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To test the adapter I plugged a single Ethernet port HomePlug adapter into our router then attached the three port version to a computer and two notebooks - the two plugs were a few metres apart so the signal strength was pretty good. As our network uses DHCP, I didn’t need to configure anything and was able to start working on any of the three computers straight away. If you need to do further configuration, you will need to use the included software that will search for HomePlug devices on the network and enable you to configure them from there.

We’ve tested the throughput of the single 85Mbps HomePlug devices before in our reviews of the Solwise HomePlug Ethernet PL-85PE and the Devolo MicroLink dLAN Highspeed Starter Kit. As this device merely shares that bandwidth across three devices, I used a qualitative test to gauge the performance of the three port adapter, rather than using an overly elaborate quantitative test. This consisted of, quite simply, streaming a feed of high definition H.264 content to all three computers simultaneously. If it can cope with that, then it can cope with anything.

Thankfully I can confirm the kit passed with flying colours and I was able to watch three different HD streams at the same time. I confirmed there was enough bandwidth left over to surf the web with ease and move files back and forth from our networked folders without disrupting the video feed.

Sometimes when we review a product we find it’s hard to fit all the facts and figures into a single article without making it ten pages long and, conversely, sometimes there’s very little one can say about a product beyond “it works”. Well, the Vesenet HomePlug 3 x Ethernet adapter most definitely falls into the latter category. It might not look pretty, but if you think you might need one, then don’t hesitate to get one. After all, it’s only £8 more than the single port version, anyway.

Verdict

It may look rather clunky but Vesenet's 3-way HomePlug adaptor offers very good performance at a reasonable price, making this a practical and elegant way of extending your network to multiple clients from one plug socket. Recommended.