NETGEAR XAV101v2 - Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter User manual

350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
December 2010
202-10808-01
v1.0
XAV101v2 Powerline AV
200 Adapter
User Manual

2 |
XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter User Manual
©2010 NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated
into any language in any form or by any means without the written permission of NETGEAR, Inc.
Technical Support
Thank you for choosing NETGEAR. To register your product, get the latest product updates, or get support online,
visit us at http://support.netgear.com. 
Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR
Phone (Other Countries): See Support information card.
Trademarks
NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, ReadyNAS, ProSafe, Smart Wizard, Auto Uplink, X-RAID2, and NeoTV are
trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, and Vista are
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or
trademarks of their respective holders.
Statement of Conditions
To improve internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to make changes
to the products described in this document without notice. NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur
due to the use, or application of, the product(s) or circuit layout(s) described herein.
Revision History
Publication Part Number Version Publish Date Comments
202-10808-01 v1.0 December 2010 First publication

Contents |3
Contents
Chapter 1 Installation and Basic Configuration
How the Powerline Adapter Fits in Your Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Powerline AV 200 Adapter Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
XAV101v2 Label. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
LED and Feature Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Installing Your Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Prepare for installation:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Connecting a Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter to the Router . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Connect other Ethernet Powerline Adapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Understanding Powerline Network Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Changing the Default Encryption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Chapter 2 Using the XAV101v2 Powerline Utility
Installing the XAV101v2 Powerline Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Device Settings Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Adding a Device to a Powerline Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Changing the Network Encryption Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Setting Up a Custom Network Encryption Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Returning to the Default Network Encryption Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Quality of Service (QoS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
To set the priority of data transfers by the type of protocol: . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Diagnostics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Factory Reset. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Chapter 3 Troubleshooting
Product Registration, Support, and Documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Basic Functioning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Problems After Changing Network Encryption Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Changing the Network Encryption Key for 1 Unit at a Time . . . . . . . . . .28
Appendix A Factory Default Settings and 
Technical Specifications
Default Configuration Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Appendix B Notification of Compliance

Chapter 1. Installation and Basic Configuration |5
1
1. Installation and Basic Configuration
This chapter describes how to install and configure the XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter. It
also explains the security features and how to customize the encryption key for added security
How the Powerline Adapter Fits in Your Network
You can use the Powerline AV 200 Adapter to implement or extend an Ethernet local area
network (LAN) anywhere in your house using your existing electrical power line in place of a
dedicated LAN wiring infrastructure. An example is illustrated in the following diagram for a
minimal network consisting of two Powerline devices:
Figure 1.
Follow the instructions in the following sections to set up your Powerline adapter.

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XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter User Manual
Powerline AV 200 Adapter Features
The following illustration (Figure 2, XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter) shows the front
and side panels of the Powerline AV 200 Adapter:
Ethernet port
LEDs
Security/Power
button
Factory
Reset
button
Figure 2. XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter
XAV101v2 Label
The label on the rear panel of the XAV101v2 contains the following items:
• Model number
• MAC address
• Device password
• Serial number

