Aztech HomePlug Mediaxtream Ethernet Adapter User manual

HomePlug Mediaxtream Ethernet Adapter

User Manual
Page 2 of 34
Legal Notice
20 0 © All rights reserved. Version .0
No part of this document may be reproduced, republished, or retransmitted in any form or by any means
whatsoever, whether electronically or mechanically, including, but not limited to, by way of photocopying,
recording, information recording, or through retrieval systems without the express written permission. We
reserve the right to revise this document at any time without the obligation to notify any person and/or
entity. All other company or product names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may
be trademarks of their respective owners.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND DAMAGES
THE PRODUCT AND THE SOFTWARES WITHIN ARE PROVIDED "AS IS," BASIS. THE MANUFACTURER AND
MANUFACTURER’S RESELLERS (COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS “THE SELLERS”) DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF NON-
INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR ANY WARRANTIES ARISING
FROM COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, OR USAGE OF TRADE. IN NO EVENT WILL THE SELLERS
BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OR LOSS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL WILLFUL,
PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL, DAMAGES, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS
PROFITS, OR DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS OF ANY CUSTOMER OR ANY THIRD PARTY ARISING OUT OF THE
USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE PRODUCT OR THE SOFTWARES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THOSE
RESULTING FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT OR SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION, OR LOSS OR INACCURACY OF
DATA OF ANY KIND, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF THE PARTIES
HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE RESULTS AND
PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCT OR ITS SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY CUSTOMER. BECAUSE SOME STATES DO NOT
ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES, THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY
TO THE PARTIES. IN NO EVENT WILL THE SELLERS’ TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY OF EACH AND EVERY KIND IN
RELATION TO THE PRODUCT OR ITS SOFTWARE EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY CUSTOMER FOR THE PRODUCT.

User Manual
Page 3 of 34
Contents
About the Product ..................................................................... 4
How Does It Work?.........................................................................................................................4
Direct Connection ...........................................................................................................................5
Package Contents
Package ContentsPackage Contents
Package Contents ................................
................................................................
................................................................
................................................................
...............................................
..............................
...............6
66
6
Device Design
Device DesignDevice Design
Device Design................................
................................................................
................................................................
................................................................
.....................................................
..........................................
.....................6
66
6
How to Use Simple Connect Button.............................................................................................8
Creating a HomePlug Mediaxtream Network ........................................................................8
Resetting the Private Network Name ................................................................................... 3
Joining an Existing HomePlug Mediaxtream Network ........................................................ 4
Joining an Existing HomePlug Mediaxtream Network ........................................................ 7
Joining an Existing HomePlugAV Network............................................................................20
Determining Connection Rate.....................................................................................................23
Getting Started........................................................................ 24
Plan Your Network
Plan Your NetworkPlan Your Network
Plan Your Network ................................
................................................................
................................................................
................................................................
..........................................
....................
.......... 25
2525
25
Local Network...............................................................................................................................25
Gaming Network ..........................................................................................................................26
Media Network.............................................................................................................................26
HomePlug Mediaxtream Utility............................................... 27
Requirements ...............................................................................................................................27
Installation ....................................................................................................................................27
Opening HomePlug Mediaxtream Utility ..................................................................................28
The User Interface ........................................................................................................................28
Home.........................................................................................................................................29
Firmware Upgrade ...................................................................................................................29
Appendix ................................................................................. 3
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions ................................
................................................................
...........................................................
......................................................
........................... 3
33
3
European Regulations
European RegulationsEuropean Regulations
European Regulations ................................
................................................................
................................................................
................................................................
.....................................
..........
..... 33
3333
33

User Manual
Page 4 of 34
About the Product
HomePlug Mediaxtream Adapter is ready to use out of the box and does not require the
installation of driver software to work. It can be connected to computers, routers,
gaming consoles, hubs, and other Ethernet devices regardless of operating system.
How Does It Work?
Aztech HomePlug Mediaxtream Ethernet Adapter utilizes the existing electrical wiring in
the house as a path to create a secured network of computers and Ethernet devices. With
a maximum data rate of up to Gbps, HomePlug Mediaxtream can reliably handle high
requirement applications like broadband Internet, video streaming and Voice over IP.
HomePlug Mediaxtream converts digital signals to a complex analog signal that traverses
along the electrical wires. When receiving the analog signal, it converts the analog signal
back to digital. To make the signal secured, a 28-bit AES encryption is applied.
A HomePlug Mediaxtream device can only communicate with other HomePlug
Mediaxtream and HomePlug AV devices that use the same Private Network Name.
Simple Connect Button automatically creates an encrypted Private Network Name. It can
also be used to reset the Private Network Name or to add a device into an existing
HomePlug AV network.
Note:
Note:Note:
Note: HomePlug Mediaxtream devices are already configured to use a common Private Network Name and
are ready to use.
When a HomePlug Mediaxtream communicates with another device, the Powerline
Activity LED color will give you an idea about the connection rate. Green means the
connection rate is below 00Mbps or it is on HomePlug AV mode; and Blue means the
connection rate is more than 00 Mbps or it is on Mediaxtream mode.

