Devolo 1409 dLAN 200 AV Wireless-N Starter Kit

I have a large, old house with thick walls and found that my excellent Netgear N router simply couldn't provide wireless connection to all of the rooms, especially upstairs. For various reasons, I couldn't relocate my router to a more central location in the house and I didn't want wires trailing about. The Devolo 1409 dLAN 200 AV Wireless-N Starter Kit has solved the problem in a very neat, unobtrusive way. I am not in any way knowledgeable about networks and was rather nervous about how easy I'd find the installation but there were no problems at all.

The instructions are really straightforward - just a sheet with a diagram and that's really all you need. You connect the smaller Devolo plug to your router using the Ethernet cable supplied and then you plug it in to a nearby electric socket. You then connect the second, larger Devolo plug to an electric socket somewhere else in your house. In my case, I sited the second Devolo plug in the hallway, as it seemed the most central point. You take the password (case sensitive) from the back of the second plug. Afterwards you can change that password to one of your choice, if you want to. There is a CD that has a manual etc. I had it all set up within a few minutes of opening the package and found that I had a good wireless Internet connection throughout the house.

You end up with a second wireless network. So I now have a choice of two wireless networks and the Devolo one is the one I choose if I want to get online when the signal from my Netgear router is simply too weak or non-existent.

Although it's not cheap, this has been just the perfect way to extend my wireless network and I couldn't be more delighted with my purchase. It has a three year warranty, too, so you really can't go wrong. I am happy to recommend this product - it's really fantastic.

The Devolo 1409 dLan 200 AV Wireless N starter kit is a great piece of gear which lets you set up a broadband network using the electrical wiring system in your house. It allows you to connect equipment wirelessly to this network or set up wired connections using ethernet cable.

In the box you will find two white plastic plugs which will fit into standard 13amp house sockets, a length of ethernet cable, a quick start guide and a CD which contains detailed set up instructions and a 54 page e-manual. Upgrading and adding to an existing Devolo network, I expected the set up to be a breeze. It turned out to be a bit of a nightmare of my own making. Perhaps I was too confident. I did, however, find the accompanying quick start guide rather ambiguous and confusing; and the manual very detailed, but intimidating, to begin with. Actually, the set up IS extremely SIMPLE. Let me try and help you not repeat my own experience.

If you look at the underside of the smaller of the two plugs, you will find only one ethernet socket. You connect one end of the ethernet cable provided to this socket. The other end you connect to an ethernet socket in your internet router. The larger of the two plugs has three ethernet sockets on the underside. Plug the large plug into another power socket and switch on the power at both sockets. For ease of set up, both sockets can be in the one room. You will observe green coloured lights beginning to flash on both plugs. It takes a little time, but you should eventually see a group of 3 green lights showing on each plug. On the smaller plug these will show horizontally across the bottom of the front plate. On the larger plug, the lights will show vertically. Once you have these displays, the network is configured and is up an running. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THESE DISPLAYS don't panic. On the underside of the smaller plug, next to the ethernet cable socket, you will find a little button. PRESS THIS! On the front plate of the larger plug you will find a vertical row of little buttons at the bottom right corner. PRESS THE BOTTOM BUTTON! After a moment or two, and some flashing green lights, the lights should settle down into the configuration display. If you cannot get configuration, check out the manual or 'phone the Devolo technical helpline. The technicians and very friendly and helpful, but you can experience communication problems. They are based in Germany.

Once you have configuration, you can then remove the larger of the two plugs from its socket and plug it into any other socket you want anywhere in your home. By using additional ethernet cable, (not supplied) you can then connect a wide range of devices which need a broadband connection. You simply plug one end of the cable into the device and the other into one of the three ethernet sockets on the underside of the big plug. You are now on line. This wired connection is known as a dLAN one.

If you want to connect wirelessy to your new network, by wLAN, you will have to go to the 'Settings' part of your device and seek out networks. Your Devolo network should then show. Selecting it, you will find that you require to submit a passwork before you can access the network. WHAT PASSWORD? The password you are looking for is the security ID which you will find on the back of the large plug! It consist of 4 groups of four letters. They are case sensitive and when you enter them you have to separate them using a - symbol. You only have to do this once. Previous Devolo kits came without a security set-up and relied on the buyer to set one up. This one comes with factory set security. Once up and running, this network provides a safe operating environment.

I purchased this pack hoping to ge improved WiFi capability for my iPad and to obtain a good quality TV picture via my BBC Freesat from BBC iPlayer. Both my hopes have been realised. I live in an old cottage with thick walls. My previous Devolo set up gave my a good WiFi in my bedroom signal provided the secondary unit was plugged in to a bedroom socket. I now get equally great WiFi reception on the iPad although the larger plug is now plugged into a socket in my sitting room, some distance away.

I am delighted with my recent purchase and would thoroughly recommend it.

I live in an old house with thick walls that is pretty WiFi-unfriendly. With the increasing number of WiFi-enabled devices in the house (2 x laptops, iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone, Wii, PS/3) I needed a way to extend the coverage from my BT Home Hub. I had already used and been impressed by the older wired versions of the Devolo LAN extenders, so had high hopes for the wireless extender, and wasn't disappointed. In fact I had my first WiFi device accessing Google within 5 minutes of opening the box.

You just plug the non-WiFi adapter into a power socket near your internet router, then connect it to said router via the supplied ethernet cable. Then you plug in the WiFi extender into a power socket in the area where you want your WiFi hotspot, having noted down the Sec ID printed on the device. Finally, you get your WiFi device to search for available wireless networks. When it finds the Devolo, you key in the security code, and that's it - job done.

One point to note: the Sec ID consists of 16 letters in groups of 4, separated by dashes - something like ABCD-WXYZ-ABCD-WXYZ. You have to key in the dashes as part of the code.

My only slight gripe would be the price - at over £100 it is not exactly bargain of the year, but it does work well and couldn't be easier to set up.