Sometime last year I reviewed Devolo’s AVeasy which claimed easy home networking and, undoubtedly, they were right about that. Just to recap what that product does, it uses the electricity cables in your home to carry a signal from one room to another and enables you to share an internet connection or create a network between computers.
I had been impressed by the concept and its ease of use then so what could they have possibly changed with the dLAN 200 AVplus?

I opened the dLAN 200 AVplus  box to find the simple looking diagram, two adapter plugs, two Ethernet cables and a CD containing software and a manual.  It was at this point that I noticed exactly what the change was but I’ll come to that in a moment.  I plugged one adapter into a wall socket and attached the Ethernet cable from my broadband router to it then I popped into the kitchen with the other adapter and attached my laptop with the other Ethernet cable. Within seconds I was surfing the internet.  So no changes over how easy it is then!

But what is it then that has made Devolo bring out a new product almost identical to the AVeasy and call it AVplus - just what is the plus?!  As I said it became apparent to me as soon as I had removed the adapter plugs from their packaging.  With the AVeasy once you had plugged the adapter into a wall socket, you had lost the use of the socket to it.  But now the AVplus adapters come with an integrated electrical socket which enables additional power plugs or multiple sockets to connect to them just like a normal wall socket and so no power supply is lost. These days when we seem to need so many power sockets for our electrical items this is an absolutely brilliant and welcome addition!  Not to mention that they also claim that the integrated mains filter improves data transmission in the home network.

With carbon footprints and saving energy on everybody’s mind these days I should also point out that Devolo’s patented power saving mode automatically uses up to 60% less power and it seems they are committed to being as green as possible with their products.

Yet again it’s a thumbs up for Devolo and their easy to use product with a fantastic addition!

Website: www.devolo.co.uk RRP: £119.99

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