Internet Sharing Device Offers Energy Savings

Original article by Zaher Karp on Matter Network a News Portal dedicated to Sustainability

Wi-Fi lets you work around the house or check kitchen recipes, but it does have its issues. Wi-Fi was recently outed as being slowed primarily by interference between devices, rather than congestion in an area, according to a recent report Estimating the Utilization of Key License-Exempt Spectrum Bands.

The new ePlug series from Hercules will connect users to the Internet without the potential for network interference by utilizing existing home electrical wiring, and it will save some power in the process.

Hercules’ device features smart chipsets that power down to standby mode, lowering consumption by 50 percent, and the company claims that it uses 20 percent less energy overall than competing products.

Once a router is connected to an electrical outlet via one of the Ethernet extending units, any paired ePlug in the house will be able to connect.

Linksys and D-Link produce similar devices, which lacked the power-saving or security functions of the ePlug. The ePlug, although replacing perfectly viable Wi-Fi and cable solutions (needlessly, one might say) could prove a pleasant alternative to wireless interference or if cables are simply to problematic or if you are extremely concerned about your ‘net security.

The ePlug is sold in pairs, offering 85 or 200 Mbps, for the price of an expensive router ($99-$149).

Eliane Fiolet
Categories: Computers, Green, Top Stories
Tags: internet, router, WiFi