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XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter User Manual
LED and Feature Descriptions
The following table describes the status LEDs, buttons, and Ethernet port on the XAV101v2
Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter.
Table 1. XAV101v2 Feature Descriptions
Item Description
Power LED • Solid green. The electrical power is on.
• Blinking green.The adapter is in the process of restarting or setting up security.
• Amber. Power saving mode. To enter power saving mode, press and hold the Power button
for 5–10 seconds.
• Off. There is no electrical power, or power has been turned off through the Powerline Utility.
Powerline LED • Solid. The adapter is connected to a Powerline network.
• Blinking. The adapter is sending or receiving data.
• Off. The adapter has not found any other compatible Powerline devices using the same
encryption key, or has been turned off through the Powerline utility.
Use the Pick A Plug feature to pick the electrical outlet with the strongest link rate, indicated
by the color displayed by the LED:
Green: Link rate > 80 Mbps Amber: Link rate >50, <80 Mbps Red: Link rate < 50 Mbps
(Best) – Good for HD video (Better) – Good for SD video (Good) – Good for data
Ethernet LED • Solid. The Ethernet port is linked, but there is no activity.
• Blinking. There is traffic on the Ethernet port.
• Off. There is no Ethernet connection.
Factory
Reset button Press the Factory Reset button for 1 second, then release to return the Powerline adapter to
its factory default settings.
Security/Power 
button The Security/Power button serves a dual function:
• Set the power mode. The Powerline Adapter’s normal state is POWER ON mode. When
you first plug it into an electrical outlet, it will be in POWER ON mode. To go to POWER
OFF (power saving) mode, press and hold the button for 5–10 seconds. Pressing the button
again for less than 2 seconds returns it to POWER ON. You can also unplug and plug in the
adapter to restore it to POWER ON.
• Set security. If you set security on your other adapters, after you plug your new AV adapter
into the wall socket, press its Security button for 2 seconds; then press the Security button
on any adapter in your existing network for 2 seconds. Both buttons must be pressed within
2 minutes.
Note: The Security button does not work in power saving mode.
Ethernet port Plug one end of the Ethernet cable that comes with the XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter
into this port and the other end either into your router, or into the computer or other peripheral
devices.

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Installing Your Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter
Preparing for installation
1. Before you begin, verify the following:
• Your Ethernet network is set up.
• An Ethernet port is available on your router.
• Your Internet connection is working.
• An Ethernet port is available on each computer that will use a Powerline AV 200
Adapter and is configured to work on your network. Usually, the default configuration
settings (TCP/IP and DHCP) are fine.
2. Familiarize yourself with the Powerline AV 200 Adapter.
The front panel has three LEDs: Power, Powerline, and Ethernet. The side panel has a
Security/Power button, and a Factory Reset button. The Ethernet port is located on the
bottom of the adapter. See Figure 2 on page 6.
3. Plan the location of your Powerline devices:
• Use an electrical outlet that is not controlled by a wall
switch to avoid someone unknowingly turning off the
power to the outlet.
• Do not connect the Powerline AV 200 Adapter to a
power strip, extension cord, or surge protector as this
might prevent it from working correctly, or reduce the
network performance.
• Avoid plugging the Powerline AV 200 Adapter into an
electrical outlet that is located near an appliance that
uses a lot of power, such as a washer or dryer, or a
refrigerator. This could potentially prevent the adapter
from working correctly, or reduce network
performance.

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XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter User Manual
Connecting a Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter to the
Router
1. Plug a Powerline AV 200 Adapter into a power outlet near your router.
Use the supplied gray Ethernet cable to connect from the adapter to a LAN port on your
router so that the Powerline network can gain access to the Internet. The Power and
Ethernet LEDs on the Powerline AV 200 Adapter should turn on.
Note: It is not necessary to disconnect your router from your computer.
Figure 3.
2. Once the adapter is plugged in and power is first applied, check to see that the Power LED
is on.
3. After approximately 10 seconds, check to see that:
a. The Power LED is solid green.
b. The Powerline LED is lit.
c. The Ethernet LED is on or blinks.

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Connect Other Ethernet Powerline Adapters
Once the first adapter is installed and connected to your router, you can easily add adapters
into your network.
Adding other adapters
1. Be sure the first adapter is connected to your router.
2. Plug additional Powerline AV 200 Adapters into power outlets near the other computers and
additional peripheral devices to be included in your Powerline network.
3. Use the gray Ethernet cable from the XAV101v2 package to connect from the Powerline AV
200 Adapter to an Ethernet port located on the other computer or peripheral device.
4. Wait for each Powerline adapter to be recognized by the Powerline network.
The Power, Ethernet, and Powerline LEDs should turn on. This could take as little as 5
seconds, or up to 80 seconds. For details about how the LEDs work, see Table 1 on
page 7.
5. Test to make sure that each computer connected to a Powerline AV 200 Adapter can access
the Powerline network.
For example, be sure that you can access the Internet from a remote computer. If there is
a problem, see Connecting a Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter to the Router on page 9.
One way to test this is to install the Powerline Utility and use it to view all the computers
connected by the Powerline AV Ethernet adapter.
WARNING!
NETGEAR recommends that you secure your Powerline network
from unauthorized access. This is especially relevant in settings
such as apartment buildings. See Understanding Powerline
Network Security on page 11.

