NetGear XWNB5201 Powerline 500 WiFi Access Point Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging & Bundle3. Testing methodology & Performance4. Conclusion5. View All Pages

Today we are taking a look at NetGear's XWNB5201 PowerLine 500 Wifi adapters. These powerline adapters promise to extend a WiFi network with wireless speeds up to 300 Mbps. Retailing for £79.00 inc vat. the XWNB5201 are expensive, but are they worth the investment?

Specifications Powerline 500 Wifi Access Point:

• IEEE® 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz 300 Mbps wireless interface.
• Dimensions: 76 x 67 x 400 mm (3.39 x 2.64 x 1.57 in).
• Weight: 168 g.

Specifications Powerline 500 Adapter:

• Dimensions: 67.05 x 55.11 x 34 mm (2.64 x 2.17 x 1.34 in).
• Weight: 85 g.

Specifications:

• One 500 Mbps Powerline interface each.
• One 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port each.
• Typical coverage up to 500 square meters. 
• HomePlug AV compliant.
• IEEE® 1901 compliant.
• IEEE®  802.3 compliant.
• WPS compatible.
• Pick-a-Plug LED.

The back of the box features a diagram detailing which adapters are most suitable for gaming, streaming and other activities.

NetGear ship the adapters in a white and red box with key features and a clear image of the adapters on the front.

The side of the box houses the list of specifications.

Included in the box are the two Powerline adapters, two CAT5 cables with RJ-45 connectors and a manual. The adapter on the left is the XAV5201 and connects to the modem or router. The bigger adapter is the XWN5001 which functions as the WiFi access point.

Starting with the XAV5201 we can see NetGear has chosen to keep the design clean and simple to help the adapter blend in with a user's interior. From top to bottom we can see three LEDs: Power, Pick-a-Plug and a LED to indicate a connection has been established.

The Pick-a-Plug LED is an interesting addition as it will change colour depending on signal quality. This helps users identify the best location for the adapter in the house.

Moving to the bottom there is an ethernet port and a Reset switch.

The XWN5001 is chunkier than the XAV5201 but has a similar design. The LED indicating an established connection has been replaced by an LED indicating the access point is active.

The left-hand houses the Reset and WPS buttons. We can also see the vented design which will help the adapter stay cool.

Finally, the bottom of the XWN5001 also holds an ethernet port in addition to an On/Off switch.

We used a simple set-up that is present in the majority of homes.

We plugged the XAV5201 into an isolated socket and connected it directly to our Sky Hub. The XWN5001 was plugged into another isolated socket. Once we confirmed both adapters were working correctly, we connected a PC using one of the supplied cables. We also connected a Samsung 370R5E notebook to test the wireless capabilities of the XWN5001.

All tests were performed on a 40 Mbps line. Background processes that use bandwidth were disabled.

To obtain a baseline reading we placed our laptop approximately 1 meter away from the XWN5001. Lower values indicate stronger performance.

Next, we moved 20 meters away, out the front door. Signal strength remained fairly strong. It is worth noting that three walls, three doors and our Sky Hub's WiFi network stood between us.

Finally, to test a more realistic scenario, we placed our laptop approximately 2.5 meters away in a room directly below the XWN5001. Signal strength remained strong throughout our tests and only deteriorated after we had moved outside the house.

To test bandwidth and the quality of the connection we used http://www.speedtest.net and http://www.pingtest.net. Each test was performed five times, after which we calculated the average speeds and ping times.

Using a server approximately 240 km from our location we received consistently strong results with our WiFi connection. Using a cable we nearly reached the full 40Mb/s available on the line.

Using a server approximately 240 km from our location again, ping times were relatively high for our WiFi connection. Using a cable the adapter fared better, averaging 37 ms.

We are very pleased with NetGear's XWNB5201 Powerline 500 WiFi Access Point kit. The build quality is excellent on both adapters and WiFi performance is certainly very strong.

NetGear's experience in the networking hardware sector has certainly paid off as the XWNB5201 PowerLine 500 WiFi Access Point kit can be unboxed and installed in a matter of minutes without the need for advanced configurations.

Although ping times were slightly higher than we would have liked to see, they did not hinder our day-to-day business. We imagine most enthusiast users would use the XWN5001 to connect their system with an ethernet cable whilst giving other users in the house a stronger wireless signal.

The current retail price of £79.00 puts it in a tough spot compared to the solutions offered by competitors such as TP-Link and D-Link, though performance is undeniable.

Pros:

• Excellent wireless performance.
• Solid build quality.
• True Plug ‘n Play.

Cons:

• Expensive.

KitGuru says:  A capable kit that does not disappoint. However it is expensive.

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