Comtrend PG-9172PoE Review: IP Cameras’ Best Friend

The Comtrend PG-9172PoE—like all other Powerline adapters—is an alternative to running network cables.

But there’s more: It can also be an alternative to a power outlet. Unfortunately, the adapter is only suitable for low-bandwidth applications due to its slow network port that caps at just 100Mbps.

That said, if you want to install a security IP camera at a place far from a wall socket, at around $50, this little piece of hardware can save you a lot of time.

Design and features

The PG-9172PoE derives from the PG-9172 that Comtrend released a few years ago. It’s a bit bulkier and doesn’t have a pass-through power socket, prohibiting you from plugging another device into the same outlet it occupies.

Dimensions	3.66 x 1.50 x 2.32 inches (93 x 38 x 59 mm)
Powerline speed	Up to 1200Mbps
Network ports	One Fast Ethernet port
Ceiling network speed	100Mbps
PoE standard	IEEE 802.3af
Encryption	AES 128 Bits
Maximum Powerline nodes	16

Like its older cousin, the PG-9172PoE is G.hn-certified; therefore, it sports Powerline speeds up to 1200Mbps. However, don’t get too excited about that number since this adapter is not about high throughput performance.

PoE support

Instead, the PG-9172PoE is Comtrend’s first attempt at combining Powerline and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE). In other words, this Powerline adapter has a built-in PoE injector.

The PG-9172PoE can deliver network signals and power to the end device via a network cable when used with a PoE-compatible device, such as an IP camera. As a result, you can place that device up to 300 feet (100m) away from a power outlet without having to run a long power cord.

No Gigabit support

The PG-9172PoE uses a Fast Ethernet port, which is ten times slower than a Gigabit port found in most other adapters. As a result, despite its internal 1200Mbps Powerline speed, it can only offer a network connection of 100Mbps at best.

For this reason, you should use this adapter only in low-bandwidth applications. That, plus the PoE capability, makes it an ideal choice for IP cameras often mounted far away from power outlets. IP cameras also don’t require a fast network connection to deliver HD surveillance video recordings.

Technically, you can also use the PG-9172PoE with other PoE-ready devices, like a Wi-Fi access point. In this case, though, the adapter’s 100Mbps bottleneck network port will keep it from delivering satisfying connections.

Setup

Setting up the PG-9172POE is the same as setting up any Powerline adapters. (Read more about that here.) You need to first connect another Powerline adapter—preferably a Comtrend PG-9172 unit—to your router (or switch) before you can use the PG-9172PoE. Press the Config button on each Comtrend adapter, and you’ll create a secure connection between the two.

If you use the PG-9172PoE with a Powerline adapter from another vendor, however, the Config button doesn’t help. Instead, it would be best if you used its web interface to change its settings manually. It’s rather hard to reach the adapter’s web interface, and it is difficult for non-savvy users to understand. Generally, you’re better off using adapters from the same vendor when it comes to Powerline networking.

The PG-9172PoE has a few small LED lights that show its condition. The indicator you should pay attention to is the Coverage light on top, which uses color to reveal the quality of the Powerline connection. Red means the link is at 20Mbps or slower; orange means between 20Mbps and 40Mbps, and green means 40Mbps or faster.

Performance

The PG-9172PoE performed well in my testing. I tried two adapters (together with one PG-9172 unit) over a week with a couple of Reolink cameras, and the connections were stable. I could record Full HD videos with no problem.

As for copy speeds, compared with other powerline adapters on the market, the PG-9172PoE, as expected, was slow. But this wasn’t a fair comparison since the PG-9272PoE was the only one on the charts below with a Fast Ethernet port instead of a Gigabit port.

In my tests, in ideal conditions, it had a sustained speed of 91Mbps, which was close to the top speed of its network port.

The mix of a 100Mbps network port and Powerline speeds of up to 1200Mbps affords the PG-9172PoE a lot of wiggle room. Even in less-than-ideal conditions for Powerline, after interferences and overheads, it can still deliver close to its top speed most of the time.

Conclusion

Though the Comtrend PG-9172PoE can work as a generic Powerline adapter, you should use it specifically for IP cameras or a similarly low-bandwidth application. And for this purpose, it works well and will save you a lot of time.

However, if you want to extend your home network for other uses, the PG-9172PoE’s lack of Gigabit support becomes a deal-breaker. In this case, you should opt for the PG-9172 or another adapter with a Gigabit port instead and get a separate PoE injector if needed.