Introduction

The Netgear PLW1010 Powerline Extender 1000 is a device that allows you to extend your home network using your existing electrical wiring. This extender is ideal for those who have a weak Wi-Fi signal in certain areas of their home, and it can provide up to 1000 Mbps of data transfer speed. The estimated price of this product is around $70, and it was launched in 2017.

Detailed Specifications

The Netgear PLW1010 Powerline Extender 1000 has several key features that make it an excellent choice for those looking to extend their home network. These features include:

• Up to 1000 Mbps data transfer speed
• Easy setup with the push of a button
• Compatible with any electrical outlet
• Advanced security with 128-bit AES encryption
• LED indicators for power, data, and Ethernet activity
• Power-saving mode that reduces energy consumption by up to 85%

Package Contents

In some regions, a resource CD is included with your product.

Description

The Netgear PLW1010 Powerline Extender 1000 is a compact and easy-to-use device that can help you extend your home network to areas that were previously unreachable. With up to 1000 Mbps of data transfer speed, you can stream HD videos, play online games, and browse the web without any lag or buffering. The extender is compatible with any electrical outlet, making it easy to find a convenient location to plug it in. The advanced security features ensure that your network is protected from unauthorized access, and the power-saving mode reduces energy consumption when the extender is not in use.

Get Started

PowerLINE adapters give you an alternative way to extend your network using your existing electrical wiring. Plug two or more PowerLINE adapters into electrical outlets to create a wired network connection. Use a PowerLINE WiFi access point to add a WiFi access point to your wired network. You can add up to eight Homeplug AV-certified and AV2-certified adapters to extend your network. For a complete list of Homeplug AV-certified devices, visit http://www.homeplug.org/certified_products.

Meet Your Adapters

Before you install your adapters, familiarize yourself with their LEDs, buttons, and ports. 

1. Power LED
2. Ethernet LED
3. Pick A Plug LED
4. Ethernet port
5. Factory Reset button
6. Security button
7. WiFi LED
8. On/Off switch
9. WPS button

Power LED

• Solid green. The electrical power is on.
• Solid amber. The adapter is in power saving mode (PL1000 only).
• Blinking green. The adapter is in the process of setting up security.
• Off. The adapter is not receiving electrical power.

Ethernet LED

• Solid. The Ethernet port is linked.
• Off. No Ethernet connection is detected.

Pick A Plug LED
The Pick A Plug feature lets you pick the electrical outlet with the strongest link performance, indicated by the color displayed by the LED:

• Red. Link rate < 50 Mbps (good).
• Amber. Link rate > 50 and < 80 Mbps (better).
• Green. Link rate > 80 Mbps (best).
• Off. The adapter did not find any other compatible PowerLINE devices using the same encryption key.

WiFi LED

• Solid blue. The WiFi radio is on.
• Off. The WiFi radio is off.

Factory Reset button

Press the Factory Reset button for one second, and then release it to return the PowerLINE adapter to its factory default settings.

Ethernet port
Connect your wired devices, including computers, WiFi routers and game consoles, to your PowerLINE network.

Security button

Use the Security button to create a secure PowerLINE network.

On/Off switch

Use the On/Off switch to turn the device on and off.

WPS button

Use the WPS button to automatically connect your computer or other WiFi devices that support WPS to your PowerLINE network.

Install Your Adapters

Note: Do not plug your PowerLINE adapters into extension cords, power strips, or surge protectors.

To install your adapters

1. Plug in your new adapters.
2. Wait until the Pick A Plug LEDs are lit.
3. Use your computer, tablet, or smartphone to connect to your new PowerLINE WiFi network. The network name is printed on the product label and is similar to Netgear##_EXT or Netgear##-5G_EXT.

You installed your adapters and set up your network. You can customize the network and security settings later.

Do More
After your PowerLINE network is installed and running, you can use WPS to connect your access point, expand your network, customize the network settings, and customize security.

Use WPS to Connect to Your Network

To automatically connect to the PowerLINE access point using a WPS button:

1. Press and hold the WPS button on the PowerLINE access point for two seconds and release it. The WiFi LED starts to blink.
2. Press the WPS button on your WiFi device for two seconds and release it. When the WiFi LED stops blinking, your WiFi device is automatically connected to the PowerLINE access point and you can surf the web.

