Cisco Linksys WUSB11-V2 Wireless USB Network Adapter User Manual wusb11 ver 2 5 User Guide

Cisco-Linksys, LLC Wireless USB Network Adapter wusb11 ver 2 5 User Guide

Manual

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless USBNetwork AdapterUse this Guide to install WUSB11 ver. 2.5User Guide
COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS Copyright © 2001 Linksys, All Rights Reserved. Instant Wireless™ is a registered trademark ofLinksys. Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of MicrosoftCorporation. All other trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective pro-prietors. LIMITED WARRANTY Linksys guarantees that every Instant Wireless™ USB Network Adapter is free from physicaldefects in material and workmanship under normal use for one year from the date of purchase.If these products prove defective during this warranty period, call Linksys Customer Supportin order to obtain a Return Authorization Number. BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PUR-CHASE AND A BARCODE FROM THE PRODUCT'S PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING.RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OF PURCHASE. Whenreturning a product, mark the Return Authorization Number clearly on the outside of the pack-age and include your original proof of purchase. All customers located outside of the UnitedStates of America and Canada shall be held responsible for shipping and handling charges.IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS’ LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE PRODUCTFROM DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGESRESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT, ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFTWARE, OR ITSDOCUMENTATION. LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANY PRODUCT. Linksysmakes no warranty or representation, expressed, implied, or statutory, with respect to its prod-ucts or the contents or use of this documentation and all accompanying software, and specif-ically disclaims its quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose.Linksys reserves the right to revise or update its products, software, or documentation withoutobligation to notify any individual or entity. Please direct all inquiries to:Linksys P.O. Box 18558, Irvine, CA 92623. Instruction ManualFederal Communication Commission Interference StatementThis equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device,pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable pro-tection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and use in accordance withinstructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is noguarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment doescause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turn-ing the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by oneof the following measures:-Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna-Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver-Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver isconnected.-Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for helpFCC Caution: To Assure continued compliance, (Example-use only shielded interface cableswhen connecting to computer or peripheral devices). Any changes or modifications norexpressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority tooperate this equipment.This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following twoconditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device mustaccept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.FCC RF Radiation Exposure StatementThis device and its antenna(s) must operate with a separation distance of at least 20 cm fromall persons and must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna ortransmitter. End-Users must be provided with specific operations for satisfying RF exposurecompliance. UG-WUSB11 ver. 2.5-011012NC KL
IntroductionPut the “mobile” back into mobile computing with the Linksys InstantWireless™ USB Network Adapter! The Linksys Instant Wireless™ USBNetwork Adapter operates in the ISM band, using Direct Spread Spectrum(DSSS) transmission to implement the IEEE 802.11b standard. Users can nowmove easily between Access Points without the hassle of reconfiguring theirconnection.The Instant Wireless™ USB Network Adapter also gives you the freedom towork your way, from where you want, letting you take full advantage of yourPC and providing you with access to all your networked resources from beyondyour desktop, and a high-powered built-in antenna with LEDs indicates powerand linkage. Compatible with Windows 98, 2000, and Millennium, the InstantWireless™ USB Network Adapter from Linksys is a true necessity for all yourwireless PC applications.• Up to 11 Mbps High-Speed Data Transfer Rate• Integrated Equalizer Recovers Weak Signals and Enhances Sensitivity• Movable External Antenna Improves signal Quality• USB Port Powers Your Adapter—No Power Supply Needed!