Customer Reviews
Cheated 
2007-06-08
Linksys changed the configuration of this bridge completely from one that requires an adapter at one end to a stand alone unit without changing the model number. The only tip-off is that they have added etherfast 10/100 to the name of the model. Hence, when my order for the new PREBR10 arrived and I ripped into it (I know, I know) I found that I had the older model. The spec sheet for the 10/100 sheet claims that the bridge, connected directly to the router, rather than to the modem, will deliver up to 100mbps, the way I read it. And, the way I read it, it does not need an adapter at the other end. After you have programmed it into your router, you unplug from the router and into your ethernet port and you're ready to go. So, I was cheated by Linksys not changing the model number when they drastically changed this model. I don't have the energy, am not angry enough, to try to get anything done about this. (And of course, recourse through the retailer is closed because of my haste.) But, this is the last Linksys product I will buy. Besides their product support stinks. I once had a defective router right out of the box and they absolutely refused to help me. Luckily the retailer took it back.
Works great 
2007-02-19
I was a little worried when before I bought this product, but it working just great so far. It was easy to set up and I couldn't be happier.
Better than cutting holes in your walls 2007-01-11
I have used the PLEBR10 for an extended period of time now (more than two years). In fact, my latest purchase was to replace a unit. The newest generation of this product is an all-in-one unit, which looks like a "power brick" rather than having an external power cord connected to a different unit. My wife told me she would not allow me to cut holes in the walls of our home for Ethernet cabling, so I decided to let the existing electrical wiring, handle networking chores as well. Setting up encryption with the enclosed CD didn't take much time and was easy to do as well. If you're a network-minded person who wants quick setup, this is your answer.
Get the Trendnet TPL-102E instead 
2006-10-23
We have 4 Linksys PLEBR10's in our house and have used them for a number of years with mixed results. One of the Linksys PLEBR10's went bad so we needed to replace it. There's only a one year warranty. After doing some shopping, we decided to go for the TRENDnet since it's half the price. We weren't sure it would work with the Linksys PLEBR10's but we gave it a shot owing to the price difference and the fact that the TRENDnet has a 3 year warranty. If worse came to worse, we would buy more TRENDnets. After the TRENDnet arrived we installed it and it worked with the Linksys PLEBR10's without a hitch. After using the TRENDnet for a few days, we're completely satisfied.
Yowza 2006-03-05
This is like, the bestest product evar. It greatly improved my home security system. Lola.
Works best with one pc only. 2005-03-18
The Linksys Instant PowerLine EtherFast 10/100 Bridge offers a complete Internet connection solution for your home powerline network. The PowerLine Bridge makes sharing your broadband access easier than ever. Build a strong and simple-to-use home network by taking advantage of the most pervasive home networking medium - powerlines.The PowerLine Bridge is ideal for users who already have a router. It can be plugged into an Ethernet port on a router to equip a network with powerline capabilities and take advantage of the router's features. The PowerLine Bridge can also plug directly into a cable or DSL modem to allow Internet access and data transfer rates up to 14Mbps over home powerlines. With the PowerLine Bridge, create a network in no time at all to share an Internet connection (a router may be required), files, and printers, or even play multi-user network games at blazingly fast speeds. It's easy, convenient, and cost-effective.
Does the job, but poorly 
2004-12-06
It works as advertised but it needs to be reset frequently - unplug, plug in, unplug, plug in, after owning it for a few months (probably when the warenty expires :-) ). Can get to be a major pain.
It works... sometimes... 2004-07-18
As a networking "internals" guy, I was shocked to find that this product is fundamentally broken at the network layer.
What people are complaining about here is that the device suddenly stops working and must be unplugged and plugged back in again.
This is because the device is trying to be too smart, and is losing track of which power-line modules connect to which computers. Unfortunately, in doing so, it prevents the network-level broadcast facilities from working. The broadcast facility I'm talking about most (ARP, the address resolution protocol) would have automatically corrected the problem if the Linksys box wasn't so broken.
In essence, for all you tech guys and gals, is that a learning bridge should never "learn" the broadcast address.
If you have only PCs, and you load the Linksys driver, they do some magic to keep the devices from falling over dead... But if you mix in a non-pc (Linux, UNIX, Macintosh) using a hub off the end of your power-line device, you're guaranteed to be frustrated.
The symptoms are that some of the network works (whatever was working before the bridge tables got corrupted) and others stop working with no explanation. The box "selectively" forwards traffic, and becomes deaf to other traffic.
It's like being at a cocktail party, and having every third person not be able to hear you, and saying "Over here!" (as ARP does) doesn't help either.
Ugh. In my experience, this is somewhat typical of Linksys products... If you have a windows PC, you're fine. If you have anything else, they won't talk to you.
I switched to the Siemens power-line module, and it has been working just fine for me.
Not reliable for me 2004-05-30
I prefer NetGear for a "HomePlug" compliant product. More reliable. Better utility software, let's user see other devices on the network and base speed of connection between "PowerLine" devices.
In general I like Linksys products and have used them a lot of them over the last 4-5 years. Friends home's, small offices. Work well.
I installed a pair of PLEBR10s and found that only about 30% of the outlet pairs I tested them in would work or even get a connection between the 2 devices.
Nothing in the Linksys Software to test speed. Resorted to simple file transfers and a clock. Using this method I found the best pair of outlets to use.
I continued testing over a one week period. Test pair would loose connection and need to be unpluged/pluged to restore the connection. Also experienced a lot of speed variation: ok to not useable. Variation could not be attributed to appliances or other devices in use. Just seemed to go from good to bad to no connection.
Replaced with the Netgear product and all my troubles disappeared. More pairs of outlets would connect (easy to see with NetGear utility), speed was constant, no lost connections even under harsh condidtions (various appliances running).
There is not a lot of information available for users to troubleshoot these devices or the conditions in which they are most likely to operate full. Only thing I found was that the maximum "wire distance" between the 2 outlets should be less that 1,000 feed. No surge protectors in the circuit.
Linksys technical support wasn't of much help. It may be that one or both of my units were defective. I will continue to test and continue to talk to Linksys.
My out-of-the-box experience was much better with NetGear product. I look forward to their new version (602?) of the device.
DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT 2004-01-14
Had the product for 1 year including the USB adaptors and it was fine. Then the bridge just quits 2 days ago ...only 5 mths after the warranty expires and Linksys will do nothing to help replace the product. This makes my entire $400 investment in the network wortless.
I like the powerline for its security but go with another company that takes more pride in its products and shows more concern for its customers.
