I compared local area network bandwidth between the NETGEAR Powerline Ethernet Adapter model XAVB101 and CAT5e with gigabit Ethernet switches. I conducted 6 tests, 3 on each transmission medium. I used the commonly used network testing tool
iperf.
Bottom line: Pull CAT5e wire or better when feasible.
Below is a table of the bandwidth results.
CAT5e | Powerline Ethernet |
637 Mbits/sec | 73.4 Mbits/sec |
629 Mbits/sec | 74.0 Mbits/sec |
612 Mbits/sec | 74.5 Mbits/sec |
My tests were conducted to favor the Powerline Ethernet adapter. I placed the two Powerline Ethernet adapters within 8 feet of each other in the same room. No extension cords were involved. The CAT5e circuit was a couple of hundred feet and include 2 Ethernet switches between the computers.
Here is the raw output from the
iperf
command:
Ethernet Over Power
htplainf@fe0:~$ iperf -c 192.168.1.5
------------------------------------------------------------
Client connecting to 192.168.1.5, TCP port 5001
TCP window size: 16.0 KByte (default)
------------------------------------------------------------
[ 3] local 192.168.1.6 port 34985 connected with 192.168.1.5 port 5001
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth
[ 3] 0.0-10.2 sec 88.9 MBytes 73.4 Mbits/sec
htplainf@fe0:~$ iperf -c 192.168.1.5
------------------------------------------------------------
Client connecting to 192.168.1.5, TCP port 5001
TCP window size: 16.0 KByte (default)
------------------------------------------------------------
[ 3] local 192.168.1.6 port 34986 connected with 192.168.1.5 port 5001
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth
[ 3] 0.0-10.1 sec 89.0 MBytes 74.0 Mbits/sec
htplainf@fe0:~$ iperf -c 192.168.1.5
------------------------------------------------------------
Client connecting to 192.168.1.5, TCP port 5001
TCP window size: 16.0 KByte (default)
------------------------------------------------------------
[ 3] local 192.168.1.6 port 34987 connected with 192.168.1.5 port 5001
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth
[ 3] 0.0-10.1 sec 90.2 MBytes 74.5 Mbits/sec
CAT5
htplainf@fe0:~$ iperf -c 192.168.1.5
------------------------------------------------------------
Client connecting to 192.168.1.5, TCP port 5001
TCP window size: 16.0 KByte (default)
------------------------------------------------------------
[ 3] local 192.168.1.6 port 41387 connected with 192.168.1.5 port 5001
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth
[ 3] 0.0-10.0 sec 760 MBytes 637 Mbits/sec
htplainf@fe0:~$ iperf -c 192.168.1.5
------------------------------------------------------------
Client connecting to 192.168.1.5, TCP port 5001
TCP window size: 16.0 KByte (default)
------------------------------------------------------------
[ 3] local 192.168.1.6 port 41388 connected with 192.168.1.5 port 5001
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth
[ 3] 0.0-10.0 sec 750 MBytes 629 Mbits/sec
htplainf@fe0:~$ iperf -c 192.168.1.5
------------------------------------------------------------
Client connecting to 192.168.1.5, TCP port 5001
TCP window size: 16.0 KByte (default)
------------------------------------------------------------
[ 3] local 192.168.1.6 port 41469 connected with 192.168.1.5 port 5001
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth
[ 3] 0.0-10.0 sec 729 MBytes 612 Mbits/sec
htplainf@fe0:~$
Here are the specs on the Ethernet adapter in the client computer. Notice it has negotiated at a gig with the Ethernet switch.
htplainf@fe0:~$ sudo ethtool eth0
[sudo] password for htplainf:
Settings for eth0:
Supported ports: [ MII ]
Supported link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
1000baseT/Full
Supports auto-negotiation: Yes
Advertised link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
1000baseT/Full
Advertised pause frame use: No
Advertised auto-negotiation: Yes
Link partner advertised link modes: Not reported
Link partner advertised pause frame use: No
Link partner advertised auto-negotiation: No
Speed: 1000Mb/s
Duplex: Full
Port: MII
PHYAD: 3
Transceiver: external
Auto-negotiation: on
Supports Wake-on: g
Wake-on: g
Link detected: yes
Here are the specs on the Ethernet adapter in the client computer when connected to the Powerline adapter. Notice it has negotiated at 100Mb/s.
htplainf@fe0:~$ sudo ethtool eth0
Settings for eth0:
Supported ports: [ MII ]
Supported link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
1000baseT/Full
Supports auto-negotiation: Yes
Advertised link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
1000baseT/Full
Advertised pause frame use: No
Advertised auto-negotiation: Yes
Link partner advertised link modes: Not reported
Link partner advertised pause frame use: No
Link partner advertised auto-negotiation: No
Speed: 100Mb/s
Duplex: Full
Port: MII
PHYAD: 3
Transceiver: external
Auto-negotiation: on
Supports Wake-on: g
Wake-on: g
Link detected: yes