Hexus.net take a further look at the devolo's MicroLink dLAN Highspeed Starter Kit, with a claimed nominal speed of 85Mbps.

If you fancy mains-borne networking but don't currently see the need to be punting much media around the home, then devolo sells lower-cost adaptors that offer lower data rates. The headline figure is 14Mbps but we'd reckon they do about 1.5Mbps and that's plenty right now for sharing internet connections and printers. These adaptors also have one advantage over the kit we've been reviewing - the PCs you use them with don't have to Ethernet ports because the adaptors can connect to a PC by USB or by Ethernet.

With ADSL-2 just around the corner, though, along with the prospect of high-def TV over IP, it could be argued that even the Highspeed devolo kit will soon be too slow. And that, of course, is why members of the HomePlug Alliance, including devolo, will be launching a faster variant later this year - HomePlug AV, nominally rated at 200Mbps.