1

Introducing the PLA

1.1 Overview

This chapter introduces the main applications and features of your ZyXEL HomePlug AV compliant powerline adapter, which is called “PLA” in this guide. The following generic icon is used to represent all PLA models.

In this User’s Guide the electrical wiring network is referred to as the “powerline network”. The HomePlug AV standard specifies how network devices communicate using standard electrical wiring.

This User’s Guide covers the following models:

Table 1 PLA Comparison Table

PORT/FEATURE

PLA4101

PLA4111

PLA4201

PLA4201 V2

PLA5205

PLA5215

One 10/100 Base-T

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethernet port

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AC Pass-Through

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reset/Encrypt Button

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reset Button

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encrypt Button

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum PHY Rate

200 Mbps

200 Mbps

500 Mbps

500 Mbps

600 Mbps

600 Mbps

over Powerline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: In this guide RESET/ENCRYPT refers to the ENCRYPT button in PLAs that have separate RESET and ENCRYPT buttons.

You can directly plug an electrical device (such as a router or computer) into PLAs with an AC power pass-through socket to supply power to the device.

There are two types of hardware for each of the PLA4101 and PLA4201 v2 models:

•One has an Ethernet port on the top and a power plug at the bottom of the rear panel.

•One has an Ethernet port on the bottom and a power plug at the top of the rear panel.

The power plug varies depending on your region.

 

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PLA Series User’s Guide