TP-Link AV1200 Powerline Extender

Design

The TP-Link TL-WPA8630 is a subtle white, square box with rounded corners that might easily be mistaken for a plug-in air freshener if it weren’t for its large size and rotatable antennas on both sides. Its functionality is very close to that of a WiFi extender so you have the familiar LED lights and a “pairing” button instead of a WPS button. Unlike most WiFi extenders the TL-WPA8630 has no less than 3 1GB Ethernet ports on the bottom for direct wired connections to TVs, game consoles, or even a switch for additional network connections.

Features

The TP-Link AV1200 has the same basic capabilities of a dual-band WiFi router with theoretical maximum speeds of 450Mbs on the 2.4GHz network and 867Mbps on the 5GHz network. On the Powerline side, the 1200Mbps theoretical maximum wired speed can be even more “theoretical” than the WiFi side due to factors like the quality of the wiring in your home and electrical devices running at the time.

The TL-WPA8630 enters the realm of upper-echelon Powerline Ethernet extenders by employing single-user MIMO (Not MU-MIMO) and beamforming technology. The MIMO functionality works within HomePlug AV2 and has been shown to significantly improve data transfer rates, particularly during peak use hours.

WiFi Clone and WiFi Auto Sync – These features allow you to clone your extender to have the same WiFi SSID and password as your main WiFi router as well as add other extenders to the mix with the Auto Sync feature.

Performance

The performance of this device is highly dependent on a lot of factors. If the speed coming into the TP-Links input is hampered by multiple floors, poor quality wiring and interference from electrical devices in the home the devices connected will reflect it. For this reason, the performance of a Powerline extender can vary day-to-day or even hour-to-hour. Generally speaking, you’ll get the best performance from the Ethernet side of this device. WiFi performance is good only while in close proximity.

The TP-Link TL-WPA8630s Ethernet performance is equal to or better than most Ethernet-only Powerline extenders. This makes the Ethernet-only versions of the TP-Link AC1200 series of Powerline extenders more affordable options if a WiFi hotspot isn’t needed. A powerful Powerline extender with MIMO, Beamforming, and HomePlug AV2 support would be the best option if you wanted to connect a second WiFi router to your home network without the hassle of running Ethernet cables through your walls.

Flexibility

The TP-Link AV1200 series of Powerline adapters includes multiple configurations to choose from. The TL-WPA8630 features 3 Ethernet ports and WiFi capability. TP-Links other Powerline extenders don’t include WiFI but feature different combinations of Ethernet ports and AC Pass-Throughs.

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Installation

As with most Powerline extenders setup is simple. Simply plug the smaller device into an AC outlet near your WiFi router and press the WPS button on your router and the button on the extender. The WiFi routers’ settings will be copied or “cloned” over to the extender. There is also a mobile app and a web interface that allows you to add a more customized setup.

Conclusion

This device is best for Ethernet connections and WiFi devices that are in close proximity to the extender. The most important feature of this extender is that it has 3 1GB Ethernet ports. This device can be considered a top-notch Ethernet Powerline extender with an add-on option of WiFi connectivity. The TP-Link TL-WPA8630 and its fellow AC1200 Powerline series brethren are some of the better performers among Ethernet extenders but it’s slightly lacking on the WiFi side.

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