Powerline Communication
Powerline to Ethernet Bridge with 4-port Switch
PL-401E
USER’S MANUAL
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Table of Content
Chapter 1 Introduction .................................................................................. 1
1.1 Powerline to Ethernet Bridge with 4-port Switch – PL-401E .............. 1
1.1.1 Features................................................................................... 1
1.1.2 Package Contents.................................................................... 2
1.1.3 Hardware Description............................................................... 2
1.1.4 Specification............................................................................. 3
Chapter 2 Planning your Powerline Network ................................................ 4
Chapter 3 Powerline to Ethernet Bridge Installation ..................................... 5
Chapter 4 Encrypting Your Powerline Network............................................. 6
4.1 PowerPacket Configuration Utility Installation.................................... 6
4.2 PowerPacket Configuration Utility Usage........................................... 9
4.2.1 Device Screen........................................................................ 10
4.2.2 Network Screen ......................................................................11
4.2.3 Security Screen...................................................................... 12
4.2.4 Advanced Screen................................................................... 13
4.2.5 About Screen ......................................................................... 15
Chapter 5 Troubleshooting ......................................................................... 16
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Chapter 1 Introduction
Powerline communication is revolution in home and small office networking, greatly simplifying
the task of installing a high-speed local area network. With PLANET’s powerline
communication products, you can utilize existing AC power outlets and wires to connect your
computers, servers and other devices safely, securely and at true LAN speeds of up to 14
Mega bits per second. No complex and expensive specialized wiring usually associated with
LAN’s is required, or management, security and interference problems associated with
802.11x wireless technologies – just convenient, reliable, secure and simple networking where
you need it most. PLANET’s Powerline products allow you to place a computer anywhere in
your home or small office with flawless, uninterrupted high-speed network connection.
Security of PLANET’s Powerline communication technology is assured by the use of 56-bit
DES encryption – the same system used to protect banking systems all over the world, and is
interference free, avoiding the problems of wireless systems.
1.1 Powerline to Ethernet Bridge with 4-port Switch – PL-401E
PL-401 is a Powerline to Ethernet bridge with four 10base-T/100Base-TX RJ-45 Ethernet
interface for directly connecting to computer's Ethernet card or existing Ethernet switch, hub or
broadband router, gives a high flexibility to expand your powerline or Ethernet network.
Enhanced by new Intellon chipset, PL-401 provides the convenience of communication
between different electrical phases. You do not need to worry about the wire system of your
house or office anymore. Also, a power socket for connecting to wall outlet is offered in its
standard package.
1.1.1 Features
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Four 10/100Mbps Auto-negotiation and Auto-MDI/MDIX switching ports for flexibility
network connectivity
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♦
♦
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Internal power supply with one power line networking interface
Complies with HomePlug Powerline Alliance Specification 1.0
Up to 14Mbps bandwidth on powerline interface
Support CSMA/CA protocol on powerline interface
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♦
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56-bit data encryption to ensure data security and reliability
Easy to use Windows-based security key configuration utility
Significant LED indicators
Up to 90 meters between two powerline nodes
Able to communicate between different electrical phases
1.1.2 Package Contents
Check the contents of your package for following parts:
n One Powerline to Ethernet Bridge
n One Power Cord
n One Manual and Utility CD-ROM
n One Quick Installation Guide
If any of these pieces are missing or damaged, please contact your dealer immediately, if
possible, retain the carton including the original packing material, and use them against to
repack the product in case there is a need to return it to us for repair.
1.1.3 Hardware Description
PL-401E front panel
LED definition
LED
Color
Description
PWR
Green
Steady on indicates PL-401E is powered on.
Steady on indicates PL-401E has detected other Powerline
devices in range.
LNK
ACT
COL
Green
Green
Orange
PLC
LAN
Blinking indicates there existing powerline network traffic.
Blinking indicates there existing collision in powerline
network.
Steady on indicates the Ethernet link of the port is up.
