ZyXEL Communications PLA5215 User manual

Extend the Home
Network Coverage by
using Powerline Adapter
and Home Router

Background
These days, the Internet is an integral part of our lives. We use laptops,
cell phones or iPads to surf the Internet and communicate with our
friends via Facebook, Twitter etc. We can communicate from anywhere
in our house.
For good signal coverage in our houses, we would need to extend the
wireless signal or wired network. We often extend the range of the
network using a router of AP.
If the range is too large, we would have to lay out a significant amount
of RJ-45 cable. This may cause an inconvenience in our lives.
Now, if there is a house that has 3 floors, but only the ground floor has
the network. How can we reduce the cumbersome network wires
without affecting the range and quality of the network on al floors?
The following example demonstrates this scenario.

Topology
First Floor
Second Floor
Internet
Third Floor
Ethernet
Power circuit
Wall
PLA4231
PLA5215
PLA5215
Storage
NBG6503

Device and Firmware Information
1. NBG6503, v1.00(AAJN.0)C0
2. PLA5215
3. PLA4231, v1.00(AAGV.0)C0
Configuration Procedure
1. Connect the PC to the LAN port of the NBG6503.
2. Access the NBG6503 via web Internet interface with default
address http://192.168.1.1 from LAN.

3. Chose the third icon on the left-hand side of the navigator
section for “Network”configuration. Then, select the “WAN”
function to Setup the PPPoE account and password.
The exact pathway of the selection would be “Configuration >
Network > WAN”and select “ISP Parameters for Internal Access”
as PPPoE. Fill-in your account and password, and then click on
the “Apply” button.

4. Setup your Wi-Fi sharing to service the first floor.
Go to “Configuration > Network > Wireless LAN 2.4/5G”, and
setup your SSID and password as would like it to be.

5. Check the NBG6503’s status to make sure the network is
successfully configured.
6. After the setup procedure of the NBG6503 is complete, plug-in
the PLA5215 into the socket, and use a cable to connect to
connect to the NBG6503.

7. Make the PLA4231 and PLA5215 sync. You can use hardware
button “Encrypt Key”to sync both.
Press both buttons for around 0.5-2 seconds. You will notice that
both of the HomePlug LEDs start to blink until they become
steadily. This means that the network as connected successfully.
PLA4231
PLA5215
1

8. Login to PLA4231’s web interface via http://192.168.1.2.
9. Configure the PLA4231’s SSID via
“Configuration > Network > Wireless LAN”.

10. Check the status to see that the setup was successful.

11. After all configuration steps are complete, and then the Wi-Fi
coverage will be available in the entire house.
Check the SSID list to see the SSID that you had configured

Conclusion
Powerline products incorporate data transfers over electrical wires.
Traditional data transfers always require the use of Ethernet cables.
Using Powerline equipment, the existing in-home power
environment can be used instead of deploying cables. Simply, plug
into a power outlet, and though the central electronic circuit, the
Access Points can be setup to provide Internet access on each
floor.
There are several points to note about the circuit and PLA’s
performance.
1. It is not recommended to use and extender line because it may
cause unstable traffic.
2. Do not use hair dryers when using PLA products.
3. Avoid the use halogen light bulbs in the house.
4. Do not use microwaves when using PLA products.
5. Do not plug two PLA devices between two nearby sockets.
※Note: As for #2 - #5, the usage of the items would create
electric magnetic field that would interrupt the networking
sharing/speed.