Powerline ethernet uses the electrical wiring in your home to create a network. Since your computer needs a power outlet anyways, it makes sense to use the existing wires in your house to use for networking anyways. There are two technologies used for powerline networking. Intelogis created the first powerline network with a technology they invented called Passport. Powerpacket, though, is the newer technology and is the one endorsed by the Homeplug Alliance as their standard. Powerpacket is created by Intellon, and major companies that sell powerline ethernet adapters like Netgear, Belkin, Powermap, and Actiontec all use this technology. The powerline ethernet standards to look for are IEEE 802.3, and Homeplug 1.0 standards. Current speeds in 2010 for powerline adapters are at 200 mbps, though adapeters with 1 Gbps have come out as well.