Amazon.com Product Review
With the NETGEAR XEB1004 Powerline Ethernet Switch Kit, you can extend your home network by turning any existing electrical outlet into a network connection for up to four Ethernet-enabled devices. Now you don't have to worry about long, tangled cables running through your house, or weak wireless signals. The Powerline switch will turn any electrical outlet into a network connection that will connect your game consoles, PCs, DVRs, network storage devices and more to your network.
 | The NETGEAR XEB1004 Powerline Ethernet Switch Kit: - Lets you create a network connection anywhere you have an electrical outlet.
- Creates a network compatible with Homeplug 1.0 Powerline devices.
- Ensures secure transmission with data encryption.
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Create a network using existing electrical wiring in your home. View larger. |
 See how a Powerline network works. |
Plug and Play Simplicity The XEB1004 Powerline Ethernet Switch Kit works with existing wireless or wired routers and gateways. Simply plug one of the Powerline adapters in a wall outlet next to your router, and a second included 4-port Powerline Adapter into a wall outlet next to the device you want to connect to the network, and you're ready to go. You can add more Powerline adapters to your network as necessary (the single unit is XE104.) There's no software to install, no passwords to remember, and no configuration whatsoever. And for the ultimate in convenience, the switch has easy-to-read icon LEDs for at-a-glance status information.
The XEB1004 Powerline Ethernet Switch Kit is Homeplug 1.0 compatible, so you can create more networks by using other Homeplug 1.0 compatible Powerline devices, such as the NETGEAR XE104, XE103.
Fast Performance For Streaming Video The XEB1004 Powerline Ethernet Switch Kit supports network speeds of up to 85 Mbps, fast enough for multiple video streams without any hiccups. You can use the adapter kit to connect computers, gaming consoles, Slingbox, digital video recorders, network attached storage, and other network devices that require high bandwidth.
The data is encrypted as well to ensure privacy and security. The Powerline Kit is compatible with Windows Vista. To enable data encryption to ensure privacy and security, Windows Vista, XP, or 2000 is required. The NETGEAR XEB1004 Powerline Ethernet Switch Kit is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box Two 85 Mbps Powerline Ethernet Adapters, 5-foot Ethernet cable, installation guide, setup CD, warranty card, support and information card.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
(39 customer reviews) 23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
It Actually Works!,
October 9, 2008 Costa Rodis (Northern New Jersey) - See all my reviews
This review is from: NETGEAR XEB1004-100NAS Xeb1004 85Mpbs Switch (Personal Computers)
Before trying the Netgear Powerline 85MBPS kit, I was highly skeptical of its professed ability to use home power lines for computer networking. Having tried earlier attempts of this technology, I assumed the worse. Only a few reviews I had read led me to try it again.
Once you have two units plugged in, and connected to your computer and router, it can take anywhere from a couple minutes to nearly an hour for communication to be enabled. Over the next half-hour or so, speeds tend to increase as the units filter noise and find the best methodology for communicating over your home's electrical system.
Now that I've installed this kit in a number of homes, I can attest that it works largely as advertised. But keep in mind that it won't work in all homes, and rarely in a commercial building (not recommended). It all depends on the topography of the electrical system and the amount of noise on the lines. If large electrical motors are in operation, for example,...Read more
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
As simple as it can get!,
January 2, 2009 S. Cherukuri (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: NETGEAR XEB1004-100NAS Xeb1004 85Mpbs Switch (Personal Computers)
UDPATE: It's been 2.5 years since I bought these and I am happy to report that they are still working after several lightening storms in our area.
I bought this item since I needed four network connections near my entertainment center. One for Dishnetwork DVR, one for Samsung LCD, one for PS3 and one extra for streaming movies from my PC. I connected one of the switches in basement to my router and one near the TV. That is all it takes. It works great. My only concern is its capacity to withstand power surges since this needs to be connected directly to the wall and not through a surge protector. Only time will tell.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
I was looking for EXACTLY this product,
November 8, 2009 K. Ghosh "KG" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: NETGEAR XEB1004-100NAS Xeb1004 85Mpbs Switch (Personal Computers)
I usually avoid Netgear products after bad experience with my old wireless-G router and I had since switched to a basic Linksys N-Router. My house is pretty big and the router and my living room and master is over 100 feet and 2 exterior walls apart. So when I got the Linksys N router I thought my wireless hiccups will finally go away.
Despite the hype about N, I still can't get excellent connection using N routers (not dual band) and G/N-cards. So I decided to switch to wired PowerLine adapters and given them a try. I needed to also connect my Blue-Ray player and Sling-Box which only afccepts ethernet connection that i don;t have in my living room.
So I started looking for Powerline products and I found in this area NETGEAR leads LinkySys in innovation and quality. The products have matured a lot since those slow 14Mbps adapters. I had a special need in that , I wanted both Transmitting and Receiving ends of the kit to have more than 4 ports.
XEB1004 is the...Read more