Comtrend PG 9142S User Manual
PowerGrid 9142s
Powerline Ethernet Adapter
with WiFi
User Manual
Version A1.0, October 2, 2014
261072-025
1
Preface
This manual provides information related to the installation and operati on of this
device. The individual reading this manual is presumed to have a basic
understanding of telecommunications terminology and concepts.
If you find the product to be inoperable or malfunctioning, please conta ct technical
support for immediate service by email at
For product update, new product release, manual revision, or software upgrades,
please visit our website at
Copyright
Copyright©2014 Comtrend Corporation. All rights reserved. The information
contained herein is proprietar y to Comtrend Corporation. No part of this document
may be translated, tr anscr ibed, reproduce d, in any form, or by any means without
prior written consent of Comtrend Corporation.
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) an y later version.
http://www.comtrend.com
INT-support@comtrend.com
This program is distributed in the ho p e that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
WARRANTY; without even the implied warra nty of MERCHANTABILIT Y or FITNESS
FOR A PARTIC ULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more
details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program. If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/
NOTE: This document is subject to change without notic e.
Protect Our Environment
This symbol indicates that when the equipment has reached the end of
its useful life, it must be taken to a recycling centre and processed
separate from domestic waste.
The cardboard box, the plastic co ntained in the packaging, and the par ts that make
up this router can be recycled in accordance with regionally established regulations.
Never dispose of this electronic equipment along with your household wa ste; you
may be subject to penalties or sanctions under the law. Instead, please be
responsible and ask for disposal instructions from your local government.
Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement
This equipmenthas been tested and found to complywith the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is
no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
FCC Caution:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received, including interference that maycause undesired operation.
Non-modification Statement:
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
FCC Radiation Exposure Statement:
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled
environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm
between the radiator & your body.
CHAPTER 1: PRODUCT INFORMATION ................................................................................................ 5
1.1 WIFI FEATURES .................................................................................................................................. 5
1.2 POWERLINE FEATURES ......................................................................................................................... 5
1.3 SAFETY INFORMATION .......................................................................................................................... 6
1.4 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................................................................... 6
1.5 PACKAGE CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................ 7
CHAPTER 2: NETWORK SETUP ............................................................................................................ 8
2.1 HARDWARE SETUP .............................................................................................................................. 8
2.2 POWERLINE LOGICAL NETWORK ........................................................................................................... 11
2.2.1 Initial Setup .......................................................................................................................... 12
2.2.2 Device Connection ................................................................................................................ 13
2.2.3 Adding a New Device............................................................................................................ 14
2.2.4 PowerGrid 9142s WiFi setup ................................................................................................ 15
2.2.5 WPS Setup ............................................................................................................................ 16
2.2.6 How to use a power strip with the PowerGrid 9142s ........................................................... 17
2.2.7 How to understand the STATUS LED colors ........................................................................... 17
2.2.8 Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................... 18
2.2.9 Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................................. 19
2.3 CONNECTING TO PG-9142S WIRELESS-N POWERLINE ADAPTER BY WEB BROWSER ....................................... 22
2.3.1 Windows 7 IP address setup ................................................................................................ 23
2.3.2 Connecting to Web Management Interface ......................................................................... 24
2.4 QUICK SETUP ................................................................................................................................... 25
2.4.1 LAN Settings ......................................................................................................................... 25
2.4.2 Wireless Settings .................................................................................................................. 26
2.4.3 Security Settings ................................................................................................................... 28
2.5 STATU S ............................................................................................................................................ 29
2.5.1 Device Status ........................................................................................................................ 29
2.5.2 System Log ........................................................................................................................... 31
2.5.3 Statistics ............................................................................................................................... 32
2.6 GENERAL SETUP ............................................................................................................................... 33
2.6.1 Time Zone Setting ................................................................................................................ 33
2.6.2 Password .............................................................................................................................. 34
2.6.3 TR-069 Client ........................................................................................................................ 35
2.6.4 LAN Settings ......................................................................................................................... 37
2.7 WIRELESS ........................................................................................................................................ 38
2.7.1 Basic settings ........................................................................................................................ 38
