We are in the era of connectivity and there is still a battle to improve the Wi-Fi connection, especially since we have many devices connected simultaneously: mobile phones, smart TVs, tablets, computers, video game consoles and smart devices. The improvement of our Wi-Fi experience has a solution, the problem sometimes arises when trying to choose the most suitable product in each case.
The purpose of Powerline or PLC (Power Line Communications) technology is to extend internet access using the existing electrical network as a vehicle to transport data. What does this mean? That its installation does not require additional cables, but it is enough to have a plug to achieve it.
TP-Link, a global provider of devices, networking accessories and smart home products, has Powerline devices that include Plug and Play, automatic Wi-Fi synchronization and Ethernet ports for connections that provide unique connectivity experiences as if you were linked directly to the router.
In this article, we will be discussing TP Link Powerline lights, any problem that might occur regarding them, and why they might flash or blink sometimes. Also, you can read How does TP link work.
What do the TP Link Powerline lights mean?
In general, popular TP Link Powerline adapters in the UK such as TP-Link TL-PA4010P KIT Powerline Starter have three LED lights:
- The first indicates whether it is on (Power)
- The second indicates the power cord connection (Powerline)
- The third indicates the connection to Ethernet (Ethernet)
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Power light:
It must be on at all times. If it turns off, please change the TP Link Powerline plug to try again. In case it still doesn’t turn on, please change it for a new one.
During the pairing procedure or in power saving mode, the power LED will blink. At the end of this process, the power LED will turn on steadily again.
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Powerline LED:
After successful Powerline Connection, the Powerline LED will be on. When data transfer is taking place, the LED will flash. It will turn off when the device is in Power saving mode.
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Ethernet LED:
When any device is connected to the Ethernet port and powered on, the Ethernet LED will be on. It will flash during data transfer. Only when the LED is off for more than 5 minutes, it will be in power saving mode.
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Wi-Fi LED:
If the Wi-Fi LED is on or flashing rapidly, it means that wireless connection is enabled. The light will flash slowly in Wi-Fi cloning process. By pressing and holding the Wi-Fi button for at least 5 seconds, you can turn the wireless function on/off. This function is on by default, so you can turn it off at night and on again in the morning by pressing this button.
Problems regarding TP Link Powerline lights
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Powerline LED flashing red, then green
If you have several TP Link Powerline adapters set up in your home in Manchester and two of them suddenly drop off the network, their Powerline LEDs flashing red then green, this means an instability in Powerline connection which can happen for several reasons; such as quality of the Powerline, too much interference between the two adapters, or issues within the adapters.
To test and rule out the different possibilities, you should place the adapters in the same room on the same wall but different outlets. This way, interference, quality and distance will be eliminated as issues. This test will also help determine whether the TP Link Powerline adaptor is working correctly.
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Powerline LED lights always flashing, not stable
If the TP Link Powerline LED lights are always flashing, not stable and you have low internet speed, the steps below will help troubleshoot the problem. Note that theoretically, the flashing Powerline LED won’t affect the performance of the devices.
- Do all devices – wired and wireless – lose connection at the same time?
- When you lose the internet, connect your computer to the TP Link Powerline adapter via wired cable and check whether you can access internet.
- Change the sockets; move the adapters around in the same room too check whether the issue remains or not.
- Ensure that your firmware is up to date.
- If you did everything and the problem still persists, contact support.
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Main adapter’s Powerline light flashes red and green
For TP link powerline setup ,If your main adapter’s Powerline LED light is flashing red and green, refer to the guide below for the LED indicator:
- Yellow-green: The Powerline extender is connected to the Powerline network and is in a suitable location.
- Red: The Powerline extender is experiencing poor signal strength; try plugging it into a different wall socket.
- Off: The Powerline extender is not connected to the Powerline network.
- Try plugging the adapter into a different outlet or swapping the locations of the two adapters. If the TP Link Powerline lights flashing doesn’t affect the actual performance, like speed or stability of the network, the flashing light does not matter and you have nothing to worry about.
- If the problem persists and the overall performance is affected, contact support.
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Lights blinking or solid after pairing is done correctly
After successfully pairing TP Link Powerline adapters, the Power and Powerline LEDs should be solid if each adaptor is placed in a good location and they are receiving a stable signal from each other. If a device is connected to the Powerline adapter and active, the Ethernet LED will be on.
How to troubleshoot TP Link Powerline if there is no internet connection
Troubleshooting when the Powerline LED is on
- Make sure your Powerline devices are installed on wall outlets, not power strips.
- Reboot by unplugging the Powerline devices and plugging them back in to make sure the Powerline LEDs are still solid on.
- Make sure all hardware connections are correct and secure. The adapter’s Ethernet LED should be solid on when connected with router. If not, try another Ethernet cable and check again.
- Check if you have an internet connection by connecting the computer directly to the router via an Ethernet cable. If there is no internet access, you may be experiencing a router or ISP issue. If there is internet, reset the Powerline devices and configure them again.
Troubleshooting when the Powerline LED is off
- Make sure your Powerline devices are installed on wall outlets, not power strips.
- Plug your Powerline devices in the same room, preferably next to each other, and pair them.
- If they can pair in the same room but the Powerline LED turns off when you move one device to another area, it might be because they are on separate electrical circuits, or there are some high-power appliances – such as a washing machine, microwave or refrigerator – around that are preventing them from communicating. Try different locations or outlets.
Conclusion
In this article, we explained how TP Link Powerline lights work and why they might flash or blink sometimes. We also explained the different problems that you may face while using the PLCs and how to troubleshoot these devices.