User Manual
Page 5 of 34
Direct Connection
For best performance, connect HomePlug Mediaxtream directly to a wall outlet. Avoid
connecting it to a power strip where other electrical devices are connected. Other devices
create electrical noise that may affect its performance.

User Manual
Page 6 of 34
Package Contents
The package contains the following items:
• HomePlug Mediaxteream for Single Pack or 2 HomePlug Mediaxtream for Twin
Pack
• Ethernet cable (Cat 5e) for Single Pack or 2 Ethernet cables (Cat5 e) for Twin
Pack
• Resource CD
• Easy Start Guide
Device Design
A
AA
A
B
BB
B
C
CC
C
D
DD
D
E
EE
E
F
FF
F

User Manual
Page 7 of 34
Label
LabelLabel
Label Status
StatusStatus
Status Description/ Function
Description/ FunctionDescription/ Function
Description/ Function
Off No power. A
Power
PowerPower
Power
On • After Simple Connect Button is pressed for two
seconds, this LED will blink to confirm the
button press.
• When Simple Connect Button is pressed for 0
seconds, this LED will blink to confirm the
Private Network Name reset.
Off Device is not connected to a HomePlug or Mediaxtream
network.
B
P
PP
Powerline Activity
owerline Activityowerline Activity
owerline Activity
On • This LED remains ON when the device is part of
a HomePlug or Mediaxtream network.
• The LED color represents the connection rate
within the HomePlug Mediaxtream network
whether it is better (Green
GreenGreen
Green) or it is on
HomePlugAV mode, or best (Blue
BlueBlue
Blue) or it is on
Mediaxtream mode.
• The LED flashes to indicate network activity.
Off An Ethernet device is not connected.
C Ethernet Activity
Ethernet ActivityEthernet Activity
Ethernet Activity On • An Ethernet device is connected.
• The LED flashes to indicate Ethernet activity.
D Ethernet Port
Ethernet Port Ethernet Port
Ethernet Port Accepts either cross or straight Ethernet cable.
(Best to use Cat5 e Ethernet cable)
E Simple Connect Button
Simple Connect ButtonSimple Connect Button
Simple Connect Button • Press Simple Connect Button for two (2)
seconds to start pairing.
• Press Simple Connect Button for ten ( 0)
seconds to release new Private Network Name.
• Press Simple Connect Button for fifteen ( 5)
seconds to initialize Standby Mode
• Press Simple Connect Button for five (5)
seconds to activate the device from Standby
mode.
F Reset t
Reset tReset t
Reset to Factory Default
o Factory Defaulto Factory Default
o Factory Default Press for 3 seconds to reset to the factory default
settings. When you reset to the factory default, all your
configuration changes will be removed.

User Manual
Page 8 of 34
How to Use Simple Connect Button
Simple Connect Button provides a more convenient way of creating your HomePlug
Mediaxtream Network. The button has three main functions which includes:
• Creating a HomePlug Mediaxtream Network
• Resetting the Private Network Name
• Joining an existing to an existing Mediaxtream or HomePlug Network
Creating a HomePlug Mediaxtream Network
To create a HomePlug Mediaxtream Network, you need at least two HomePlug
Mediaxtream devices, which is using random Private Network Names. When you press
Simple Connect Button on both devices, a common Private Network Name will be
automatically generated to enable them to communicate with each other.
Note:
Note:Note:
Note: New HomePlug Mediaxtream from a Twin Pack can already communicate with each other out of the
box. However, if you intend to create a new Private Network Name using Simple Connect for both devices,
you need to reset their Private Network Names to a random key before proceeding.
Simple
Connect
Button

