Panasonic BL-PA300A User Manual
PA300
BL-
HD-PLC
MASTER
LAN
PLC
SETUP
Operating Instructions
PLC Adaptor Add-on Unit
Power Line Communication
Model No.
BL-PA300A
Operating Instructions .......................................................... 2
Instrucciones de operación................................................. 27
Limited warranty..................................................................... 52
Customer services ................................................................. 54
Table of Contents
Introduction
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.......................................4
Electrical environment information................................................5
Security information.......................................................................7
Security notices for when sending an adaptor for service............. 8
Main unit........................................................................................9
Installation
Registration.................................................................................11
Placing the adaptors.................................................... .. ... ...........13
Power Save Mode.......................................................................13
Connecting adaptors to network devices.....................................14
Useful Information
Testing a terminal’s network speed.............................................15
Understanding the indicators.......................................................17
Resetting an adaptor...................................................................18
Troubleshooting...........................................................................19
Specifications..............................................................................22
Adaptor Maintenance Screen......................................................24
FCC and other information..........................................................25
IMPORTANT NOTES:
For best results, connect this product directly to a wall outlet.
This product may not function normally in certain electrical
environments.
See page 5 for more information.
Please read this document before use and save this document for future reference.
Introduction
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a Panasonic HD-PLC product.
Included items
Confirm that the following items are included with this product.
Additional items can be ordered by calling 1-800-332-5368.
PLC Adaptor Add-on Unit.......... 1 LAN Cable....................................1
Order No.: PQJA10138Z
BL-PA300
HD-PLC
MASTER
LAN
PLC
SETUP
Getting Started............................. 1 Operating Instructions
(this document).............................1
Abbreviations
• This product is referred to as “the adaptor” in this document.
Trademarks
•Linux® is the registered trademark of Linus T orvalds in the U.S. and other
countries.
• HD-PLC or HD-PLC mark is a registered trademark or trademark of
Panasonic Corporation in Japan and in other countries.
• All other trademarks identified herein are the property of their respective
owners.
3[For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033]
Introduction
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
When using this product, basic safety precautions should always be follow ed
to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, or personal injury.
1. Read and understand all instructions. Keep this document for future
reference.
2. F ollo w all instructions in this document and heed all warnings.
3. Do not install this product near any heat sources such as radiators,
heat registers, stoves, or other devices (including amplifiers) that
produce heat.
4. This product is used as the main disconnect device. Ensure that the AC
outlet is installed near this product and is easily accessible.
5. The adaptor must remain connected at all times.
6. To prevent the risk of fire or electrical shock, do not expose this product
to rain or any type of moisture, and do not plug it in upside-down (i.e.,
with the LAN jack pointing up).
7. Do not touch the product during lightning storms.
8. Unplug this product when unused for a long period of time.
9. Ref er all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required
when the unit does not operate normally, has been damaged in any
way, or after the unit has been dropped.
10. Do not use this product outdoors.
11. Unplug this unit from power outlets if it emits smoke, an abnormal smell
or makes unusual noise. These conditions can cause fire or electric
shock. Confirm that smoke has stopped and contact an authorized
service center.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
4
Introduction
Electrical environment information
HD-PLC adaptors communicate with each other using the existing electrical
wiring in your home, and may be affected by electrical noise or the length of
your home’s wiring. Keep the follo wing in mind when placing each adaptor.
AC outlets
For best results, we recommend connecting the adaptors directly to a wall
outlet. Avoid connecting high power-consuming appliances to the same wall
outlet. Additionally , connecting an adaptor to a uninterruptable power supply
(UPS) or backup power supply device is not recommended.
While connecting the adaptors to a wall outlet is recommended, keep the
following in mind if you must connect an adaptor to a power strip:
• Make sure the power strip does not have a noise filter or a surge
protector, as these features may interfere with the performance of
your adaptors.
• Do not connect the adaptor to a power strip that receives power from
another power strip.
• Use a power strip with an AC cord that is as short as possible.
Electrical interference
Certain electri cal devices emit electrical noise. If this noise is passed on to
the electrical wiring in your home, it may interfere with the performance,
speed, and reliability of your adaptors. For best results, we recommend
connecting an electrical noise filter to noise emitting appliances.
The following appliances are more likely to produce noise:
• Battery chargers (including cell phone charg ers)
• AC adaptors (including AC adaptors for modems, routers, notebook
computers, etc.)
• Hair dryers
• Vacuum cleaners
• Lights or lamps which have a dimmer switch or a touch-sensi ti ve
on/off feature
• Power drills
Additionally, this product may interfere with the following appliances:
• Short wave radios
• Lights or lamps which have a touch-sensitive on/off feature
• Wireless devices (including wireless mice, etc.)
5[For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033]
Introduction
Electrical wiring
HD-PLC adaptors communicate with each other using the existing electrical
wiring in your home. If 2 wall outlets are separated by a great length of
electrical wiring, the adaptors connected to those outlets may not be able to
communicate with each other.
