NETGEAR XAV1601 User Manual

XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano

User Manual

350 East Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134 USA

August 2011 202-10867-01 v1.0

XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano User Manual

into any language in any form or by any means without the written permission of NETGEAR, Inc.

Technical Support

Thank you for choosing NETGEAR. To register your product, get the latest product updates, or get support online, visit us at

Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR Phone (Other Countries): Check the list of phone numbers at

http://support.netgear.com.

http://support.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/984.

Trademarks

NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, and Connect with Innovation are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the Unitied States and/or other countries. Information is subject to change without notice. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

Statement of Conditions

To improve internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to make changes to the products described in this document without notice. NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur due to the use, or application of, the product(s) or circuit layout(s) described herein.

Revision History

Publication Part Number Version Publish Date Comments

202-10867-01 v1.0 August 2011 First publication

2 |

Chapter 1 Installation and Basic Configuration

Chapter 2 Using the XAV1601 Powerline Utility

How the XAV1601 Fits in Your Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Powerline XAV1601 Nano Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

XAV1601 Product Label. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

LED and Feature Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Installing Your Powerline XAV1601 Nano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Prepare for Installation: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Connecting a Powerline AV+ 200 Nano to the Router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Adding Adapters to Your Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Understanding Powerline Network Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Set the Encryption Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Installing the Powerline Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Powerline Utility Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Security Icon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Return to the Default Network Encryption Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Change the Name of a Powerline Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Turn LEDs On or Off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Set the Powerline Encryption Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Reset a Device to Factory Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Add a Device to a Powerline Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Set Up Quality of Service (QoS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Chapter 3 Troubleshooting

Product Registration and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Basic Functioning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

LED Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Problems after Changing the Network Encryption Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Appendix A Supplemental Information

Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Appendix B Notification of Compliance Index

Contents | 3

1. Installation and Basic Configuration

This chapter describes how to install and configure the XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano. It also explains the security features and how to customize the encryption key for added security.

How the XAV1601 Fits in Your Network

You can use one or more Powerline XAV1601 Nano adapters to extend your Ethernet network anywhere in your house using your existing electrical power lines. following illustration shows an existing Powerline network with one Powerline device Room 1, and second Powerline device added in Room 2:

Room 1 Room 2

Figure 1. Powerline Adapter Connected to an Ethernet Network

Chapter 1. Installation and Basic Configuration | 4

XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano User Manual

Powerline XAV1601 Nano Features

The following illustration shows the front and bottom panels of the XAV1601:

Filtered AC Socket

Power LED

Ethernet LED

Powerline LED

Security button

Ethernet port

Figure 2. XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano

Factory Reset button

XAV1601 Product Label

The product label on the rear panel of the XAV1601 contains the items listed below:

• Model number

• MAC address

• Device password

• Serial number

LED and Feature Descriptions

The following table describes the buttons, status LEDs, and Ethernet port on the XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano.

Chapter 1. Installation and Basic Configuration | 5

Table 1. Model Number Feature Descriptions Table 2.

Item Description

XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano User Manual

Power LED

Powerline LED

Ethernet LED

Factory Reset

Security Button

• Solid green. The electrical power is on.

• Blinking green.The adapter is in the process of restarting or setting up security.

• Amber. Power saving mode. The unit enters power saving mode if the Ethernet port is not linked for more than 10 minutes.

• Off. There is no electrical power, or has been turned off through the Powerline utility.

• Solid. The adapter is connected to a Powerline network.

• Blinking. The adapter is sending or receiving data.

• Off. The adapter has not found any other compatible Powerline devices using the same encryption key, or has been turned off through the Powerline utility.

The Pick A Plug feature lets you pick the electrical outlet with the strongest link rate, indicated by the color displayed by the LED:

Green: Link rate > 80 Mbps (Best) - Good for HD video

• Solid. The Ethernet port is linked, but there is no activity.

• Blinking. There is traffic on the Ethernet port.

• Off. There is no Ethernet connection, or it has been turned off through the Powerline utility.

Press the Factory Reset button for 1 second, then release to return the Powerline adapter to its factory default settings.

If you set security on your other adapters, after you plug your new AV adapter into the wall socket, press its security button for 2 seconds; then press the Security button on any adapter in your existing network for 2 seconds. Both buttons must be pressed within 2 minutes.

Note: The Security button does not work in power saving mode. The unit enters power saving mode if the Ethernet port is not linked for more than 10 minutes.

Amber: Link rate >50, < 80 Mbps (Better) - Good for SD Video

Red: Link rate < 50 Mbps (Good) - Good for data

Ethernet Port Plug one end of the Ethernet cable that comes with the XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano

into this port and the other end either into your router, or into the computer or other peripheral devices.

6 | Chapter 1. Installation and Basic Configuration

XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano User Manual

Installing Your Powerline XAV1601 Nano

Prepare for Installation:

1. Before you begin, verify the following:

• Your Ethernet network is set up.

• An Ethernet port is available on your router.

• Your Internet connection is working.

