ZyXEL Communications ZyXEL PLA-401 v3 User manual

www.zyxel.com
PLA-401 v3
Copyright 2009
ZyXEL Communications Corporation
Powerline Ethernet Adapter
Firmware v3.3.4
Edition 1, 3/2009
CONTENTS
ENGLISH 3
DEUTSCH 11
ESPAÑOL 31
FRANÇAIS 21
ITALIANO 39
SVENSKA 49
NEDERLANDS 57

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Overview
The PLA-401 v3 allows you to set up a powerline network using the
electrical outlets in your home. The figure below shows your PLA-401 v3
(B) connected to a DSL modem (A). You can plug a second PLA-401 v3
(C) into another outlet in your home and connect a computer for Internet
access. Use the push-button ENCRYPT feature to set up a secure
HomePlug AV compatible powerline network.
Note: You can connect to the Internet through a router, switch or modem.
The DSL modem is just an example.
This Quick Start Guide shows you how to do the following:
1. Connect the PLA-401 v3 to a Cable/DSL Modem or Router
2. Connect the PLA-401 v3 to a Computer
3. Set Up a HomePlug AV Powerline Network
A
B
C
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Connect the PLA-401 v3 to a
Cable/DSL Modem or Router
1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the ETHERNET port on the PLA-
401 v3 to an available Ethernet port of your modem, router or switch.
2. Plug the PLA-401 v3 into a power outlet.
3. The power ( ) LED should be on and the
Ethernet ( ) LED should be on or
blinking.
 If none of the LEDs are on, unplug
your device and recheck your
hardware connections.

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Connect the PLA-401 v3 to a
Computer
1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the ETHERNET port on the PLA-
401 v3 to the Ethernet port on your computer.
2. Plug the PLA-401 v3 into a power outlet.
3. The power ( ) LED should be on and the Ethernet ( ) LED should
be on or blinking.
4. When the PLA-401 v3 detects a connection to another PLA-401 v3
(or another HomePlug AV compatible powerline adapter), the
HomePlug ( ) LEDs turn on.
If you are having trouble setting up your connections, make sure:
• Your outlets are working properly. Unplug the PLA-401 v3 and plug
in another electrical appliance that you know works.
• The Ethernet cables you are using are Category 5 or higher. Most
cables are labeled with their specifications.
• All Ethernet cables are securely connected.

6
Set Up a HomePlug AV Powerline
Network
There are two ways to secure your powerline network.
• If your other powerline devices have ENCRYPT buttons, go to Set
Up a Powerline Network with ENCRYPT section.
• If your other powerline devices do not have ENCRYPT buttons, see
the User’s Guide for instructions on using the PLA-4xx
Configuration Utility to set up your secure Powerline network.
Set Up a Powerline Network with ENCRYPT
Use the ENCRYPT button to set up a secure connection between two
PLA-401 v3s or with another ENCRYPT-enabled device.
The PLA-401 v3 only works with another device with the same firmware
version as its own.
Use the ENCRYPT feature on two devices at a time.
1. Place the powerline devices close to each other, as you only have two
minutes to press the ENCRYPT buttons on both devices. You can
disconnect the devices from your computer or modem (or other
networking equipment) if you need to, but the powerline devices need
to be plugged into power outlets.
2. Press the ENCRYPT button at the rear of both of your devices for
10~15 seconds. This sets up a random network name.

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3. Press the ENCRYPT buttons at the rear of your powerline devices for
1~2 seconds.
4. While the devices are connecting, the power ( ) and HomePlug
( ) lights blink. Also several times all lights blink at the same time
and the HomePlug ( ) light shows red.
5. Wait for about one minute while your powerline devices connect. The
power ( ) light is steady when the ENCRYPT process times out, the
HomePlug ( ) light is steady if you have a successful connection.
 If the power ( ) light does not blink, you have probably
pressed the ENCRYPT button for too long. Try again,
pressing the ENCRYPT button for 1~2 seconds.
 If the HomePlug ( ) lights on both powerline devices do
not light up, the powerline devices are not connected.
Repeat steps 2and 3in this section. If that doesn’t work,
see the User’s Guide for more suggestions.
2 SEC.
WITHIN
120 SEC. PRESS
PRESS
2 SEC.
AB
C

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6. To add another powerline device (C) to your network, connect it with
one of the powerline devices (Aor B) already connected to your
powerline network (See steps 2and 3in this section).
7. If you disconnected your powerline devices from your computer or
modem (or any other networking product connected to your powerline
device) in step 1 of this section, you can now reconnect them.
 If the HomePlug ( ) light is off, use the PLA-4xx
configuration utility (see the User’s Guide for details) to
detect all other HomePlug AV devices on your power line
network. Try plugging a second HomePlug AV device into an
adjacent socket (to your PLA-401 v3) and see if the
HomePlug ( ) light comes on.
Congratulations! This connects your powerline devices and any products
you have connected to your powerline devices, such as your home
computer or network modem.
A or B
AB
C

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Procedure to View a Product’s Certification(s)
1. Go to www.zyxel.com.
2. Select your product from the drop-down list
box on the ZyXEL home page to go to that
product's page.
3. Select the certification you wish to view from
this page.

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