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XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter User Manual
Understanding Powerline Network Security
A Powerline network consists of two or more Powerline adapters using the same network
encryption key. Securing your network is crucial. By encrypting the information you send over
the Powerline AV 200 Adapter, you help to keep it secure from hackers. If you do not set up
security on your network, anyone nearby with a Powerline network can potentially use his or
her connection to gain access to your network and information you send over the Internet.
This is especially relevant in settings such as apartment buildings, office buildings, dorm
rooms, and other more populated areas.
Powerline devices connected to the same network must use an identical encryption key. The
security used by Powerline AV 200 Adapters is similar to the SSID and encryption keys used
in wireless networks, but you do not need software to configure Powerline AV 200 Adapters.
There are two ways to secure your Powerline network.
• Press the Security button located on your Powerline AV 200 Adapter to automatically
generate a random encryption key. See Changing the Default Encryption on page 12.
• Use the Powerline Utility to configure your Powerline network with an encryption key that
you specify. If you are already using Powerline or HomePlug devices, then you will need
to use the Powerline Utility. For more information, see Chapter 2, Using the XAV101v2
Powerline Utility.
For information about using the Powerline Utility to configure Powerline security or to
prioritize Powerline network traffic using the Quality of Service (QoS) feature, see
Chapter 2.
Note: For information about how to return the XAV101v2 Powerline AV
200 Adapter to its factory default settings, see Resetting to Factory
Defaults on page 28.

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Changing the Default Encryption
You can use the Security button to change the default encryption key and set a private
encryption key instead. The default encryption key is HomePlugAV.
To set a private encryption key:
1. Verify that all the Powerline AV 200 Adapters to be configured are plugged in.
WARNING!
Do not press the Security button on the Powerline adapter until
installation is complete and all adapters on your network are
plugged in and communicating with each other. Pressing the
Security button too soon can temporarily disable Powerline
communication. If this should occur, reset the Powerline adapter
to its factory default settings. See Resetting to Factory Defaults on
page 28.
2. On the first Powerline AV 200 Adapter, press its Security button for 2 seconds.
The power LED starts blinking after you release the button.
The adapter automatically produces a new, randomly generated network encryption key
that each Powerline AV 200 Adapter will use.
At this point, the other adapters in your network cannot communicate with each other.
3. Within 2 minutes of pressing the Security button on the first adapter, press the Security
button on the second adapter for 2 seconds.
In order to pair the devices, you must press both buttons within 2 minutes.
This securely configures your Powerline network with the same network encryption key.
4. If your network has more than 2 adapters, press the Security button on the additional
adapter for 2 seconds, then press the Security button on any additional adapters in your
existing network for 2 seconds. Both buttons must be pressed within 2 minutes. The
adapters retain security settings even if they are unplugged.
Note: An adapter can generate a private key only once. To replace a
private key, first reset the adapter back to its factory defaults (see
Resetting to Factory Defaults on page 28), then follow the steps in
this section.

Chapter 2. Using the XAV101v2 Powerline Utility |13
2
2. Using the XAV101v2 Powerline Utility
This chapter explains how to install and use the Powerline Utility. The XAV101v2 Powerline
Utility is compatible other XAV101v2 adapters and with the XAV1501 Powerline adapter.
You can use the NETGEAR Powerline Utility to:
• configure encryption for your Powerline network
• perform diagnostics and monitor performance
• set quality of service (QoS) features to prioritize Powerline network traffic
• reset adapters to factory default settings
Installing the XAV101v2 Powerline Utility
This utility provides you with the option of setting your own unique encryption Powerline
network encryption key, and prioritizing traffic passing through the Powerline network.
To install the XAV101v2 Powerline Utility:
1. Go the NETGEAR home page at http://www.netgear.com
2. Select the Home tab.
3. Select Products and Powerline and Coax from the Home tab drop-down menus.
4. Select Simple Connections.
5. Click XAV101v2.
6. Click XAV101v2 Product Support.
7. Click the Downloads tab.
8. Select Powerline Universal Utility Version S1.5.0.10 or later.
9. On the XAV101v2 Powerline Utility Version S1.5.0.10 screen, right-click the Right-click and
Save to Download button.

