Networking – Ethernet and networking speeds as “500 Mbps Gigabit”

gigabit-ethernetnetworkingpowerline-networking

I am quite confused with networking and speeds and such. I want to buy something so its throwing Google off – if I type in the keywords I just get websites selling the products I want, not information about them. (Sometimes Google's too good for its own good!)

The product

So, I want to get a main's Ethernet power adapter like this one:

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Amazon product page: TP-Link TL-PA511KIT 500 Mbps Gigabit Powerline Adapter – Twin Pack
TP-Link product page: AV500 Gigabit Powerline Adapter Starter Kit (TL-PA511KIT)

  • HomePlug AV standard compliant, high-speed data transfer rate of up to 500Mbps, ideal for HD video or 3D video streaming and online gaming
  • Mains Filter for better powerline communication performance
  • No new wires, use existing electrical wiring
  • Up to 300 meter range over a home's electrical circuit for better performance through walls or across floors
  • Plug and Play, no new wires or configuration required
  • Patented Power-Saving Mode automatically reduces power consumption by up to 85%
  • 128-bit AES encryption ensures that the network is safe simply by pressing a button on paired devices
  • Built-in QoS assures the quality of bandwidth sensitive applications such as voice, video and online games
  • Supports IGMP managed multicast IP transmission, optimizes IPTV streaming

My Question:

It is refered as an "500 Mbps Gigabit Powerline Adapter".

What does this mean? In my head if its 500Mbps then its not Gigabit? Surely a Gigabit is 1000Mbps?

There is another, slightly cheaper model which is 500Mbps, but is NOT Gigabit. Well, what difference does this make? What's the point in getting a Gigabit one, when I'm only going to get speeds of 500Mbps anyway?

Also, what does 10/100, 10/100/1000, 100/1000 mean in relation to these? That's the Ethernet "description" or "specification" but it doesn't mean anything to me!

Best Answer

From the TP-Link product spec:
It has a Gigabit Ethernet Port - that's where you connect your your PC/laptop/whatever device) and it can transmit 500Mbps over powerline.

As for 10/100 and the rest - as you said, it's related to Ethernet standards, but in simple terms just tell you 'speed' a device can operate:
10/100 mean either 10Mbps or 100Mbps
10/100/1000 - 10Mbps or 100Mbps or 1000Mbps etc.
Now, when you connect two devices, they will operate at highest common speed (one is 100, one is 1000 -> operate at 100). If they do not support such (say one is set to only allow 10Mbps and other only 1000Mbps) they will fail to communicate.

Going back to your question - it's similar logic here: 1G/500M plug will limit you to max 500M, but 100M/500M (non Gigabit one) will be max 100M as that's lowest speed along the transmission path. If the price difference is small it makes sense to go for Gigabit one - unless you know that none of your devices will ever support Gigabit.

Edit: I have not used those devices, but just googled a bit and it looks those high speeds (over power) are a bit (cough) overinflated. So if you have a chance it would be best to actually try both and see what actual speed you get!

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