2.7.2 Advanced settings ................................................................................................................ 41
2.7.3 Security settings ................................................................................................................... 43
2.7.3.1 Disable Security ................................................................................................................. 44
2.7.3.2 WEP ................................................................................................................................... 44
2.7.3.3 WPA/WPA2/WPA-Mix ....................................................................................................... 45
2.7.4 Access Control ...................................................................................................................... 47
2.7.5 WPS ...................................................................................................................................... 48
2.8 TOOLS............................................................................................................................................. 51
2.8.1 Configuration Tools .............................................................................................................. 51
2.8.2 Firmware Upgrade ............................................................................................................... 52
2.8.3 Factory Defaults ................................................................................................................... 53
2.8.4 Save/Reload setting ............................................................................................................. 54
CHAPTER 3: HOMEPLUG AV USER APPLICATION TOOL ..................................................................... 55
3.1 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS ............................................................................................................... 55
3.2 USER GUIDE .................................................................................................................................... 59
3.2.1 Configuration ....................................................................................................................... 59
3.3 NETWORK TOPOLOGY ........................................................................................................................ 60
3.3.1 Topology Infornmation ......................................................................................................... 60
3.3.2 Device Details ....................................................................................................................... 62
3.3.3 Connectivity Information on the Entire Network ................................................................. 63
3.3.4 Connectivity Information for a Specific Device ..................................................................... 64
3.3.5 Average Network PHY Rate .................................................................................................. 66
3.3.6 Network Topology Legend .................................................................................................... 67
3.4 CHANGE DEVICE ID ........................................................................................................................... 68
3.5 UPD ATE FIRMWARE ........................................................................................................................... 70
3.6 CONFIGURATION WIZARD ................................................................................................................... 73
3.6.1 First Step – Creating a New Private Network ....................................................................... 74
3.6.2 Second Step – Adding Remote Devices to the New Private Network ................................... 75
3.7 LANGUAGE ...................................................................................................................................... 78
3.8 TROUBLESH OOTING ........................................................................................................................... 79
APPENDIX A: SPECIFICATIONS .......................................................................................................... 80
Chapter 1: Product Information
1.1 WiFi Features
• Compatible with IEEE 802.11b/g/n wireless network standard
• Supports 64/128-bit WEP, WPA, and WPA2 wireless data encryption
• Supports MAC address filtering
• Supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)
• Easy to use web-ba sed GUI (Graphical User Interface) for network
configuration and management purposes
1.2 Powerline Features
• High speed PHY rate - Up to 200Mbps
• Supports 128-bit AES link encryption with key management
• Supports Quality of Service (QoS)
• Support for IPv4/IPv6, IGMP and MLD snooping
• Easy installation - just plug and play
• Wall-mount design
1.3 Safety Information
1. This Wireless-N Powerline Adapter is designed for indoor use only; DO NOT place
this Wireless-N Powerline Adapter outdoors.
2. DO NOT put this Wireless-N Powerline Adapter at or near hot or humid places, lik e
kitchens or bathrooms.
3. DO NOT pull any connected cable with force; disconnect it from the Wireless-N
Powerline Adapter first.
4. There’ s no user-serviceable part inside the Wireless-N Powerline Adapter. If yo u
found that the product is not working properly, please contact your dealer of
purchase and ask for help. DO NOT disassemble the product; this will void your
warranty.
1.4 System Requirements
Computer or network devices with wired or wireless network interface card.
Any connected devices must feature a network port.
Web browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or above, Opera web browser ,
or Safari web browser).
An available AC power socket (100 – 240 V, 50/60Hz).
1.5 Package contents
The following items are included in your PG-9142s package:
• A single PG-9142s Wireless-N Powerline Adapter
• One Ethernet cable
• Quick Installation Guide
Chapter 2: Network Setup
2.1 Hardware Setup
Front Panel and LED indicators
LED Color
OFF: No power (perhaps the socket to which the Wireless-N
Power
Status
Powerline Adapter is connected does not work or is disabled)
Green: Wirel ess -N Powerline Adap ter is plugged in with voltage
present
Blink: Establishing connection
Green: Excellent network traffic (i.e. the connection speed is more
than 90 Megabits per second)
Orange: Good network traffic (i.e. the connection speed is
between 40 and 90 Megabits per second)
Red: Normal network traffic (i.e. the connection speed is between
1 and 40 Megabits per second)
Blink: Wireless-N Powerline Adapter in power saving mode (blinks
twice every 5 seconds)
WLAN
Green: WiFi connection established
Blink: Data transmitting or receiving over WLAN (secured
network)
OFF : WiFi disabled
WPS
ETHERNET
Blink: WPS mode is on for 120 seconds
OFF: WPS mode is off
Green: LAN connection established
OFF: LAN connection is not establ ished
Blink: Data transmitting/receiving
Bottom Panel
Item Name Description
LAN Local Area Network (LAN) port
Reset Press 11 seconds to reset the syste m with facto ry defaults
Front Panel Buttons
Item Name Description
Press more than 2 seconds to start WPS connection
Press for between 2 – 11 seconds to join/establish a powerline
Config
network
Press for over 11 seconds to leave a powerline network
2.2 Powerline Logical Network
In the following example we are going to show how our PG-9142s works in
conjunction with the PG-9141s. See the following illustration for reference.