• Compatible with Windows 98, Millennium, and 2000• User-Friendly Setup Software Provides Hassle-Free Configuration• Plug-and-Play Operation Provides Easy Setup• Works with All Standard Internet Applications• Interoperable with IEEE 802.11b (DSSS) 2.4GHz-Compliant Equipment• Capable of up to 128-Bit WEP Encryption • Free Software Driver Upgrades• Free Technical Support—24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week for North America Only• 1-Year Limited Warranty1Wireless USB Network AdapterFeaturesThe Instant WirelessTM USB Network AdapterTable of ContentsIntroduction 1The Instant WirelessTM Network USB Adapter 1Features 1Package Contents for the Wireless Network USB Adapter 2System Requirements for the Wireless Network USB Adapter 2Planning Your Wireless Network 3Network Topology 3Roaming 3Getting To Know the Wireless USB Network Adapter 4The Wireless USB Network Adapter’s Port and LEDs 4Installation and Configuration of the USB Adapter for Windows 6Software and Driver Installation for Windows 98, 2000, and ME 7Connecting Your Wireless USB Network Adapter 12Hardware Detection for Windows 98, 2000 and ME 12The USB Icon 13USB Cabling 13Removing the USB Adapter 13Using the Wireless USB Network Adapter’s Wall Mount 14Installing Network Protocols 16Installing the Network Protocols for Windows 98 and ME 16Configuring the Wireless USB Network Adapter 18Troubleshooting 24Common Problems and Solutions 24Frequently Asked Questions 25Glossary 28Specifications 33Environmental 33Warranty Information 33Contact Information 33Instant WirelessTM Series
32Wireless USB Network AdapterPlanning Your Wireless NetworkNetwork TopologyA wireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each computer in theLAN uses a wireless device to connect to the network. Computers in a wire-less LAN must be configured to share the same frequency channel.The Instant Wireless™ USB Network Adapter provides access to a wired LANfor wireless workstations. An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called anInfrastructure configuration. A group of Instant Wireless™ USB NetworkAdapter users and an Access Point compose a Basic Service Set (BSS). EachPC equipped with an Instant Wireless™ USB Network Adapter in a BSS cantalk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the Access Point.An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of an InstantWireless™ USB Network Adapter PC to a wired LAN, and doubles the effec-tive wireless transmission range for two Instant Wireless™ USB NetworkAdapter PCs. Since the Access Point is able to forward data within its BSS, theeffective transmission range in an infrastructure LAN is doubled.The use of a unique ID in a BSS is essential. All computers that have InstantWireless™ USB Network Adapter configured without roaming options in anindependent BSS must be configured with a BSS ID (that is used in the BSS). The Wireless LAN Infrastructure configuration is appropriate for enterprise-scale wireless access to a central database, or as a wireless application formobile users.Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. Morethan one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set (ESS). This con-tinuous network allows users to roam freely within an ESS. All InstantWireless™ USB Network Adapter PCs within one ESS must be configuredwith the same ESS ID and use the same radio channel.Before enabling an ESS with roaming capability, selecting a feasible radiochannel and optimum Access Point position is recommended. Proper AccessPoint positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance per-formance.RoamingInstant WirelessTM Series• One Instant WirelessTM USB Network Adapter• One USB Cable• One Driver Utility CD-ROM • One Quick Installation Guide and Registration Card (not shown)• USB-Ready PC • One free USB port• Desktop or Notebook PC with CD-ROM Drive• Microsoft Windows 98, 2000, or Millennium• Pentium-Class 90MHz or higher• Minimum 32MB RAM Package Contents for the USB Network AdapterSystem Requirements for the USB Network Adapter
The LED IndicatorsPower Green. The Power LED lights up when the Wireless USBNetwork Adapter is powered on.Link Red. The Link LED lights up when the Adapter has an activeconnection. If the LED is not on, the Adapter is not inter-facing with the network.Wireless USB Network AdapterGetting to Know the Wireless USBNetwork AdapterThe Wireless USB Network Adapter’s USB port is located on the back of theAdapter. The Wireless USB Network Adapter’s USB portUSB Port The USB Port is a port installed in your PC, enabling you toconnect to USB peripherals. To work with USB ports, your PCmust be running Windows 98, 2000, or Millennium.Your Wireless USB Network Adapter comes with a USB cable that has two dif-ferent types of connectors. Type A, the master connector, is shaped like a rec-tangle and plugs into your PC’s USB port. Type B, the slave connector, resem-bles a square and connects to the USB port on the rear panel of your WirelessUSB Network Adapter. The Wireless USB Network Adapter’s Port and LEDsWindows 95 and NT do not support the USB Adapter.USB Type A USB Type BInstant WirelessTM Series54
