On Networks PL500P User Manual

Easy, Reliable & Secure

Powerline PL500 Series Adapter

User Manual

Models:

PL500
PL500P

July 2013
202-11313-01

Powerline PL500 Series Adapter

Support

Thank you for selecting On Networks products. On Networks recommends that you use only the official On Networks
support resources.

After installing your device, locate the serial number on the label of your product and use it to register your product at

www.on-networks.com/register. You must register your product before you can use On Networks telephone

support. On Networks recommends registering your product through the On Networks website. For product updates
and web support, visit

support.on-networks.com.

Trademarks

Brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Information is subject
to change without notice.

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Contents

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Chapter 2 Troubleshooting

Hardware Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Powerline 500 Home Network Adapter (PL500). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Powerline 500 Plus Home Network Adapter (PL500P) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

LED Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Button Descriptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Ethernet Port. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

PL500P Pass-Through Socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Product Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

How the Powerline Adapter Fits into Your Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Set Up a New Powerline Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Add a Powerline Adapter to a Powerline Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

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

Use the Security Button to Set the Encryption Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Basic Functioning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

LEDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Appendix A Supplemental Information

PL500 Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

PL500P Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Appendix B Notification of Compliance

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1. Getting Started

This chapter describes your Powerline adapter and how it fits into a home network. It also
explains the security features and how to secure your Powerline network with a private
encryption key.

This chapter includes:

• Hardware Features

• How the Powerline Adapter Fits into Your Network

• Set Up a New Powerline Network

• Powerline Network Security

• Use the Security Button to Set the Encryption Key

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4

Powerline PL500 Series Adapter

Hardware Features

This section describes the hardware features of the Powerline Adapters. Adapters vary by
region. Your adapter might look different.

Powerline 500 Home Network Adapter (PL500)

The hardware features are shown in the following figure.

Ethernet LED
Performance LED
Power LED

Security button

Factory Reset button

Figure 1. PL500 hardware features

Ethernet port

Powerline 500 Plus Home Network Adapter (PL500P)

The hardware features of the PL500P are shown in the following figure.

Factory Reset button

Ethernet port

Security button

Ethernet LED
Performance LED
Power LED

Figure 2. PL500P hardware features

Pass-through socket

Getting Started

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Powerline PL500 Series Adapter

LED Descriptions

The LEDs indicate the status of your Powerline adapter.

Table 1. LEDs

LED Description

Ethernet

Performance

Power

• Solid green. The Ethernet port is linked.

• Off. No powered-on device is connected to the Ethernet port.

• Solid green. Link rate > 80 Mbps (fast).

• Solid amber. Link rate > 50 Mbps and < 80 Mbps (medium).

• Solid red. Link rate < 50 Mbps (slow).

• Off.

• Solid green. The electrical power is on.

• Solid amber. The

• Blinking green. The

• Off. The

The adapter has not found any other compatible Powerline devices that

are using the same encryption key.

adapter is in power saving mode.

adapter is in the process of setting up security.

Powerline adapter is not receiving electrical power.

Button Descriptions

The buttons on your Powerline adapter let you do the following:

• Factory Reset button. Use the Factory Reset button to return your Powerline adapter to

its factory default settings. Press the Factory Reset button for two seconds and then
release it.

• Security button. Once the Powerline adapters are active, you can use the Security

button to secure your Powerline network with a private encryption key

Security Button to Set the Encryption Key on page 10.

. See Use the

Ethernet Port

You need to use the Ethernet port on one Powerline adapter to connect it to the router or
gateway for your network. For other Powerline adapters in your network, you can connect a
device with an Ethernet port, such as a computer, game console, Blu-ray player, smart TV,
HD set-top box, or network DVR.

PL500P Pass-Through Socket

The filtered pass-through socket can remove some electrical noise that might affect
Powerline performance. Plugging the power plugs of nearby devices into the filtered
pass-through socket improves performance.

Getting Started

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Powerline PL500 Series Adapter

Product Label

The product label shows details specific to your Powerline adapter, including the following
information.

• Model number

• MAC address

• Serial number

• Device password

How the Powerline Adapter Fits into Your Network

Powerline adapters can extend Internet access throughout your home. You need at least two
compatible Powerline adapters to form a Powerline network.

• The first Powerline adapter connects to your router with an Ethernet cable so that the

Powerline network is linked to your local area network (LAN).

• The other Powerline adapters use electrical power lines to form a Powerline network that

includes the first Powerline adapter

.

When the Powerline network is working, you can connect a computer or device to a
Powerline adapter, and share the Internet connection.

Room 1 Room 2

Figure 3. A Powerline network with two Powerline adapters

Getting Started

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