Devolo MicroLink dLAN Audio User Manual
MicroLink® dLAN
®
Audio
© 2005 devolo AG, Aachen (Germany)
While the information in this manual has been compiled with great care, it may not be deemed
an assurance of product characteristics. devolo AG shall be liable only to the degree specified in
the terms of sale and delivery.
The reproduction and distribution of the documentation and software supplied with this product
and the use of its contents is subject to written authorization from devolo AG. We reserve the
right to make any alterations that arise as the result of technical development.
You can find all declarations and certifications of compliance for the products, as long as they
were available at the time of publication, in the appendix of this documentation.
Trademarks
Windows
HomePlug
MicroLink
®
and Microsoft® are registered trademarks of Microsoft, Corp.
®
is a registered trademark of HomePlug Power Alliance.
®
and dLAN® are registered trademarks of devolo AG.
devolo and the devolo logo are registered trademarks of devolo AG. All other names mentioned
may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Subject to change without notice. No liability for technical errors or omissions.
devolo AG
Sonnenweg 11
52070 Aachen
Germany
www.devolo.com
Aachen, April 2005
41555/0405
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Preface
Thank you for placing your trust in this devolo product.
The new member of the devolo dLAN product family represents a new bridge
between computers and audio equipment. A piece of genuine innovation with
the trusted advantages of dLAN technology: wireless, flexible and genuinely
plug and play. At each electrical outlet, the MicroLink dLAN Audio can con
nect via household electrical wires to various remote stations: to the stereo
system in the living room and the multimedia computer in the basement, to
Internet radio or an MP3 file server—you can spread sound from every source
to, for example, active speakers in every room of your home. As with all
HomePlug adapters, connections are simple: the plug for the power outlet is
on one side; input and output jacks for connection to audio devices are on the
other side. With the MicroLink dLAN Audio adapters developed by devolo,
you can even transmit over four channels.
Build your own audio network. Easily, over existing household electrical
wiring. No drilling! No additional cables!
Connect the outputs of your hi-fi system to the audio jacks on the
MicroLink dLAN Audio, and enjoy complete audio mobility at any electri
cal socket in the entire house.
Connect your PC and active speakers in different rooms—from outlet to
outlet, over the power supply grid.
Stereo MP3 playback at 192 kbps with integrated encoder and decoder.
Turn your PC into a jukebox with plug-ins for Winamp and Windows
Media Player.
Up to four different channels as audio streams via dLAN Ethernet.
Audio transmission even without a PC—from the hi-fi system to every
room.
Range of up to 200 meters for audio transmission over power supply grid.
3 years warranty.
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About this manual
Exacting manufacturing standards and stringent quality control are the basis
for high product standards and consistent quality to ensure your fullest satis
faction with this MicroLink dLAN Audio.
devolo MicroLink dLAN Audio
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This documentation was compiled by several members of our staff from a
variety of departments in order to ensure you the best possible support when
using your product.
For further information, please visit 'www.devolo.com'
Our online services (www.devolo.com) are available to you around the clock
should you have any queries or require any further support.
Package contents
Please ensure that the delivery is complete before beginning with the installation of your
MicroLink dLAN Audio
Stereo cinch cable (1.5 m)
CD ROM with manual and software
devolo AG reserves the right to change the package contents without prior
notice.
MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter:
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Contents
1 Quick start...............................................................................................7
1.1 Transferring music from the stereo system to active speakers.... 7
1.2 Transferring music from the PC to the stereo system...................9
2 Introduction ..........................................................................................11
2.1 What exactly is dLAN?................................................................ 11
2.2 What does the MicroLink dLAN Audio have to offer?................ 11
2.3 System requirements...................................................................14
2.4 Connection, display and operating elements.............................. 15
2.4.1 Function keys................................................................ 15
2.4.2 LEDs.............................................................................. 16
2.4.3 Connection jacks ..........................................................18
3 Connection and Startup......................................................................20
3.1 Connection...................................................................................20
3.1.1 Connecting the MicroLink dLAN Audio to the power
supply grid................................................................... 20
3.1.2 Connecting the analog audio input.............................. 20
3.1.3 Connecting the analog audio output............................ 21
3.1.4 Connecting the digital audio input............................... 21
3.1.5 Connecting the digital audio output ............................22
3.1.6 Connecting a microphone ............................................22
3.1.7 Connect the active speakers........................................ 22
3.2 Initial operation ...........................................................................23
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4 devolo MicroLink dLAN software ....................................................25
4.1 Overview of the devolo software................................................ 25
4.1.1 MicroLink dLAN Configuration Wizard ........................25
4.1.2 MicroLink Informer....................................................... 25
4.1.3 HTML configuration interface...................................... 25
4.2 Installation of the devolo MicroLink dLAN software.................. 26
4.3 Configuring the dLAN network with the MicroLink dLAN
Configuration Wizard...................................................................27
4.4 Overview of the dLAN network with the MicroLink Informer..... 28
4.5 The HTML configuration interface for the MicroLink dLAN
