Netgear XAVB1501, XAV1501 Owner's Manual
Powerline AV+ 200 Adapter Kit XAVB1501
User Manual
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
February 2011
202-10641-01
v1.0
Powerline AV+ 200 Adapter Kit XAVB1501
©2011 NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated
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 http://support.netgear.com.
Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR
Phone (Other Countries): See http://support.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/984.
Trademarks
NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, ReadyNAS, ProSafe, Smart Wizard, Auto Uplink, X-RAID2, and NeoTV are
trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, and Vista are
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. 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.
2 |
Contents
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Chapter 2 Powerline Utility
Hardware Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Product Details. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Powerline Adapter in a Home Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Powerline Network Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Use the Security Button to Set the Encryption Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Install the Powerline Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Device Settings Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Add a Device to a Powerline Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Change the Network Encryption Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Set Up a Custom Network Encryption Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Return to the Default Network Encryption Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Quality of Service (QoS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Prioritize by General Application Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Diagnostics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Factory Reset. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Chapter 3 Troubleshooting
Basic Functioning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
LEDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
If You Do Not See All Your Devices with the Powerline Utility. . . . . . . . . .23
Appendix A Supplementary Information
Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Appendix B Notification of Compliance
Contents | 3
1. Getting Started
Y
This chapter describes your Powerline AV+ 200 Adapter Kit XAVB1501, and how your adapters
can fit into a home network.
Hardware Features
The package includes two adapters and two Ethernet cables. The appearance of your
adapter depends on the country in which it was sold.
1
our adapters may look like one of these:
Figure 1. Adapters can vary in appearance
Chapter 1. Getting Started | 4
Powerline AV+ 200 Adapter Kit XAVB1501
Product Details
The following figure shows the adapter in detail:
Filtered
AC Socket
Power
LED
Ethernet LED
Powerline LED
Security/Power
Factory Reset
Ethernet port
Figure 2. Adapter filtered AC socket, LEDs, and buttons
Filtered AC Socket
The filtered AC socket can remove some electrical noise that can affect Powerline
performance. Plugging the power plugs of nearby devices into the filtered AC socket may
improve performance.
Buttons
Two buttons are located on the side of the adapter:
• Security/Power. This button serves a dual function:
- Set the Power Mode: The Powerline adapter’s normal state is Power On. When you
first plug it into an electrical outlet, it is in Power On mode. To go to Power Off (power
saving mode), press and hold the button for 5 – 10 seconds. Pressing the button
again for less than 2 seconds returns it to Power On. You can also unplug and plug in
the adapter to restore it to Power On.
- Set Security: Press and hold this button for 2 – 4 seconds. If you are setting up two
XAV1501 devices, press the button on each device for 2 – 4 seconds within 2
minutes. The two devices connect automatically and the Power LED starts blinking.
• Factory Reset. Press the Factory Reset button for 1 second, then release to return the
Powerline adapter to its factory default settings.
Chapter 1. Getting Started | 5
LEDs
Item Description
Powerline AV+ 200 Adapter Kit XAVB1501
Power LED
Powerline
LED
Ethernet LED
• Solid green. The electrical power is on.
• Blinking green. The adapter is in the process of restarting or setting up security.
• Amber. The adapter is in power saving mode.
• Off. There is no electrical power.
• 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.
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)
• 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.
Amber:
Link rate > 50 and < 80 Mbps
(better)
Red:
Link rate < 50 Mbps (good)
Powerline Adapter Label
The product label shows unique details specific to your adapter. The product label is located
on the back:
Product name and model
MAC address
Serial number
Password
Figure 3. Adapter product label
6 | Chapter 1. Getting Started
Powerline AV+ 200 Adapter Kit XAVB1501
Powerline Adapter in a Home Network
You can use Powerline Adapters to extend your Ethernet network anywhere in your home
using your existing electrical power lines.
Here, an Ethernet cable connects
the router to the
Powerline network.
