Powerline: the next big thing?

7. The setup utility is for those who want to configure the WGXB102 using a Wi-Fi, not wired, connection. Turn off any WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) encryption on your PC. The utility will locate the WGXB102 and connect to it, then allow you to configure DHCP and the IP address. Use the web-based interface to do so.

8. Once installed, you can fine-tune your Powerline WGXB102 network. Launch a web browser and navigate to 192.168.0.101, its default address. A Powerline system is fairly flexible and can act either as a router or a Wi-Fi access point. Multiple devices are supported so you can plug in a second XE102 if you like.

9. For users that, say, have a cable broadband connection, running the WGXB102 in router mode obviates the need for a separate router box. You simply connect the network cable from your set-top box to a nearby XE102. In this mode it can operate as a DHCP server. Switching between the modes is very straightforward.

10. All HomePlug-compliant adapters have built-in 56bit DES (Data Encryption Standard), with a password programmed into the adapter. This protects only the Powerline segment of the network. All Netgear Powerline adapters have the same password, so you might want to change this (see Tips & tricks, below).

11. In Access Point mode, the WGXB102 acts just like a normal access point and so has a configuration page for the usual Wi-Fi parameters. By default, SSID is set to Netgear and encryption is switched off. Out of the box it should work with other Netgear kit on default settings. The SSID of the WGXB102 must match your router's.

12. The Status screen summarizes basic info about the WGXB102, such as firmware version, IP address, DHCP status and Wi-Fi settings. The device also keeps tabs on data throughput. If you click Show Statistics, it'll display a summary of packets sent and received via the slower Powerline segment and the faster Wi-Fi segment.

13. The Attached Devices screen reveals two sets of information. Firstly, if you set the WGXB102 as a DHCP server, it'll list the devices to which it has assigned an IP address. Secondly, it will list all the HomePlug devices it can detect on the Powerline network.

14. To change the default wired network settings, go to the LAN Setup page. The default IP address is 192.168.0.101. Since this is well 'away' from the default Netgear router IP address of 192.168.0.1, the two devices should get along. Alternatively, you can configure the WGXB102 to pick up its IP address from a DHCP server.

Jargon buster

IIS (Internet Information Services) Microsoft's web server. IIS runs under the server versions of NT and 2000, and adds full HTTP capability to Windows.

VPN Virtual private network. A secure network configured within a public network -- such as the internet -- to take advantage of the abilities of large networks. VPNs are often used by businesses who want to create networks over large distances. They can provide site-to-site connections for branch offices and home workers, and allow mobile users to dial into their company network.

DHCP server Short for dynamic host configuration protocol. A DHCP server is the device on the network responsible for assigning IP addresses when requested.

HomePlug A Powerline network standard Powerline Technology for transmitting network data along power cables

SSID Short for service set identifier, a 32-character identifier that differentiates one wireless LAN from another.