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Dynamode Product Support Notes Product Description: 85Mbps PowerLine device Version: 2.00 by Nick Beer
Introduction The Dynamode 85Mbps and related products are a PowerLine certified adapter product that allows Ethernet (TCP/IP) traffic to be sent along existing household/office electrical cabling and thus do away with Wireless and Cat5 (wired) network topologies. These adapters are designed to work up to 85Mbps; however this is subject to environmental factors, electrical cabling quality and distance (attenuation) between PowerLine devices. Below is a brief synopsis:-
Target Audience: End Users looking for a tidy and quick way to connect ‘wired’ network devices at home without running cat5 data cables everywhere For Wireless users who have issues with signal quality/bandwidth issues because of say environmental factors (i.e. thick walls) to use PowerLine in certain areas For Gamers using consoles such as XBOX™ 360 for an easy way to connect the console, via the PowerLine to these existing Broadband router without trailing wires
Why use a Dynamode PowerLine adapters? Does away with the need to run physical cabling around the home or office. Ensures Health & Safety issues in certain areas Simple to install and far easier to setup than Wireless (with encryption that is), just plug in and your connected (normal TCP/IP setup applies for connected clients, i.e. DHCP) Secure. Using electrical cabling means that unlike wireless (with poor encryption) means that it cannot be tapped into Create an instant network. Just plug into any available electrical (240v) wall socket and create a network which runs at near Fast Ethernet
How does it Work: The adapters convert the data signal (i.e. Ethernet) which comes into the HomePlug Powerline via its built-in 10/100Mbps standard RJ45 adapter and then injects it on the electrical wires. It actually uses the ‘unused’ bandwidth on the electrical wires so that both data and normal household electricity can run at the same time! The adapter has a standard 3-Pin UK mains socket on it. At the top is a RJ45 Ethernet connector which allows any standard Cat5 patch lead (one supplied with each PowerLine Homeplug) to then be connected into say a PC or Laptop’s Ethernet (RJ45) Port. The adapters do come with software (Windows® CD-ROM PLCCconfig utility) which allows 56-Bit DES encryption to be setup, however the adapters DO NOT need any configuration (i.e. IP settings), they get this from the clients they are attached to. Just plug, connect the PCs and away you go! The bundled Windows® software gives an approx. representation of signal speed (max is 85Mbps), however this may be less due to environment factors!
Support Notes for your customer (applies to all speeds of PowerLine!):The PowerLine adapters will work on most (not all) electrical circuits in residential areas. Offices are a different story because they may have electrical cabling on different ‘ring mains’ or very long cable runs which will cause them not to be detected by the other devices. Check using the supplied PLCCconfig software supplied with the adapters). The adapters can be used if running off of a trailing electrical socket (i.e. 5-way extension lead), however the data transmission speeds are reduced and maybe reduced to the point of them not working. Let your customer know this! The adapters WILL NOT WORK if connected to a UPS, because a UPS will ‘filter out’ the data in the electrical cabling. Make sure they are not connected to a UPS or any form of electrical filtration around the home or office! The maximum distance (i.e. cable length) from each device is approx. 200ft (according to the manufacturer), the distance between them, then the slower they will perform. Generally (like all vendors) the maximum speed is rarely met due to environment and other cabling issues. If the quality of the installed electrical cabling is old or in bad repair this again will affect the quality of the signal and reduce speed. There are three (3) status LEDs on the front of the PowerLine adapter, PLACT which is one when data is travelling to/from the device, PL-LNK which glows when it detects and connects to another PowerLine device
and 10/100M which denotes the client speed (via the Ethernet Port) when it’s connected, i.e. 10Mbps or 100Mbps Remember, the adapters DO NOT REQUIRE ANY CONFIGURATION, normal TCP/IP configuration duties (i.e. via Windows® XP Control Panel – Network Connections) need to be done. The PowerLine adapters have no TCP/IP configuration. A normal scenario will be a PC connected to the PowerLine adapter, the PC will be setup as a DHCP Client. The other PowerLine adapter will be connected (via a patch lead) to a spare RJ45 Port on an existing Broadband Router (say, in another room of the house). The Router will be setup as a DHCP Server and distribute a valid IP address to all connected devices on the Router (i.e. the PowerLine adapter). They can be used to connect to other IP devices, say IP Cameras, IP Printer Servers, Media Centres and XBOX™ 360 consoles. We understand they may not be suitable for the PlayStation™3 console due to issues with transmitting uPnP data – this is being investigated by R&D The PowerLine are generally reliable. If they fail, more often than not it’s down to the attached devices. Please shutdown and reboot all attached devices, then cycle off/on the PowerLine devices and retry. If issues continue to happen, maybe try another PowerLine adapter, swap them over, try and different electrical wall socket and adhere to electrical requirements further up this support document (i.e. UPS, Trailing sockets) If not LEDs are illuminated on switch-on, or, high excessive heat is generated (not warm to touch, but very hot to touch), an RMA should be issued. The Dynamode PowerLine devices adhere to the International HomePlug standard which means they are FULLY COMPATIBLE with other vendors PowerLine devices like those from Devolo and Netgear and are backward compatible with earlier 14Mbps PowerLine devices.