Installation and Configuration ofthe USB Adapter for WindowsThis Wireless USB Network Adapter Setup Utility will guide you through theInstall and Uninstall Procedure for Windows 98, Millennium, and 2000.Insert the Setup Utility CD into your CD-ROM Drive. The Setup Utilityshould run automatically and the screen shown below should appear. If it doesnot, click the Start button and choose Run. In the box that appears, enterD:\setup.exe (where “D” is the letter of your CD-ROM drive). • The Install tab begins the software installation process, as shown on the nextpage. • The Uninstall tab shows you how to uninstall the adapter (please see the sec-tion titled Uninstall Procedures for more information).• The User Guide tab shows you a PDF file of the User Guide. • The Contact Us tab links you to the Linksys website.• The Exit tab allows you to the exit the Setup Utility.1. To install your Wireless USB Network Adapter, click on the Install tab.2. Once you see the following screen, click the Next button to continue.3. After reading to the Warranty Policy, click the Yes button if you agree, or Noto end the installation.Wireless USB Network AdapterSoftware and Driver Installation Instant WirelessTM Series76NNoottee::You must install this software before installation of the hardware.
6. If you chose Infrastructure Mode, go on to Step 7 now. If you chose Ad-Hoc Mode, choose the correct operating channel that applies to your network.The channel you choose should be set as the same as the other points in yourwireless network. The default channel is set to Channel 6. Click Next. 7. Enter in the name of your SSID for your Ad-Hoc or Infrastructure setting.The SSID must be identical for all points in the network. To join any avail-able SSID, type ANY. The default setting is linksys (all lowercase). ClickNext.Wireless USB Network Adapter4. The InstallShield Wizard will automatically choose a folder where Setup willinstall files. Click the Next button.5. The InstallShield Wizard will ask you to choose a wireless mode. Choosethe mode that applies to your network. Ad-Hoc Mode is used for simplepeer-to-peer networking or sharing of local resources between wirelessNetworked PCs, and Infrastructure Mode allows a wireless network to beintegrated into an existing, wired network through an access point, permit-ting roaming between access points while maintaining a connection to allnetwork resources. Then, click the Next button. Instant WirelessTM Series98
10. Once the Wireless USB Network Adapter Configuration Utility has beensuccessfully installed, the Wizard will ask you to restart your computer.Select Yes, I want to restart my computer now, and then click Finish torestart. You have now completed the installation of your Wireless USB NetworkAdapter Configuration Utility. Please go on to the next page for informa-tion on Connecting the Wireless USB Network Adapter.Wireless USB Network Adapter8. The Wizard will ask you to review your settings before starting to copy files.Select Back to review or change any settings, or select Next if you are satis-fied with your settings.9. The InstallShield Wizard will begin copying the files. The bar in the middleof the screen below shows the percentage of files copied.Instant WirelessTM Series1110
The USB icon shown below marks a USB port on a PC or device.AThe Wireless USB Network Adapter comes with oneUSB cable. One end of the USB cable has a rectangularconnector called a Type A connector. The other end ofthe cable has a square Type B connector.The USB cable’s Type B tip connects to the USB device,that is, your USB Network Adapter. The Type A endconnects to a computer’s USB port.The picture shows two USB ports as they might appear on your computer. Notethe two USB icons marking the ports.This adapter is Hot Swappable, which means that you can remove or reconnectthe adapter whenever you want. Connecting Your Wireless USB Network AdapterTo install your Wireless USB Network Adapter, first connect one end of theUSB cable to the Adapter. Then, connect the other end of the USB cable to theUSB port on your desktop or notebook PC. Since the Adapter gets its powerfrom the PC’s USB port, there is no external power adapter. The Power LEDshould light up green when the Adapter is attached and the PC is on.After the Wireless USB Network Adapter has been physically connected toyour computer, Windows will detect the new hardware. In most cases,Windows will then automatically copy all of the files needed for networking.If Windows asks you for the files, and D is your computer’s CD-ROM drive,they may be located at: • D:\win98 for Windows 98 • D:\Win9x for Windows ME, or• D:\I386 for Windows 2000. These files may also be located at C:\windows\options\cabs. Please check withyour operating system’s user guide for the exact location.Instant WirelessTM Series12NNoottee::You must install the adapter’s software beforeinstallation of the hardware.Removing the Wireless USB Network AdapterWireless USB Network AdapterHardware Detection The USB IconUSB CablingNNoottee ttoo WWiinnddoowwss 22000000 UUsseerrss::You may beprompted at this time that a digital signature hasnot been found. Click Yes to continue, then clickFinish to end the hardware detection process.13NNoottee::If you have multiple USB portson your PC, plug the adapter into thesame port; otherwise, the adapterwill be detected as a new device.