For more information, refer to the troubleshooting section (see page 19) or
access the Panasonic PLC Support Site at:
http://panasonic.co.jp/pcc/products/en/plc/
After you have placed the adaptors where you plan to use them and plugged
them into the wall outlets, test the terminal’s network speed (see page 15).
6
Introduction
Security information
1. With any network connection, security is a concern. The BL-PA300A
provides security to prevent unauthorized access to your network.
• Only terminals that are registered to the master adaptor can
communicate with the network.
• A terminal may be registered to the master only if the SETUP
buttons on the master and terminal are pressed within 3 seconds
of each other.
2. Data sent and received over the HD-PLC network emplo ys AES 128-bit
encryption, however we cannot guarantee that data will not be
intercepted by a third party.
3. For security, reset your adaptors (see page 18) in the following
situations.
• If you are concerned that another adaptor may have been
accidentally registered to your master (for example, the adaptor
of someone who lives in the same apartment building as you),
reset each of your adaptors and register them again.
• If you discard an adaptor, give an adaptor to someone else to
use, or send an adaptor for servicing, reset the adaptor first.
• If you lose an adaptor, reset y our remaining adaptors and register
them again.
4. The adaptor does not have a firewall feature. To prev ent unauthorized
external access to the network, we recommend performing the
following steps.
• Setup security measures for the router and computers accessing
the network.
• Change the default password on the Adaptor Maintenance
Screen.
Refer to the Panasonic PLC Support Site
(http://panasonic.co.jp/pcc/products/en/plc/) for information
about changing the default password.
7[For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033]
Introduction
Security notices for when sending an adaptor for service
Please note the following when sending an adaptor for servicing.
• Reset the adaptor before sending it for servicing.
• After your master adaptor is serviced, you must register all your
terminals to the master again.
• After a terminal adaptor is ser viced, you must register the
terminal to the master again.
8
Main unit
(1) PLC Indicator
Lights to indicate that the adaptor is connected to the HD-PLC
network. For more information, see page 17.
(2) LAN Indicator
Lights when a LAN cable is connected to the adaptor, and flashes
when data is being sent or received. For more information, see
page 17.
(3) MASTER Indicator
Lights when the adaptor is configured as the master. For more
information, see page 17.
(4) SETUP Button
Used to register the adaptor (see page 11) or test the terminal’s
network speed (see page 15).
(5) Mode Selector
The position of this selector during registration (see page 11)
determines whether the adaptor is configured as the master or as a
terminal.
(6) LAN Jack
Connects the adaptor to a network device, such as a broadband
router, hub, computer, etc. (see page 14).
PLC
BL-PA300
HD-PLC
Introduction
(5)
(1)
(6)
(2)
(7)
(3)
MASTER
LAN
SETUP
(4)
ULT
FACTORY
DEFA
RESET
9[For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033]
Introduction
(7) F ACTORY DEFAULT RESET Button
Used to reset the adaptor and erase its registration (see page 18).
10
Installation
Installation
Registration
Follow the procedure below when you want to:
• Add an additional terminal to your HD-PLC network.
• Re-register the master and terminal after resetting the master.
1. Confirm that the mode selector of the master adaptor is set to MASTER
and the MASTER indicator is lit green.
2. Confirm that the mode selector of the terminal adaptor that you want to
register is set to TERMINAL.
3. Plug the power strip into the same wall outlet that the master adaptor
is plugged into.
• Registration may not be successful if the master and power strip
are connected to different wall outlets during registration.
• Make sure the power strip is turned on. Do not use a power strip
with a noise filter or surge protector feature.
4. Plug the terminal adaptor into the power strip.
MASTER
MASTER
TERMINAL
MASTER
TERMINAL
TERMINAL
5. Reset the terminal by pressing the F ACT ORY DEF A UL T RESET button
on the terminal for about 3 seconds (see page 18).
• Check the position of the adaptor’s mode selector (see page 9)
and make sure that you reset the terminal adaptor (not the
master).
6. Press the SETUP button on both adaptors for about 1 second. The
order in which they are pressed does not matter.
• The PLC indicator of each adaptor will begin to flash in green.
• Make sure you press the SETUP button on each adaptor within 3
seconds of each other.
11[For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033]
Installation
7. When the PLC indicator of each adaptor lights in green, registration
was successful.
•If the PLC indicators do not light in green, see page 19.
8. Wait about 30 seconds, then unplug the adaptors and place them
where you plan to use them (see page 13).
Note
• While registering an additional terminal, communication between all
other adaptors may be disrupted for about 10 seconds.
12
Installation
Placing the adaptors
Refer to the information on page 5 when selecting a location to place your
adaptors.
Note
• If you have purchased additional adaptors, make sure you have
registered them to the master (see page 11) before placing them where
you plan to use them.