User Manual
Page 9 of 34
To create a HomePlug Mediaxtream Network using Simple Connect:
Step
Plug your HomePlug Mediaxtream side by side
where you can easily observe the LED
behavior.
Upon connection, the Power LED lights ON
steadily.
Step 2
Press Simple Connect Button for two seconds
on HomePlug Mediaxtream X. After you
release the button, the Power LED will blink.
If the Power LED did not blink, press Simple
Connect Button again for two seconds.
Note:
Note:Note:
Note: Do not press Simple Connect for more than 2
seconds.
Blinking
BlinkingBlinking
Blinking
ON
ONON
ON
ON
ONON
ON

User Manual
Page 0 of 34
Step 3
Press Simple Connect Button for two seconds
on HomePlug Y. After you release the button,
the Power LED will start to blink. If the
Power LED did not blink, press Simple
Connect Button again for two seconds.
Make sure to press Simple Connect Button on
HomePlug Y within two minutes after you
press Simple Connect Button on HomePlug X.
The PL-ACT LEDs on both devices will turn ON
once the devices are paired.
Note:
Note:Note:
Note: Do not press Simple Connect for more than 2
seconds
Blinking
BlinkingBlinking
Blinking
Blinking
BlinkingBlinking
Blinking

User Manual
Page of 34
OFF
OFFOFF
OFF
ON
ONON
ON
Step 4
To confirm if the connection was established,
check the LEDs. The Power and Powerline
Activity LEDs on both devices should be ON.
When the Powerline Activity LED on either
device is off, this means the pairing is NOT
successful. In this case, you need to redo the
entire process again.
ON
ONON
ON
ON
ONON
ON

User Manual
Page 2 of 34
Step 5
Unplug the HomePlug Mediaxtream and then connect them to your Ethernet devices
using an Ethernet cables from the product package. After connecting the Ethernet cable,
plug the HomePlug Mediaxtream directly to a wall outlet.
An Ethernet-enabled device can be a router, computer, hub, gaming console, IP phone,
or network printer.
Note:
Note:Note:
Note: HomePlug Mediaxtream work best when connected directly to a wall socket. Avoid plugging it to a
power strip or power extension. Other electrical devices in the power strip produce electrical noise that
may affect the performance of the HomePlug Mediaxtream.

User Manual
Page 3 of 34
Resetting the Private Network Name
Simple Connect Button allows you to reset the HomePlug Mediaxtream’s Private Network
Name to a random key. When a HomePlug Mediaxtream is reset to a random key, it will
not be able to communicate with any other device.
Note:
Note:Note:
Note: Resetting the Private Network Name is different from resetting the device to its factory default
settings. If you intend to reset the device to its factory default settings, press RESET button on the device.
To reset the Private Network Name using Simple Connect:
Step
Press Simple Connect Button for 0
seconds or wait until ALL LED blinks.
Step 2
To confirm the Private Network Name
resets, the Powerline Activity LED will
switch OFF.

User Manual
Page 4 of 34
Joining an Existing HomePlug Mediaxtream Network
To enable a new device to join an existing network, Simple Connect will copy the
Private Network Name of the existing network to the new HomePlug AV. If you pressed
Simple Connect from multiple HomePlug AVs, only the signal from the first two devices
will be processed.
To join an existing HomePlug AV network using Simple Connect:
Step
Plug HomePlug Z near a HomePlug
from an existing network. Make sure
you can easily observe the LED
behavior.
Upon connection, HomePlug Z’s LEDs
will blink simultaneously and then the
Power LED lights on steadily.
Step 2
Press Simple Connect Button for two
seconds from a HomePlug Mediaxtream
in an existing network. After you
release the button, the Power LED
will blink. If the Power LED did not
blink, press Simple Connect Button
again for two seconds.
Note:
Note:Note:
Note: Do not press Simple Connect for more
than 2 seconds.
BLINKS

User Manual
Page 5 of 34
Step 3
Press Simple Connect Button for two
seconds on HomePlug Mediaxtream Z.
After you release the button, the Power
LED will blink. If the Power LED did
not blink, press Simple Connect Button
again for two seconds.
Make sure to press Simple Connect
Button on HomePlug Mediaxtream Z
within two minutes after you press
Simple Connect Button from the existing
network.
The Power LEDs on both devices will
continuously blink to signify that they are
searching for another device to pair with.
Note:
Note:Note:
Note: Do not press Simple Connect for more than
2 seconds.
Step 4
To confirm if the connection was
established, check the LEDs. The Power
LEDs and the Powerline Activity LEDs
on all devices are ON.
BLINKS
BLINKS
ON ON

