Last Updated on May 1, 2024 by Daniel Osakwe
The TP-Link AV2000 Powerline Adapter is a simple and cheap solution for connecting your router to your home network. It’s easy to set up and works well in a basic home environment. But is it enough to get the job done? Read on to find out.
Table of Contents
TP-Link AV2000 Powerline Adapter: Design
The AV2000 from TP-Link is a bulky beast. Considering it houses some powerful technology, its size makes sense, but it does not lessen the burden of using it. At 1.9 pounds, the plug is top-heavy and has a decent depth, which makes it quite obstructive in your plug socket, wherever you place it.
It doesn’t blend well with established interior design aesthetics and stands out like a bright white sore thumb, especially in your living room. Because of its size, it shouldn’t be moved around the house very often. The bulk is usually the price you pay for improving your network. Alternatively, you could run a terribly long Ethernet cable throughout your house, which isn’t an ideal solution.
Since the plug part of the adapter is at the top of the plastic, only the bottom of the device sticks out. When using a standard two- or four-socket plug setup, all you have to do is plug the adapter into the topmost row of sockets to avoid any obstruction.
The Ethernet ports are also at the bottom of the device, but you can turn the adapter upside down to avoid obstructing any other sockets you may have already occupied. TP-Link AV2000’s most unique design feature is the addition of a plug socket on the front. In this way, you don’t lose the utility of a plug point, allowing you to plug game consoles, TVs, and other electronic devices into the front of the Powerline device (up to 16A) without having to sacrifice another wall socket.
Specs
- Product Name: AV2000 Powerline Adapter
- Product Brand: TP-Link
- UPC0162500417
- Product Dimensions: 2.8 x 5.2 x 1.7 in.
- Ports: Ethernet
TP-Link AV2000 Powerline Adapter: Setup Process
On the market, almost every Powerline kit focuses on its plug-and-play capability. For the whole Wi-Fi extending market, speed and ease of installation are key, which is why it’s important that Powerline kits understand this and do it right, so they can be a viable alternative to Wi-Fi extenders or other similar network-enhancing devices.
TP-Link’s AV2000 is easy to use and clean to operate. All you have to do is connect the Ethernet cable from the router to the device and plug the first unit in as close as possible to your router. Plugin the other device near the devices you want to improve the network speed on once that is sorted. A smart TV and a collection of games consoles in your living room are best connected together so you can use both wired connections.
You’ll be pleased to learn that the Ethernet cable you receive in the TP-Link AV2000 box is long and strong. Even though they won’t stretch across a room, you won’t have trouble connecting your devices due to their close proximity to the plugs. After that’s been done, all you need to do is click the pair button on both devices, and all three green lights should turn solid, enabling the Powerline network. The process goes smoothly as long as you’re not obstructing anything.
TP-Link AV2000 Powerline Adapter: Performance
Let’s talk about power now. After using the TP-Link kit for a month, we have experienced some ups and downs. In terms of raw performance, the adapter is fantastic. With a download speed of 68.4Mbps and an upload speed of 3.6Mbps, our wireless network was already fairly capable.
By plugging in the gigabit Ethernet connection on the TP-Link kit, we were able to get a speed of 104.9Mbps download and 6Mbps upload, with a ping of under 10 milliseconds. The result is stunning for gaming and streaming, almost doubling our capacity and improving the streaming experience dramatically, particularly at 4K. The Steam Link or Nvidia Shield systems can be used to stream games from a home PC to another room on the TV, for example.
We were able to utilize the true power of our home network with the Powerline system. Our workflow often shifted between our home consoles and laptops. Streaming Netflix on one device while working on another without lag was easy and we were able to download files and multitask.
Additionally, the device has 128-bit AES encryption, so it’s extremely secure. The highest speed limit is 2000 Mbps, which is much more than you’ll need, and the range is 300 meters, which is perfect for a house with two stories. All you need is direct access to a power source. Extension cords won’t work with this.
It is also possible to reduce consumption by up to 85 percent with the TP-Link kit if you’re energy-conscious.
Despite our best efforts, we did encounter a few issues with the Powerline network, specifically with the plug sockets and maintaining a solid connection. Our adapter hit a brick wall after a solid red light appeared in the middle of the three green LEDs after a few weeks. Unplugging and replugging the wall socket was the only solution.
This had nothing to do with where the plug is placed in the house, just a strange error that reappeared after we had been away from home for a few days, even in a different plug socket. Sadly, this turned the adapter into something you often have to fix infrequently rather than something you can simply leave to work on its own. Our experience may vary depending on your electricity network, but we can only speak to our own.
The Competition: (TP-Link AV2000 Powerline Adapter vs. Netgear Powerline 1200)
Compared to other Powerline adapters we reviewed, such as the Netgear Powerline 1200, the TP-Link AV 2000 stands out in the market. In addition to providing speeds up to 2Gbps over Netgear’s 1.2Gbps, it also has double the Ethernet ports for device connectivity and a neater design that won’t obstruct other plugs.
We didn’t encounter any connectivity issues with the Netgear adapter, which made it more reliable during testing. Obviously, your mileage may vary, and the issues we had were quickly resolved, but they are annoying when they occur repeatedly.
Pros and Cons
| What We Like | What We Don’t Like |
| Generally good design | Some plug switching issues |
| Doubles as a plug point | |
| Incredible wired speeds |
Final Verdict
The TP-Link AV2000 is a high-quality and well-priced Powerline adapter. It comes with Ethernet cables, a plug point, and incredible speeds that will revolutionize your home’s internet access. It was hampered by a few small design flaws and intermittent, but frustrating connectivity issues. If you’re new to Powerline and want a kit that’s easy to use and works with your other electronic devices, we still recommend it.
