Introduction

Extending your home Wi-Fi network can be a challenge, especially in older homes with poor wireless coverage. The TP-Link AV1000 Gigabit Powerline ac Wi-Fi Kit (TL-WPA7517 KIT) promises a solution by leveraging your existing electrical wiring. Over the past few weeks, I’ve thoroughly tested this kit in my own home to see if it lives up to the hype. This review will delve into its performance, features, and overall usability.

Features

The TL-WPA7517 KIT boasts several key features designed for seamless home networking. The most prominent is its use of Homeplug AV2 technology, which enables data transfer rates of up to 1000Mbps over power lines. This is complemented by dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi (433Mbps on 5GHz and 300Mbps on 2.4GHz), providing ample wireless bandwidth. The inclusion of a Gigabit Ethernet port is also a welcome addition, offering a wired connection option for devices that require a more stable connection. The ‘Wi-Fi Clone’ feature simplifies setup, and its compatibility with TP-Link OneMesh makes it a convenient choice for expanding existing TP-Link mesh networks.

Performance

I tested the TL-WPA7517 KIT in a two-story home with older wiring. My initial setup was remarkably easy, thanks to the intuitive design and automatic Wi-Fi sync. In areas where my main router’s signal was weak, the powerline adapters provided a significant improvement in speed and stability. Streaming 4K video was smooth and lag-free, and online gaming was consistently responsive. I even noticed an improvement in the responsiveness of smart home devices that were previously struggling with weaker wireless signals. However, I did experience occasional minor speed drops, especially during peak usage hours when multiple devices were active. The speed wasn’t always a consistent 1000Mbps, but it definitely surpassed my expectations for extending the Wi-Fi signal using powerlines.

The Ethernet port proved invaluable for connecting my gaming console directly to the powerline adapter, resulting in a much more stable and faster connection than using Wi-Fi alone. While the 300-meter range claim might be achievable in ideal conditions, my experience suggests a more practical range, especially with older wiring, closer to 150-200 meters. The signal strength noticeably deteriorated beyond this distance in my testing.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Easy setup, significant range extension, improved speeds in weak signal areas, dual-band Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet port, compatible with TP-Link OneMesh.
• Cons: Occasional minor speed drops during peak usage, range might be less than advertised in real-world scenarios with older wiring.

Final Verdict

The TP-Link AV1000 Gigabit Powerline ac Wi-Fi Kit (TL-WPA7517 KIT) is a valuable addition to my home network. While not perfect, its ease of use, performance improvements, and range extension capabilities far outweigh its minor drawbacks. If you’re struggling with dead zones in your home Wi-Fi coverage, this kit is a solid investment that offers a straightforward and effective solution. I highly recommend it.