User Manual
Page 6 of 34
If the Powerline Activity LED on
HomePlug Z is OFF, this means the
pairing was not successful. You need to
repeat the process again.
Step 5
Unplug HomePlug Mediaxtream Z and then connect it to your Ethernet device using the
Ethernet cables from the product package. After connecting the Ethernet cable, plug
HomePlug Z directly to a wall outlet. An Ethernet-enabled device can be a router,
computer, hub, gaming console, IP phone or network printer.
N
NN
Note:
ote:ote:
ote: HomePlug Mediaxtream work best when connected directly to a wall socket. Avoid plugging it to a
power strip or power extension. The other electrical devices in the power strip create noise that may affect
the performance of the HomePlug.
ON OFF

User Manual
Page 7 of 34
Joining an Existing HomePlug Mediaxtream Network
To enable a new device to join an existing network, Simple Connect will copy the
Private Network Name of the existing network to the new HomePlug AV. If you pressed
Simple Connect from multiple HomePlug AVs, only the signal from the first two devices
will be processed.
To join an existing HomePlug AV network using Simple Connect:
Step
Plug HomePlug Z near a HomePlug
from an existing network. Make sure
you can easily observe the LED
behavior.
Upon connection, HomePlug Z’s LEDs
will blink simultaneously and then the
Power LED lights on steadily.
Step 2
Press Simple Connect Button for two
seconds from a HomePlug Mediaxtream
in an existing network. After you
release the button, the Power LED
will blink. If the Power LED did not
blink, press Simple Connect Button
again for two seconds.
Note:
Note:Note:
Note: Do not press Simple Connect for more
than 2 seconds.
BLINKS
BLINKSBLINKS
BLINKS

User Manual
Page 8 of 34
Step 3
Press Simple Connect Button for two
seconds on HomePlug Mediaxtream Z.
After you release the button, the Power
LED will blink. If the Power LED did
not blink, press Simple Connect Button
again for two seconds.
Make sure to press Simple Connect
Button on HomePlug Mediaxtream Z
within two minutes after you press
Simple Connect Button from the existing
network.
The Power LEDs on both devices will
continuously blink to signify that they are
searching for another device to pair with.
Note:
Note:Note:
Note: Do not press Simple Connect for more than
2 seconds.
Step 4
To confirm if the connection was
established, check the LEDs. The Power
LEDs and the Powerline Activity LEDs
on all devices are ON.
BLINKS
BLINKSBLINKS
BLINKS
BLINKS
BLINKSBLINKS
BLINKS
ON
ONON
ON ON
ONON
ON

User Manual
Page 9 of 34
If the Powerline Activity LED on
HomePlug Z is OFF, this means the
pairing was not successful. You need to
repeat the process again.
Step 5
Unplug HomePlug Mediaxtream Z and then connect it to your Ethernet device using the
Ethernet cables from the product package. After connecting the Ethernet cable, plug
HomePlug Z directly to a wall outlet. An Ethernet-enabled device can be a router,
computer, hub, gaming console, IP phone or network printer.
Note:
Note:Note:
Note: HomePlug Mediaxtream work best when connected directly to a wall socket. Avoid plugging it to a
power strip or power extension. The other electrical devices in the power strip create noise that may affect
the performance of the HomePlug.
ON OFF

User Manual
Page 20 of 34
Joining an Existing HomePlugAV Network
To enable a new device to join an existing HomePlugAV network, Simple Connect Button
will copy the Private Network Name of the existing network to the HomePlug
Mediaxtream. If you pressed Simple Connect from multiple HomePlug AVs, only the
signal from the first two devices will be processed.
To join an existing HomePlug AV network using Simple Connect:
Step
Plug HomePlug Z near a HomePlug
from an existing network. Make sure
you can easily observe the LED
behavior.
Upon connection, HomePlug Z’s LEDs
will blink simultaneously and then the
Power LED lights on steadily.
Step 2
Press Simple Connect Button for two
seconds from a HomePlugAV in an
existing network. After you release the
button, the Power LED will blink. If
the Power LED did not blink, press
Simple Connect Button again for two
seconds.
Note:
Note:Note:
Note: Do not press Simple Connect for more
than 2 seconds.
BLINKS
BLINKSBLINKS
BLINKS