Powerline adapters for IPTV streaming: worth it or not?

[OliviaStream]

I cannot run an Ethernet cable to my TV room because the walls are solid brick and the landlord will not allow drilling. I have heard powerline adapters are a good alternative. Has anyone actually used them for IPTV and are they reliable enough?

 

[NvidiaShield_Greg]

I have used powerline adapters for IPTV streaming for two years. The short answer: yes, they are reliable enough for HD IPTV including 1080p content, with some caveats. You need to buy quality adapters (TP-Link or Devolo), plug them directly into wall sockets (not extension leads), and ensure they are on the same electrical circuit.

 

[SuzieQ_Tech]

The key requirement is that both powerline adapters must be on the same electrical ring. In UK homes, the ground floor and first floor are usually on separate rings. Adapters across different rings may not work at all, or will have very poor performance. Test with both plugged into sockets on the same floor first.

 

[HelenNet]

Speed will be lower than direct Ethernet but consistency is far better than Wi-Fi. My TP-Link AV1000 kit gives me about 180–220 Mbps actual throughput which is more than enough for 4K IPTV streams. More importantly, the packet loss is near zero.

 

[DianaTV]

Australia user — tried powerline in an older house. Very inconsistent results because the house wiring was old and poorly shielded. Ended up using MoCA adapters instead since the house had existing coaxial cable runs from a previous pay TV installation. MoCA gave excellent performance.

 

[AndroidBox_Tim]

Canada — powerline worked well in my apartment building until the building started having power quality issues. Added a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) between the adapter and the wall and the performance stabilised. Not necessary for most situations but worth knowing if powerline performance is erratic.

 

[MAG_Mitch]

What about those Wi-Fi extenders with Ethernet ports? Could I use one of those instead?

 

[DNSfixer]

Wi-Fi extenders with Ethernet ports are significantly worse than powerline for streaming. The device connects to your router wirelessly (already introducing latency and packet loss potential) and then passes that wireless connection through its Ethernet port. You are not getting a wired connection — you are getting a wired connection to a wirelessly-connected device. Powerline is far superior for this use case.

 

[KarenStream]

The only time a Wi-Fi extender with Ethernet makes sense is if you are getting excellent Wi-Fi from the extender specifically and your original Wi-Fi is weak. But even then, powerline directly to the device is better.

 

[StreamKing]

New Zealand — used powerline for 18 months without a single streaming issue. TP-Link AV600. Plugged both into wall sockets on the ground floor ring. Consistent 90–100 Mbps throughput, zero packet loss measured. For my 1080p IPTV use case it is completely transparent.

 

[VPNguru]

Bottom line for OP: powerline is a good solution for your situation. Get a TP-Link AV600 or AV1000 kit, plug both units directly into wall sockets, ensure they are on the same electrical ring, and test before your return window closes.