Audio adapter ............................................................................. 30
4.5.1 Starting the HTML configuration interface.................. 30
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4.5.2 Selecting the channel with the configuration
interface ....................................................................... 32
4.5.3 Selecting the operating mode with the configuration
interface ....................................................................... 33
4.5.4 Configuring channels for Internet radio....................... 33
4.5.5 Adjusting the playback delay....................................... 35
4.5.6 Configuring the TCP/IP settings................................... 36
4.5.7 Updating the firmware................................................. 36
5 Windows Media Player and Winamp..............................................38
5.1 Sending audio data from the PC onto the audio network........... 38
5.2 Receiving audio data on the PC from the audio network............41
6 Application examples......................................................................... 43
6.1 Computer and external speakers.................................................44
6.2 Computer and stereo system.......................................................45
6.2.1 PC as server.................................................................. 46
6.2.2 Stereo system as server............................................... 46
6.3 Microphone and computer ..........................................................47
6.4 Stereo system and external speakers ......................................... 48
6.5 Stereo system and Internet ......................................................... 49
6.6 Microphone and stereo system................................................... 51
6.7 Microphone and external speakers............................................. 51
6.8 Mixed applications ...................................................................... 53
7 Appendix ............................................................................................... 54
7.1 Technical data .............................................................................54
7.2 Device care and maintenance ..................................................... 55
7.3 CE conformity...............................................................................55
7.4 Declaration of conformity............................................................ 56
7.5 Warranty conditions .................................................................... 57
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Quick start
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1 Quick start
The MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter is a very flexible tool which allows you to
create an audio bridge between the worlds of the PC and the hi-fi system, as
well as other devices. Since you probably cannot wait any longer to distribute
your music throughout your entire home over the power supply grid, we have
provided this "quick start" to show you two of the most common applications.
In the following chapters, you will find more detailed instructions for possible
applications of the MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter, for installation of the soft
ware, and for connection and startup.
Please note that the very brief descriptions in this section are intended for
experienced hi-fi and PC users. The descriptions pertain to a standard configuration of the devices which can be assumed in most cases, but may vary in
individual cases. Also, the description pertains to MicroLink dLAN Audio
adapters in the state in which they were when they left the factory.
1.1 Transferring music from the stereo system to active speakers
To transfer music from your stereo system to active speakers, you need two
MicroLink dLAN Audio adapters.
MicroLink dLAN Audio
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MicroLink dLAN Audio
Plug one of the MicroLink dLAN Audio adapters into an available electri-
cal outlet at the location of your stereo system, and plug the other one in
at the location of your active speakers.
Active speakers
Stereo system
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Quick start
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Using a cinch (RCA) cable, connect the input jacks of the first MicroLink
dLAN Audio adapter to an output of your stereo system ('R' and 'L' for
analog connections , 'Digital Out' for digital connections ).
On the MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter that is connected to your stereo
system, press the right function key once to set the 'Record from line
input' operating mode (the red LED below it is then lit continuously). Press
the function key twice to enable 'Record from digital input' (the red LED
below it then flashes rapidly).
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Quick start
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Connect the speaker output of the second MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter
to the connection cable of the active speakers.
The MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter connected to the active speakers
remains set to playback mode (the LED below it is off).
That's it! After a network analysis lasting about one minute, the top chan-
nel LED (left) stops flashing and remains lit continuously. At this point,
you can play back music from your stereo system over the connected
active speakers.
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1.2 Transferring music from the PC to the stereo system
To transfer music from your PC to the stereo system, you need a MicroLink
dLAN Audio adapter, and either a MicroLink dLAN Ethernet or a MicroLink
dLAN USB. The PC is set to assign IP addresses, and you have installed Ver
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Quick start
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sion 9 or higher of Windows Media Player, or Version 2 or higher of Winamp
(if necessary, you can install Windows Media Player from the devolo CD).
MicroLink dLAN Ethernet or
MicroLink dLAN USB
Plug the MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter into an available electrical outlet
at the location of your stereo system, and plug the MicroLink dLAN
Ethernet or the MicroLink dLAN USB into an available electrical outlet at
the location of your PC.
Using a cinch (RCA) cable, connect the output jacks of the MicroLink
dLAN Audio adapter to an input of your stereo system ('R' and 'L' for ana
log connections , 'Digital Out' for digital connections ).
MicroLink dLAN
Audio
Stereo system
PC
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Connect the Ethernet or USB port of the dLAN adapter to the correspond-
ing available port on the PC.