Add Adapters
To add adapters before you configure the security feature, just plug them in and connect the adapters to your equipment.

To add an adapter to a PowerLINE network with security set:

1. Plug the adapter into a wall outlet where you want to add Internet access.
2. If you used a private encryption key, press the Security button on one of the adapters that is already a part of the network for two seconds, and then press the Security button on the new adapter for two seconds. Both buttons must be pressed within two minutes.

Note: The Security button does not work in power saving mode. Do not press the Security button on the PowerLINE adapter until installation is complete and the adapters are communicating with each other (indicated by the blinking Power LED). Pressing this button too soon can temporarily disable PowerLINE communication. If this occurs, use the Factory Reset button to return the PowerLINE adapter to its factory default settings.

Setup Guide

Setting up the Netgear PLW1010 Powerline Extender 1000 is a simple process that can be completed in just a few minutes. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet near your router.
2. Connect the extender to your router using an Ethernet cable.
3. Press the power button on the extender to turn it on.
4. Press the Pair button on the extender and your router within two minutes of each other.
5. The LED indicators on the extender will confirm that it is paired and connected to your network.
6. Plug the extender into an electrical outlet in the area where you want to extend your network.
7. Connect a device to the extender using an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi.

Customize Your Network Settings

The web browser setup guide helps you configure the WiFi settings of the PowerLINE.

To change your settings

1. With your computer or WiFi device connected to your WiFi network, open a web browser.
2. Navigate to the following address: http://www.mywifiext.net 
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
4. When prompted to log in, enter the user name admin and the password password.

You can record the new WiFi settings here:

• WiFi network name (SSID)
• Network key (passphrase)

Customize Your Network Security
When you first set up your network, the setup uses a default encryption key common to all Homeplug AV-certified adapters. You can change this.

To create a private secure network

1. Wait until the Pick A Plug LEDs are lit.
2. Press the Security button for two seconds on one adapter, and then press the Security button on one of the other adapters for two seconds. Both buttons must be pressed within two minutes.

Note: The Security button does not work in power saving mode.
Warning: Do not press the Security button on the PowerLINE adapter until installation is complete and the adapters are communicating with each other (indicated by the Power LED). Pressing this button too soon can temporarily disable PowerLINE communication. If this occurs, use the Factory Reset button to return the PowerLINE adapter to its factory default settings. If you add adapters later, use this procedure to add the new adapters to your secure network.

Netgear PLW1010 Powerline Extender 1000 Troubleshooting

Power LED is off
Make sure that power is supplied to the electrical outlet, and that the PowerLINE devices are not plugged into an extension cord, power strip, or surge protector.

Power LED is amber
Power saving mode occurs when the Ethernet LED is off. This can occur in the following circumstances:

• The Ethernet cable is unplugged.
• The device that is connected through the Ethernet cable is turned off.
• The adapter is idle for 10 minutes. It returns to normal mode within two seconds after the Ethernet link is established.

Pick A Plug LED is off

• If you already set network security, make sure that all PowerLINE devices are using the same encryption key; for information see the online user manual.
• Press the Factory Reset button on each device for one second to return the PowerLINE adapter to its factory default settings.

Pick A Plug LED is amber or red
Something is interfering with communication between adapters. To resolve this, do the following:

• Move the adapters to other outlets.
• Unplug devices that might be causing interference such as surge suppressors and items with motors.

Ethernet LED is off

• Make sure that the Ethernet cables are working and securely plugged into the devices.
• Press the Factory Reset button on each device for one second to return the PowerLINE adapter to its factory default settings.

Netgear PLW1010 Powerline Extender 1000 Pros & Cons

Pros

• Easy to set up and use
• Provides up to 1000 Mbps of data transfer speed
• Compatible with any electrical outlet
• Advanced security features
• Power-saving mode reduces energy consumption

Cons

• May not work well in older homes with outdated electrical wiring
• Not as fast as some other powerline extenders on the market
• May require an Ethernet cable for the best performance

Customer Reviews

Customers generally have positive things to say about the Netgear PLW1010 Powerline Extender 1000. Many praise its easy setup and fast data transfer speeds, while others appreciate its compact size and advanced security features. However, some customers have reported issues with the extender's range and compatibility with certain routers.