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Forum Discussion
XAV5101 Not Connecting Consistently
I'm using a XAV5101 Powerline Adapter set in a simple straight forward setup, but I'm consistently having problems getting it to connect. I'm going from a Linksys WRT54G router to an adapter right behind it. The other adapter is downstairs behind my TV. The adapters pair-up, security is set and all the lights are green. The Netgear Powerline Utility shows about a 100mbps connection between the adapters. The adapter downstairs plugs into a WDTV Live Hub, which is currently connected via my wifi. I've disconnected the wireless adapter and I can get the WDTV to connect, but it will not stay connected. I can browse Netflix or any other service for a period of time, then it drops the connection and will not get an IP address from the router. The behavior is very indeterminate; sometimes it will connect for a while and sometimes it will drop immediately. Ofter when I power on the WDTV, it will wakeup the powerline adapter, but it will not connect (no powerline green light). All my router and WDTV settings seem to be correct, but I'm at a lost on what to do next other than return the powerline adapters.
19 Replies
- Well, I am in a similar bind. My connection is stable for a few hours, then the connection drops for no reason. The led lights are all green when that happens. Each adapter can communicate with each other, but the adapter connected to the router seems to lose connection to the router itself leading me to believe the internet was down, which it was not.
I am also contemplating a return if there is no solution. Its just too much of a coincidence for this problem to occur to other people. Just read the amazon reviews. - I spent a lot of time troubleshooting this problem. I tried moving the adapters to different plugs, doing multiple factory resets and pairing the adapters using the buttons and utility software, and I could never get them to work consistently with my WDTV Live Hub, which by the way works fine using my WiFi via Linksys router.
- I did another test last night. I ran an ethernet cable from my downstairs powerline adapter to my laptop. It connected, but the connection only lasted about 10 minutes, then dropped. Rebooting the laptop and trying to re-acquire an IP address didn't work. It behaved exactly like my WDTV box did. It might be my router, but it has a device (VOIP) directly connected to it upstairs and that works perfectly.
- Sounds like it could be your router.
Unfortunately for me, I can't run a cable to my computer from my router since it is in another room. - I did some more testing last night. I unplugged both adapters and did a factory reset one at a time using the reset button on the side. I then plugged them both in, connected one to my router and one to my laptop, and all the lights went green. I did not set security. I ran my laptop for a couple hours and no connection problems occurred. I then set the security using the security button on both adapters. All the lights went green and the Netgear Powerline utility showed that the connection was secure and running at about 100mbps. I then ran my laptop again, and it stayed connected for a couple hours, then started dropping the connection. It was the usual cannot get an IP address, cannot resolve DNS stuff. When it dropped, I would unplug and replug the adapter in the socket and my laptop would reconnect and start working, then drop again after a short period of time. I repeated this process a couple times and it would never stay connected. My router currently has 4 devices connected wirelessly, and one device connected to the back and it works fine.
- I have a strong belief it is a firmware issue with the adapters. Until they roll out a new firmware, the adapter will continue to drop connections.
As another reviewer on amazon.com mentioned, the adapter seems to be doing a soft reset. I have no idea why this would happen, but most likely it is the firmware.
I am on the fence right now if I should return the item or wait for the update. lionheart12 wrote: I have a strong belief it is a firmware issue with the adapters. Until they roll out a new firmware, the adapter will continue to drop connections.
As another reviewer on amazon.com mentioned, the adapter seems to be doing a soft reset. I have no idea why this would happen, but most likely it is the firmware.
I am on the fence right now if I should return the item or wait for the update.
Someone really needs to contact NETGEAR... I am having the same dropped connection issue. It keeps dropping about once a day, I am using two XAV5101 with link speeds of 300-350Mbit/s.- Oh and I forgot to mention that I was going to buy the D-Link 500 Powerline set which at the time was about $40 more however, I went with the NETGEAR as I already have a ReadyNAS NV+....
- Yeah this is crazy.
I had their older powerline adapters and they never failed.
I was a linksys user, then converted to netgear. Now I'm not so sure about my switch. - Darn, it happened just now.
Since my router is in a different room, I had to run down to see if the adapter was resetting itself. No indication. All light are green. Internet is down.
Now it is working after a short 1-2 minutes.
