FRITZ!Powerline – the fast network over the mains supply

With powerline or power LAN you turn your mains supply into a data network. Powerline transforms every socket into an internet connection. Instead of laying new cables, simply get yourself internet from the wall socket – fast, stable and secure.

But how does the technology work? A powerline adapter transmits internet signals over your electricity wires. The device is connected with the router using a LAN cable and inserted into the wall socket. A second powerline device receives the signal in the room of your choice and forwards it via LAN or Wi-Fi. This way you get ‘internet from the socket’ – without dead spots or any complicated configuration.

FRITZ! offers various powerline models individually or in sets. There are powerline Wi-Fi sets and pure powerline LAN sets. The sets with Wi-Fi support include the FRITZ!Powerline 1240 AX Wi-Fi Set and the FRITZ!Powerline 1260 Wi-Fi Set. In contrast to this, the two devices from FRITZ!Powerline 1220 Set do not have Wi-Fi, but each is equipped with two gigabit LAN ports. With the integrated socket, other devices can continue to use the wall socket so that no plug space is lost.

With a powerline adapter you get stable internet wherever conventional Wi-Fi falters – simply, fast and reliably. Powerline shows its muscles especially over greater distances and saves you the effort of laying metres of cable throughout your living space.

Typical application examples to receive Wi-Fi via the wall socket:

• households with dead spots
• old buildings with thick walls
• office space in distant rooms
• offices or recreation rooms in the basement

A real-life example: Old buildings often have very thick walls. If there are 2 or 3 of these walls between your home office and your router, the Wi-Fi signal that comes from your router will be weakened. TV streaming will be disrupted and video conferences while working from home will be impossible. With a powerline adapter it is easy to transmit the Wi-Fi signal via the wall socket in your home office to benefit from fast, stable internet.

Powerline is generally more stable, more reliable, and much more effective than Wi-Fi extenders over greater distances. If the Wi-Fi signal from the router is weak, extenders can only forward this weak signal. Powerline uses the mains supply in the home instead to bring Wi-Fi to the places the extender cannot reach.

Information & facts in comparison:

1. Signal quality: extenders depend on receiving a good Wi-Fi signal from the router at their location. For powerline, in contrast, the number and thickness of the walls do not matter, since the connection runs over the main supply, allowing the entire bandwidth to be used.
2. Range: The further away the router is, the worse a repeater works. With Wi-Fi over the socket you get stable internet even in the basement or the attic.
3. Stability: Extenders soon reach their limits in the face of thick walls and interference. Powerline circumvents these obstacles because the signal is distributed over the mains supply. A powerline adapter is simply inserted in a socket and surfing can start.
4. Installation: Extenders must be positioned optimally and often require reconfiguration to best receive signals from the router.

Configuration of powerline adapters for fast, reliable Wi-Fi via the wall socket is simple and completed in a few minutes. What is important is that the device is inserted directly into the wall socket and not into a power strip. Otherwise the adapter's performance could be influenced.

Here's how to configure FRITZ!Powerline:

1. Connect the first powerline adapter
   Connect the first powerline adapter with the router using a LAN cable and insert it into the socket of your choice.
2. Position the second powerline adapter
   Position the second powerline device in a socket at your desired destination.
3. Establish powerline connection
   Devices from a set are already connected to each other and the set can be used right away.
   
   If you purchased a single FRITZ!Powerline device, press on the Connect button on a device that's already installed and on the new FRITZ!Powerline. The order does not matter. After the button is released, the Powerline or Connect LED flashes. The process is completed and the FRITZ!Powerline devices are linked to each other as soon as the LED remains lit.
4. Integrate into the Mesh
   To integrate FRITZ!Powerline into the Mesh of the FRITZ!Box, press the Connect button on the powerline adapter and on the FRITZ!Box. The order does not matter here, either. The LEDs flash briefly, then FRITZ!Powerline device is integrated in the Mesh and automatically receives settings from the FRITZ!Box.
5. Start surfing
   The internet signals are now forwarded from one powerline device to another over the mains supply, and provide for stable LAN and Wi-Fi via the wall socket.