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10. On the pop-up menu, select Save Target As, and save the Powerline utility to the directory
of your choice.
11. There are three ways to start the XAV101v2 Powerline Utility:
• Click the Run button when prompted.
• Click the XAV101v2 Powerline Utility shortcut icon located on your desktop.
• Select Start > Programs > NETGEAR > NETGEAR Powerline Utility.

Chapter 2. Using the XAV101v2 Powerline Utility |15
XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter User Manual
Device Settings Tab
When launched, the Powerline Utility opens to the Device Settings tab. If all devices are not
shown, click the Refresh button to detect all Powerline Adapters on your network.
Figure 1.
Note: You might see a message at the bottom of the screen regarding the
power saving feature. If the unit goes into power saving mode, the
Powerline Utility will not find it. Keeping a connected Ethernet cable
plugged into the device will keep it active.
By clicking the light in the LED Status column, you can toggle the LED between on and off.

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The following table describes the features on the Device Settings tab.
Table 1. Powerline Utility Device Settings Tab
Field or Button Description
Device Names This lists the Powerline devices detected on the network after the utility
completes a scan for devices. The device name is initially set by the utility, but
can be changed to reflect your specific adapter. For example, “Office” or “Master
Bedroom.”
Model This identifies the model number of the Powerline Adapter.
MAC Address The MAC address for the Powerline device. This is also on the product label,
which might not be visible when the device is plugged in.
Quality (Mbps) This indicates the type of traffic that can be handled smoothly and the link rate
for each Powerline device: HD Video, SD/DVD Video, or Data.
• HD Video. The device can handle high-definition video traffic smoothly. This
status is shown if the transmit and receive link speed is greater than 80 Mbps.
• SD/DVD Video. The transmit and receive link speed is greater than 50 Mbps
or less than 80 Mbps.
• Data. The device cannot handle video data smoothly. This status is shown if
the transmit or receive link speed is less than 50 Mbps.
LED Status Enable or disable the LEDs for a Powerline device.The LEDs are enabled by
default.
Adding a Device to a Powerline Network
If you are adding a device to a Powerline network, and the network encryption key has been
left at its default setting, all you need to do is plug the new device into a power outlet.
If the network encryption key has been customized, there are two ways to set the security:
• You can use the Security button to add the new device to your network. See Adding
Adapters to Your Network on page 11.
• You can use the Model Number Powerline Utility to add the new device to the network, as
described in later sections.
The procedure for setting the network encryption key depends on whether the computer
running the Model Number Powerline Utility is connected directly to the new Powerline
adapter (local) or is connected to a different device in the Powerline network (remote).
Adding a device from a locally-connected computer
1. Plug the new Powerline adapter into an available AC power outlet.
2. Connect the Ethernet cable that came with the adapter to the adapter’s Ethernet port and an
Ethernet port on the computer.
3. Start the Powerline Utility (see step 11 on page 14 for three different ways to do this.) The
first screen to appear is the Device Settings tab. Wait for the utility to detect the new device.
4. Select the Advancedtab, and click the Security arrow.

Chapter 2. Using the XAV101v2 Powerline Utility |17
XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter User Manual
5. From the Device Name column select the device.
6. Type the network encryption key into the Create a New Encryption Key field.
7. Click the Apply Security to Selected Devices button.
8. Select the Device Settings tab to perform a scan.
Verify that the devices in the Powerline network appear in the device list. It might take a
minute or two for all devices in the network to be detected.
Adding a device from a remotely-connected computer
If you are using a custom network encryption key, set all the devices to the default network
encryption key of HomePlugAV so that they can communicate with each other. Then set all
the devices to the network encryption key that you want to use.
1. To change the encryption key for a remote device, you must enter the password for the
device. The password is printed on the product label.
2. Click the device name for a remote Powerline device to highlight it in blue.
Note: Be sure to change the password of remote devices before changing
it on the local device so that you can maintain connectivity
throughout this process.
3. Click Enter Password.
4. Enter the device password, and then click OK.
The device password is located on the product label.
5. From the Device Name column, select the device.
6. In the Apply the Encryption Key field, type the network encryption key.
7. Click the Apply Security to Selected Devices button.
8. Select the Device Settings tab. This will perform an automatic scan.
Verify that the devices in the Powerline network appear in the device list. It might take a
minute or two for all devices in the network to be detected.