Install all of the devolo software from the CD onto your PC, including the
plug-ins for your player software (Windows Media Player or Winamp).
That's it! Now, you can receive music from Windows Media Player or
Winamp via the connected input on your stereo system.
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2 Introduction
In this chapter, we will provide an overview of the dLAN technology and introduce the MicroLink dLAN Audio briefly.
2.1 What exactly is dLAN?
There is now a new alternative to the well-known wired LAN and Wireless
LAN network technologies: dLAN (direct LAN, i.e. directly networked). dLAN
is networking using the electric wiring already installed in the building.
Cost factor and transmission quality
dLAN is an economical and easy-to-use networking technology. You don't
need to lay cables and you can connect to the network at every power point.
The dLAN standard modulates and demodulates additional frequencies on
the power lines. Modulation and demodulation is a well-known and proven
method of data transmission, which has been in use in other applications for
a number of years. Now it is used to set up Internet and network accesses.
Data security and radiation
The power meter in the building can act as a physical barrier against
unwanted access from outside. For security reasons, DES
also used, which guarantees secure data transfer within the network.
dLAN devices from devolo meet the stringent EU industrial standards and
comply with the current standards for electromagnetic radiation. Its radiation
level is actually well below that of Wireless LAN technologies.
encryption is
pro
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2.2 What does the MicroLink dLAN Audio have to offer?
Powerful and flexible
MicroLink dLAN Audio combines dLAN technology with MP3 technology,
thus creating an audio bridge between the worlds of the PC and the stereo
system. MicroLink dLAN Audio offers many advantages for convenient trans
mission of music and speech on every floor and every room of your home.
With this product, you can enjoy music quickly and flexibly at any electrical
outlet you want. You don't even have to use a PC to transmit the audio data
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Introduction
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if you don't want to. Your stereo system can provide music for remote active
speakers, and receive audio files from the computer or Internet radio stations.
A MicroLink dLAN Audio has all the usual connection options of the hi-fi
world, including analog and digital inputs and outputs (Cinch/RCA) as
well as microphone or active speaker connections (3.5 mm phone plug).
The MicroLink dLAN Audio has a built-in MP3 decoder and encoder. With
these "signal converters", you can convert audio signals from the hi-fi
system into MP3 format, and from the MP3 format back into audio signals
for the hi-fi system.
The technical function principle
The connection options and the MP3 audio conversion in a dLAN adapter
allow you to connect hi-fi components to your dLAN network. To illustrate
this, here are two application examples:
When using a MicroLink dLAN Audio and another dLAN adapter (e.g.
MicroLink dLAN Ethernet or MicroLink dLAN USB) you can transfer music
from your PC to the stereo system—and vice versa.
MicroLink dLAN Audio
MP3
MP3
Hi-fi audio
signal
Converting MP3 into
hi-fi audio (encoding)
Stereo system
MicroLink dLAN Ethernet or
MicroLink dLAN USB
PC
In this case, the MP3 format is used for the connection from the PC to the
MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter via the power supply grid. After decoding
the data, the hi-fi audio signal is used between the MicroLink dLAN
Audio adapter and the stereo system.
For transmission in the opposite direction, i.e. from the stereo system to
the PC, the audio signal is transferred from the stereo system to the
MicroLink dLAN Audio, where it is encoded and transferred to the PC as
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Direction of music flow
MP3
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Introduction
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Converting MP3 into hifi audio (decoding)
MicroLink dLAN
Audio
Hi-fi audio signal
an MP3 file. As the PC can play back the MP3 files directly, no external
decoder is required to do so.
With two MicroLink dLAN Audio adapters, you can for example transfer
music from your stereo system via the power supply network to another
room for playback via active speakers.
Converting hi-fi audio
into MP3 (encoding)
Stereo system
MP3
MicroLink dLAN Audio
MP3
Hi-fi audio
signal
Direction of music flow
Active speakers
The hi-fi audio signal from the stereo system is transferred via the standard outputs to the MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter. In the MicroLink
dLAN Audio, the integrated MP3 encoder converts the hi-fi audio signal
into the MP3 format. The dLAN adapter transfers this data format via the
power supply grid to the MicroLink dLAN Audio into another room. The
MP3 format is converted back into a hi-fi audio signal (decoded) and
played back over the active speakers.
Additional examples for the use of the MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter are
provided in the chapter on “Application examples” on page 43.
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Simple installation
Connect the MicroLink dLAN Audio using the appropriate inputs/outputs
to the stereo system, satellite receiver, microphone or active speakers.
Connect MicroLink dLAN Audio to the power supply grid.
Install the devolo MicroLink dLAN software.
That's it!
Meets the highest quality requirements.
All devolo products undergo comprehensive quality assurance testing. Thus
devolo ensures optimum functionality with various operating systems, coun
try variants and protocols.
