Aztech HL280E User Manual

HomePlug Mediaxtream Ethernet Adapter

User Manual

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LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND DAMAGES

THE PRODUCT AND THE SOFTWARES WITHIN ARE PROVIDED "AS IS," BASIS. THE MANUFACTURER AND MANUFACTURER’S RESELLERS (COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS “THE SELLERS”) DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF NONINFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR ANY WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, OR USAGE OF TRADE. IN NO EVENT WILL THE SELLERS BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OR LOSS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL WILLFUL, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL, DAMAGES, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, OR DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS OF ANY CUSTOMER OR ANY THIRD PARTY ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE PRODUCT OR THE SOFTWARES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THOSE RESULTING FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT OR SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION, OR LOSS OR INACCURACY OF DATA OF ANY KIND, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF THE PARTIES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE RESULTS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCT OR ITS SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY CUSTOMER. BECAUSE SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES, THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO THE PARTIES. IN NO EVENT WILL THE SELLERS’ TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY OF EACH AND EVERY KIND IN RELATION TO THE PRODUCT OR ITS SOFTWARE EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY CUSTOMER FOR THE PRODUCT.

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User Manual

Contents

About the Product ...........................................................................4

How Does It Work?.........................................................................................................................4

Direct Connection ...........................................................................................................................5

Package Contents ............................................................................6

Device Design ..................................................................................6

Pairing the Device..........................................................................................................................8

How to Use Simple Connect Button.............................................................................................9

Creating a HomePlug Mediaxtream Network ........................................................................9

Resetting the Private Network Name ...................................................................................14

Joining an Existing HomePlug Mediaxtream Network ........................................................15

Joining an Existing HomePlug Mediaxtream Network ........................................................18

Joining an Existing HomePlugAV Network............................................................................21

Determining Connection Rate.....................................................................................................24

Getting Started .............................................................................. 25

Plan Your Network.........................................................................26

Local Network...............................................................................................................................26

Gaming Network ..........................................................................................................................27

Media Network.............................................................................................................................27

HomePlug Mediaxtream Utility .....................................................28

Requirements ...............................................................................................................................28

Installation ....................................................................................................................................28

Opening HomePlug Mediaxtream Utility ..................................................................................29

The User Interface ........................................................................................................................29

Home.........................................................................................................................................30

Private Network Name............................................................................................................30

Firmware Upgrade ...................................................................................................................31

Appendix .......................................................................................33

Frequently Asked Questions ..........................................................33

European Regulations.................................................................... 35

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User Manual

About the Product

HomePlug Mediaxtream Adapter is ready to use out of the box and does not require the

installation of driver software to work. It can be connected to computers, routers,

gaming consoles, hubs, and other Ethernet devices regardless of operating system.

How Does It Work?

Aztech HomePlug Mediaxtream Ethernet Adapter utilizes the existing electrical wiring in

the house as a path to create a secured network of computers and Ethernet devices. With

a maximum data rate of up to 1 Gbps, HomePlug Mediaxtream can reliably handle high

requirement applications like broadband Internet, video streaming and Voice over IP.

HomePlug Mediaxtream converts digital signals to a complex analog signal that traverses

along the electrical wires. When receiving the analog signal, it converts the analog signal

back to digital. To make the signal secured, a 128-bit AES encryption is applied.

A HomePlug Mediaxtream device can only communicate with other HomePlug

Mediaxtream and HomePlug AV devices that use the same Private Network Name.

Simple Connect Button automatically creates an encrypted Private Network Name. It can

also be used to reset the Private Network Name or to add a device into an existing

HomePlug AV network.

Note:

Note: HomePlug Mediaxtream devices are already configured to use a common Private Network Name and

Note:Note:

are ready to use.

When a HomePlug Mediaxtream communicates with another device, the Powerline

Activity LED color will give you an idea about the connection rate. Green means the

connection rate is below 100Mbps or it is on HomePlug AV mode; and Blue means the

connection rate is more than 100 Mbps or it is on Mediaxtream mode.

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User Manual

Direct Connection

For best performance, connect HomePlug Mediaxtream directly to a wall outlet. Avoid

connecting it to a power strip where other electrical devices are connected. Other devices

create electrical noise that may affect its performance.

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User Manual

Package Contents

The package contains the following items:

• 1 HomePlug Mediaxteream for Single Pack or 2 HomePlug Mediaxtream for Twin

Pack

1 Ethernet cable (Cat 5e) for Single Pack or 2 Ethernet cables (Cat5 e) for Twin

•

Pack

Resource CD

•

• Easy Start Guide

Device Design

AAAA BBBB

DDDD

CCCC

EEEE FFFF

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Label

Label Status

LabelLabel

Power

PowerPower

User Manual

Status Description/ Function

StatusStatus

Description/ Function

Description/ FunctionDescription/ Function

Off No power. A

On • After Simple Connect Button is pressed for two

seconds, this LED will blink to confirm the button press.

