New wireless network is electric

We love wireless networks. Until, that is, we find a not-spot in the corner of our living room or try to beam a stuttering high-def video from our PC to our Xbox 360. So praise be for Dynamode, which has come up with a cunning alternative – networking over your bog-standard mains circuit at a super fast 85Mbps. That’s nearly four times the real world speed of most home Wi-Fi systems.

The PowerLine 2 adapters come as a pair for anything from a PC and a printer to an Acoustic Energy Wi-Fi radio and an Xbox. The gadget just needs a USB or Ethernet; you’ll also need a router-modem combo box to get the stuff online.

It’s definitely wacky and practical for houses where wireless isn’t great – if your ex-warehouse has particularly thick walls, for example – but Dynamode isn’t first with the tech. In the past, big names such as Packard Bell have dabbled with networking-via-sockets. What’s different this time is the adapters will work with any internet or Ethernet-connected piece of gear – be it console, Squeezebox 3 or computer. The previous offerings only worked with PCs.

We won’t be ditching our Wi-Fi network just yet – how else will our Wi-Fi palmtops pull in the Stuff RSS news feed? Still, this is a mighty useful complement. We especially like the talk of a driver-less setup and the prospect of streaming video without jitters caused by our neighbour’s hot spot.

The DynaMode Powerline 2’s due on sale soon for roughly £85 from online stockists including Misco and Insight Direct.