14 Mbps HomePlug Ethernet Adapter Model #: HPE100I User Manual Ver 1.0 Solutions for the Digital LifeTM Table of Contents 1 Introduction Package Contents Features System Requirements Getting to Know the Ethernet Adapter Technical Support 1 1 2 2 3 4 2 Connecting the HomePlug Adapters Connecting the Adapters Installing the Configuration Utility 5 5 6 3 Using the Configuration Utility Device Network Security About 7 7 9 10 11 4 Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Frequently Asked Questions 13 13 14 5 Setting Up Static IP Address Windows 98 SE Windows Me Windows 2000 Windows XP 17 17 20 23 27 6 Setting Up File and Printer Sharing File Sharing Printer Sharing 31 31 39 a Specifications General LED Indicators Environmental 41 41 42 42 b Glossary Notices Regulatory Compliance Notices Modifications Miscellaneous Legal Notices 43 47 47 47 48 Limited Warranty 49 i Actiontec HomePlug Ethernet Adapter User Manual This page left intentionally blank. ii Introduction 1 Thank you for purchasing the Actiontec HomePlug Ethernet Adapter. The HomePlug Ethernet Adapter is one of the easiest ways to enjoy home or small business networking. It operates on the HomePlug Powerline Specification 1.0 standard, providing data transfer speeds up to 14 Mbps over home AC wiring. Since home power lines are the most pervasive medium in households, with multiple outlets in every room, the HomePlug Ethernet Adapter allows multiple desktop and laptop computers to be networked easily, enabling them to share an Internet connection, printers, files, and games, without any additional wiring. If you want to take your computer networking to the next level, the Actiontec HomePlug Ethernet Adapter is sure to be one of the keys to your success. Package Contents Make sure the following items came in this package: s s s s Two Actiontec 14 Mbps HomePlug Ethernet Adapters Two Ethernet Cables Installation CD (includes this manual) Quick Start Guide 1 Actiontec HomePlug Ethernet Adapter User Manual Features s s s s s HomePlug 1.0 compliant 14 Mbps data rate (maximum) 56-bit DES encryption Two-pronged US power plug (fits ungrounded power outlets) Power and Link indicators System Requirements s s s At least 2 available power outlets Standard home power wiring Computer with the following: · CD-ROM drive · IBM compatible running at 200 MHz or better · 64 MB of RAM · Ethernet network adapter · TCP/IP installed 2 Chapter 1 Introduction Getting to Know the Ethernet Adapter This section contains a quick description of the Adapter's external features. Front Panel The Adapter's front panel features 2 lights (LEDs): Power Light The Power light glows green when the Adapter is powered on, and remains off (or dark) when no power is present. Link Light The Link light glows green when an Ethernet connection is detected, and blinks when data is being transferred across the Adapter. 3 Actiontec HomePlug Ethernet Adapter User Manual Bottom Panel The Adapter's bottom panel contains one Ethernet port: Ethernet Port The Ethernet port is used to connect the Adapter to a computer or gateway/ router via Ethernet cable. Technical Support Actiontec Electronics prides itself on making durable, high-quality, high-performance products. If you need assistance, the Actiontec Technical Support Department is available all day every day to provide professional support. Actiontec Electronics, Inc. 760 N. Mary Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94085 Technical Support Phone: (USA) 1-888-436-0657 (UK) 0845-65-80411 E-mail: http://support.actiontec.com/email_support/support_form.php Internet: www.actiontec.com/support 4 Connecting the HomePlug Adapters 2 To connect the Adapters, they must be connected to a computer, plugged into a standard wall outlet, and the Configuration Utility loaded on the computer. Connecting the Adapters To use the Adapters properly, one Adapter must be connected to a computer, and the other Adapter must be connected to a router/gateway connected to a computer. Connecting an Adapter to a Computer 1. Get one Adapter and one Ethernet cable from the package. 2. Insert one end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port of the Adapter. 3. Plug the Adapter into a wall outlet. Do not plug the Adapter or power with Note: protection. The Adapter'sinto a signal maystrippass surge network not UPS through these devices. 4. Insert the other end of the Ethernet cable into an Ethernet port on the back of a computer. Connecting an Adapter to a Router/Gateway 1. Get one Adapter and one Ethernet cable from the package. 2. Insert one end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port of the Adapter. 3. Plug the Adapter into a wall outlet. Do not plug the Adapter or power with Note: protection. The Adapter'sinto a signal maystrippass surge network not UPS through these devices. 4. Insert the other end of the Ethernet cable into an Ethernet port on a router/ gateway connected to a computer. 5 Actiontec HomePlug Ethernet Adapter User Manual 5. Insert the other end of the Ethernet cable into an Ethernet port on a router/ gateway connected to a computer. Next, follow the instructions in the next section, "Installing the Configuration Utility." Installing the Configuration Utility After connecting the Adapters, install the Configuration Utility: 1. Insert the Connection 1-2-3 CD in the CD-ROM drive of the computer connected to an Adapter. 2. When this window appears, click Finish. 3. Repeat for other computers connected to an Adapter. The HomePlug Adapters are now connected and ready to use, and the Configuration Utility is loaded on the computers. Go to chapter 3, "Using the Configuration Utility" for information about changing the default configuration settings of the Adapter. 