These steps show how to connect a PowerGrid 9141s unit to a modem or router . This
guide assumes that a PowerGrid 9141s will be the primary connection to the modem
/ router and the PowerGr id 9142s will be used within the network to connect to WiFi
capable devices (E.g. Tablet, IP Phone, Access Point).
2.2.1 Initial Setup
1. Ensure that your modem or ro ut er is powered on.
2. Plug a PowerGrid 9141s un it into the power socket closest to the modem/ ro uter .
The Power LED will blink GREEN.
3. Connect the PowerGrid 9141s unit to the LAN port of the modem/router with an
Ethernet (RJ-45) cable. W ait 10 se conds for the PowerGrid’s Ethernet LED and
Power LED to light up GREEN indicating a stable connection.
2.2.2 Device Connection
These steps show how to connect a PowerGrid 9142s to a network device.
Below we use an Ethernet camera as a network device.
1. Plug a PowerGrid 9142s unit into the power socket closest to the
camera or other device. The Power LED on the PowerGrid 9142s should
light up GREEN.
2. Power on your camera (or Ethernet device). Connect the PowerGrid
9142s to the camera with an Ethernet cable. The Ethernet LED on the
PowerGrid 9142s should light up GREEN.
3. The Status LED on the PowerGrid 9142s (s) should no w be RED,
GREEN or ORANGE.
4. If the Status LED is off , Press the “Config” button on each of the two
PowerGrid 9142s and 9141s devices for 2-11 seconds. Upon successful
connection of the PowerGrid 9141s, the Status LED will light up.
5. If the connection process is not successful, please refer to the trouble
shooting steps in 2.2.8
2.2.3 Adding a New Device
Follow steps 1-4 in section 2.2.2 to add additional PowerGrid 9142s devices to the
network. Press the “Config” button on the new device and one other PowerGrid
device in the network so they can pair and transmit data successfully.
2.2.4 PowerGrid 9142s WiFi setup
1. To connect your WiFi device (e.g. computer, tablet, smartphone) to the
PowerGrid 9142s Wireless-N Powerline Adapter, go to your device’s WiFi
settings to search for - and select - the SSID that is located on your PowerGrid
9142s device label.
2. When prompted, input the WiFi key located on the PowerGrid 9142s device
label to connect.
3. You should now be successfully connected to the PowerGrid 9142s WiFi
network.
Note: To configure the WiFi settings of your PowerGrid 9142s using a desktop
computer/notebook via an Ethernet cable, please refer to section 2.3 & 2.4
2.2.5 WPS Setup
If your client (e.g. smartphone, notebook, tablet) supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected
Setup) then you c an use this method to set u p your PowerGrid 9142s’ Wi-Fi
network.
1. Press and hold the WPS button for more than 2 seconds on the PowerGrid 9142s
to activate its W PS. The PowerGrid 9142s’ WPS LED sho uld flash to indicate a
WPS connection is in progress.
2. Within two minutes, press the WPS button (often the WPS/Rese t b utton) on
your client to activate WPS.
Note: Please check the instructions for your wireless client for how long you need to
hold down its WPS button to activate WPS.
3. The devices will establish a connection. You can now connect to the PowerGrid
9142s’ wireless network with a Wi-Fi device, as described in section 2.2.2 To
confirm a successful connection you can see if your client device
(e.g. smartphone, no tebook, ta blet) displays the WiFi connected icon
2.2.6 How to use a power strip with the PowerGrid 9142s
Color
Information
RED
Normal network traffic (ex. the connection speed is between 1
ORANGE
Good network traffic (ex. the connection speed is between 40
and 90 Megabits per second).
GREEN
Excellent network traffic (ex. the connection speed is more
than 90 Megabits per second).
If you must plug y our Wireless-N Powerline Adapter into a power strip, we suggest
you use a basic power strip as the more advanced ones have a filter that can
interfere with the Powerline signal.
SURGE PROTECTED POWER STRIPS: Avoid plugging
PowerGrid units into power strips with surge prote ction as this will
reduce network speed and may even prevent their use.
