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Forum Discussion
luellen1
Nov 14, 2018Aspirant
av200 powerline compatibility
We have the r6400 and some old powerline av200 extenders. We wanted to try to use them together to get the internet signal up to a far upstairs bedroom or our basement but when we follow the set up instructions and plug the ethernet cable into our router and plug into our extender at the other end, we lose internet access on all devices. Are they not compatible?
8 Replies
> We have the r6400 [...]
Hardware version? ("R6400"? "R6400v2"?) Firmware version?
> Model: R6400v2|AC1750 Smart WiFi Router-802.11ac Dual Band Gigabit
Is that accurate?
> [...] and some old powerline av200 extenders.
"Some"? Is that the actual model number?
> [...] when we follow the set up instructions [...]
Which "the set up instructions"? What, exactly, did you do? What,
exactly, happened whan you did it?
> [...] plug the ethernet cable into our router and plug into our
> extender at the other end, [...]
"into our router"? Which port? What, exactly, is connected to what,
exactly?
> [...] Are they not compatible?
Generally, Ethernet is Ethernet; compatibility is not the problem.
Configuration of all these gizmos might be.- michaelkenwardGuru - Experienced User
luellen1 wrote:
We have the r6400 and some old powerline av200 extenders.
What are they? Make and model number.
Powerline is just a LAN thing. It shouldn't matter what you connect them to. One connects to the router, the other feeds Ethernet to devices you connect to it.
The easiest way to set up Powerline devices is to do it with the "host" (router) and "guest" (remote) plugs in the same room next to each other. Get them set up and then move the guest to where you want it. Then the network should work. (I say should because it may depend on the unnamed plugs you have.)
If you are recycling these plugs from another use, then it might be worth resetting them to factory defaults and setting then up[ from scratch.
I've used Powerline plugs with all manner of modems, routers and stuff. I have yet to have them shutting down the internet on me.
- luellen1Aspirant
Thank you for the reply. I've noted the router model and firmware version above. The model of av 200 is XAVN2001. We have two of these extenders. Here is exactly what I did:
Used a paper clip to get both extenders back to the default factory settings.
Plugged one extender near the router into a wall socket with a cable connecting it to one of the four ports on the back of our router.
I plugged the second extender into a wall socket in the same room and connected it to my laptop with a cable. Using the powerline software, the extender connected to my laptop was fully recongnized but the one connected to the router had a ? over it. If I hovered over the quesiton mark, it did seem to know it was an extender and had the correct model number, etc. It just didn't have a picture of the extender, only a question mark. On this extender that was connected to the router, the power light was solid, the powerline and ethernet lights were blinking (never turned solid).
At about this time, all internet service was disrupted and I only could get it back if I unplugged the cable going into the router. What am I doing wrong?
- michaelkenwardGuru - Experienced User
luellen1 wrote:
Using the powerline software, the extender connected to my laptop was fully recongnized but the one connected to the router had a ? over it. If I hovered over the quesiton mark, it did seem to know it was an extender and had the correct model number, etc. It just didn't have a picture of the extender, only a question mark.
Was that The Netgear software? It is useless. Netgear has not updated it for newer hardware, and it seems that it doesn't work with your old kit either.
I use the ZyXel utility, which also shows question marks, probably because it doesn't like "alien" hardware
luellen1 wrote:
On this extender that was connected to the router, the power light was solid, the powerline and ethernet lights were blinking (never turned solid).Blinking usually means action for the ethernet light. For the Powerline (pick a plug) light it changes colour in newer devices.
luellen1 wrote:
At about this time, all internet service was disrupted and I only could get it back if I unplugged the cable going into the router. What am I doing wrong?Does the internet die with nothing in the "guest" LAN port?
Do the router's logs show anything?
What do the LEDs on the router show?