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.

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.

XAV5101 Not Connecting Consistently

19 Replies

FragrantBeauty
Aspirant
Sep 25, 2012
I've contacted Netgear tech support and they are having run the same tests I've already done. My current test:

I put both powerline adapters in the same room in adjacent outlets about 5 feet apart. I pushed the reset button on both adapters, then after they were reset, I pushed the security buttons on both. The lights went green. I connected my laptop and it got a connection. I ran the Netgear Powerline Utility and it reported that both adapters were connected at 460MBPS and that the security was set. My laptop stayed connected for a couple hours, then disconnected again. It did not reconnect.
Simonch
Aspirant
Oct 13, 2012
mseth wrote:
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.

I have the same problem. The powerline would drop the internet connection about once a day. The computers connect directly or wirelessly to the router have no problem connecting the internet at the same time. So it must be the problem of the Netgear Powerline. I have two XAV500 and two XAV250. :(

mseth wrote:
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.

Simonch

Aspirant

Oct 13, 2012

lionheart12 wrote:
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.

lionheart12 wrote:
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 have run into exactly the same situation. :(

At most of the times the connection would be restored automatically after several minutes.

zuus
Aspirant
Feb 02, 2013
Same problem. Have two XAV5101's with one connected to an Asus N55U modem and the other to the PC two rooms away. The Netgear Powerline Utility reports around 400Mbit and speeds are fine, getting around 13-15MB/s.

Problem is, every day it disconnects and reconnects at least 20 times. Usually after about 30-60 seconds it reconnects. Have tried other sockets, unplugging everything else in the house, switching them around, etc. Nothing works. Same random disconnections occur.

My pair are on Australian 240v, new-ish house. Did not have a problem with prior housemates' Netgear 200mbit EOP's.

If there's any firmware that can fix this, please release it ASAP Netgear!
AlanC
Aspirant
Mar 08, 2013
Another here experiencing regular (several an hour) connection drop outs with both XAV5001 and XAV5201, and a XAV5004 in the living room. For me the drop outs last around a minute but, so far (48hrs), not one since a Factory Reset and NOT setting any encryption. (I ran 4 x XAV 101 and 1 x XAV1004 with encryption for over 3 years with not a single drop out or any other issue.) I'm going to run like this for a couple of weeks to prove that the connection is reliable with no encryption and then re-instigate the encryption; I'll report back. I have an open support ticket with Netgear concerning this (
Case # [FONT=Arial]20680468 )
[/FONT]. AlanC
AlanC
Aspirant
Mar 11, 2013
Well, unfortunately the drop-outs are still present though less frequent than previously. I'm about to reset the security for comparison. Very disappointing.
AlanC
Aspirant
Oct 08, 2013
No solution, no software updates and I got totally sick of the drop-outs. I've now replaced all the Netgear Powerline adapters (6 in total) with Devolo 500Mb units and a WiFi extender mirroring what I had with the Netgear products.

Not a single drop-out in 48hrs!

daninthemix

Novice

Oct 24, 2013

AlanC wrote:
No solution, no software updates and I got totally sick of the drop-outs. I've now replaced all the Netgear Powerline adapters (6 in total) with Devolo 500Mb units and a WiFi extender mirroring what I had with the Netgear products.

Not a single drop-out in 48hrs!

AlanC wrote:
No solution, no software updates and I got totally sick of the drop-outs. I've now replaced all the Netgear Powerline adapters (6 in total) with Devolo 500Mb units and a WiFi extender mirroring what I had with the Netgear products. Not a single drop-out in 48hrs!

Well congratulations, but Netgear haven't exactly lost out, have they? They still got the sale, you still got to plug they smelly turds in your wall sockets and waste hours of time, and they are none the worse for it.

sevilla315
Aspirant
Mar 30, 2014
I have been searching for the problems I've been experiencing for a while, and I see that I'm in the same boat as everyone else.
Over wifi it's too slow for connection to my NAS RAID (Netgear) for backups and the disconnections are a pita.
I figured out that if I also connect via wifi when it drops out it brings the connection back, but it's not a fix.
I see there's no firmware update for it so I assume that I have to live with it or buy other brand powerlines.
I guess this explains th dropouts we've been experiencing with digital tv (Youview) as well, also connected over powerline.

Thanks

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XAV5101 Not Connecting Consistently