Blinking indicates there is network traffic through the port.
LNK/ACT Green
100 Orange
Steady on indicates the link speed of the port is 100Mbps.
PL-401E rear panel
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One 2-pin power inlet for both powerline network and power supply
1.1.4 Specification
Model
PL-401E
Standards
HomePlug 1.0
IEEE 802.3 10Base-T
IEEE 802.3u 100Base-TX
Ports
One Powerline Port
Four 10/100M Ethernet RJ-45 ports
Powerline: Power Cord
LAN: UTP Cat 3 or better
Powerline: 14Mbps (actual throughput is about 6Mbps)
LAN: 10/100Mbps
Cabling Type
Speed
Powerline Frequency Band
Encryption
LEDs
4.3MHz to 20.9MHz
56-bit DES with Key configuration software
PWR, PLC: LNK, ACT, COL, LAN: LNK/ACT, 100
197 x 120 x 35 mm
Dimension
Certifications
FCC Class B, CE
Operating Temp.
Storage Temp.
Operating Humidity
Storage Humidity
Utility compatibility
0 ~ 50 degree C
-20 ~ 70 degree C
10~90% non-condensing
5~95% non-condensing
Windows 98, 2000, Me and XP
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Chapter 2 Planning your Powerline Network
With PLANET PowerLine products, a network can be created using home powerlines.
Computers can be networked over powerlines using a USB Adapter or an Ethernet converter.
Use PL-102U for a USB-enabled computer or use PL-401E for an Ethernet-enabled computer.
The PL-401E is also ideal for any user who already has a router and wants to share
high-speed Internet access across the powerline network. Connect PL-401E to the router after
you have configured it using the Security Configuration Utility. Connect a straight-through UTP
Category 5 cable to the uplink port of the router, or connect crossover UTP Category 5 cable to
a LAN port on the router.
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Chapter 3 Powerline to Ethernet Bridge Installation
Please follow the procedures below to install your PL-401E:
1. Plug one end of an UTP category 5 cable into the computer, switch or hub’s LAN port.
2. Plug the other end of the network cable into one of the 10/100 RJ45 Ethernet ports on
PL-401E.
3. Plug the power cord into the powerline port on PL-401E.
4. Plug the other end of the power cord into a power outlet.
Note1: Use only the supplied power cord to connect PL-401E to the power outlet.
Note2: Because PL-401E sends data over the powerline of your house, it is best to
plug its power cord directly into a power outlet. Do not plug PL-401E into a UPS
power strip with surge protection. PL-401E has its own power filter for protection
against surges.
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Chapter 4 Encrypting Your Powerline Network
4.1 PowerPacket Configuration Utility Installation
1. Insert the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive to initiate the autorun program. Once completed,
a menu screen will appear as follows:
2. To install the utility, click on the "PowerPacket Configuration Utility" hyperlink in PL-401E
field to activate the installation procedure for the application program.
If the above screen is not shown, you can start the installation as follows.
• Click on Start Menu/ Run.
• Enter “E:\Utility\PL-401E\setup.exe” in the appeared box, where “E” is the letter of your
CD-ROM drive.
• Click on “OK” button.
3. On the Welcome screen, click the Next button.
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4. When the License Agreement screen is displayed, read the License Agreement, then click
the radio button to the left of “I accept the terms in the license agreement” and click the
Next button.
5. On the Customer Information screen, enter the required information and select whom this
application is installed for. Then click the Next button.
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6. The InstallShield Wizard shows your current settings in next screen. If you need to review
or change any settings, click the Back button. Click the Cancel button to exit the Wizard.
Otherwise, click the Install button.
7. The InstallShield Wizard would ask you to plug your PL-401E to PC to complete the
installation. After ensuring PL-401E is well connected, click the OK button
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8. When finished, click Finish to end the Installation Wizard.