• When Simple Connect Button is pressed for 10

seconds, this LED will blink to confirm the Private Network Name reset.

Powerline Activity

Powerline ActivityPowerline Activity

Off Device is not connected to a HomePlug or Mediaxtream

network.

On • This LED remains ON when the device is part of

a HomePlug or Mediaxtream network.

The LED color represents the connection rate

•

within the HomePlug Mediaxtream network whether it is better (Green

Green) or it is on

GreenGreen

HomePlugAV mode, or best (Blue Mediaxtream mode.

The LED flashes to indicate network activity.

•

Off An Ethernet device is not connected.

C Ethernet Activity

Ethernet Activity

Ethernet ActivityEthernet Activity

On • An Ethernet device is connected.

• The LED flashes to indicate Ethernet activity.

D Ethernet Port

Ethernet Port Accepts either cross or straight Ethernet cable.

Ethernet Port Ethernet Port

(Best to use Cat5 e Ethernet cable)

E Simple Connect Button

Simple Connect Button

Simple Connect ButtonSimple Connect Button

• Press Simple Connect Button for two (2)

seconds to start pairing.

• Press Simple Connect Button for ten (10)

seconds to release new Private Network Name.

• Press Simple Connect Button for fifteen (15)

seconds to initialize Standby Mode

• Press Simple Connect Button for five (5)

seconds to activate the device from Standby mode.

Blue) or it is on

BlueBlue

F Reset to Factory Default

Reset to Factory Default Press for 3 seconds to reset to the factory default

Reset to Factory DefaultReset to Factory Default

settings. When you reset to the factory default, all your configuration changes will be removed.

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User Manual

Pairing the Device

Your HomePlug Mediaxtream devices by default are preconfigured to have a common

Private Network Name. Setting up your HomePlug Mediaxtream network is as easy as

1,2 and 3.

1. Plug in your HomePlug Mediaxtream devices side by side to easily observe the

LED behavior. Wait until the Power and PL-ACT LED turns ON to confirm that the

connection has been established.

2. In Room A plug in your 1st HomePlug Mediaxtream into the wall socket then

connect it to your Modem/Router’s Ethernet LAN port using an Ethernet cable.

3. In Room B plug in your 2nd HomePlug Mediaxtream into the wall socket then

connect it to your computer’s Ethernet Port. Your HomePlugAV is now ready to

use.

* Recommended position to plug in your device.

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User Manual

How to Use Simple Connect Button

Simple Connect Button provides a more convenient way of creating your HomePlug

Mediaxtream Network. The button has three main functions which includes:

Creating a HomePlug Mediaxtream Network

•

• Resetting the Private Network Name

Joining an existing to an existing Mediaxtream or HomePlug Network

•

Simple Connect Button

Creating a HomePlug Mediaxtream Network

To create a HomePlug Mediaxtream Network, you need at least two HomePlug

Mediaxtream devices, which is using random Private Network Names. When you press

Simple Connect Button on both devices, a common Private Network Name will be

automatically generated to enable them to communicate with each other.

Note:

Note: New HomePlug Mediaxtream from a Twin Pack can already communicate with each other out of the

Note:Note:

box. However, if you intend to create a new Private Network Name using Simple Connect for both devices,

you need to reset their Private Network Names to a random key before proceeding.

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User Manual

Blinking

BlinkingBlinking

Blinking

ONON

To create a HomePlug Mediaxtream Network using Simple Connect:

Step 1

Plug your HomePlug Mediaxtream side by side

where you can easily observe the LED

behavior.

Upon connection, the Power LED lights ON

steadily.

Step 2

Press Simple Connect Button for two seconds

on HomePlug Mediaxtream X. After you

release the button, the Power LED will blink.

If the Power LED did not blink, press Simple

Connect Button again for two seconds.

Note:

Note: Do not press Simple Connect for more than 2

Note:Note:

seconds.

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Step 3

Blinking

BlinkingBlinking

Blinking

BlinkingBlinking

Blinking

Press Simple Connect Button for two seconds

on HomePlug Y. After you release the button,

the Power LED will start to blink. If the

Power LED did not blink, press Simple

Connect Button again for two seconds.

Make sure to press Simple Connect Button on

HomePlug Y within two minutes after you

press Simple Connect Button on HomePlug X.

The PL-ACT LEDs on both devices will turn ON

once the devices are paired.

User Manual

Note:

Note: Do not press Simple Connect for more than 2

Note:Note:

seconds

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