PLA4201 500 Mbps Mini Powerline Ethernet Adapter IMPORTANT! Edition 1, 03/2012 READ CAREFULLY BEFORE USE. KEEP THIS GUIDE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. www.zyxel.com www.zyxel.
IMPORTANT! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE USE. KEEP THIS GUIDE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. Graphics in this book may differ slightly from the product due to differences in operating systems, operating system versions, or if you installed updated firmware/software for your device. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. Related Documentation • Quick Start Guide The Quick Start Guide is designed to help you get up and running right away.
Table of Contents Table of Contents Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................3 Part I: User’s Guide ........................................................................................... 5 Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA4201 .....................................................................................................................7 1.1 Overview ............................................
Table of Contents 4.4 Firmware Screen ..............................................................................................................................25 4.5 Network Info Screen .........................................................................................................................26 4.6 Advanced Screen ..........................................................................................................................27 4.7 About Screen ................................
P ART I User’s Guide 5
C HAPT ER 1 Introducing the PLA4201 1.1 Overview This chapter introduces the main applications and features of the PLA4201 HomePlug AV compliant powerline adapter. In this User’s Guide the electrical wiring network is referred to as the “powerline network”. The HomePlug AV standard specifies how network devices communicate using standard electrical wiring. 1.
Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA4201 Refer to your Quick Start Guide for hardware connection information. 1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA4201 Use the RESET/ENCRYPT button to add powerline devices to your powerline network if they have this button. See Chapter 3 on page 17 for instructions on using the ENCRYPT feature. Use the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility (or utility, for short) to manage the PLA4201. See Section 2.2 on page 10 for instructions on installing the utility.
Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA4201 1 It’s easy and only requires you to change a network name. 2 It’s a good idea to ensure privacy of your communication. When you use the PLA4201 and other powerline adapters, the electrical wiring in your home becomes an extension of your Ethernet network. Your network traffic flows freely within the electrical circuit of your home and is bounded in most cases by a power meter.
C HAPT ER 2 Installing the Utility This chapter guides you through the installation of the configuration utility for your PLA4201. 2.1 Overview of the Installation Process The installation of the configuration utility does the following: 1 Checks for and installs Microsoft’s .NET Framework version 2.0 software on your computer. This software is necessary for the installation of the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility. If you already have .NET Framework version 2.
Chapter 2 Installing the Utility 1 Insert the included CD-ROM into your computer’s CD-ROM drive. The Setup utility runs automatically. Alternatively this can also be done manually by double clicking the setup.exe file on the CD. A prompt appears asking you to install the .NET Framework version 2.0. Review Microsoft’s License Agreement, select Accept to proceed. Figure 2 .NET Framework Installation Prompt 2 The next screen allows you to see the progress of the installation. Figure 3 .
Chapter 2 Installing the Utility 4 If you want the utility to be only available to the currently logged in user, select Just me. Otherwise, click Everyone to allow all users to use the configuration utility. Click Next to install the utility to the default folder, or click Browse to specify a different location on your computer. Figure 5 Install Destination Folder Note: You can also click Disk Cost to know how much available disk space you have in the hard drives found in your computer.
Chapter 2 Installing the Utility When you plug the PLA4201 into an electric socket, it waits for an Ethernet connection. When no connection is detected after sixty (60) seconds, the Power LED blinks indicating that it is going into Low Power mode. The same process occurs when you disconnect the PLA4201 from a previously working Ethernet connection. Sixty (60) seconds after disconnecting the Ethernet cable, the PLA4201’s Power LED blinks signalling that it is going into Low Power mode.
Chapter 2 Installing the Utility 14 PLA4201 User’s Guide
P ART II Technical Reference 15
C HAPT ER 3 The RESET/ENCRYPT Button Use the RESET/ENCRYPT button to automatically set up a secure powerline connection between your powerline devices. 3.1 RESET/ENCRYPT Button Overview The RESET/ENCRYPT button allows you to set up a secure powerline connection with other HomePlug AV compliant powerline devices which also support the ENCRYPT feature. No other powerline setting changes are required to connect. You can use the RESET/ENCRYPT button to: • set up a new powerline network.
Chapter 3 The RESET/ENCRYPT Button 2 Press the RESET/ENCRYPT button at the side of your powerline device for 0.5 to 3 seconds. The power ( ) light will blink as the powerline device tries to set up a connection. Figure 7 ENCRYPT Connection Procedure press 0.5 ~ 3 seconds press 0.5 ~ 3 seconds within 2 minutes Note: The RESET/ENCRYPT button’s location varies for each Powerline model. 3 Repeat step 2 in this section for the other powerline device you wish to connect.
Chapter 3 The RESET/ENCRYPT Button 5 Then repeat steps 2 and 3 in this section using any powerline device (A or B) you have connected using ENCRYPT and the powerline device you want to connect (C). You must use the RESET/ ENCRYPT button on both devices. Figure 8 Adding More Powerline Adapters to Your Network A B A OR B C 6 If you disconnected your computer or modem (or any other networking product connected to your powerline device) in step of this section, you can now reconnect them.
