85M Powerline to Ethernet Bridge
with 4-Port Switch
PL-420
User Manual
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CE mark Warning
The is a class B device, In a domestic environment, this product may cause radio
interference, in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures.
WEEE
To avoid the potential effects on the environment and human health as
a result of the presence of hazardous substances in electrical and
electronic equipment, end users of electrical and electronic equipment
should understand the meaning of the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol.
Do not dispose of WEEE as unsorted municipal waste and have to
collect such WEEE separately.
Trademarks
The PLANET logo is a trademark of PLANET Technology. This documentation
may refer to numerous hardware and software products by their trade names. In
most, if not all cases, these designations are claimed as trademarks or registered
trademarks by their respective companies.
Revision
User’s Manual for PLANET 85M Powerline to Ethernet Bridge with 4-Port Switch
Model: PL-420
Rev: 1.0 (Feb. 2006)
Part No. : 2081-AE0140-000
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Table of Content
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................5
CHAPTER 2: INSTALLATION ..................................................................................9
CHAPTER 3: CONFIGURATION.............................................................................14
APPENDIX A: TROUBLESHOOTING.......................................................................20
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Chapter 1: Introduction
Overview
The Planet 85M Powerline to Ethernet Bridge with 4-Port Switch, PL-420,
operates on the HomePlug Powerline Specification 1.0.1 standard for providing
up to 85Mbps bandwidth over home AC wiring. Since the home power lines are
the most pervasive medium in households with multiple outlets in every room, the
PL-420 allows multiple home desktops and notebooks to be networked to share
Internet connections, printers, files, and play games without any additional wiring.
The installation of the 85M Powerline Ethernet Switch only requires that a
10/100Mbps Network Adapter is installed on the computer. This makes the PL-
420 compatible with any device including Mac, Windows, and Unix machines.
For security reason, the HomePlug devices are equipped with 56-Bit DES
encryption. The private home power grid plus encryption makes HomePlug
significantly more secure than competing technologies. The PL-420 is the best
solution for No-New-Wires home networking. With easy Plug and Play installation,
no need for new wires.
Features
‧ Up to 85Mbps bandwidth over standard home power lines
‧ Estimates range of 300 meters in wall power line
‧ No problem passing through circuit breakers
‧ Easy to manage by connection manager software (Utility)
‧ IEEE 802.3 / IEEE 802.3u Computer interface compliant
‧ Network interface supports 10 Base-T / 100 Base-TX and HomePlug
Powerline
‧ Utility supports Connection Manager Software
‧ Plug-and-Play Installation Support
‧ HomePlug Powerline Specification 1.0.1 compliant
‧ Internal Power Adapter for Power Supply
‧ Utility supports Win98SE / ME / 2K / XP
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Specification
Model
Standard
PL-420
HomePlug Powerline Specification 1.0.1
compliant
IEEE 802.3 10Base-T
IEEE 802.3u 100Base-TX
Four RJ-45 ports
Ports
Cabling Type
Speed
Encryption
LED
Powerline Frequency
Band
Dimensions
Power cord
Up to 85Mbps
56-Bits DES encryption
PWR, HP, LAN 1-4
4.5Mhz to 21Mhz
157.4 x 97.9 x 29.5 mm (W x D x H)
210 g (net weight)
Weight
0~40 Degree C
Operating
Temperature
Operating Humidity
Input Voltage
Regulatory
10%~90% (non-condensing)
100V~240V AC, 0.2A, 50~60Hz
FCC, CE
Compliance
Package Contents
• PL-420 x 1
• CD ROM x 1 (user’s manual, utility)
• RJ-45 Ethernet cable x 1
• Quick installation Guide x 1
• Power Cord x 1
System Requirements
• At least 2 Powerline devices
• Available Ethernet ports in the computers
• Available empty power outlet
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• Standard home power line wiring
• CD-ROM utility
Front Panel
LED definition
LED
Description
PWR Steady on indicates when power on
Steady on indicates when find out another HomePlug
HP
Flashing indicates when auto detecting another
HomePlug
LAN
1-4
Steady on indicates LAN port link
Flashing indicates when TX or RX activity
Rear Panel
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Chapter 2: Installation
Overview
The installation of 85M Powerline Ethernet Switch will only take minutes. No
need to set up long wires through out the house, just simply install the utility, and
physically plug the power code into the device and wall outlet, then to connect
RJ-45 to the computer. Users can select to adjust its security functions and the
platform of the network after the installation. For further assistance, please read
our Frequently Asked Questions section.