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Audio connections
The MicroLink dLAN Audio has analog and digital inputs and outputs (RCA/
cinch), and jacks for connecting active speakers and microphones (3.5 mm
phone plug).
Function keys
With the two function keys of the MicroLink dLAN Audio, select one of the
four transmission channels and set the operating mode of the audio adapter
(record or playback).
Status display
The eight control lamps of your MicroLink dLAN Audio provide information
regarding the channel used, the operating mode and the connection status to
the dLAN network.
2.3 System requirements
In order to distribute your music over the network using your MicroLink dLAN
Audio and, if you want, also to integrate your PC or the Internet into your new
audio network, the corresponding devices must fulfill the following require
ments:
Hi-fi or TV components, satellite tuners, DVD players or similar
devices require an analog or digital input/output via cinch (RCA) plug.
Microphones, active speakers or similar devices require a 3.5 mm
phone plug for connection to the MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter.
Desktop or notebook computers can be integrated into the audio net-
work in either of two different ways:
For connection via a MicroLink dLAN Ethernet or a MicroLink dLAN
USB, the computer must have any TCP/IP-compatible operating sys
tem and the corresponding interface (Ethernet network card or USB).
For connection via a MicroLink dLAN Audio, the 3.5 mm jacks of a
sound card are sufficient (input and/or output).
For integration into the audio network, Internet routers or similar Inter-
net access devices require an Ethernet port over which they can be connected to a MicroLink dLAN Ethernet.
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2.4 Connection, display and operating elements
2.4.1 Function keys
The MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter has two function keys:
Selecting the channel with the function keys
Using the left function key , set channels 1 to 4 for sending or receiving
audio data over the power supply network. The LEDs underneath each chan
nel indicate which channel you have selected (see “LEDs” on page 16).
Press function key to switch to the next channel. After the fourth channel,
the selection returns to the first.
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Selecting the operating mode with the function keys
With the right function key , set the operating mode of the MicroLink dLAN
Audio adapter. The setting you have selected is indicated by the red LED
directly under the function key (
Press the function key to switch to the next operating mode, from 'Playback' to 'Record from line input', to 'Record from digital input', and finally to
'Record from microphone input'. After the last operating mode, the selection
returns to 'Playback'.
As an alternative to operating the MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter using the
function keys, you can also set the channel and the operating mode using the
HTML configuration interface (
see “LEDs” on page 16).
page 30).
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2.4.2 LEDs
Resetting the device to the factory default settings
Simultaneously pressing the two function keys and resets the unit to
the factory default settings. When this is done, all the settings you have
made, such as the channel and operating mode selection, TCP/IP settings or
the assignment of Internet radio stations to specific channels, are reset to the
default values.
Press function keys and simultaneously. First, all LEDs on the left side
are extinguished; they are then illuminated again in sequence from Channels
1 though 4. Hold down function keys and until the four channel LEDs
are extinguished again. After the LEDs are extinguished, the MicroLink dLAN
Audio adapter is reset to the factory default settings.
The MicroLink dLAN Audio has eight status LEDs:
The four green LEDs on the left side of the housing display which channel
is currently being used. The LEDs for 'Channel 1' though 'Channel 4' (from
top to bottom) indicate the current status of the channel using a blink
code:
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LED is lit continuously: Audio data are being sent or received over the
channel.
LED is flashing: No connection has been established on the channel.
LED is off: This channel is not currently active.
The MicroLink dLAN Audio has a function to prevent multiple MicroLink dLAN
Audio servers from sending data on the same channel simultaneously. This is
signaled by the following flash code on the device:
LED of the busy channel flashes alternatingly with those of the three
other channel LEDs: The LED of the busy channel, i.e. the LED of the
channel already carrying audio data, will be lit while the other three
channel LEDs remain out. Next, the three other channel LEDs will be
lit at the same time while the LED of the busy channel is out.
The 'Rec' LED on the right side of the housing (red) displays the operating
mode of the MicroLink dLAN Audio:
LED is off: Playback
LED is lit continuously: Recording from analog (line) input
LED is flashing rapidly: Recording from digital input
LED is flashing slowly: Recording from "Mic" input
The 'Power' LED is lit when the MicroLink dLAN Audio is ready for oper-
ation.
The 'Act' LED is lit when data are being sent or received via the power
supply grid.
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The 'Link' LED is lit when a connection to another dLAN adapter has been
established.
When operating the MicroLink dLAN Audio adapter using the web-based
configuration interface, it is also possible to observe the corresponding statuses of the LEDs (see “The HTML configuration interface for the MicroLink
dLAN Audio adapter” on page 30).
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Introduction
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2.4.3 Connection jacks
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You can connect your audio devices using the following jacks:
Analog output
Analog input
Digital output
Digital input
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