AVM Fritz Powerline 1260E Set in the test: LAN & WLAN via socket

There are various methods of building a network in a house or apartment. Ethernet cabling over several floors in different rooms only makes sense in a new building or renovation. WLAN with a router and appropriate repeaters is an alternative. But depending on the structural conditions with thick walls and ceilings, too much range is lost and you would have to connect countless repeaters in series. This is expensive and not very useful. This is exactly when you should use the tried-and-tested Powerline technology:

This allows you to set up a stable network over the power line and connect devices such as TVs, game consoles and PCs to the Internet in rooms far away from the router. If smartphones and tablets are also to be integrated, this is an option

AVM Fritz Powerline 1260E set

on. The two adapters in the set send data through the house via the power line and pass it on via WLAN in the 2.4/5 GHz band with up to 1,200 Mbit/s and Gigabit LAN. That’s easily enough for video streaming and other data-hungry tasks. The integration into the Fritzbox home network takes place via WPS without manual configuration.

View AVM Fritz Powerline 1260E Set at Amazon

Here is a detailed comparison test of the Powerline adapters

design & processing

That

AVM Fritz Powerline 1260E set

consists of two adapters: the 1260E acts as a transmitter, the 1220E as a receiver. The differences are clear at first glance: Only the 1220E has a socket for the common plug type F, including a mains filter. In this way, several electrical devices can be connected to the socket via a multiple plug strip without overloading the circuit or triggering the fuse in the distribution box. Another distinguishing feature: on the 1220E there are three LEDs: Power, LAN and Powerline+Security – on the 1260E, on the other hand, WLAN, Powerline and Connect. The LEDs show you whether the adapters are successfully connected and whether WLAN is available on the 1260E.

On the underside of the 1220E there are two gigabit LAN ports for the hard-wired connection to the Internet router and a device. There is only one LAN port on the 1260E. If several devices such as Smart TV, NAS and game consoles are to be hardwired, you need an additional router or network hub, which is available with four usable ports from around 20 euros.

software and compatibility

With the free Fritz Powerline software, you can manage the Powerline adapter. You can change the name, download updates and change a few settings. Thanks to WLAN, the 1260E can also be managed via the Fritzbox and controlled browser-based via its IP address. You can then import an update into Fritz-OS. At the time of testing, version 7.29 was current. The 1220E is updated via Powerline software.

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The adapters are managed in the Powerline software.

The two Powerline adapters from AVM are generally compatible with Powerline adapters in the 1200, 500 and 200 Mbit/s classes, provided they support the IEEE P1901 standard and Homeplug AV2. This also means that you can also use older or other Powerline adapters in combination with the 1220E or 1260E.

The AVM Powerline adapters sold in sets are already preconfigured at the factory. This means that the network is automatically set up and encrypted over the power line so that third parties cannot eavesdrop on the data traffic.

setup and configuration

Setting up the powerline set is quick and easy. AVM supplies two network cables, each 1.80 meters long. So you can get started right away and connect devices to the remote powerline adapter. Plug the 1220E adapter into a power outlet and connect the device to the Fritzbox (or another router) using a network cable. Also plug the second powerline adapter into a socket near the Fritzbox and wait until the indicator next to “Powerline” lights up green continuously.

It is advisable to implement the wireless integration into the network via mesh. Press the “Connect/WPS”, “WPS” or “WLAN” button on your Fritzbox – the exact designation depends on the model used. Then press the “Connect” button on the Powerline Adapter 1260E. The three diodes are now flashing. As soon as the two displays “WLAN” and “Powerline” are permanently lit again, look in the configuration mask of your Fritzbox under “Home network – Mesh” to see whether the Powerline adapter has the mesh symbol. Now all WLAN settings such as WLAN keys are automatically applied. The combined Powerline/WLAN network is ready to go and you can place the second adapter in a socket that is further away and connect devices via LAN cable. You can access the Internet wirelessly with your smartphone or tablet via 1260E.

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Call up Fritz-OS via the browser-based interface.

Performance in the practical test

Our test environment consists of two areas: First, we connect the powerline adapters to two sockets about 20 meters apart in an old building. After that, we put the set into operation in a massive 1970s house. The 1220E is on the first floor. The 1260E is positioned on the third floor. Of the theoretically possible 1,200 Mbit/s, slightly less than 250 Mbit/s arrived in the apartment. We measured around 70 Mbit/s at the receiver indoors. That’s enough for streaming applications. With WLAN, the data rates are the same.

Conclusion

This is convincing in our test environments

AVM Fritz Powerline 1260E set

– Miracles should not be expected from the bandwidth. It is satisfactory and completely sufficient for the usual areas of application. Experience has shown that the actual speed depends heavily on the structural conditions and other electrical devices in the power grid. In a new building with modern cabling, the bandwidth is usually higher than in an old electrical installation. AVM has solved the setup well: It is quickly done even for beginners.

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