# Network Options and PowerLine

The *Network options* block under *Configuration* holds the station's IP
settings, the time server and, on stations with a built-in PowerLine modem,
the switch for the PowerLine link. Saving the configuration page restarts the
station.

## Network options

| Field | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| DHCP | Enabled: the station takes address, gateway and DNS from the router; the fields below are ignored. Disabled: the fields below are used. |
| IP address, Subnetmask, Gateway, DNS | Static configuration, used only with DHCP disabled. |
| NTP | Time server the station synchronises its clock with. Default `0.de.pool.ntp.org`; a local server works as well. Wrong time shows up as certificate errors and wrong timestamps in the charging log. |
| PowerLine | Enables the PowerLine link (see below, including the note on reliability). The *PowerLine options* block appears when it is enabled. |

After a change of the IP address the configuration page is reachable under
the new address only. With DHCP, look the station up in the router or use
the app.

## PowerLine

PowerLine carries the station's network connection over the mains wiring to
a powerline adapter near the router, for installations where no network cable
reaches the station. The station uses its built-in HomePlug AV modem; the
adapter on the router side is a normal HomePlug AV powerline adapter (tested
with an AVM FRITZ! Powerline 1220). The link works like a network cable: the
IP settings above apply unchanged.

:::caution
**PowerLine is not guaranteed to work.** Stability depends on the electrical
installation at the site, and the connection can drop while a vehicle is
charging. Where possible, use a network cable instead.
:::

![Network options with PowerLine enabled and the PowerLine options block, status Not paired](/images/network-options/powerline-not-paired.png)

Present in the 2.4.x and 2.5.0 firmware. It needs a board that carries the
PowerLine modem (the cPH2 boards used in the field tests do); on a board
without the modem, pairing fails and the button stays at *Repeat*.

### Pairing

1. Enable *PowerLine* in the network options and save. The station restarts
   with the PowerLine modem active.
2. Press the **Connect** (pairing) button on the powerline adapter at the
   router side.
3. In the *PowerLine options* block click **Pair**. This triggers the
   pairing on the station's modem, like pressing a button on it; the page
   then checks the status for about 30 seconds.
4. *Status* changes to *Paired* once the adapter is found **and** the station
   has an IP address on the PowerLine link (with DHCP the DHCP server must be
   reachable through the adapter). *MAC address* shows the adapter's MAC
   address. *IP address* shows the station's own address on the PowerLine
   link; the tooltip in the web UI calls it the remote adapter's address,
   which is wrong.

If the status is still *Not paired* after about 30 seconds, the button
changes to **Repeat**: press the adapter's button again and click **Repeat**.
**Unpair** makes the station leave the powerline network; the adapter is not
affected. To reconnect, press the adapter's button and click **Pair** again.

![PowerLine options with status Paired, the MAC address of the adapter and the station's IP address on the PowerLine link](/images/network-options/powerline-paired.png)