Introduction

Plaster Networks AV200 Powerline Ethernet Adapter provides a cost-effective way to build a reliable, high-performance network benefitting from Plaster Networks advanced management and diagnostics features. Customers can now deploy any number of AV200 adapters with a single Plaster Networks PLN3 intelligent Ethernet adapter for advanced management and diagnostics of the powerline network. This combination offers a more cost-effective alternative to a network of all PLN3 units, without sacrificing the advanced management and diagnostics feature enabled by the PLN3.

AV200 LED Display

The Plaster Networks AV200 has 3 LEDs which indicate various levels of functionality. Below is a brief description of the function of each LED.

Figure 1: AV200 LEDs

1. ETH – The ETH LED indicates that a network device is connected to the Ethernet port of the adapter.

2. PL - When illuminated, the PL LED indicates that the device is communicating with other HomePlugAV* adapters as part of a powerline network.

3. PWR - The PWR LED indicates that the adapter is receiving power.

* For more information on the HomePlugAv standard, please refer to the document 'HomePlugAV' on our support page at support.plasternetworks.com

Setting Up Your Powerline Network

To start, simply plug in a Plaster Networks adapter next to each of the devices in your home that you wish to connect to the network (such as a PC, printer, Blu Ray player, Roku box or wireless access point). Next, connect the device to the adapter using an Ethernet cable (provided). Plaster Networks recommends installing a Plaster Networks PLN3 adapter next to your router to benefit from the advanced management and diagnostics features of the PLN3 intelligent adapter.

NOTE: You may install a network consisting solely of AV200 adapters; however, in this case you will not benefit from the advanced features included with the Plaster Networks PLN3 adapter for intelligent powerline networking.

All Plaster Networks adapters ship with a common network password of “HomePlugAV” that allows them to see each other and establish a network connection “out of the box.” One of the adapters (typically a Plaster Networks PLN3 unit) must be connected to a router/modem to enable all devices in your network to access the Internet.

Figure 2: Powerline Network

Plaster Networks recommends that you change the network password from the default “HomePlugAV” to better secure your network. This can be done quite easily using any of the 3 methods listed below:

Setting The Network Password of Your Powerline Network

HomePlugAV Security Button

This procedure applies if you do NOT have a Plaster Networks PLN3 adapter in your powerline network. If you DO have a PLN3 adapter, then please see the sections below for setting the network password using the PLN3 Administration Console or Plaster Networks Service.

The security button enables you to set a random network password for all the adapters in your powerline network at the touch of a button which is located on the bottom of the AV200. This method requires that you have physical access to all the adapters in your network. In order to use the security button to set the network password, please follow the instructions listed below:

Figure 3: AV200 Security Button

1. Plug a powerline adapter into an AC outlet,and then press the security button for 10 seconds. The PWR and PL LEDs will flash after which the PWR LED will stay on and the PL LED will be off.This is randomizing the AV200's network password. Repeat step 1 for all the powerline adapters in your network.

A second method for changing the network password is to use the PLN3 administration console. This method requires that you have a Plaster Networks PLN3 adapter installed and your PC or MAC is directly connected to either the powerline network or the router.

1. Enter the PLN3’s PLNID (located on the back and sides of the unit) into the URL field of your web browser using the format http://plnXXXXXX.local, where XXXXXX is the six digit PLNID, and press return. You should now be able to see your adapter’s Administration Console.

Figure 4: PLN3 Administration Console 

2. From the PLN3 Administration Console page, select the Change the network password of a different adapter link. From the drop down menu on this page, select the powerline adapter whose network password you wish to change. In the spaces provided, enter the new network password and the adapter's device password (located on the back of the adapter).

Figure 5: Change Network Password for a Different Adapter page

Figure 6: Device Password (DPW)

3. Repeat step 2 for each adapter in your network.

For more information on the PLN3 adapter, please refer to the PLN3 Administration Console User Guide on Plaster Networks support page at support.plasternetworks.com.

Plaster Networks Service

Another, and perhaps the easiest, method for changing the network password is to use Plaster Networks Service at service.plasternetworks.com. Through the service site, you can change the password on all your adapters at one time, with the click of a mouse. Like the second option, this method requires that you have a Plaster Networks PLN3 intelligent Ethernet adapter as part of your powerline network. In addition, you will need to set up a user account at service.plasternetworks.com. In order to use the service page to change the network password, please refer to the Plaster Networks Service Tutorial document on the Plaster Networks support page at support.plasternetworks.com.