NETGEAR does not recommend Powerline for businesses due to uncertainties making it difficult to promise satisfactory performance. However many businesses will find it an inexpensive solution to implement networking with no costly changes to wiring infrastructure. Powerline has other advantages, among them that once connections are established, you will probably find the units stay connected without transmission drop-outs.

Here’s a recommended approach to assess Powerline for your business environment:

Buy three XE102’s. Do these tests:

1) Make sure you can establish a connection between two power outlets in the same room. The distance the Powerline units can be placed apart in an electrical system is limited by the noise in your company’s electrical wiring. Interference may be intermittent, for example highest at one time of day, or one day of the week.

2) Gradually increase the distance between Powerline units. Your testing will determine whether the distances you can achieve. In clean environments you may find NETGEAR products work over a considerably greater distance than advertised.

3) If there are problem areas, have a qualified electrician review the building’s electrical plans, assessing the noise conditions for each phase of the power. Pay special attention to the electrical noise generated by:

• Air conditioning
• Florescent lights, particularly industrial grade lights
• Refrigerators
• Surge protectors and other line filters and conditioning
• Blowers
• Large electrical motors

Doc: N101233.asp Oct. 25, 2003