Powerline solutions...

We currently use a very old Devolo powerline system with a wired router. We are going to upgrade to a newer powerline to increase the speed available to us. My question is: most of the powerline technical stuff says they are for routers using wifi. But as the powerline systems connect to the router with an ethernet cable anyway, does it matter at all that we have a wired rather than a wireless router?

Secondly, if we are fine to use our current wired router with the new systems, can we create a wifi hotspot if we buy a powerline with that capability?

Sorry if these are really simple questions, but I have been to two stores with these questions and to be frank, their answers have been rubbish: 'its a grey area' or 'you will have to buy a wireless router because everyone has one these days'.

Cheers

Does not matter at all that your router is just Ethernet

Yes if you buy a power line device that creates a wifi signal you can use, just make sure it is the same speed spec as the power line devices you buy

If sticking with Devolo then this wifi starter kit

Which includes one simple plug to connect to router end, and two wifi access points to give coverage across house, the access points include an ethernet output if you want to use that too.

If you already use the AV500 range then Single Plug will add wireless to the network. Or if on the older AV200 the AV500 will work, but only at the slower AV200 standard. Of course by mixing plugs from different sets you need to set the encryption keys so everything talks to each other.

As you correctly say, Powerline Connections (whether Devolo or any other make) are made via a wired Ethernet cable. Hence, as far as the Powerline is concerned, it doesn't matter it the Router is WiFi enabled or not!

Adding a WiFi enabled Powerline Device will enable you to create a local WiFi connection (which will be additional if your Router is also providing WiFi).

My own configuration, FWIW, is a WiFi enabled Router located downstairs, along with a Devolo System extending it upstairs (complete with a Devolo WiFi Unit).

Any "fixed" connections are made by wired Ethernet (whether to the Router or the Devolo), with my portable devices connecting by WiFi to whichever WiFi connection is appropriate.

Thanks so much for a definitive answer to my questions - bit worrying that two stores couldnt give such a straightforward answer. We arent on the AV500 range yet, so might well upgrade the whole system to that. Cheers.

Hang on, there's AV 600 now

Oh flippin' heck!

It's ok. The AV200, AV500 and now AV600 are all compatible with each other. It's really just a matter of choosing the right price/performance for you.

Will probably go with 500 then, thanks.