Manual:Interface/PWR Line

Summary

Sub-menu: /interface pwr-line
Standards: IEEE 802.3, HomePlug AV

The PWR-Line series devices allow Ethernet like connectivity between supported devices over regular power lines. When plugged into the same electrical circuit, the PWR-Line devices will establish connectivity by using the HomePlug AV standard.

Properties

Property	Description
arp (disabled | enabled | proxy-arp | reply-only; Default: enabled)	Address Resolution Protocol mode: disabled - the interface will not use ARP enabled - the interface will use ARP proxy-arp - the interface will use the ARP proxy feature reply-only - the interface will only reply to requests originated from matching IP address/MAC address combinations which are entered as static entries in the ARP table. No dynamic entries will be automatically stored in the ARP table. Therefore for communications to be successful, a valid static entry must already exist.
bandwidth (integer/integer; Default: unlimited/unlimited)	Sets max rx/tx bandwidth in kbps that will be handled by an interface. TX limit is supported on all Atheros switch-chip ports. RX limit is supported only on Atheros8327/QCA8337 switch-chip ports.
comment (string; Default: )	Descriptive name of an item
l2mtu (integer [0..65536]; Default: )	Layer2 Maximum transmission unit. Read more>>
mac-address (MAC; Default: )	Media Access Control number of an interface.
mtu (integer [0..65536]; Default: 1500)	Layer3 Maximum transmission unit
name (string; Default: )	Name of an interface
orig-mac-address (MAC; Default: )
rx-flow-control (on | off | auto; Default: off)	When set to on, port will process received pause frames and suspend transmission if required. auto is the same as on except when auto-negotiation=yes flow control status is resolved by taking into account what other end advertises. Feature is supported on AR724x, AR9xxx, QCA9xxx CPU ports, all CCR ports and all Atheros switch chip ports.
tx-flow-control (on | off | auto; Default: off)	When set to on, port will send pause frames when specific buffer usage thresholds is met. auto is the same as on except when auto-negotiation=yes flow control status is resolved by taking into account what other end advertises. Feature is supported on AR724x, AR9xxx, QCA9xxx CPU ports, all CCR ports and all Atheros switch chip ports.

Menu specific commands

Property	Description
configure ()	Command configures the attached PWR-Line device's network-key, network-password, plc-cco-selection-mode.
join ()	Initiates the pairing sequence which will look for other PWR-Line devices in the same electrical circuit that are also in the pairing mode. This mode lasts for 60 seconds.
leave ()	Initiates the leaving sequence which essentially randomizes the devices network-key.
monitor ()	Outputs PWR-Line related statuses in real time.
upgrade-firmware ()	Upgrades the PWR-Line device with specified firmware-file and pib-file files.

Configuration example

For two or more devices to be able to connect with each other, they must share the same network-key value. Currently configured network-key can be seen using the monitor command as plc-actual-network-key.

[admin@MikroTik] > /interface pwr-line monitor pwr-line1 
                    name: pwr-line1
       connection-to-plc: ok
         tx-flow-control: no
         rx-flow-control: no
  plc-actual-network-key: c973947c200e1540b0f84b571d92bebe
         plc-hw-platform: QCA7420
         plc-sw-platform: MAC
          plc-fw-version: 1.4.0(24-20180515-CS)
           plc-line-freq: 50Hz
       plc-zero-crossing: detected
                 plc-mac: B8:69:F4:C4:34:68

Method 1

There are two ways to set the same network-key on different devices. You can either use the network-key parameter which is a hashed version of network-password parameter. Or use the network-password parameter and let the router apply the hash on a human readable string.

For example:

/interface pwr-line configure pwr-line1 network-password=mynetwork

is the same as:

/interface pwr-line configure pwr-line1 network-key=cb01fcc6167bf3d1edb1433c2ebde4b3

You must set the same key or password on all devices you wish to communicate with each other.

Method 2

It is possible to use the join and leave commands and make the PWR-Line devices automatically synchronize the network-key value. It is advised to use the leave command before using the join command to make sure a new network-key is randomly generated and the device is not part of any old network.

/interface pwr-line leave pwr-line1

Then we can issue the join command. When doing so, pairing sequence is enabled for 60 seconds, meaning you have to enable pairing mode on another device within 60 seconds for them to successfully pair.

/interface pwr-line join pwr-line1

Method 3

It is also possible to set a specified role for PWR-Line device (master or slave) with the plc-cco-selection-mode parameter.

Property	Description
plc-cco-selection-mode (auto | always | never; Default: auto)	Sets PWR-Line device mode: auto - PWR-Line will automatically decide what role to take depending on situation upon joining a PWR-Line network. always - PWR-Line will always be forced to act as "central-coordinator" or master device. never - PWR-Line will always be forced to act as slave device.

Example:

/interface pwr-line configure pwr-line1 plc-cco-selection-mode=auto

/interface pwr-line configure pwr-line1 plc-cco-selection-mode=always

/interface pwr-line configure pwr-line1 plc-cco-selection-mode=never

Sync Button usage

• Hold 0.5 – 3 seconds to turn on sync mode. For 120 seconds will try to communicate with another PWR-LINE device. A blinking orange LED light indicates that it is in search mode. You have to also do the same on the other PWR-LINE device, so they can synchronize. Press button again to cancel the search. You can also manually set the security keys in RouterOS settings.

• Hold 5 – 8 seconds to generate a new security key. This is needed to remove a PWR-LINE device from an existing PWR-LINE network.

• Hold 10 – 15 seconds to reset all PWR-LINE related settings.

Supported Hardware

The device is fully compatible with our PWR-LINE AP and the newest revisions of products that have a microUSB port, such as- hAP lite, hAP lite tower, hAP mini, mAP and mAP lite have pwr-line interface. A simple software upgrade to v6.44+ enables this feature (supported by the mentioned devices with serial numbers that ends with /9xx). PWR-LINE functionality is also supported by some of previously manufactured units - if you have unit with serial number that ends with /8xx, upgrade to 6.44+ and see if pwr-line interface shows up).

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