FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: HOMEPLUG

Transcription

1 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: HOMEPLUG 1. What is HomePlug / Powerline technology? Beginner 2. How do I set up a network with Aztech HomePlugs? Beginner 3. How will HomePlugs benefit me at home? Beginner 4. What applications can I use HomePlugs for? Beginner 5. How many HomePlugs can I run on my network? Beginner 6. Is there a minimum number of HomePlugs needed to create my network? Beginner 7. Which operating system does Aztech HomePlug work with? Beginner 8. Can Aztech HomePlugs work with Apple MACs? Beginner 9. What is the transmission range of Aztech HomePlugs? Beginner 10. Can I use Aztech HomePlugs on power extension or multiple sockets? Beginner 11. Can Aztech HomePlugs work in 3-phase environment? Beginner 12. What are the main differences between Aztech 85Mbps and Aztech 200Mbps AV HomePlugs? Beginner 13. Is Aztech HomePlug suitable for Triple Play? Advanced 14. What is the power consumption (in watts) of Aztech HomePlug from 230-volt power supply? Advanced 15 Which HomePlugs are compatible with each other? Advanced 16 How do I solve wireless blind spot issues? Advanced 17 How secure is HomePlug? Advanced 18 What is Simple Connect? Advanced 19 How do I create a HomePlug AV network using Simple Connect? Advanced 20 How do I pair additional HomePlug AV Ethernet Adaptor to an existing HomePlug AV Network Using Simple Connect? Advanced 21 How to install HomePlug AV Utility? Advanced 22 Do I still need to install the HomePlug AV Utility software since there is Simple Connect button for HL109E / HL109EP? Advanced 23 What does the Powerline Activity LED color indicates? Advanced

2 1) What is HomePlug / Powerline technology? Powerline technology uses existing powerline wiring to convey digital data from one computer to another. The wiring serves as the network, and each electrical outlet serves as a connection point on the network. Thus it allows you to simply set up a network by plugging into any electrical outlet making it possible for instant connectivity. Transferring data over the powerline network doesn't interfere with other electrical devices plugged in around the home because electricity and data are transmitted at very different frequencies. HomePlugs are a simple but very effective way to transmit data around your home. HomePlugs use the powerline supply to transmit data, rather than radio waves that wireless solutions use. In order to do this a minimum of two HomePlugs are required. 2) How do I set up a network with Aztech HomePlugs? Aztech HomePlugs are easy to set-up with plug-and-play installation. Simply plug them into available electrical wall sockets one into your router and the other to the device that you wish to connect to your network. Installing the Utility software is only needed if you intend to manually change the Private Network Name or view the connection rate. 3) How will HomePlugs benefit me at home? HomePlugs offer many advantages over conventional wired or wireless solutions. Reliability Allow a faster more reliable connection than wireless, no obstacles (like brick walls) for wireless to overcome. Perfect for HD and SD IPTV video streaming. Simplicity - Allow you to transform your powerlines wiring into an instant Local Area Network (LAN). It s the easiest way to extend the network connection from your router without having to drill holes in walls / ceilings to feed the Ethernet cable. All you need is an available wall socket. Plug and Play - Hassle free installation for instant connectivity.

3 4) What applications can I use HomePlugs for? HomePlugs are ideal for 1) High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) video distribution - 200Mbps HomePlugsAV or Standard Definition (SD) video distribution - 85Mbps HomePlugs. 2) TV over IP (IPTV) 3) Voice Over IP (VoIP) 4) Higher data rate broadband sharing 5) Shared broadband internet access 6) Audio and video streaming and transfer 7) Expanding the coverage of wireless LANs 8) PC files and applications sharing between computers 9) Printers, scanners and other peripherals sharing 10) Network and online gaming in any room - you can even connect your games consoles! 11) Home Security /Monitoring 5) How many HomePlugs can I run on my network? A maximum of 8 HomePlugs can be used in the same household powerline network. 6) Is there a minimum number of HomePlugs needed to create my network? You will require at least two HomePlugs to create your household powerline network. 7) Which operating system does Aztech HomePlug work with? Aztech HomePlugs are OS-independent. You can use HomePlugs regardless of your OS. However, there is a requirement for using the Utility software. The Utility software will only run on Microsoft Windows 98SE / ME/ 2000/ XP/ Vista.

4 8) Can Aztech HomePlugs work with Apple MACs? Yes they can, Aztech HomePlugs work with Apple MACs. However, there is a requirement for using the Utility software. The Utility software will only run on Microsoft Windows 98SE / ME/ 2000/ XP/ Vista. 9) What is the transmission range of Aztech HomePlugs? Aztech HomePlugs can work up to a distance of 200m point-to-point over household powerlines. However the transmission range also depends on: 1) Number of HomePlugs used in the same powerline network 2) Powerline environmental factors such as interferences on your powerline 3) Quality of the electrical installation 10) Can I use Aztech HomePlugs on power extension or multiple sockets? Yes. Aztech HomePlugs work on power extension and multiple socket adapters. However we would advise you to plug them directly to the wall socket to have optimal performance or you may consider Aztech HomePlug HL109EP with Additional AC Pass Through. 11) Can Aztech HomePlugs work in 3-phase environment? Yes. Aztech HomePlugs can work in 3-phase environment but the circuits mains must be on the same fuse box / consumer box. 12) What are the main differences between Aztech 85Mbps and Aztech 200Mbps AV HomePlugs? The main differences are speed and quality of service (QoS). Aztech 85Mbps HomePlugs will suffice for applications such as regular web surfing, Standard Definition (SD) streaming, music streaming, VoIP calls, online gaming and many more. Aztech 200Mbps AV HomePlugs provide a greater speed and they have better capability for prioritizing traffic such as time sensitive video streams. We recommend 200Mbps HomePlugs AV if you are using for application such as High Definition (HD) video streaming. 13) Is Aztech HomePlug suitable for Triple Play? Yes. Aztech HomePlugs support Triple Play, i.e. the simultaneous use of data, voice and video applications.