STEP TWOSTEP THREEOne the Wall Mount is attached to the Wireless USB Network Adapter, fix it tothe velcro strip you’ve attached to your wall for wall mounting.Instant WirelessTM Series15The Wireless USB Network Adapter’s Wall Mount allows you to easily installthe Wireless USB Network Adapter onto your wall for convenient use and bet-ter reception.Before installing the Wall Mount to the Wireless USB Network Adapter, takethe separate adhesive strip of velcro and attach it to your wall where you willbe mounting the Wireless USB Network Adapter.The Wall Mount (shown below) is included with the Wireless USB NetworkAdapter.To install it into the Wireless USB Network Adapter, simply slide it into theAdapter’s back, as shown in steps one, two, and three on the following pages.STEP ONEWireless USB Network Adapter14Using the Wireless USB Network Adapter’s Wall Mount
2. Select Network USB Cardfrom the list and click theAdd button.3.Highlight Protocol and clickthe Add button.4.Select Microsoftfrom the list of“Manufacturers”and TCP/IP fromthe list of “NetworkProtocols” and clickthe OK button toclose the Networkwindow. Windowsmay start copyingsome files or askyou for yourWindows installation files at this time. After the files are copied, Windowsmay ask you to restart. Click Yes to restart and complete the install process. 17Installing Network ProtocolsProtocols are necessary for computers to be recognized on your network.Windows 2000 users need to check their Windows User Guides for protocolinstallation.1. From the Start Menu, select Settings and bring up the Control Panel. Fromthe Control Panel, double-click on the Network icon.16Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless USB Network AdapterNote: Before adding anynetwork protocols, verify thatthe protocol is not alreadyinstalled. Never install dupli-cate protocols.Installing the Network Protocols for Windows 98 andMillennium
Configuring the USB NetworkAdapter After installing the Network Adapter, Windows 98, Millennium, and 2000 willautomatically identify the adapter. Next, you may need to configure theadapter’s driver software.1. After installing the Network USB Adapter, the Wireless USB NetworkAdapter Configuration Utility icon will appear on your system tray.Double-click on the icon of the green monitor in the diagram below, and thefollowing screen will appear:This screen shows you the status of your current connection. Click OK toclose the Configuration Utility.Wireless USB Network AdapterInstant WirelessTM Series2. Select the Configuration tab.In the Profile box, you canenter a name for a profile, orgroup of settings, and changeany of the settings on thispage. Then, multiple profilescan be saved with different set-tings. These profiles allowmultiple configurations forquick switching between net-works, etc. Under theWireless Mode drop-box,you may choose eitherInfrastructure or Ad-Hoc.Infrastructure Mode allowsa wireless adapter to commu-nicate with a wired networkemploying an Access Point, while the Ad-Hoc mode allows wireless-to-wireless,peer-to-peer communication. If you choose Infrastructure, the SSID shouldhave the same name as the Access Point. If you choose Ad-Hoc, all clientsshould share the same SSID name. You may also select which TransferRate you wish to use: Auto Rate or 1, 2, 5.5, or 11Mbps. Under PowerSaving Mode, select Disabled for uninterrupted data communication, orEnabled to allow your PC to enter “sleep” mode, during which data com-munication could be interrupted. Click Apply Changes to save the set-tings.3. Select the Site Survey tab.The list on the adjacent screenshows you available AccessPoints and their features.Click on the desired AccessPoint, then click Connect toconnect or Search to searchfor more Access Points. ClickOK when you are finished.18 19
