Western digital Powerline AV Network Kit User Manual

WD Livewire™

Powerline AV Network Kit

User Manual

WD® Service and Support

Should you encounter any problem, please give us an opportunity to address it before
returning this product. Most technical support questions can be answered through our
knowledge base or e-mail support service at http://support.wdc.com. If the answer is not
available or, if you prefer, please contact WD at the best telephone number shown below.

Your product includes 30 days of free telephone support during the warranty period. This
30-day period starts on the date of your first telephone contact with WD technical support.
E-mail support is free for the entire warranty period and our extensive knowledge base is
available 24/7. To help us keep you informed of new features and services, remember to
register your product online at http://register.wdc.com.

Accessing Online Support

Visit our product support website at http://support.wdc.com and choose from these topics:

• Downloads - Download drivers, software, and updates for your WD product.

• Registration - Register your WD product to get the latest updates and special offers.

• Warranty & RMA Services - Get Warranty, Product Replacement (RMA), RMA Status,
and Data Recovery Information.

• Knowledge Base - Search by keyword, phrase, or answer ID.

• Installation - Get online installation help for your WD product or software.

Contacting WD Technical Support

When contacting WD for support, have your WD product serial number, system hardware,
and system software versions available.

North America Asia Pacific

English 800.ASK.4WDC Australia 1 800 42 9861

(800.275.4932) China 800 820 6682/[phone]

Spanish 800.832.4778 Hong Kong [phone]

India 1 800 11 9393 (MNTL)/1 800 200 5789 (Reliance)

Europe (toll free)*

Europe
Middle East
Africa

* Toll free number available in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,

Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

00800 ASK4 WDEU
(00800 27549338)

[phone]
[phone]
[phone]

Indonesia [phone]
Japan 00 531 650442
Korea 02 719-3240
Malaysia [phone]/1 800 88 1908/[phone]
Philippines 1 800 1441 0159
Singapore [phone]/[phone]/[phone]
Taiwan [phone]/[phone]

011 26384700 (Pilot Line)

Table of Contents

1 Important User Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Recording your WD Product Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Registering your WD Product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2 Product Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3 Features and Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Sharing Internet Access on the Livewire Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Sample Livewire Home Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

LED Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

4 Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Minimum Installation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Installation Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

5 WD Livewire Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Operating Systems Supported . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Installation Instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Using the WD Livewire Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

6 WD Livewire Network Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Firmware Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

7 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Regulatory Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

TABLE OF CONTENTS – i

1

WD LIVEWIRE POWERLINE AV NETWORK KIT

USER MANUAL

Important User Information

Important Safety Instructions

This device is designed and manufactured to assure personal safety. Improper use
can result in electric shock or fire hazard. The safeguards incorporated into this unit
will protect you if you observe the following procedures for installation, use, and
servicing.



Read these instructions.



Keep these instructions.



Heed all warnings.



Follow all instructions.



Do not use this apparatus near water.



Clean only with dry cloth.



Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.



Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or
other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.



Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.



Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.



Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods
of time.



Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the
apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is
damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or
has been dropped.



Carefully read and follow the Quick Install Guide and User Manual.



Do not operate this device outside the temperature range of 5°C–35°C
(41°F–95°F).



Do not drop or shake the device.



Do not move the device when it is powered on.



Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or
pinched by items placed upon them or against them.



Do not overload wall outlets.

For additional safety information, refer to www.wdc.com.

IMPORTANT USER INFORMATION – 1

WD LIVEWIRE POWERLINE AV NETWORK KIT

USER MANUAL

Recording your WD Product Information

In the following table, write the serial and model numbers of your new WD product.
You can find this information on the label on the bottom of the device. You should
also note the date of purchase. This information may be required when requesting
technical support.

Serial Number:
Model Number:
Purchase Date:
System and Software Notes:

Registering your WD Product

Your WD product includes 30 days of free technical support during the applicable
warranty period for your product. The 30-day period commences on the date of
your first telephone contact with WD technical support. Register your WD product
online at http://register.wdc.com.

Accessories

For U.S. residents, visit www.shopwd.com to view additional accessories available
for your WD Livewire. For users outside the U.S., visit http://support.wdc.com.

IMPORTANT USER INFORMATION – 2

2

WD LIVEWIRE POWERLINE AV NETWORK KIT

USER MANUAL

Product Overview

Thank you for purchasing the WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit. This user
manual provides step-by-step instructions for installing and using your new
WD Livewire devices. For the latest WD product information and news, visit our
website at www.westerndigital.com.

Expand your home network instantly without running wires – Create
high-speed Internet connections anywhere in your home without running wires
between rooms. Just use your home's electrical wiring to create a network.

Set-up is as easy as plugging in a lamp – Plug one adapter into your router and
an electrical outlet. Plug the other adapter into an electrical outlet in any room where
you want a high-speed connection.

Faster and more reliable than wireless – With speed up to 200 megabits per
second*, the WD Livewire Powerline AV network kit is fast enough for every
computer in your home to share your broadband internet connection and still have
the velocity you need to smoothly stream 1080p full-HD video to your TV.

*Your performance may vary based on network conditions and volume of network traffic.

More ports for more devices – The WD Livewire adapter kit offers 4 ports on both
devices in the pair. This allows you to plug in your router and up to seven
Internet-connected devices such as computers, TVs, game consoles, media
players, and network storage drives.

Encrypted for security – The data transfer between the WD Livewire adapters is
protected with the same 128-bit encryption that you trust for your online banking
and shopping. And because the encryption is automatic, there’s no need to
remember a password.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW – 3

3

WD LIVEWIRE POWERLINE AV NETWORK KIT

USER MANUAL

Features and Functions

Sharing Internet Access on the Livewire Network

To share Internet access over the powerline network, connect your router to a
WD Livewire device using an Ethernet cable and plug the device directly into an
electrical outlet. The connections between the Internet, modem, and router remain
the same.

In the example below, a WD TV® device and laptop computer are connected to a
WD Livewire device using Ethernet cables. Internet access is provided through the
network from a different room.

FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS – 4

WD LIVEWIRE POWERLINE AV NETWORK KIT

USER MANUAL

Sample Livewire Home Network

This diagram below shows a WD Livewire network in a two-story house. The router
upstairs (which has a desktop computer and network storage drive attached) is
connected to a WD Livewire device, which is plugged into an electrical outlet in one
room. Downstairs, a network-attached media player and gaming console share a
device.

Using the powerlines of the home, the router expands your local network to include
a network-attached external hard drive, HD media player, gaming console and
desktop computer. Internet access and files can be shared between your computers
and other networked devices.

FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS – 5