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Troubleshooting NETGEAR's Powerline Products
Troubleshooting NETGEAR's Powerline Products Powerline products work better when plugged into the wall without power strips, extension cords, surge protectors, or interruptible power supplies. Passwords. Powerline products have both a network password, and a device password. A particular device's password, which is not changeable, is printed on the Powerline product label. Once you have collected all your Powerline device passwords, use the encryption dialog box, as described on pages 9 and 12 of the XE102 User's Guide, to change the network password. (Without password protection, it is possible, although unlikely, for someone very nearby to access your network.) If you changed the default network password, make sure that all the Powerline products use the same network password. If you've moved a Powerline unit, or disconnected the cables, your other network devices may need about 5 minutes to refresh their information about the Powerline's current status. If you have earlier Powerline products, switch to the encryption used by later products. (Early versions of XA601 and XE602 are known to have compatibility problems with newer models.) To test whether a house's electrical wiring is contributing to Powerline problems, plug units in the same room. Examples of potential problems are: Old fuse boxes. Old wiring that does not meet modern wiring building codes. Interference may be caused by a Major draw of Electrical power through the circuit, or the wiring may not be up to code, The following major appliances may cause Interference: Refrigerator Freezer or Microwave Air Conditioning system Power equipment or other house equipment that draws a large amount of power like: Hair Dryer Air Compressor The above devices use a large amount of power, combined with the Television, and other A/V Equipment that may be plugged in will contribute to this interference. An outlet tester will help you identify problems such as bad grounds, reversed wires or bad connections - all of which you should avoid, of course. In fact, if you do encounter any of these problems, you should bring in a certified electrician to make the needed repairs. Swap devices to isolate the problem to a particular Powerline unit. Reset the Powerline adapters to the default settings using the utility. Use all the same Powerline models for best connectivity. Also, software for one model may not work for another model. In particular, remote and advanced features may not work between Powerline manufacturers. Powerline is not directed at businesses, however it may work in a business environment, anyhow. See Assessing Powerline for Business Environments. In some cases noise can be limited by placing line conditioners or surge protectors between the source of the noise, and the Powerline units. (Not between the units.) Consult a professional electrician to evaluate your electricity's noise and to suggest remedies.