Running the InstallShield Wizard
Please verify that no other Powerline Management Utilities are installed before
installing this product. If other utilities were installed, uninstall them and restart
before installing this software.
To install, insert the Windows OS Configuration Utility (Setup Utility CD) into the
computer's CD-ROM drive. The main page shall pop up, then to press the link to
install the software. Alternatively this can also be done manually by double
clicking the setup.exe file on the CD.
Once the software is loaded it will display a dialog as following:
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Please click on ‘Next’ to continue the installation.
On this screen you will be asked to input the User Name and Organization. It is
not crucial to the device itself, so enter it as desired. The ‘Install this
application for’ will work under the circumstances which multiple logins are
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applied. For example: If the user wishes only he/she can use the utility with that
particular account, then bubble in ‘Only for me’. For those without multiple
accounts or wishes to allow all users to access the utility choose ‘Anyone who
uses this computer (all users)’. When finished, click the ‘Next’ button to
continue.
This section allows you to change the default directory where the program is
installed. If you don’t want to change it, click on Next to continue the installation.
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This section allows a user to go ‘Back’ or ‘Install’ the utility. In case if the user
wishes to change the previous options then go ahead, click on ‘Back’ to change
the settings. If not, continue and click the ‘Install’ button.
This screen shows the progress of the installation.
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This screen shows that the installation was completed successfully. Click on
Finish to exit the wizard.
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Chapter 3: Configuration
Overview
The PL-420 uses 56-Bit DES encryption to block outside access. The key is set
by using the Configuration Utility on the CD. By default, the protection is enabled,
however, it is recommended to change the default network password. All your
powerline devices must use the same network password in order to be
connected together.
Diagnose Powerline network
Part 1: Diagnose a Local Powerline device
Double click the PowerPacket Utility icon on your desktop, and utility screen will
show up as below:
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The Main tab shows the powerline units that are connected to the current
computer and other powerline devices on the home network, and it will
also display Mac Address of each device.
**Note** If you do not see ANY unit in the device status but the powerline
device does exist, try to press “Scan” button or unplug all devices and
plug them back. Meanwhile, please make sure the cable is the right type
and working correctly. If all seems to be correct, and you still receive
nothing in the Device window, try rebooting your computer.
Part 2: Diagnose a Network Powerline device
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The Main tab shows all the other powerline units on your home network. It
will represent them by MAC Address, and will also show the available
bandwidth to each unit (Units farther away from another powerline device
might have a lower Data Rate). If you add or remove units from your
home network, click the “Scan” button to re-scan the network, and refresh
with any changes.
**Note** Only units with the same Network Password will be shown,
(Password case sensitive).
**Note** If a unit shows MAC Address of all 0’s, this unit might not have a
solid connection, or might not connect at all.
**Note** If there are units in the home network, but nothing displays in this
Network scan, try to unplug all devices, and plug them back (Only do this
with the units that you do not view in the network screen, you don’t have to
do this with all units.)
If the problem persists, try to move the unit closer to this current unit
(adjacent plugs on the same wall socket is most preferable). If the
problem still persists and that unit is still not shown on the network, then
the unit might be defective. Please contact technical support. Otherwise if
you view the unit working, distance might be the only issue.
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Setting Up Security on a Local Powerline device
The Privacy tab will allow you to change the Network Password to the
unit that is currently connected to this computer. This network password
encrypts all data that is sent from this unit using 56-Bit data encryption
standard (DES).