4. Click on the Encryption tab. Under the drop-box, you can choose to haveWEP encryption Disabled, 64- or 128- Bit. Wired Equivalent Privacy(WEP) is an encryption scheme used to protect wireless data communica-tion. The Disabled setting prevents the sharing of data with other comput-ers on the WEP network. When selecting Manual Entry for the WEP KeyEntry, enter the hexadecimal number set by other wireless WEP settings;these settings have to be identical to the WEP encryption in order to net-work to your Wireless USB Network Adapter.In order to find out the WEP encryption set by other wireless products inyour network, such as the WAP11, you may run the USB utility or SNMPconfiguration program to check the encryption tab for the correct keyentries. If you are using other access points, please check their respectiveuser guides for more information on WEP encryption configuration. Instant WirelessTM Series20In order to enable 128-Bit WEP encryption, choose 128-Bits in the drop-down box. In the drop-down box near the bottom right-hand corner of thepage, choose which Default Tx Key will be used for the encryption. Bydefault, Key 1 will be used. In the box corresponding to the default youchose, enter a hexadecimal number* that the encryption algorithm will bebased on. Click Apply Changes when you are done.Wireless USB Network Adapter21Note: In order to enable WEPencryption, hexadecimal valuesmust be entered.*Note: This number mustmatch the Key on all otherdevices on the wireless net-work, or else this device will beunable to transmit or receivedata.
5. The Advanced tab allows you to set the Fragmentation Threshold, theRTS/CTS Threshold, and the Preamble Type. The FragmentationThreshold Value indicates how much of the network resources are devot-ed to recovering packet errors. The value should remain at its default set-ting of 2,436. If you experience high packet error rates, you can decreasethis value, but it will likely decrease overall network performance. Onlyminor modifications of this value are recommended. The RTS Threshold Value should remain at its default setting of 2,437. Apreamble is a signal used to synchronize the transmission timing betweentwo or more systems. A series of transmission pulses is sent before the datato indicate that "someone is about to transmit data". This ensures that sys-tems receiving the information correctly interpret when the data transmis-sion starts.Security is used for WEP only. By selecting Deny Unencrypted DataFrames, all unencrypted data will not be seen. For Authentication Type,you may choose between Open System or Shared Key. Shared Key is when both the sender and recipient share a secret key.Both units use this key for an extended length of time, sometimesindefinitely. Any eavesdropper that discovers the key may decipher allpackets until the key is changed.Open System, the default setting, is when the sender and the recipi-ent do not share a secret key. Each party generates its own key-pairand asks the receiver to accept the (usually randomly) generated key.Once accepted, this key is used for a short time only, then a new keyis generated and agreed upon. Even if the secret key is discovered,only a small amount of data may be decrypted. The Preamble Mode should be set to Long (if in a “noisy” network envi-ronment), Short (if the environment is clear), or click OK to complete theconfiguration. 6. The About tab shows you copyright and version information about the driv-er, the configuration utility, and the firmware. The version number of thedriver may vary from this screen, depending on which version was shippedwith your Adapter. You can always visit www.linksys.com for the latest ver-sion of the driver. Click OK to complete the configuration. 23Wireless USB Network Adapter22Instant WirelessTM SeriesNote: In mostcases, you will notneed to changethese settings.
