Home gateways and powerline networks

In the midst of a boom in broadband-related applications including IPTV, VoIP, and other IP services, HomePlug and powerline networking devices are still something of a mystery to consumers. TDG Research found in its latest study, Familiarity, Use and Demand for Home Networks 2010 that first-time network buyers are getting scarce, and postulates that lack of knowledge of the benefits of home networking is one of the key issues in the decline.

With that in mind, it's no surprise that powerline networking companies are calling more attention to themselves these days, and it's a great time to do so. CPE providers like Actiontec, ZyXEL and Cisco are releasing devices that meet the requirements of increasingly fast broadband speeds. Here's a few of the powerline networking and gateway options out on the edge of this segment.