2.2.7 How to understand the STATUS LED colors
The STATUS LED displays quality of the network and provides important
information that will provide solutions to common questions, such as why a High
Definition (HD) movie is not showing or shows with pixels. The STATUS LED
indicator will vary its color depending on the estimated speed of the Powerline
connection. The speed is measured in Megabits Per Second (Mbps).
and 40 Megabits per second).
2.2.8 Troubleshooting
The following information should help you diagnose basic setup or installation
problems.
1) POWER LED is OFF: If the POWER LED goes off, please make sure that your
power socket is working properly (perhaps by testing with another device).Then
plug in your PowerGrid 9142s again. If the POWER LED does not light up, please
contact your equipment supplier for further information.
2) ETHERNET LED is OFF: If the ETHERNET
LAN port of the PowerGrid unit is connected firmly to the LAN port of the other
device. To check the condition of the Ethernet cable, use another cable to test the
same connection.
3) STATUS LED is OFF: Plug both PowerGrid units that you’re attempting to pair
into power sockets that are within the sa me room; both PowerGrid devices should
have an Ethernet cable connected to their respective devices e.g. PC, Router, Set
Top Box, camera, etc…). After 10 seconds (approx, until all the LEDs of the device
blink), the STATUS LED should light up GREEN. If not, press the Config button on
each for 2-5 seconds and let go.
* If you have tried all of the above and are still experiencing problems, you can reset
both devices to factory default by using a pin to push the Reset button of each
device for 11 seconds. The WPS LED will flash every second. After the Reset b utton
is released, the WPS LED will be steady ON for around 5 seconds, then the system
will reboot to factory defaults.
LED fails to light up, ch ec k tha t the
PowerGrid 9142s PowerGrid 9141s
Reset
Reset
2.2.9 Frequently Asked Questions
This PG-9142s Wireless-N P owerline Adapter has been designed to be reliable and
easy to use in creating or extending your existing home network. However,
should you experience any problems, please refer to the list below to aid in
troubleshooting.
1. What to do if the LEDs do not display as expected?
• Power indictor is flashing, the other indicators are off: The PG-9142s
Wireless-N Powerline Adapter went into power saving mode. It occurs 60
seconds after the Ethernet signal connection stops.
• Ethernet LED is off: If the Ethernet LED does not light up, check or
connect your devices (PC, STB…etc.) to the port Ethernet PowerGrid to
check whether your Ethernet cable works. Alternatively, you can use
another similar cable.
• Status LED is off: After performing step 2. (for 2 single units to pair up),
if still not working, please do the following 2 steps:
Simple Connect: Press the CONFIG push butto n f o r mo re t han 11
seconds on each of PG-9142s Wireless-N Powerline Adapters, then
press the CONFIG push button for 2-5 seconds on one adapter (the
Power LED should blink). Within 2 minutes, press the C ONFIG
push button for 2-5 seconds on the second adapter. After 10
seconds the two adapters should communicate and the Status LED
should be solid on both adapter s at the end of the pairing pro cess.
Simp le Pa iring: Plug 2 PG-9142s Wireless-N Powerline Adapters in
to power outlets, then connect these 2 devices directly to one
another using an Ethernet cable. Wait for the Ethernet LED to
turn ON, and then disconnect the Ether net cable. The Status LED
should be solid ON both PG-9142s Wireless-N Powerline Adapters
at the end of the pairing process.
2. How do I RESE T to factory default settings?
If you have tried the FAQ above action 1., and you are still experiencing
problems, you can return both PG-9142s Wireless-N Powerline Adapters to factory
settings using the pin by pressing (RESE T) for 11 seconds (until the WPS LED flashes
every second).
If the power LED on any of the PG-9142s units (in the network) does not light
up Green, press the Config button on the problem PG-9142s unit fo r more tha n 10
seconds to disconnect it from the network. Then, see section 2.2.1 & 2.2.2 for
Network Setup. If the problem persists, please contact your local agent for further
assistance.
3. Why is SDTV video not streaming?
• Check the STATUS indicator LED in the adapter connected to the
STB.
• If the indicator is RED this means that the PLC link is not able to play
an SDTV streaming.
• Try to reposition the adapter into another outlet in order to obtain
an ORANGE or GREEN indication.
• If the indicator is ORANGE or GREEN, it should now be able to play
SDTV video.
• If the SDTV video still does not play, check the Ethernet cables and
the settings of devices connected to the PLC adapters (STB, router,
PC, video server, etc.).
4. How many PG-9142s Wireless-N Powerline Adapters could be install ed
in the home?
