Western Digital (http://www.wd.com) has introduced its new WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit, a HomePlug AV compatible solution that enables consumers to use their existing electrical outlets to extend high-speed Internet connections throughout the home.

Complementing the WD TV line of media players, the WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit enables consumers to deliver HD video streams to the home theater, transfer large files or play multi-player online games, all without running network cables around the home. With four ports on each of two adapters included in the kit, the WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit offers users the ability to connect their router and up to seven additional devices to their high-speed network.

Featuring HomePlug AV technology, the WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit purportedly provides users with data transfer speeds up to 200 megabits per second (Mbps), enabling glitch-free playback of Full-HD 1080p video streams on up to seven connected devices. To set it up, you plug one of the two adapters in the kit into your router and an electrical outlet, then plug the other adapter into another outlet where you need access to wired network connections. Users can stream video to four connected devices in the home theater and also gain an additional three network ports by their router.

The WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit is HomePlug AV certified and is IEEE 802.3 and IEEE 802.3u compliant. The kit requires an Ethernet router and AC power outlets. It has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$139.99.