Do you need Ethernet in a room but you don’t want or can’t have cable running in? If the answer is yes you should take a look at this review.
This how devolo describe the dLAN 1200+:
“The latest Powerline generation – devolo dLAN 1200+. You can easily build today‘s most powerful home network over the power line: connect your network-compatible devices at speeds up to 1,200 Mbps for advanced data transmission and lightning-fast Internet access. Connecting your computer, TV or game console to the Internet via adapter with Gigabit LAN port is a breeze. The integrated range+technology ensures a stable connection with significantly longer range than before.”
Technical Data
What’s in the Box?
The box contains two adaptors, two Ethernet cables and an installation guide.
A Closer Look
Using the dLAN 1200+
Make sure you plug the adaptors directly into a wall socket and not into an extension cable.
Once the adaptors are connected up, and you have pressed the little button on the side of both to connect them you are good to go. I recommend downloading and installing the develo Cockpit software from their website (there is also an app too) so that you can make changes like naming the adaptors, turning off the LEDs if you need to and evening deactivating PowerSave mode.
A quick check showed me that there were firmware updates available for the adaptors, so I updated – this only takes a few moments.
The cockpit utility then shows the speed you are getting – in my case I got 524 Mbit/s although it also went higher (and occasionally lower), but overall I was very happy!
I had previously got in place the dLAN 500 AVplus which got me 244 Mbit/s per second. I used the same plug points and the same Ethernet cables in the test, so it just goes to show the new kit is significantly better.
Final Thoughts
For this review we had the starter kit which includes two adaptors, but you can also buy single adaptors.
I found it very simple and quick to plug in and getting paired – I was up and running in a matter of moments. The connection uses AED 128bit encryption to keep it secure.
I am really impressed with the speed of the adaptors, especially when compared with some of the previous devolo adaptors (which I was happy with previously).
Each adaptor also has a plug socked on it so that you don’t use valuable sockets plugging the adaptors in – just plug whatever you had in there before into the adaptor.
The manual is short but shows you pictures of everything you need to get up and running – the only thing to note is that the images in the manual are the wrong way up – they show the Ethernet port on the bottom of the adaptors, when in fact they are on the top (just check the picture above)!
devolo have also included a 3-year warranty so you are covered if anything goes wrong.
You can pick up the starter kit for under £120 now.
If you want Ethernet in different rooms in your house and you don’t want to, or can’t install Ethernet cabling then the develo dLAN 1200+ starter kit is a must addition to your setup – I can’t recommend it enough!
