Powerline AV 500 Nano Adapter (model TPL-406E) is the response of Actiontec PWR500 adapter Trendnet. The two are so similar that are almost like a device located in two different cases, and basically they offered the same performance in my tests.
Trendnet TPL-406E also has the same defect as their Actiontec counterpart: has a standard Ethernet network port. This means that despite its support for the standard of Powerline AV 500 500Mbps, adapter performance speed is limited to the regular Ethernet, which is 100 Mbps.
At a street price of around $35 (or $50 if you get a kit of two - TPL-406E2K), Trendnet TPL-406E makes a great purchase for those who want to venture into the field of power supply line for the first time. Alternatives, see the list of feed line adapters more top-rated.
Design, configuration and characteristics
Measures 6 x 3 x 6 inches, the Trendnet TPL-406E adapter is small and fits right in your Palm. It is not the smallest I've seen - is slightly larger than the Actiontec PWR500 - but call it supercompact would not be an exaggeration.
As Actiontec, the Trendnet TPL-406E has a design of snap-on, which is usually a problem with larger adapters since they block access to the adjacent outlet. This is not a problem with the TPL-406E, however, thanks to its small frame.
At the bottom, the device has a standard network port. This port, unfortunately, only supports the standard regular Ethernet, which caps to 100Mbps. If the adapter supports the standard Gigabit Ethernet much faster, it would be able to offer the maximum benefit of Powerline AV 500, which is up to 500Mbps data throughput speed. In its current state, most can be reached off Trendnet TPL-406E is the speed of regular Ethernet.
This type of help of the Ethernet standard rarity is not new, however; Actiontec PWR500 and the recently reviewed the ZyXel PLA4231 are in the same boat. According to Trendnet, this is because they share the same chip power line AR7420 of Qualcomm that trades Gigabit support for a lower price. Future chips will offer a higher speed, however.
As mentioned above, the Trendnet TPL-406E is available in either a single unit or in a kit of two. The reason for line power adaptors tend to come in a kit is that it takes at least two adapters to create the first power line connection. However, if your home is equipped with other feed line adapters, to add another connection device to the network only you must get a new adapter.
Trendnet TPL-406E works with other vendors line power adapters, but in this case, might need to disable the security on all adapters for them work together. This is because the safety feature can only operate between providers of the same line power adapters. Trendnet TPL-406E comes with a safety function itself, which can turn on and off by a little fair button beside your network port. This is a useful feature for those who live in an apartment building that you want to make sure that your network at home will not be shared by accident with people in other apartments that also use power line adaptors.