Owners of fixed, wired-only devices
A desktop, music streamer, TV, console or other stationary device needs an Ethernet connection in a room away from the router. Connection predictability matters more to you than avoiding a cable at all costs.
Who needs a remote Ethernet connection?
Households avoiding a new cable route
You need an Ethernet port upstairs but cannot, or would rather not, run a visible cable between rooms. Powerline may be an option if the intended wall sockets and electrical circuit are suitable.
Households also upgrading nearby Wi-Fi
You need a port for one wired device and would also make use of Wi-Fi near it. A mesh satellite could address both needs if the exact unit has an available Ethernet port and a suitable connection back to the router.
What should you check before choosing?
Compare a safe, acceptable cable route with the less disruptive alternatives before buying equipment. Moving compatible network equipment may also shorten the cable needed, but only if the broadband connection and household layout allow it.
Direct Ethernet cable
Choose when: A cable can reach the device by a safe, acceptable route; add a switch at the remote end only if more ports are needed.
Trade-off: Concealing or permanently routing the cable may involve trunking, drilling or installation work.
Powerline adapters
Choose when: You want to try a connection between rooms without running a new data cable, and suitable wall sockets are available at both ends.
Trade-off: The result depends on the property’s electrical wiring and must be tested at the sockets you intend to use.
Mesh with an Ethernet-equipped satellite
Choose when: You also want Wi-Fi near the device and can place a compatible satellite where its link to the router works well.
Trade-off: The device plugs into Ethernet, but the satellite’s connection back to the router may still be wireless.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Connection predictability | Check whether a direct cable route is acceptable and whether the device location needs more than one Ethernet port. | When my fixed device depends on Ethernet, I would favour a straightforward connection even if routing a cable takes work. Around 38% of consumers put connection predictability first. |
| Avoiding a new cable route | For powerline, check the intended wall sockets and electrical circuit; for mesh, assess satellite placement. | I need a port upstairs without a conspicuous cable through finished rooms, but I can test whether an alternative works there. Avoiding that cable is the primary concern for around 31% of consumers. |
| Ethernet alongside local Wi-Fi | Confirm that the exact mesh satellite has a spare Ethernet port and is compatible with the planned system. | If nearby wireless devices also need coverage, I want the remote unit to serve them without leaving my wired device disconnected. Around 23% of consumers put this combined need first. |
| Keeping setup simple | Check whether the broadband connection, router position and available power sockets permit moving compatible equipment. | I would rather move equipment than add another system if the router can still connect to broadband and reach the device. Around 8% of consumers primarily want to minimise extra hardware. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating a powerline speed figure as your expected speed
The advertised maximum does not tell you how the adapters will perform on your home’s electrical wiring. Socket choice and electrical interference can affect the usable connection.
Try a two-adapter kit at the actual router and device locations, plugged directly into wall sockets, and assess the connection with the device you intend to use.
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Checking mesh Wi-Fi coverage but not the satellite’s port
Better Wi-Fi coverage alone cannot connect an Ethernet-only device. The remote satellite needs an available Ethernet LAN port.
Check the exact satellite specification and count the ports available to the device, particularly if you plan to use Ethernet backhaul.
Connecting several wired devices at that location may also require a separate network switch.
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Assuming any add-on satellite will work with your router
Mesh add-ons can depend on a particular router or product family. NETGEAR, for example, says Orbi add-on satellites must be compatible with the existing Orbi router or system.
Check the manufacturer’s compatibility guidance for both model numbers before choosing an add-on rather than a complete system.
An incompatible add-on may mean changing the router or choosing a matching mesh system instead.
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Overlooking a workable direct cable route
A cable may solve the device’s Ethernet requirement without adding powerline or mesh equipment. Ofcom advises that a direct Ethernet connection to the router should be faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi.
Map a safe route around doorways and skirting before deciding. If permanent building work is involved, check the requirements applicable to the property before proceeding.
Relevant brands to consider
TP-Link
TP-Link has powerline kits for a remote Ethernet endpoint and Deco mesh systems for setups that may use Ethernet backhaul, depending on the model.
- Its TL-PA7017 KIT is specified with one Gigabit Ethernet port, which is relevant to connecting a single wired device.
- TP-Link says a basic powerline network needs at least two units on the same electrical circuit. For Deco, check the exact satellite ports and backhaul instructions.
devolo
devolo’s Magic 1 LAN range is relevant when you want a wired endpoint supplied through a compatible powerline setup.
- devolo identifies wired devices as intended endpoints for Magic 1 LAN and says the model can be expanded with adapters in the Magic series.
- devolo excludes dLAN-series compatibility for this Magic model and warns that using power strips with other devices can reduce the data rate.
NETGEAR
NETGEAR’s Orbi range is relevant when a compatible mesh satellite can provide Ethernet near the device; supported setups can also use Ethernet backhaul.
- NETGEAR describes Ethernet backhaul between an Orbi router and satellite, giving households with a suitable cable route another way to connect the mesh units.
- NETGEAR says an add-on Orbi satellite must be compatible with the existing Orbi router or system. Check the exact satellite’s available ports as well.
Powerline and mesh products on Joybuy
These products offer powerline or mesh routes to an Ethernet connection in another room. Compare their connection method and the port you need at the device before deciding whether either route suits your home.
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TP-Link TL-WPA8631P KIT AV1300 Gigabit Powerline Wi-Fi Extender Kit
Consider this powerline kit if you want to try providing Ethernet away from the router without a new room-to-room data cable, while also wanting Wi-Fi at the remote unit.
The title specifies Gigabit Ethernet and Powerline Wi-Fi; AV1300 is a product rating, not a promise of the speed at your device. Check the intended wall sockets and circuit, then test the connection where you will use it.
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NETGEAR Orbi 370 RBE373 BE3600 WiFi 7 Mesh System, 3-Pack, White
Consider this mesh system if you also want Wi-Fi near the remote wired device. Confirm that the satellite you intend to place there has an available Ethernet port and can maintain a suitable link to the router.
The product title specifies a dual-band, three-unit system and 2.5Gbps Ethernet; those specifications do not establish the connection speed or backhaul arrangement in your home.
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TP-Link TL-PA8010P KIT AV1300 Gigabit Passthrough Powerline Adapter Kit
Consider this powerline kit if a wired endpoint in another room is your main need and you would prefer not to route a new data cable between rooms.
The title specifies Gigabit Ethernet and a passthrough socket. AV1300 is an advertised powerline rating rather than the speed you should expect at home; check the circuit arrangement and test the intended wall sockets.
Frequently asked questions
Will powerline adapters work between a downstairs router and an upstairs room?
They may work, but the floor layout alone cannot tell you how well. TP-Link says a basic powerline network needs two units on the same electrical circuit, so test the intended wall sockets with the device you plan to connect rather than relying on the advertised maximum rate.
Can I plug powerline adapters into an extension lead?
Use free wall sockets for setup and testing where possible. devolo warns that power strips shared with other devices can result in a low data rate.
Will any mesh satellite give my wired-only device Ethernet?
No: the exact satellite needs an available Ethernet LAN port, and an add-on must be compatible with the intended mesh system. NETGEAR says Orbi add-on satellites require a compatible Orbi router or system rather than working as standalone Wi-Fi extenders.
Does plugging my device into a mesh satellite make the whole connection wired?
Only the connection from your device to the satellite is necessarily wired. If the satellite communicates wirelessly with the router, that part of the route remains wireless; Ethernet backhaul instead requires a cable between the mesh units.