5 14) What is the power consumption (in watts) of Aztech HomePlug from 230-volt power supply? HomePlugs Power consumption (Watts) HL109EP / HL109E 4.5 HL108E 5.5 HL105EW 6.5 HL105E 4.5 Aztech HomePlugs have relatively lower power consumption as compared to any wireless router, which has power consumption of about 10W -16W. 15) Which HomePlugs are compatible with each other? Product HL105E HL105EW HL108E HL109E HL109EP HL109RN Model HL105E Yes Yes HL105EW Yes Yes HL108E Yes HL109E Yes Yes Yes HL109EP Yes Yes Yes HL109RN Yes Yes Yes 16) How do I solve wireless blind spot issues? We would recommend Aztech HomePlug 85 Mbps Wireless G LAN Extender starter kit (HL105E & HL105EW). HL105EW transforms in-house power circuit to extend the Wireless LAN coverage. It resolves common issues such as blind spots and thick walls, which are faced by many WLAN users. When used in conjunction with another connected HomePlug 85Mbps that is linked to the ADSL or Cable Modem, it enables home users to conveniently position the HomePlug Wireless LAN Extender at the most appropriate location. The device is ideal for those looking at extending the wireless signal coverage for Internet access, or makes an internal network. 17) How secure is HomePlug? The majority of the homes share a transformer with several neighbors, putting several houses on one circuit and thereby making it theoretically possible for the neighbours to access your network. To completely eliminate this potential problem, 200Mbps HomePlug AV encrypts all data with 128-bit AES encryption whereas 85Mbps HomePlug encrypts all data with 56-bit DES encryption before it is transmitted around the power lines. For further security, all our HomePlug series have encryption that enables you to change the encryption password to make it unique to your network and ensure that your neighbors cannot eavesdrop on your network traffic. Note: Encryption is a method of security used to prevent intruders or unwanted access from within or outside your network. Encryption is usually not enabled by default and must be 'configured' using the Utility software provided in the packaging.

6 18) What is Simple Connect? Simple Connect enables automated & unique password generation feature, pairing up to 2 HomePlugs in a secure and fuss-free way. 19) How do I create a HomePlug AV network using Simple Connect? Step 1: Plug your HomePlug AV (e.g. HL109E / HL109EP) into the wall sockets side by side and observe the LED behavior. Upon connection, the LEDs will blink simultaneously and then the Power LED lights will turn on steadily. A B Step 2: Press Simple Connect LED will blink. for two seconds on HomePlug A and release. The Power Step 3: Press Simple Connect for two seconds on HomePlug B and release. The Power LED will then blink. The LEDs on both HomePlugs will switch off and on twice to signify that they are searching to pair. Step 4: The connection is established successfully if both the Power LEDs Activity LEDs are on. and the Powerline A B Step 5: Unplug the HomePlugs and connect them to your Ethernet devices using Ethernet cable from the package and plug both HomePlugs into the wall sockets (HomePlug A to your router and HomePlug B to any Ethernet-enabled device).

7 20) How do I pair additional HomePlug AV Ethernet Adaptor to an existing HomePlug AV Network Using Simple Connect? Step 1: Plug the additional HomePlug (e.g. HL109E / HL109EP) near a HomePlug from an existing HomePlug AV network. Upon connection, the LEDs will blink simultaneously and then the Power LED lights on steadily. Step 2: Press Simple Connect for two seconds from a HomePlug AV in an existing HomePlug AV network. After you release the button, the Power LED will blink. Step 3: Press Simple Connect for two seconds on the additional HomePlug. Similarly, after you release the button, the Power LED will blink. (Make sure that you press the Simple Connect button on the additional HomePlug within two minutes after you press Simple Connect from the existing network. The LEDs on both devices will switch off and on twice to signify that they are searching for another device to pair with. Step 4: Once the connection was established. Both Power LEDs LEDs on all HomePlugs will be on. and the Powerline Activity Step 5: Unplug the additional HomePlug and then connect it to your Ethernet device anywhere within your home. 21) How to install HomePlug AV Utility? Step 1: Insert the Resource CD into the CD-ROM Drive. Step 2: Click Start button and click Run. Step 3: Type D:\Setup.exe and click OK. Step 4: Follow the instructions on the installation wizard and complete the process with ease. 22) Do I still need to install the HomePlug AV Utility software since there is Simple Connect button for HL109E / HL109EP? Installing the HomePlug AV Utility software is only needed if you intend to manually change the Private Network Name or view the connection rate. However, there is a requirement for using the Utility software. The Utility software will only run on Microsoft Windows 98SE / ME/ 2000/ XP/ Vista. 23) What does the Powerline Activity LED color indicates? Indicating your connection rate: Green is best: Connection rate is more than 105Mbps Amber is better: Connection rate is between 40 to105mbps Red is Good: Connection rate is less than 40Mbps