9. Remember to restart your computer to have the new configuration take effect.
4.2 PowerPacket Configuration Utility Usage
After successfully installing the utility, your computer desktop will display this icon,
PowerPacket Configuration Utility. Double-click the icon to activate the utility.
,
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Note: Make sure your TCP/IP protocol is set up appropriately on your computer
before running PowerPacket configuration utility.
4.2.1 Device Screen
When initiating the program, it will analyze your powerline network. Once the analysis is done,
the Device screen will be shown as above. In the text list box, it reports all PowerPacket™
devices found that are locally connected to the computer where the utility is running. In most
cases, one device only is listed. In case you have more, click on one of them and hit Connect.
Make sure that the State box indicates that your PC is connected to the same device. Now you
are ready to manage the powerline network connected to this device, ensure its privacy and
measure its data rate performance. Press Refresh button to refresh the search of the
powerline devices connected to your computer.
The progress bar will change into a status bar indicating the network average data rate. The
color of the bar reflects the average performance of the powerline network :
Green : Excellent performance
Yellow : Fair performance
Red : Poor performance
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4.2.2 Network Screen
The Network screen provides detailed information about your powerline network. The text list
box shows all PowerPacket™ devices found on your powerline network identified by their
MAC addresses. The second column indicates their data rate measurements in Mbps. Press
Scan Powerline Network button to refresh the listed information.
In case a PowerPacket™ device in your network is not listed in the screen above, make sure
that its network password has not been made private previously with a different password than
your current private network password. You can always reset a PowerPacket™ network
password to the universal one by running the PowerPacket™ Configuration Utility on the PC
attached to this device and use “HomePlug” as the network password.
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4.2.3 Security Screen
All PL-401E are shipped using “HomePlug” as a network password. The Security screen
allows you to change this network password and set your own private password and apply it to
PL-401E connected to the computer where the utility is running. Click Restore Default button
to restore the original network password “HomePlug” and apply it locally. Click Set Local
button to change the network password locally.
Note: Your private network password must have between 4 and 24 characters. The
password is case sensitive. The password can include any letters of the alphabet,
numbers or punctuation marks. Remember this password as it will be needed when
adding other devices to the network later.
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4.2.4 Advanced Screen
The Advanced screen allows you to set up a network password remotely on other PL-401E
through the powerline. Type your private network password into the Network Password text
box. The device password of a PL-401E is adding 0000 to its MAC address. For example, the
device password of a PL-401E with MAC 00304F25A509 is 0000-0030-4F25-A509. The other
device on the network with PowerPacket™ capabilities will have a different device password
printed on either the case itself or in the documentation. Find the passwords for all devices you
want to manage and type them one by one into the Device Password text box and click Add.
This will add the passwords to Remote Passwords text list box and set them to the currently
defined Network Password.
Note: The device must be present on the powerline in order for the password to be
confirmed and added to the Remote Passwords list.
The Status indicates whether each device is successfully set to the Network Password. “OK”
indicates success while “Fail” indicates a failure. Click Set All to apply your private network
password to all devices that are listed in the Remote Passwords text list box and to your local
device connected to the computer where the utility is running as well. Select a password and
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click Remove to remove it from the list.
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4.2.5 About Screen
The About screen shows the software version.
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Chapter 5 Troubleshooting
w I can not connect to other computers on my powerline network or to the Internet.
A: Make sure the IP address and TCP/IP protocol are set up correctly for all the powerline
networked computers.
w Do the PL-401E device cause interference with other home networking or products?
A: No. PL-401E can co-exist with phone line and wireless networking technologies. PL-401E
operates in a different frequency band than powerline control and co-exist with
technologies such as X-10, CEBus and LONworks.
w How do the PL-401E devices handle signal interference between two adjacent homes? How
is eavesdropping prevented?
A: PL-401E is using 56-bit DES security encryption to ensure network separation between
homes. You can use PowerPacket configuration utility to enable and configure the security
encryption on local or remote PL-401E in range.
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