4 Powerline (2 x PL1000, 2xPL1200) in one network

Question

Hi&nbsp;I've had 2 x PL1000 working fine over my mains network here for 2yrs. I wanted to expand and obtained 2 x PL1200 to "extend" the system.&nbsp;&nbsp;I cannot factory reset ANY of these units, pressing the small button with a pin produces an obvious movement but nothing happens and the devices do not reset. So I am stuck with 2 pairs of units, each of which works with one other, and not 4 devices all using the same password to communicate freely between all.&nbsp;&nbsp;How do I reset these units? I've donwload endless versions of Powerline Utility for Mac and Windows, none of them do anything useful - some see some of the devices but will not take control so are useless.&nbsp;Is this really supposed to be as flakey as this? I'm about the throw the lot in the bin and buy another system that is guaranteed to work. That's a significant expense of course...&nbsp;Has anyone any actual experience of making this work, and if so, how did you get the units to all share the same key?&nbsp;&nbsp;thanks&nbsp;&nbsp;

plemans · Answer

Did you follow the guide?&nbsp;https://kb.netgear.com/22165/Adding-a-powerline-adapter-to-an-existing-powerline-network

thesohogeek · Answer

Yes, and that process doesn't work.&nbsp;Hence the decision to try and factory reset all 4 devices and then start over. But factory reset doesn't appear to work either. What is the EXACT reset process and what feedback is provided to the user? Everywhere says "press the reset button". This is not clear. Is the unit powered up at this point? Or powering up? Or even powered off? How long do you need to press it for? How do you know it's worked?&nbsp;What is the point of Powerline Utility software that doesn't work?&nbsp;Google suggests many of these devices (from different manufacturers) share the same chipset and can use each others' software. If this is the case, what do people recommend, and can you provide a download link? I have Windows10 and MacOS machines to use to run it, anything will do to get this working...&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

michaelkenward · Answer

thesohogeek&nbsp;wrote:
Yes, and that process doesn't work.
&nbsp;

In that case, I suspect something else is happening. I have been through that process many, many times as I move plugs around between networks. It has never failed on me.
&nbsp;
Unfortunately, "doesn't work" is a poor diagnostic aid. What does it mean? What happened when you tried? What were you doing and what went wrong?
&nbsp;
thesohogeek&nbsp;wrote:
But factory reset doesn't appear to work either.
&nbsp;

See above. What happens when you try?
&nbsp;
thesohogeek&nbsp;wrote:
What is the EXACT reset process and what feedback is provided to the user? Everywhere says "press the reset button". This is not clear. Is the unit powered up at this point? Or powering up? Or even powered off? How long do you need to press it for? How do you know it's worked?
&nbsp;

Press the reset "button" with power on. (Pointless doing it with a plug that has no power.)
&nbsp;
The lights should flash
&nbsp;
thesohogeek&nbsp;wrote:
&nbsp;
What is the point of Powerline Utility software that doesn't work?
&nbsp;

Very true, but generally the utility has very little use. Its sole role seems to be to disable power the saving mode that&nbsp;bothers some users.
&nbsp;
Is there&nbsp;something else you want to do with it? I find that the&nbsp;desktop Netgear Genie (Windows here) does what I need.
&nbsp;
genie | Product | Support | NETGEAR
&nbsp;
Look for the plugs bit of the Network Map.
&nbsp;
thesohogeek&nbsp;wrote:
Google suggests many of these devices (from different manufacturers) share the same chipset and can use each others' software. If this is the case, what do people recommend, and can you provide a download link?
&nbsp;

That's also the common refrain around here, which is probably where Google found it. It should also find one of the usual suspect. ZyXel's seems to be the most popular.
&nbsp;
This page is more&nbsp;helpful than anything that Netgear has written.
&nbsp;
[HomePlug] How to troubleshooting HomePlug/PowerLine adapters – Zyxel Support Campus USA
&nbsp;

thesohogeek · Answer

Hi, frustrating isn't it ;-)&nbsp;That ZyXEL page is really useful, as you say, miles better than anything Netgear wrote.&nbsp;&nbsp;I think I have 2 issues, poor (no?) earthing on some of the older wiring here (which I now understand will throttle bandwidth anyway) and 2prs of Netgear Powerline adaptors that are brilliant at pairing up but resisting all opportunities to form one "quad" network.&nbsp;&nbsp;I've now got the factory reset feedback happening - it seems that a momentary press of the reset button does the trick, I was holding and waiting for something to happen with the leds, in fact you press and release and then the lights flash. Hurrah. But whatever I do with the key buttons (the accessible white button on each unit) I cannot persuade either of the PL1200s to join the existing PL1000 bridge.&nbsp;&nbsp;My process, to confirm, is to start with a working PL1000 bridge and factory reset both PL1200s. I wait for a couple of minutes to be sure everything is properly powered up. At this point the bridge between PL1000s is working fine and the PL1200s have a power light only only. I press the white button on the nearest PL1000 for 2-3 seconds. Move to one of the PL1200s and press its white button the same way. My understanding is that this should then join the PL1000 network, which would then have 3 nodes. This doesn't happen (yup, that phrase again). I repeat the process with the other PL1200. Again, no indication that it has joined the party, but then both "house" lights come up on the PL1200s and they have formed a bridge between them, unconnected to the PL1000s.&nbsp;&nbsp;Am I just being really stupid here, or is there something wrong?&nbsp;I guess it's time to try the Genie again... but so far it doesn't see my devices at all...&nbsp;&nbsp;

michaelkenward · Answer

thesohogeek&nbsp;wrote:
My process, to confirm, is to start with a working PL1000 bridge and factory reset both PL1200s. I wait for a couple of minutes to be sure everything is properly powered up. At this point the bridge between PL1000s is working fine and the PL1200s have a power light only only. I press the white button on the nearest PL1000 for 2-3 seconds. Move to one of the PL1200s and press its white button the same way. My understanding is that this should then join the PL1000 network, which would then have 3 nodes. This doesn't happen (yup, that phrase again). I repeat the process with the other PL1200. Again, no indication that it has joined the party, but then both "house" lights come up on the PL1200s and they have formed a bridge between them, unconnected to the PL1000s.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

&nbsp;
Again, "This doesn't happen" is very&nbsp;little help in diagnosing what is going on. What "doesn't happen"? LEDs don't come on? Which ones? (See below)
&nbsp;
I'm afraid, I can't follow that sequence.
&nbsp;
Here's what I do:
&nbsp;

Get first pair of plugs to work together
Take next plug and put it into a mains socket near the main router plug
Go the the add a plug process so that plug three joins the network
Confirm that plug three is set up by plugging something into its Ethernet port and check tat the appropriate LED comes on
Move plug three to where I want it
Repeat process with extra plugs

Remember, remote plugs will not show a lit Ethernet LED if there is nothing plugged in. Many people have made that mistake.
&nbsp;
And, of course, the plugs don't have an IP address, so they will not show up as devices on a network map.
&nbsp;
Maybe this is what "doesn't happen". Who knows?

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4 Powerline (2 x PL1000, 2xPL1200) in one network

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