For each additional device (computer, modem, router…and so on) that you want
to connect to your home network, you will need add additional PG-9142s
Wireless-N Powerline Adapters and Ethernet cables, one for each device.
The maximum number of installed devices, is up to 10 in the same home
network.
Maximum data transfer between devices, 95 MB /sec.
Poor quality of the wiring and the presence of interference will significantly
reduce the possible number of installed devices and data transfer rate.
5. Why is HDTV video not streaming?
• Check the status indicator LED in the adapter connected to the
set top box (STB).
• If the indicator is RED or ORANGE this means that the Powerline link is not
able to stream HDTV.
• Try to reposition the adapter in another outlet in order to obtain a GREEN
indication.
• If the indicator is GREEN, it should now be able to play a HDTV
video.
• If the LED is not GREEN check the Ethernet cables and the settings of
devices connected to Powerline adapters (STB, DSL router, PC, video server,
etc.).
OTE
N
to stream the video with an ORANGE STATUS LED in some cases.
: If the HDTV video bandwidth is lower than 10Mbps, it may be possible
6. What if my Powerline Adapters don’t fit into the plug socket?
• Your Wireless-N Powerline Adapter might not fit because the sockets are
too close to the floor or are in the skirting board.
• The easiest way around this is to use a trailing power strip, and plug the
Adapter into the strip. Please make sure that the strip is not an anti-surge
adapter strip.
7. What if the house next door has Powerline Adapters as well?
• Each pair of Wireless-N Powerline Adapters has its own unique security
key. This means that your connection is secure and cannot be confused
with anyone else’s.
8. Is it safe to leave the Powerline Adapters on all the time - is there any
danger of overheating?
• Wireless-N Powerli ne Ada pters are CE and FCC certified and completely
safe to leave plugged in all the time. They may become slightly warm in
use - this is perfectly normal. However, you may wish to put them into
standby when not in use.
9. How much power do Wireless-N Powerline Adapters use and how much
do they cost each month in electricity?
• The adapters use 5 Watts when in use. Prices vary between electricity
suppliers.
10. How can I check that my Wireless-N Powerline Adapters are
working properly?
• Your Wireless-N Powerline Adapters are set to work together as a pair,
and should work perfectly out of the box. The best way to test them
is to find a double plug socket, and plug them in next to each other.
Often the best place to find a double plug socket is in your kitchen.
Alternatively plug them into a trailing extension strip (but not an
anti-surge strip).
• When plugged in, after 10 seconds, the Wireless-N Powerline
Adapters will configure themselves so that each has a green status
light.
• If the Wireless-N Powerline Adapters don’t configure themselves as
above, you need to follow the reset procedure (described above).
• When your Wireless-N Powerline Adapters are connected to a device
the Ethernet light should light up. When you’re using the service the
Ethernet light will flash. You may notice that the Status Light on one
or both Powerline Adapters changes to red or orange. This isn’t
something to worry about if you are not having any problems with
your connection.
2.3 Connecting to PG-9142s Wireless-N Powerline Adapter by web browser
After the network connection is complete, the next step you should do is setup the
Wireless-N Powerline Adapter with proper network parameters, so it can work
properly in your network environment.
Before you can connect to the Wireless-N Powerline Adapter and start
configuration proce dures , your computer must be able to get an IP address
automatically (use dynamic IP a ddress). If it’s s et to use static IP address, or you’re
unsure, please follow the instructions below to configure your computer to use
dynamic IP address. Windows 7 is used for reference; other operating systems
might have slightly different configuration options or interfaces.
2.3.1 Windows 7 IP address setup
1. Click the Start button and select Control Panel. Double click Network and
Internet and click N etwork and Sharing Center, the Network and Shar ing Center
window will appear.
2. Click Change adapter settings and right click on the Local Area Connection icon
and select Properties. The Local Area Connectio n window will appear.
3. Check your list of Network Components. You should see Internet Protocol
Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) on your list. Select it and click the Properties button.
4. In the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TC P/IPv4) Properties window, se lect ‘Use the
following IP address’, then input the following settings in their respective field:
IP address: 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
5. Click OK to confirm the setting.
2.3.2 Connecting to Web Management Interface
All functions and settings of this Wireless-N Powerline Adapter must be configured
via web management interface. Please start your web browser, and input
‘192.168.0.10’ in address bar, then press ‘Enter’ key. The following message
should be shown:
Please input user name and password in the field respectively, default user name is
‘root’ , and default password is ‘12345’, then press ‘OK’ button, and you can see the
Quick Setup interface of this Wireless-N Powerline Adapter.
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