Actiontec Electronics has selected Intellon’s powerline technology for a new home gateway that provides connection to the WAN using ADSL+ technology and adds very fast powerline networking to standard Ethernet and wireless options for in-home distribution. By adding HomePlug AV-based (200 Mbps PHY-rate) powerline networking, the home’s existing electrical wiring – the “hidden network” – becomes a fast and reliable wired network to move bandwidth-intensive content from room to room.

LAN speed requirements vary greatly depending on what digital activities family members are participating in. Simple file or peripheral sharing or pulling data from the Internet does not require very high speeds. However, for newer applications where families are ordering Video-on-Demand, IPTV and accessing Over-the-Top video or doing graphics intensive online gaming, a high-speed connection is critical to the quality, response and enjoyment of the viewing or gaming experience.

The new Actiontec Home Network gateway unit (Model # GB584WGH2A), makes all electrical outlets throughout the home high-speed Internet ports so that users can instantly network all kinds of consumer electronics. These can include DVR units (such as TiVo), satellite receivers, Blu-ray disc players, gaming systems (such as Playstation 3, Xbox 360), Over-the-Top Internet video boxes (such as AppleTV, Roku, and Vudu) and any other Ethernet-enabled devices.

Powerline networking can offer superior video connectivity versus wireless. With wireless networking, signal strength, distance and outside interference can hamper the transmission of data and deliver unsatisfactory video images degraded by freeze frames, pixelization and other artifacts not desirable in the viewing experience. Using the wired electrical infrastructure provides higher capacity and Intellon’s powerline technology has Quality of Service features specifically designed to provide entertainment-grade networking.

The Actiontec Home Network gateway integrates all three LAN technologies so consumers can access services or share content at the speed necessary for the application. Customers will have a seamless in-home experience that includes OTT video, standard- and high-definition TV entertainment, digital conferencing, movies on demand, photo and music sharing anytime and anywhere in their digital home.

The gateway interfaces over the home’s electrical wiring with other devices that connect through Actiontec’s MegaPlug AV powerline adapter (available separately).

The Actiontec gateway can extend the Internet beyond the desktop and to TV screens around the digital home using powerline communications. Consumers will appreciate the increased quality of sounds and images, a true plug-and-play easy set-up and all without having to install any new wires in the home.