Can I play computer games with other members of the wireless network?Yes, as long as the game supports multiple players over a LAN (local area net-work). Refer to the game's user guide for more information.What is IEEE 802.11b standard?The IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN standards subcommittee, which is formulatinga standard for the industry. The objective is to enable wireless LAN hardwarefrom different manufacturers to communicate. What IEEE 802.11 features are supported?The product supports the following IEEE 802.11b functions: • CSMA/CA plus Acknowledge protocol • Multi-Channel Roaming • Automatic Rate Selection • RTS/CTS feature • Fragmentation • Power Management What is Ad-hoc?An Ad-hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers, each with a WLAN adapter,connected as an independent wireless LAN. Ad hoc wireless LAN is applica-ble at a departmental scale for a branch or SOHO operation.What is Infrastructure?An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure configura-tion. Infrastructure is applicable to enterprise scale for wireless access to cen-tral database, or wireless application for mobile workers.What is Roaming?Roaming is the ability of a portable computer user to communicate continu-ously while moving freely throughout an area greater than that covered by a sin-gle Access Point. Before using the roaming function, the workstation mustmake sure that it is the same channel number with the Access Point of dedicat-ed coverage area. To achieve true seamless connectivity, the wireless LAN must incorporate anumber of different functions. Each node and Access Point, for example, mustalways acknowledge receipt of each message. Each node must maintain contactwith the wireless network even when not actually transmitting data. Achievingthese functions simultaneously requires a dynamic RF networking technologythat links Access Points and nodes. In such a system, the user’s end node under-takes a search for the best possible access to the system. First, it evaluates suchfactors as signal strength and quality, as well as the message load currently2524Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless USB Network AdapterTroubleshootingThis chapter provides solutions to problems usually occurring during the instal-lation and operation of the USB Network Adapter. Read the description belowto solve your problems. If you can’t find an answer here, check the Linksyswebsite at www.linksys.com.1.My computer does not recognize the Wireless USB Network Adapter.• Make sure that the Wireless USB Network Adapter is properly inserted intothe USB port.• Also, make sure that the USB Controller is enabled in the bios. Check withyour motherboard User Guide for more information.2.The Wireless USB Network Adapter does not work properly.• Reinsert the Wireless USB Network Adapter into the notebook or desktop’sUSB port. • For Windows 98 or ME, right click on My Computer and select Properties.Select the Device Manager tab and click on the Network Adapter. You willfind the Wireless USB Network Adapter if it is installed successfully. If yousee a yellow exclamation mark, the resources may be conflicting and youmust follow the steps below:• Uninstall the driver software from your PC.• Restart your PC and repeat the hardware and software installation asspecified in this User Guide.3.I cannot communicate with the other computers linked via Ethernet in theInfrastructure configuration.• Make sure that the notebook or desktop is powered on.• Make sure that your Wireless USB Network Adapter is configured on thesame channel, SSID, and WEP as the other computers in the Infrastructureconfiguration.Can I run an application from a remote computer over the wireless net-work?This will depend on whether or not the application is designed to be used overa network. Consult the application's user guide to determine if it supports oper-ation over a network.Common Problems and SolutionsFrequently Asked Questions
What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences?Frequency-Hopping Spread-Spectrum (FHSS) uses a narrowband carrier thatchanges frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver.Properly synchronized, the net effect is to maintain a single logical channel. Toan unintended receiver, FHSS appears to be short-duration impulse noise.Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum (DSSS) generates a redundant bit patternfor each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chippingcode). The longer the chip, the greater the probability that the original data canbe recovered. Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during trans-mission, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the originaldata without -the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSSappears as low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most nar-rowband receivers. Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air?WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, as withDirect Sequence Spread Spectrum technology, it has the inherent security fea-ture of scrambling. On the software side, WLAN series offer the encryptionfunction (WEP) to enhance security and Access Control. Users can set it updepending upon their needs.Can Instant WirelessTM products support printer sharing?Instant WirelessTM products perform the same function as LAN products.Therefore, Instant WirelessTM products can work with NetWare, WindowsNT/2000, or other network operating systems to support printer or file sharing.What is WEP?WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a 40 bitshared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11b standard. 