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Setting up a wireless network with the
PLWK400
Powerline networking is a way to extend your network using the electrical outlets in your
house. This works by adding a powerline adapter to your network. Setting up a powerline
network requires a set of powerline adapters plugged into each electrical outlet where the
network extension is needed.
The Linksys PLWK400 consists of the PLE400 Powerline 1-port Fast Ethernet and PLW400
Powerline AV Wireless Network Extender that lets you easily set up a powerline network in
your home. This article will guide you on how to create a network using your powerline
adapters.
IMPORTANT: To set up your powerline network, you should:
• Make sure you already have Internet access and a working home network.
• Make sure that the wireless devices that you want to connect to the PLW400 have a
working wireless feature. An easy way to test this is to first try to connect it to your wireless
router.
Basic powerline network
Creating a basic powerline network is now made possible using your plug and play powerline
adapters. This setup assumes that all the devices are located on the same floor of your house and
that you have an active Internet connection.
QUICK TIP: PLW400 is a wireless powerline adapter that will allow you to connect wireless
computers and devices to your existing powerline network.
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Related Manuals for Linksys PLWK400
Summary of Contents for Linksys PLWK400
- Page 1 The Linksys PLWK400 consists of the PLE400 Powerline 1-port Fast Ethernet and PLW400 Powerline AV Wireless Network Extender that lets you easily set up a powerline network in your home.
- Page 2 Step 1: Plug the PLE400 into the power outlet. QUICK TIP: If possible, connect the powerline adapters directly to a wall power outlet, and not to an extension cord, power strip, or surge protector. If a powerline adapter must be installed onto a power strip, make sure that no other electronic devices are connected to the same power strip.
- Page 3 Also, avoid obstructions such as metal file cabinets, mirrors, and thick walls between the PLW400 and any wireless device that you want to connect to avoid connection problems. You should have successfully set up a wireless network with the PLWK400 now. PLW400 Frequently Asked Questions TABLE OF CONTENTS...
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Page 4: Firmware Upgrade Method
How do I connect my PLW400? What should I do if none of the LEDs turned on after I installed the Powerline adapter? What should I do if the Ethernet LED does not turn ON after I connected a wired device to the powerline adapter? What should I do if I cannot connect to other computers on my local network or to the Internet? -
Page 5: Ports And Buttons
SECURITY SUPPORTED 1. How do I configure each network adapter with advanced security? Step 1: On the first adapter, press and hold the HomePlug Simple Connect button for at least one (1) second until the Powerline LED begins flashing slowly. This means that the adapter creates a new network key for the Powerline network. -
Page 6: Troubleshooting
TROUBLESHOOTING 1. How do I connect my PLW400? IMPORTANT: Before proceeding, make sure that the power switch on the right side is set to I (ON). If your home network already has security set up (recommended): Step 1: Connect the PLW400 to a power outlet near your main wireless router. Step 2: On the PLW400, press and hold the Wi-Fi Protected Setup™... - Page 7 Step 5: Re-connect the adapter to the power outlet. NOTE: If this solution does not work, make sure that the electrical outlet is working properly. Plug a different device into the power outlet, and try to switch it on. 3. What should I do if the Ethernet LED does not turn ON after I connected a wired device to the powerline adapter? When the Ethernet port detects a local network connection, the Ethernet LED should turn ON.
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Page 8: Wi-Fi Protected Setup
There are two (2) ways to upgrade the firmware of your powerline adapter: Using the Linksys Powerline AV Utility - Launch the utility and under Network Status tab, select PLW400. Go to the Administration tab then click on the Upgrade button under Firmware Upgrade. - Page 9 The transfer rate is 200 mbps at physical layer, and it supports the 802.11b, 802.11g or 802.11n standard wireless clients. 2. Does the PLW400 have a web-based setup page? Yes. 3. Does the PLW400 support TCP/IP for standard routers? Yes. 4.
- Page 10 Installing the PLW400 Powerline networking is a way to extend your network using the electrical outlets in your house. This works by adding a Powerline adapter to your network. Setting up a Powerline network requires a set of Powerline adapters plugged into each electrical outlet where the network extension is needed.
- Page 11 NOTE: Make sure that the power switch on the right side is set to I (ON). Step 2:...
- Page 12 On the PLW400, press and hold the Wi-Fi Protected Setup button for at least one (1) second, until the Wi-Fi Protected Setup flashes. Step 3: Within two (2) minutes, press the Wi-Fi Protected Setup button on your wireless router. The PLW400 retrieves the security settings from the router and connects to your wireless network.
- Page 13 NOTE: The location of the Wi-Fi Protected Setup button may vary depending on the router model. Step 4: Move your PLW400 to a power outlet near the wireless network device(s) you want to connect. Typically, this area is not covered well by your home’s wireless network router. NOTE: The Powerline LED flashes, and then stays on when the connection to the rest of the Powerline network is finished.
- Page 14 PLW400 and connecting your wireless devices to the network. Setting up Wireless Security The Wireless Setting tab of the Linksys Powerline AV Utility allows you to change the wireless Network Name (SSID), Security Mode, or Passphrase of your PLW400.
- Page 15 You will know if a Powerline adapter is not detected in the Powerline network if the HomePlug on your Powerline adapter is OFF and if there’s no device that will show up on the Powerline Utility just like in the image below:...
- Page 16 For Powerline Fast Ethernet Adapters, it would look similar to the image below:...
- Page 17 For Powerline Gigabit Ethernet Adapters, this is how it would look like:...
- Page 18 QUICK TIP: Powerline adapters are plug and play devices. They should synchronize automatically without any special configuration. But for security purposes, you need to set up a network password. This article provides the following troubleshooting tips that you can do if a Powerline adapter is not detected in the Powerline network.
- Page 19 NOTE: If your Powerline network is not yet secured, set up the security on the Powerline Utility of Powerline Ethernet Adapters To check the Powerline security: Step 1: Access the Powerline Utility by clicking Start > All Programs > Linksys > Powerline Utility. Step 2: Click the Security tab and check the Network Password.
- Page 20 Main screen of their Powerline Utility. To add a device: Step 1: Access the Powerline Utility by clicking Start > All Programs > Linksys > Powerline Utility. Step 2: On the Main tab of the Powerline Utility, click the Add Device button if you want to add...
- Page 21 a new Powerline adapter to a pre-existing Powerline network with a unique Network Password. Step 3: When the Add Device to Network window appears, enter the Device Name and the Device Password in their corresponding fields then click Submit. NOTE: The device password is located at the back of the Powerline adapter, on the label, under Device Password.
- Page 22 A pop-up window similar to the image below will appear telling you that the device is already added to your network.
- Page 23 NOTE: The image below shows that the Powerline device has been detected.