Netgear XAVB1004 Home Theater 4-Port Powerline Switch Kit
Back before HDTVs, set-top boxes, consoles and Blu-ray players sprouted ethernet ports, the only people who needed a network hook-up near their AV kit were those with media streamers. Now one cable might not be enough, so Netgear have stepped into the fray with their XAVB1004 Home Theater Internet Connection kit. Consisting of a four-port ethernet switch with Powerline support, the kit funnels an internet connection across your mains wiring and shares it with multiple devices.
The Powerline system offers bandwidth up to 200Mbps (theoretically at least), which should be enough for VoIP use, HD video streaming and internet gaming. As for the Powerline adapters, two are included – one to send, one to receive – in the starter kit, and they're also compatible with any other HomePlug AV product.
Apparently available to order now (though not yet on Netgear's own site), the XAVB1004 kit is priced at $179.99. The individual components are also available separately for those who already have a Powerline system set up.
Press Release:
NETGEAR's Award-Winning Home Theater Internet Connection Kit Now AvailableNETGEAR today announced the availability of its latest 4-port powerline networking kit for turning electrical power outlets into high-speed Internet and home network connections.
Innovative Powerline Kit with Integrated 4-Port Switch Combines Performance, Ease-of-Use and Energy-Saving Features
NETGEAR(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically innovative, branded networking solutions, today announced the availability of its latest powerline networking kit for turning electrical power outlets into high-speed Internet and home network connections. As a 2009 CES Innovations Award winner, NETGEAR's Home Theater Internet Connection Kit (XAVB1004) makes it possible to connect multiple Ethernet-enabled entertainment devices — such as gaming consoles, Blu-ray(TM) players, HDTVs and media streaming set-top boxes — to the Internet and the home network simultaneously. Through a high-speed powerline connection of up to 200 Mbps, this powerline kit enables high-performance applications such as HD video streaming, Voice over IP (VoIP), Internet gaming and large file transfers to networked devices in the home theater.
The kit contains one Powerline AV Adapter with 4-port Ethernet Switch (XAV1004) and one Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter (XAV101). This "no new wires" powerline technology enables customers to carry high-speed data network traffic on their existing electrical wiring – using affordable, simple to install adapters. Additionally, advanced energy management capabilities provide automatic port- and device-level sleep modes and wake-on-activity functionality to reduce overall energy usage. The kit also incorporates several ease-of-use features: port-based Quality of Service (QoS) to ensure that the highest priority applications are allocated more bandwidth; Push-N-Secure to secure the Powerline AV network with the push of a button; and Pick-a-Plug, a multi-color LED to determine the strength of the powerline connection without having to look at a computer.
"Powerline has become more and more popular because of the growth of networked devices in the living room, and the high speeds and reliability that they require," said Chris Geiser, NETGEAR's product line manager for in-home distribution, consumer products. "We are now finding that customers have multiple networked devices in their living rooms that all need to be connected at the same time, making a 4-port switch at one end of the connection key. That is why NETGEAR has developed this powerline AV adapter kit with 4-port switch, Quality of Service features, and color-coded LEDs that easily display the strength of the powerline connection."
NETGEAR's Home Theater Internet Connection Kit is perfect for anyone who wants to extend their home network range, especially those who use Internet-connected devices that demand high bandwidth, such as NETGEAR's Digital Entertainer Elite (EVA9150; http://netgear.com/Products/Entertainment/DigitalMediaPlayers/EVA9150.aspx), Blu-ray Disc Players, TiVo(R), AppleTV(R), Xbox 360(TM), Sony Playstation 3(TM), DVR, Home Theater PC and Ethernet-enabled TVs. Easy to install, consumers simply plug the Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter (XAV101) into the router and connect up to four Ethernet-ready devices to the Powerline AV Adapter with 4-port Ethernet Switch (XAV1004).
The Home Theater Internet Connection Kit eliminates the need to add an external switch for connecting additional devices to the network by integrating a 4-Port Fast Ethernet (10/100) switch. The product is also the first 4-port powerline switch to use the Intellon(R) 6400 chipset, which provides higher performance than any existing 4-port powerline switch on the market. Because it is based on the HomePlug(R) AV standard, the Powerline AV Adapter with 4-Port Ethernet Switch (XAV1004) and Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter (XAV101) are compatible with — and can easily and affordably extend — any existing HomePlug AV network.
"Networked entertainment center devices and systems have been experiencing high growth in recent years," said Joyce Putscher, principal analyst for In-Stat. "No longer just for the wealthy, these solutions are in demand by average consumers, who want high definition content. Therefore, home theater products need constant, shared and faster access to the Internet and the home network. High-speed powerline offers an ideal solution for consumers who have challenges with wireless connectivity in certain parts of their homes, and the addition of a 4-port switch enables simultaneous connectivity to multiple devices in the same location."
NETGEAR's Home Theater Internet Connection Kit (XAVB1004) is now available worldwide through leading retailers, e-commerce sites and value-added resellers. The kit is backed by a one-year warranty and 24/7 technical support. The Home Theater Internet Connection Kit (XAVB1004), containing one Powerline AV Adapter with Ethernet Switch (XAV1004), one Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter (XAV101), two Ethernet cables, one AC power cord, an installation guide and a set-up CD, has an MSRP in the U.S. of $179.99. Additional NETGEAR Powerline AV devices, including the Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter (XAV101), Powerline AV Adapter with Ethernet Switch (XAV1004), and Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit (XAVB101)– winner of PC Magazine's Editor's Choice Award — can extend an existing Powerline AV network and have an MSRP in the U.S. of $69.99, $99.99, and $149.99 respectively.