6 Using the Configuration Utility 3 Once the Adapters have been properly connected and installed, the user can further configure the Adapters using the Actiontec HomePlug Configuration Utility. The Utility also provides information about the network. To access the Utility, double-click on the Actiontec HomePlug Utility icon on the computer's desktop. The Utility appears on the desktop. See the following sections for more information about the Utility's capabilities. Device Selecting Device from the row of tabs near the top of the Utility's window generates the "Device" tab. 7 Actiontec HomePlug Ethernet Adapter User Manual State The "State" text box in the Device tab displays the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the Adapter connected to the computer. Device List The Device List (the list box at the center of the Device tab) displays all HomePlug Adapters connected to the computer. To connect to another Adapter from the list, select it, then click Connect. To refresh the list, click Refresh. Adapter the sure the Note: If noconnectedappears in(withDevice List, make Ethernet Adapter is properly the appropriate cable) to the computer. Then, unplug the Adapter, and plug it back in again. If, after performing these actions, no Adapter appears in the Device List, the Adapter may be defective. Contact technical support. Link Quality The "Link Quality" bar graph in the Device tab provides a graphical representation of the quality of the network link between the Adapters. Poor When the Link Quality is "Poor," the bar graph is short and shaded red. This kind of network connection results in very slow or no communication between the devices on the network. Poor, or the address of the Note: If the Link Quality iscomputer reads all zeroes, the Adapter Adapter connected to the MAC may be defective. Contact technical support. Fair When the Link Quality is "Fair," the bar graph is shaded yellow. This kind of network connection results in average communication speeds between the devices on the network. 8 Chapter 3 Using the Configuration Utility Excellent When the Link Quality is "Excellent," the bar graph is shaded green. This kind of network connection results in high communication speeds (at or near 14 Mbps) between the devices on the network. Network Selecting Network from the row of tabs near the top of the Utility's window generates the "Network" tab. Network List The Network List (the list box at the center of the Network tab) lists all other Adapters connected to this HomePlug network. Only Adapters with the same password as the Adapter connected to this computer are shown on this list. The available Adapters are listed by their MAC addresses, and include their data rate (in megabytes per second). Scan HomePlug Network If additional Adapters have been added to the HomePlug network, click Scan Home Plug Network to refresh the Network List. 9 Actiontec HomePlug Ethernet Adapter User Manual Security Selecting Security from the row of tabs near the top of the Utility's window generates the "Security" tab. Network Password Security (56-bit encryption) is set by default when a HomePlug network is created. The default password (HomePlug) should be changed when setting up the network, and all Adapters connecting to the HomePlug network must have the same password. Change the password by entering the new password in the "Network Password" text box. Device ID Enter the Adapter's Device ID in the "Device ID" text box. The Adapter's Device ID is printed on the back of the of the Adapter. HomePlug Devices The "HomePlug Devices" list box contains the Device IDs of all HomePlug devices added to the network. To add a HomePlug device to the HomePlug Devices list box, enter its Device ID in the Device ID text box, then click Add. To remove a HomePlug device, highlight in the HomePlug Devices list box, then click Remove. 10 Chapter 3 Using the Configuration Utility Setting up Security To set up security on a HomePlug network: 1. Enter the Device ID of one of HomePlug Adapters on the network in the Device ID text box. 2. Click Add. 3. The Adapter's device ID appears in the HomePlug Devices list box. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for all Adapters on the network. 4. When the device IDs for all Adapters of the network appear in the HomePlug Devices list box, enter a new network password in the Network Password text box. 5. Click Set Password for ALL HomePlug Devices. About Selecting About from the row of tabs near the top of the Utility's window generates the "About" tab. The About tab displays the HomePlug Configuration Utility version. 11 Actiontec HomePlug Ethernet Adapter User Manual This page left intentionally blank. 12 Troubleshooting This chapter contains a list of problems that may be encountered while using the HomePlug Ethernet Adapter, and techniques to solve them. Note that these techniques may not be successful in all cases. Also included is a list of frequently asked questions. 4 Troubleshooting The Power light doesn't light up after I plug the Adapter into a wall outlet. Make sure the wall outlet is working by plugging other electric devices into it. If it is working, plug in the Adapter again, and if the Power light still doesn't illuminate, try plugging it into other wall outlets. If the Adapter is still experiencing this problem, contact technical support. The Link light doesn't light up on the Adapter. If the Adapter's Ethernet light is not illuminating, a LAN connection is not being detected. s Check the Ethernet adapter on the computer and make sure it is enabled and working properly. Also, make sure the right type of Ethernet cable is being used. I can't connect to the Internet or any of the other computers on the network. s Make sure the IP address and TCP/IP protocol are set up properly for all the computers on the network , then try to ping the gateway. s Use the Adapter's Configuration Utility to detect all other Adapters on the network. Then, plug the Adapters into adjacent sockets. If the Ethernet lights still don't illuminate, contact technical support. 13 Actiontec HomePlug Ethernet Adapter User Manual The Power and Link lights are on, but I can't access the router/gateway from the computer s Try plugging the Adapters in different power outlets, preferably closer together. s Make sure all Adapters on the network are using the same security parameters. Frequently Asked Questions What's the transfer speed over the Adapter's network? The Adapter's network transfer speed is 14 Mbps (maximum) over a standard home power line network. What's the estimated range of the Adapter's network? Approximately 300 meters (~985 ft.) in wall power lines (one household). Will the Adapter work in any home? The Adapter will work in any home with built-in copper wiring. It may not operate in some older homes (pre-1950) with alternate wiring. Will the Adapter's network signal pass through circuit breakers? Yes, the Adapter's network signal will pass through circuit breakers. It will not, however, pass through power transformers. Does the Adapter work with a 100 ­ 240V AC input ? Yes. Does using the Adapter cause any interference with other home networking devices? No. The Adapter operates at a different frequenc ...