• An Ethernet port is available on each computer that will use a Powerline XAV1601

Nano and is configured to work on your network. Usually, the default configuration settings (TCP/IP and DHCP) are fine.

2. Familiarize yourself with the Powerline XAV1601 Nano.

The front panel has three lights: Power, Powerline, and Ethernet. The side panel has a Security button, and a Reset button. The Ethernet port is located on the bottom of the adapter. See Figure 2 on page 5.

3. Plan the location of your Powerline devices:

• Use an electrical outlet that is not controlled by a wall

switch to avoid someone power to the outlet.

• Do not connect the Powerline XAV1601 Nano to a

power strip, extension cord, or surge protector as this might prevent it from working correctly, or reduce the network performance.

• Avoid using the Powerline XAV1601 Nano in an

electrical outlet that is located near an appliance that uses a lot of power, such as a washer or dryer, or a refrigerator. This could potentially prevent the adapter from working correctly, or reduce network performance.

unknowingly turning off the

Chapter 1. Installation and Basic Configuration | 7

XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano User Manual

Connecting a Powerline AV+ 200 Nano to the Router

1. Plug an XAV1601 into a power outlet near your router.

Use the supplied gray Ethernet cable to connect from the XAV1601 to a LAN port on your router so that the Powerline network can gain access to the Internet. The Power and Ethernet LEDs on the Powerline XAV1601 Nano should turn on.

Note: It is not necessary to disconnect your router from your computer.

XAV1601

Router

Supplied Ethernet cable

Laptop PC

Figure 3. Connecting the XAV1601 to a Router

2. Once the Powerline adapter is plugged in and power is first applied, check to see that the

Power LED is on.

3. After approximately 10 seconds, check to see that:

a. The Power LED is solid green. b. The Powerline LED is lit. c. The Ethernet LED is on or blinks.

8 | Chapter 1. Installation and Basic Configuration

XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano User Manual

Adding Adapters to Your Network

Once the first adapter is installed and connected to your router, you can easily add adapters into your network.

To add Powerline adapters:

1. Be sure the first Powerline adapter is connected to your router.

2. Plug additional Powerline adapters into power outlets near the other computers and

additional peripheral devices to be included in your Powerline network.

3. Use the gray Ethernet cable from the XAV1601

package to connect from the to an Ethernet port located on the other computer or peripheral device.

4. Wait for each Powerline adapter to be

recognized by the Powerline network. The Power, Ethernet, and Powerline LEDs

should turn on. This could take as little as 5 seconds, or up to 80 seconds. For details about how the LEDs work, see Table 1 on page 6.

Powerline adapter

5. Test to make sure that each computer connected

to a Powerline XAV1601 Nano can access the Powerline network.

For example, be sure that you can access the Internet from a remote computer.

One way to test this is to install the Powerline utility and use it to view all the computers connected by the Powerline AV Ethernet adapter.

CAUTION:

NETGEAR recommends that you secure your Powerline network from unauthorized access. This is especially relevant in settings such as apartment buildings. See Understanding Powerline Network Security on page 10.

Figure 4. Add an adapter

Chapter 1. Installation and Basic Configuration | 9

XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano User Manual

Understanding Powerline Network Security

A Powerline network consists of two or more Powerline adapters using the same network encryption key. Securing your network is crucial. By encrypting the information you send over the Powerline XAV1601 Nano, you help to keep it secure from hackers. If you do not set up security on your network, anyone nearby with a Powerline network can potentially use their connection to gain access to your network and information you send over the Internet. This is especially relevant in settings such as apartment buildings, office buildings, dorm rooms, and other more populated areas.

Powerline devices connected to the same network must use an identical encryption key. The security used by Powerline XAV1601 Nanos is similar to the SSID and encryption keys used in wireless networks, but you do not need software to configure Powerline XAV1601 Nanos.

There are two ways to secure your Powerline network.

• Use the Security button located on the Powerline adapter to automatically generate a

random encryption key. See

• Use the XAV1601 Powerline Utility to configure your Powerline network with an

encryption key that you specify. If you are already using Powerline or HomePlug devices then you will need to use the Powerline Utility. If not already installed, the Powerline Utility should be installed on your computer. See

Set the Encryption Key .

Installing the Powerline Utility on page 12.

For information about using the XAV1601 Powerline Utility to configure Powerline security or to prioritize Powerline network traffic using the Quality of Service (QoS) feature, see

Chapter 2.

Note: To return the XAV1601 Powerline AV+ 200 Nano to its factory

default settings, see Reset a Device to Factory Settings on page 17.

Set the Encryption Key

You can use the Security button to change the default encryption key and set a private encryption key instead. The default encryption key is HomePlugAV.

Note: Before you change the Encryption key, you need to install the

Powerline adapters and get them up and running. Otherwise, they might not be able to communicate with each other.

To set a private encryption key:

1. Verify that all the Powerline XAV1601 Nanos to be configured are plugged in to an

electrical outlet.

10 | Chapter 1. Installation and Basic Configuration

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