1. Connect the adaptor to a wall outlet in the room where you plan to use
it.
2. Confirm that the PLC indicator of each adaptor lights in green when you
plug the adaptors into the wall outlets.
• If the PLC indicators do not light in green, see page 19.
After you have plugged the adaptors into the wall outlets in the rooms where
you plan to use them, test the terminal’s network speed (see page 15).
Power S ave Mode
If a terminal’s LAN port is inactive for more than 20 minutes (i.e., if its LAN
indicator is orange for more than 20 minutes), the terminal automatically
enters Power Save mode, and its power consumption is reduced. While in
Power Save mode, the adaptor’s LAN indicator is turned off.
Power Save mode is only activated for terminal adaptors that are linked to
the HD-PLC network.
PLC
LAN
MASTER
BL-PA300
HD-PLC
PLC
LAN
MASTER
SETUP
Terminal Adaptor Power Save Mode
about 20 minutes later
BL-PA300
HD-PLC
PLC
LAN
SETUP
PLC
(green)(green) (orange)
MASTER
Power Save is deactivated when:
- An active network device is connected to the terminal.
- A network device connected to the terminal is turned on.
- The adaptor’s SETUP button is pressed.
LAN
MASTER
13[For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033]
Installation
Connecting adaptors to network devices
Once you have placed the adaptors where you plan to use them and are
satisfied with the network speed test results for your terminals (see
page 15), follow the procedure below to connect your adaptors to your
network devices (broadband router, hub , computer, netw ork printer, network
camera, etc.). This will integrate your HD-PLC network with your home
network.
1. Confirm that each adaptor is plugged in correctly to the wall outlet.
• Do not plug adaptors in upside-down (i.e., with the LAN jack
facing up).
2. Connect a LAN cable to each adaptor’s LAN jack.
•The LAN indicator of each adaptor turns green.
• If an adaptor’s LAN indicator does not turn green, see page 19.
3. Connect the other end of each LAN cable to a network device.
• Up to 16 adaptors can be connected to the same network. If a
hub is used, up to 8 devices can be connected to each adaptor.
• Avoid connecting more than one adaptor to the same hub or
router.
You are now ready to use your computers, network printers, network
cameras, etc.
14
Useful Information
Useful Information
Testing a terminal’s network speed
Once you have connected the adaptors where you plan to use them, follow
the procedure below to test the speed of each terminal’s network connection
to the master. Make sure that the terminal has already been registered to a
master (see page 11).
1. Press and hold the terminal’s SETUP button for about 1 second.
• The indicators light one at a time.
PLC LAN MASTER
2. After a few seconds, the network speed test result is displayed.
3. Refer to the chart below to determine the network speed.
PLC LAN MASTER Result Speed
No link
—
*1
Good
Better
Best
Less than
10 Mbps
10 Mbps to
30 Mbps
More than
30 Mbps
*1
*1
*1
15[For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033]
Useful Information
*1 Approximate data transmission speed when transmitting data using the UDP
protocol.
4. If you are not satisfied with the speed test result, connect the terminal
to a different wall outlet and repeat the test.
Note
• The fastest and slowest speeds are displayed by the indicators
alternatively for about 6 seconds. If there is little difference between the
fastest and slowest speeds, they will be displayed as the same speed.
• At least one indicator (“Good” network speed) must be lit in order to use
the terminal.
• If you are not satisfied wit h th e spee d test result and have tried
connecting the terminal to different wall outlets, refer to the
troubleshooting section (see page 19).
• If the electrical conditions in your home change, network speed may also
change.
Once you are satisfied with the terminal’s speed test result, you are ready to
connect each adaptor to a network device (broadband router, hub,
computer, network printer, network camera, etc.; see page 14).
16
Useful Information
Understanding the indicators
PLC Green, lit The adaptor is successfully connected to the
HD-PLC network.
Green, flashing The terminal is being registered to the master.
Green, flashes
once every 5
seconds
Red, lit for 5
seconds
Red, lit The adaptor is not functioning properly and
Off The adaptor is not plugged in.
LAN Green, lit A LAN cable is connected to the adaptor.
Green, flashing Data is being sent/received.
Orange, lit There is no network device connected to the
Off The adaptor is not plugged in.
MASTER Green, lit The adaptor is configured as the master.
Green, flashes
for 10 seconds
Off The adaptor is not configured as the master.
The adaptor is registered to the master, but it is
not connected to the HD-PLC network.
There was an error during registration. Try
again.
cannot communicate over the HD-PLC
network. Contact an authorized Panasonic
service center.
The adaptor is not connected to the HD-PLC
network (no other adaptors found, not
configured, etc.).
adaptor via the LAN cable, or the network
device is not turned on.
Power Save is active. (See page 13)
A terminal has been successfully registered to
the master.
17[For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033]
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