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Security
From the Advanced Settings tab on the Powerline Utility you can perform a number of
security functions, such as:
• Changing the network encryption key
• Setting up a custom network encryption key
• Returning to the factory default network encryption key
• Changing the network encryption key for one unit at a time
Figure 2.
Changing the Network Encryption Key
You can specify the network encryption key from the Security tab screen.
1. On the Advanced Settings tab, click the Security arrow.
When all the devices are set to the default network encryption key and are plugged in,
they are listed on the Device Settings tab.
2. Check each box next to the Device Names for which you want to add encryption.
Here you have two options:
a. Use the Default Encryption Key option

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XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter User Manual
When you click this option, the factory default encryption key is automatically
populated in the field. The default network encryption key is HomePlugAV.
b. Create your own Encryption Key
This option lets you set your own network encryption key. Type your network
encryption key in the field provide.
3. Apply the changes by clicking the Apply Security to Selected Devices button.
When completed, the utility displays a message indicating that the operation was
successful.
Click OK.
Setting Up a Custom Network Encryption Key
When all the devices are set to the default network encryption key and are plugged in, they
are listed on the Device Settings tab. Follow these steps to set up a custom network
encryption key for all the Powerline devices:
1. Select the Device Settings tab to automatically perform a scan to detect the adapter
status.
Wait for the new device to be listed. A new device can be identified by its MAC address.
2. From the Advanced Settings tab, click the Security arrow, and check the boxes next to
each device in the Device Name column.
3. Type your network encryption key in the Create a New Encryption Key field.
4. Click Apply Security to Selected Devices.
The utility displays a message indicating that the operation was successful.
5. Select the Device Settings tab to perform a scan.
Verify that all devices are detected with your network encryption key.
Note: If one or more of your Powerline devices are not listed, see Quality
of Service (QoS) on page 21.
For troubleshooting information, see Problems After Changing Network Encryption Key in
Appendix B
Returning to the Default Network Encryption Key
1. Plug the new device into an AC power outlet.
2. Start the Model Number Powerline Utility
• Wait for the utility to detect the devices in your Powerline network.

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• Check that all the devices in the established network are displayed on the Device
Settings tab.
Note: Before you can reset a remote device, you must enter its password.
The password is printed on the product label located on the back of
the adapter.
3. From the Advanced Settings tab, click the Security arrow, and from the Device Name
column, check the box next to each device you want to set.
4. Click the Use Default Encryption Key button.
You will see the default encryption key, HomePlugAV, display in the encryption field.
5. Click Apply Security to Selected Devices.
Figure 3.

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XAV101v2 Powerline AV 200 Adapter User Manual
Quality of Service (QoS)
On the Advanced Settings tab on the Powerline Utility, click the QoS (Quality of Service)
arrow to help you prioritize your Powerline network traffic.
By default, all types of traffic on the Powerline network are assigned the same priority. For
most applications, this works fine. However, there are situations where performance
improves if you assign a higher priority to certain types of traffic, such as multimedia files.
Figure 4.
Prioritizing by General Application Type
If your network traffic is a mix of multimedia and document or database traffic, you might want
to give priority to a particular traffic type. If it is important that your multimedia playback is
smooth, even while document files are being transferred over the network, then give priority
to multimedia traffic. Conversely, if it is more important for your network to be responsive to
database applications, give priority to this type of application over multimedia applications.
The Powerline adapter supports the following:
• MAC address
• IP port
• VLAN tags
• ToS bits (Type of Service routing)