**Note** Every unit on your home network MUST have the same Network
Password for connectivity to be established throughout your home. The
default network password is “HomePlug”.
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Setting Up Security on a Network Powerline device
The Privacy Tab will allow users to use one primary computer to control
the Network Password of all units on the home network.
You will have to go back to the Main Tab first then find the DEK (Device
Encryption Key) Key located on the bottom of each device. Click Enter
Password and enter this Key into the Device Password area. Click OK.
This Device Key will then appear in the bottom of window. Add all DEK
Keys for each unit in your house. You can go back to the Main Tab then
change the Private Network Name remotely from one computer. This will
allow you to change the Private Network Name from one computer,
instead of changing the password individually.
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**Note** The DEK is unique for EACH Powerline device. To use this
you will need to input the DEK for each unit.
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Appendix A: Troubleshooting
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s the speed of the PL-420 operating over a standard home power
line network?
The PL-420 operates up to 85 Mbps bandwidth over a standard home power line
network.
2. What’s the Estimated Range of the PL-420?
Approximately 300 meters in wall power lines (one household).
3. Does PL-420 work in any home?
The PL-420 should work with copper wiring in any home. Since some of the older
houses built before 1950 might have older wiring, it may not work in this instance.
4. Does PL-420 signal pass through circuit breakers?
Yes, this device signal will have no problem pass through circuit breakers but not
through power transformers.
5. Does PL-420 work with AC input 100 – 240V?
Yes, this device works with AC input 100 – 240V.
6. Does PL-420 cause any interference with other home networking devices?
No, this device operates in a different frequency band than other power line
control devices and can co-exist with technologies as X-10, CEBus, and
LONworks.
7. Can my neighbor receive my PL-420 signal?
It is possible for your neighbor receive your PL-420 signal between two adjacent
homes. To prevent this happen, please enable the 56-bit DES security
encryption on your device. To do that, you must run the HomePlug Configuration
Utility on each Homeplug device in your power line network. This will only allow
computers with the same security password to be able to receive information.
8. How do I find out what’s my current speed and my signal strength of my
HomePlug device?
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Run the HomePlug Configuration Utility, it will show your current speed and your
signal strength.
9. One of the PL-420’s LED doesn’t light up after I plug the HomePlug
directly into a wall outlet?
Test that wall outlet with other electric devices first, make sure that wall outlet is
working properly. Then, try to plug your HomePlug device again. If the same
problem happens again, plug both HomePlug units into adjacent sockets, and
check if the lights light up. If you are still having problems, please contact your
reseller.
10. The Ethernet LED doesn’t light up on my PL-420?
In most cases, if the Ethernet LED doesn’t light on your device, it is because the
Ethernet port doesn’t detect a LAN connection. Check your Ethernet adapter on
your computer, and make sure its enable and working properly. Also, check your
Ethernet cable; make sure you use the right type. It’s plugged in correctly and it’s
worked properly.
11. I can’t connect to Internet and other computers on my power line
network?
(1) Check your IP address and TCP/IP protocol are set up properly for all the
computers on your power line network. Also, try to check your gateway and ping
the gateway.
(2) If HomePlug Configuration Utility detects other HomePlug devices on your
power line network. Try to plug in both HomePlug units into adjacent sockets and
see if the lights light up. If you are still having a problem, please contact your
reseller.
12. How many HomePlug devices do I need to setup a powerline network?
You need two or more HomePlug devices to setup a powerline network.
13. In order to making the PL-420 working properly, do I have to install the
HomePlug Configuration Utility on every single computer who has the
HomePlug device plug into it?
No, the HomePlug Configuration Utility is a utility to diagnose or setup encryption
for HomePlug device. Due to PL-420 is a fully plug and play device, no driver
require to install. In other words, the HomePlug Configuration utility is not a
requirement to install on your computer. You can install the utility, setup the
encryption, and delete it from your computer. Your PL-420 will still work properly.
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14. How many HomePlug devices that I can install into one Local Area
Network?
It is recommended install up to 16 HomePlug devices in one same password
powerline network.
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