In another room, an Ethernet cable connects
a gaming console to the Powerline network.
Powerline communication
Ethernet
cables
Figure 4. Powerline network with two Powerline adapters
For best performance, plan the location of your Powerline devices (to make a Powerline
network, you need at least two Powerline devices):
• Use an electrical outlet that is not controlled by a wall switch to avoid someone
unknowingly turning off the power to the outlet.
• Do not plug in Powerline products to a power strip, extension cord, or surge protector as
this might prevent them from working correctly, or reduce the network performance.
• Avoid plugging Powerline products into electrical outlets located near an appliance that
uses a lot of power, such as a washer or dryer, or a refrigerator. This could potentially
prevent the adapters from working correctly, or reduce network performance.
Different Powerline adapter models can share the network. All Powerline NETGEAR AV
products (models XAV101, XAV1004, XAV2001, XAV2501, and XAVN2001) are compatible.
Chapter 1. Getting Started | 7
Powerline AV+ 200 Adapter Kit XAVB1501
To set up your Powerline network:
1. Make sure that your home router is up and running and that Ethernet wired connections
are working.
2. Install the first Powerline adapter based on the installation instructions that came in the
package.
3. Install the second Powerline adapter, which finds the adapter you just installed. The two
Powerline devices form a Powerline network.
4. Install any additional Powerline adapters that you plan to use.
5. Test to make sure that the computer or peripheral can access the Powerline network.
For example, on a computer, use the Internet. Another way to test this is to install the
Powerline Utility and use it to view all devices on the Powerline network.
6. NETGEAR recommends that you secure your Powerline network from unauthorized access,
especially in settings such as apartment buildings. See
Powerline Network Security .
Powerline Network Security
A Powerline network consists of two or more Powerline adapters using the same network
encryption key. Securing your network protects the information you send over the Powerline
network from unwanted access. If you do not set up security on your network, anyone nearby
with a Powerline network can potentially use his or her 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 populated areas.
There are two ways to secure your Powerline network.
• Use the Security button to automatically generate a random encryption key.
• Use the Powerline Utility to specify an encryption key for your Powerline network. If you
already have a Powerline network, you need to use the Powerline Utility, which is located
on your Resource CD. See
• To return the Powerline Adapter to its factory default settings, press its Factory Reset
button for 1 second, then release.
Chapter 2, Powerline Utility.
Use the Security Button to Set the Encryption Key
Note: An adapter can generate a private key only once. If you want to
replace a private key, first reset the adapters to their factory settings.
To do this either press the Factory Reset button for 1 second, then
release, or use the Powerline Utility factory defaults feature (see
Return to the Default Network Encryption Key on page 17).
8 | Chapter 1. Getting Started
Powerline AV+ 200 Adapter Kit XAVB1501
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.
1. Verify that all the Powerline adapters to be configured are plugged in.
WARNING!
Do not press the Security button on the Powerline adapter until
installation is complete and all adapters on your network are
plugged in and communicating with each other. Pressing the
Security button too soon can temporarily disable Powerline
communication. If this should occur, reset the Powerline adapter
to its factory default settings (press the Reset button for 1 second,
then release).
2. Press the Powerline adapter Security button for 2 seconds.
• The Power LED starts blinking after you release the button.
• The adapter automatically creates a new, randomly generated network encryption key
that each Powerline adapter on the network will use.
At this point, the other adapters in your network cannot communicate with each other.
3. Within 2 minutes of pressing the Security button on the Powerline adapter, press the
Security button on the second adapter for 2 seconds.
In order to pair the devices, you need to press both buttons within 2 minutes.
This securely configures your Powerline network with the same network encryption key.
4. If your network has more than two adapters, press the Security button on the next adapter
for 2 seconds, then press the Security button on any additional adapters in your network for
2 seconds. The adapters retain security settings even if they are unplugged.
Chapter 1. Getting Started | 9
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