Chapter 3 The RESET/ENCRYPT Button For example, you have already set up a powerline network in your home (A) which accesses a printer (B). Now you want a separate powerline network connection from your laptop to your printer (C). Figure 9 One Existing Powerline Network A C B 1 Click the RESET/ENCRYPT button on (A) for 5 to 8 seconds and then release it. This disconnects (A) from (B). 2 Click the RESET/ENCRYPT button on (A) and (C) for 0.5 to 3 seconds and within two minutes of each other.
Chapter 3 The RESET/ENCRYPT Button Congratulations. You now have two separate powerline networks as shown above. If the HomePlug ( ) lights on both powerline devices do not light up, the powerline devices are not connected. Repeat the connection process, making certain you press the RESET/ENCRYPT buttons for the correct time and within two minutes of each other. If that does not work see Section 6.5 on page 45 for suggestions. 3.
C HAPT ER 4 The Configuration Utility 4.1 Overview This chapter shows you how to use the Configuration Utility (or Utility) to secure, manage and set up Quality of Service (QoS) on your powerline network. The PLA4201 is designed as a plug-and-play network expanding solution.
Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility For the powerline adapters to communicate with each other they all need to use the same network name. This network name allows the powerline adapters to understand the encrypted information sent in the powerline network. By default the PLA4201s are all configured with the network name HomePlugAV, this allows you to simply plug the devices in and not worry about setting up security.
Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility 4.3 Configuration Screen Use the Configuration screen to see which devices are recognized by your powerline network, to configure your PLA4201 and to set up a secure powerline network by changing the powerline network name. This screen opens up when you launch the utility. Figure 13 Configuration Screen The following table describes the labels in this screen.
Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility Table 3 Configuration Screen (continued) LABEL DESCRIPTION DAK Password DAK (Device Access Key) password is used to verify that you are authorized to perform changes on a remote device. You can find the DAK password printed on a sticker on the bottom of your PLA4201. Select the remote powerline adapter you want to manage by clicking the MAC address which corresponds to it in the MAC Address column. Enter the DAK Password value and click Save.
Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility Note: Be sure to upload the correct model firmware as uploading the wrong model firmware may damage your device. Figure 14 Firmware Screen 4.5 Network Info Screen Use the Network Info screen to see the rates at which a specific PLA4201 is communicating with other powerline adapters on your powerline network.
Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility The following table describes the labels in this screen. Table 4 Network Info Screen LABEL DESCRIPTION Adapter This field identifies which powerline network information is displayed. Different powerline networks are identified by the Ethernet interface (network card) connected directly to the PLA4201. Typically there is only one connection, however, if your computer has two network cards and both are connected to a PLA4201, then you have two powerline networks.
Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility For example, if you have a file server on your home network to deliver music and movie files to computers in your home, you should set the priority of the powerline adapter connected to this server to Medium. If video traffic is delivered too slowly, quality problems may occur. On the other hand, a powerline adapter attached to a printer should have a low priority setting since the slow delivery of messages will not affect the print job.
Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility Use this screen to configure priority settings for traffic from the powerline adapters on your network. Figure 17 Advanced Screen The following table describes the labels in this screen. Table 6 Advanced Screen LABEL DESCRIPTION Adapter This field identifies which powerline network information is displayed. Different powerline networks are identified by the Ethernet interface (network card) on your computer which is connected directly to a powerline adapter.
Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility 4.7 About Screen Use the About screen to view information regarding the configuration utility and firmware version of the PLA4201 you are connected to. Click the icon in the top right corner of the utility to view the About screen. Figure 18 About Screen The following table describes the labels in this screen. Table 7 About Screen LABEL DESCRIPTION Utility version: This field displays the software version of the configuration utility.
C HAPT ER 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial 5.1 Overview Use this tutorial to expand your existing powerline network. After setting up your first home powerline network (instructions for that are in the Quick Start Guide for your ZyXEL powerline adapter) you may want to extend the network or create a new one by adding additional powerline adapters. This tutorial shows you the following. • How to start up your new powerline adapter. You need to do this before you can begin the next sections.
Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial 5.3 Accessing Your Powerline Adapter 1 Plug the powerline adapter you want to add to your network into a power socket and, if needed, switch the power socket on. Figure 19 Plug Your Powerline Adapter into a Power Socket 1 2 Connect the powerline adapter to your computer. 3 Use a LAN or Ethernet cable (shown below) to connect the LAN or Ethernet port on your adapter to the same kind of port on your computer.
Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial 5.4 Adding a Powerline Adapter This section shows you how to add a new powerline adapter to expand your existing network. The figure below shows the family computer with Internet access on a powerline network. Expand the network by adding a new powerline adapter connected to a printer. Figure 22 Add a Printer to Your Powerline Network Note: You do not need to know the network name of the new adapter to add it to your network.
Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial 3 Select your adapter by selecting Local and type the network name for your existing network in the Network Name field (C). Figure 24 Adding an Adapter to an Existing Network C 4 Click Save and click OK on the pop-up. Figure 25 Network Name Pop-up 5 Your new adapter will now have the same Network Name as your existing network and so has now joined your existing network.
Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial Internet access but with a media adapter such as the ZyXEL DMA-1100P you can use your TV to watch movies and play games which are stored on a computer. Figure 26 Add New Adapters to Make a Second Network 1 Connect your new powerline adapter and open the configuration utility as shown in Section 5.5 on page 34. The screen shown below appears. 2 Type a Network Name that is different from the Network Name for your existing network.
Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial 3 After you have set up a new network, you are ready to connect each powerline adapter on your new network to devices, for example, a computer or a games console. 5.6 Splitting a Network into Two Networks This section shows you how to split your existing network into two networks. This is useful if you want to set up a second powerline network in your home, for example, in your study connecting a laptop and printer. See Figure 26 on page 35 for an example.
Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial • Then type the new network name in the Network Name field. Figure 29 Adding an Adapter to Your New Network A B 4 Click Save. • If you do not type the DAK password or type it incorrectly either of the following pop-ups appear. Click OK and type the DAK Password correctly in the DAK Password field. Figure 30 Incorrect DAK or No DAK • If you have correctly entered the DAK Password, click OK on the pop-up.
Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial 5 The settings for the adapter will now grey out and the adapter will disappear from the table after a few minutes. Figure 32 An Adapter on Your New Network 6 Go back to step 3 in this section to set the same, new Network Name for all remote adapters you want to add to your new network. 7 Check you have added the adapters correctly by changing the network name for the local adapter.
Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial • Check you have entered the correct network name for your network. • Check your powerline adapter is connected to the same electrical circuit as other powerline adapters on your network.
Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial 40 PLA4201 User’s Guide
C HAPT ER 6 LEDs and Troubleshooting This chapter describes the behavior of the LEDs (lights) and offers some suggestions to solve problems you might encounter. 6.1 LEDs The following sections describes the lights on the PLA4201. The following figure is the front panel of the PLA4201. Use the lights to determine if the PLA4201 is behaving normally or if there are some problems on your powerline network.
Chapter 6 LEDs and Troubleshooting The following table describes the behavior of the lights on the PLA4201. Table 8 PLA4201 LIGHTS POWER ICON COLOR STATUS DESCRIPTION Green On The PLA4201 is on and receiving power. It also indicates a successful connection using the RESET/ ENCRYPT button. Blinking The PLA4201 is starting up. It also indicates the PLA4201 is trying to connect with another device using the ENCRYPT function.
Chapter 6 LEDs and Troubleshooting 4 Remove the powerline adapter from the outlet. Then connect an electrical device that you know works into the same power outlet. This checks the status of the power outlet. 5 If the problem continues, contact the vendor. The ETHERNET light does not turn on. 1 Check the hardware connections. See the Quick Start Guide. 2 Inspect your cables for damage. Contact the vendor to replace any damaged cables.
Chapter 6 LEDs and Troubleshooting The POWER and HomePlug light blink at the same time. • You have pressed the RESET/ENCRYPT button for more than three seconds. Try setting up a connection again, this time pressing the RESET/ENCRYPT buttons on both devices for less than three seconds. 6.3 Configuration Utility Problems The PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility displays an error during installation. • Make sure your computer is using Windows XP or Windows Vista (32-bit) operating system.
Chapter 6 LEDs and Troubleshooting 3 Your powerline adapters may be placed close to electrical devices such as electrical insect-killers which produce radio waves. These may interfere with the powerline signals. Move the adapters further away from such electrical devices. 4 Your wiring may be old and/or low quality or with a long wiring path. 6.5 RESET/ENCRYPT Button Problems This section applies only to PLA4201s with the RESET/ENCRYPT button.
Chapter 6 LEDs and Troubleshooting The POWER lights on both devices blink, then many lights blink and the HomePlug light blinks red. Do not worry, the connection process is proceeding normally. The POWER lights on both devices finished blinking, but only one device’s HomePlug light is on. One device may have connected to a third powerline device. To check device A is connected to device B and not another device, disconnect device B from its power source.
A PPENDIX A Legal Information Copyright Copyright © 2012 by ZyXEL Communications Corporation. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any part or as a whole, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, translated into any language, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, photocopying, manual, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of ZyXEL Communications Corporation. Published by ZyXEL Communications Corporation.
Appendix A Legal Information 1 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. 2 Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver. 3 Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. 4 Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Appendix A Legal Information distributor for details about the Warranty Period of this product. During the warranty period, and upon proof of purchase, should the product have indications of failure due to faulty workmanship and/or materials, ZyXEL will, at its discretion, repair or replace the defective products or components without charge for either parts or labor, and to whatever extent it shall deem necessary to restore the product or components to proper operating condition.
Appendix A Legal Information 50 PLA4201 User’s Guide
Index Index Symbols encryption 7, 22 ETHN LED 41 .
Index multiple networks 9 overview 22 S managing the device using the web configurator. See web configurator.
