Powerline adapters can be a great way to expand the coverage area of your home network.  They can add ethernet ports where one is not available, avoid messy cable configurations, and can even create or extend a wireless connection.  But there are some draw backs.  First, they are susceptible to electrical noise and interference.  Powerline adapters should not be plugged into surge protectors as these device filter some of this noise out and can affect performance.  And the network speed can greatly be affected by distance and load on the powerline itself.  One very common cause of speed issues with powerline adapter is location of the adapters.

Take this image for example.  A user has placed their “base” unit connected to their router which is located on circuit 1.  And the remote unit which is on the last circuit in their panel.

 Assuming that the circuits are in linear configuration, the data must transmit through each circuit to get to the main unit and out to the internet like so. 

Each time the data hops a circuit there will a reduction in overall network speed and performance.

So how do resolve this issue and improve speed between the adapters?  Unfortunately, the only option is relocation.  Reducing the hops will improve the network performance of the devices.  Ideally, we would recommend relocating your modem/router and base unit to a more centralized location   Thus allowing remote adapters and the far ends of the panel to achieve the best possible speeds.