living room devices. Now it drops all connections including computers. Imagine you watch something on youtube and suddenly internet connection is lost. You waited for half minute, watch another minute and it happen again! I watched it when connection was dropped -- the lights were all off except the power light, then it reboot... It is so much pain that I decided to write a review about it!!
I thought about warranty, and checked their website. Their policy asked 'warranty card' with sellers stamp of purchase date ! I didn't get one like that, and would not bother to waste my time any further with them. I will buy a new router now and trash it.
In short summary: this product has problem with frequent self-reboot/ drop connection, and build quality is poor. The homeplug function which I paid premium for over a normal router only lasted < 1 year.
I purchased this router + adapter in July last year. I was really happy to see power line worked, and I could get network to my living room without much change to current home network setup. Some of the boxes in my living room only take wired connection, e.g. xbox360 and the BlueRay DVD. It is nice to bridge them through the power line to the office network. However it only worked till last month, when the 'homeplug' of the router stopped working. So it is just a wireless router now. I wanted to keep the network connection. This router is not supported by DD-WRT, therefore I switch it with my main router which runs DD-WRT, and set up DD-WRT to bridge to it. Now it becomes really unbearable. It drops the connection and reboots itself now and then. Something I noticed but didn't pay much attention before, cause I was thinking it is the powerline noise and it only affected living room devices. Now it drops all connections including computers. Imagine you watch something on youtube and suddenly internet connection is lost. You waited for half minute, watch another minute and it happen again! I watched it when connection was dropped -- the lights were all off except the power light, then it reboot... It is so much pain that I decided to write a review about it!!
I thought about warranty, and checked their website. Their policy asked 'warranty card' with sellers stamp of purchase date ! I didn't get one like that, and would not bother to waste my time any further with them. I will buy a new router now and trash it.
In short summary: this product has problem with frequent self-reboot/ drop connection, and build quality is poor. The homeplug function which I paid premium for over a normal router only lasted < 1 year.
Very disappointing. I advise against it. . The idea behind the product is very good. But unfortunately I got one and it died on me after operating for just 7 months. I think they get too hot.
Bought another one (thinking the first flawed one might be a coincidence) and that one is now dropping connections after just 2 months. Very disappointing.
I have it working (when it does) with two PLA 450 (one of them was getting too hot too once or twice, but hasn't shown problems since).
Stay clear of this product if you expect troublefree operation for more than a year.
Bought another one (thinking the first flawed one might be a coincidence) and that one is now dropping connections after just 2 months. Very disappointing.
I have it working (when it does) with two PLA 450 (one of them was getting too hot too once or twice, but hasn't shown problems since).
Stay clear of this product if you expect troublefree operation for more than a year.
Works Great 'Til They Die . I've had this setup for a little under 2 years. When it works, it works quite well. The warranty back then was for two years & not one. The NBG318S died 5 months ago, and it took over a month to get it replaced. A couple weeks ago, the PLA-401 died. I contacted Zyxel, and have NEVER gotten a reply. I need the network, and bought one of the newer PLA-401's (V3 version). These draw considerably less power. One theory is that they are unreliable because they cook themselves to death, so I'm hoping this one will last a bit longer.
It took me a while to get them up & running initially because I only wanted to use the NBG318S as a wireless extender. The instructions weren't much help, but tech support got me sorted out OK. I probably would have been better off with a PLA-450. If my replacement NBG box dies, I will probably go that route or try Corinex or Netgear. There isn't a lot of hard data on interoperability between vendors, but supposedly anything that has a Homeplug AV certification should work with anyone else's HP AV stuff.
It took me a while to get them up & running initially because I only wanted to use the NBG318S as a wireless extender. The instructions weren't much help, but tech support got me sorted out OK. I probably would have been better off with a PLA-450. If my replacement NBG box dies, I will probably go that route or try Corinex or Netgear. There isn't a lot of hard data on interoperability between vendors, but supposedly anything that has a Homeplug AV certification should work with anyone else's HP AV stuff.
heats on a 220 volts source . The Zyxel NBG318S gets very hot when plug in to a 220 volts source where it was spec at 100 to 240 volts
Product Image
Feature ZyXEL NBG318S 200 Mbps HomePlug AV Powerline Router w/4Port Fast Ethernet Switch and PLA401 200 Mbps Powerline Wall-plug Adapter (Starter Kit)
- All-in-one router supports powerline, wireless and Ethernet in our device
- Provides quality Internet telephony, gaming, video streaming with MBM v2 ensures quality of service
- The wireless extended gateway feature lets users place the router a the best spot for wireless coverage. be LAN or WAN port
- Supports WPA2, WPA PSK, WEP
- 802.11e/WMM enhance quality of service
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Product Details
EAN : 0760559115159UPC : 760559115159
MPN : NBG318SKIT
Brand : ZyXel
Weight : 3 pounds
Height : 6 inches
Length : 11 inches
Width : 7 inches
Binding : Personal Computers
Format : CD
Hardware Platform : Pc
Manufacturer : ZYXEL
Model : NBG318SKIT
Operating System : Windows
Platform : Windows
Publisher : ZYXEL
SKU : NBG318SKIT
Studio : ZYXEL
Where To Buy
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