2726Instant WirelessTM Seriesbeing carried by each Access Point and the distance of each Access Point to thewired backbone. Based on that information, the node next selects the rightAccess Point and registers its address. Communications between end node andhost computer can then be transmitted up and down the backbone.As the user moves on, the end nodes RF transmitter regularly checks the sys-tem to determine whether it is in touch with the original Access Point orwhether it should seek a new one. When a node no longer receives acknowl-edgment from its original Access Point, it undertakes a new search. Upon find-ing a new Access Point, it then reregisters, and the communication process con-tinues.What is BSS ID?A specific Ad hoc LAN is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). Computers in aBSS must be configured with the same BSS ID.What is ESS ID?An Infrastructure configuration could also support roaming capability formobile workers. More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended ServiceSet (ESS). Users within an ESS could Roam freely between BSSs while servedas a continuous connection to the network wireless stations and Access Pointswithin an ESS must be configured with the same ESS ID and the same radiochannel.What is ISM band?The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U.S. have set aside bandwidthfor unlicensed use in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band.Spectrum in the vicinity of 2.4 GHz, in particular, is being made availableworldwide. This presents a truly revolutionary opportunity to place convenienthigh-speed wireless capabilities in the hands of users around the globe. What is Spread Spectrum?Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique devel-oped by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communica-tions systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability,integrity, and security. In other words, more bandwidth is consumed than in thecase of narrowband transmission, but the trade off produces a signal that is, ineffect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the receiver knows theparameters of the spread-spectrum signal being broadcast. If a receiver is nottuned to the right frequency, a spread-spectrum signal looks like backgroundnoise. There are two main alternatives, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum(DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).Wireless USB Network Adapter
ESS - More than one BSS in a network.Firmware - Programming that is inserted into programmable read-only mem-ory (programmable read-only memory), thus becoming a permanent part of acomputing device. IEEE - The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The IEEEdescribes itself as "the world's largest technical professional society -- promot-ing the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciencesfor the benefit of humanity, the advancement of the profession, and the well-being of our members." The IEEE fosters the development of standards that often become national andinternational standards. The organization publishes a number of journals, hasmany local chapters, and several large societies in special areas, such as theIEEE Computer Society. Infrastructure - An infrastructure network is a wireless network or other smallnetwork in which the wireless network devices are made a part of the networkthrough the Access Point which connects them to the rest of the network.IP Address - In the most widely installed level of the Internet Protocol(Internet Protocol) today, an IP address is a 32-binary digit number that identi-fies each sender or receiver of information that is sent in packet across theInternet. When you request an HTML page or send e-mail, the InternetProtocol part of TCP/IP includes your IP address in the message (actually, ineach of the packets if more than one is required) and sends it to the IP addressthat is obtained by looking up the domain name in the Uniform ResourceLocator you requested or in the e-mail address you're sending a note to. At theother end, the recipient can see the IP address of the Web page requester or thee-mail sender and can respond by sending another message using the IP addressit received. IPCONFIG - A utility that provides for querying, defining and managing IPaddresses within a network. A commonly used utility, under Windows NT and2000, for configuring networks with static IP addresses.ISP - An ISP (Internet service provider) is a company that provides individualsand companies access to the Internet and other related services such as Web sitebuilding and virtual hosting. GlossaryAd-hoc Network - An ad-hoc network is a wireless network or other small net-work in which some of the network devices are part of the network only for theduration of a communications session while in some close proximity to the restof the network.Default Gateway - The router used to forward all traffic that is not addressedto a station within the local subnet.DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - A protocol that lets networkadministrators manage centrally and automate the assignment of InternetProtocol (IP) addresses in an organization's network. Using the Internet's set ofprotocol (TCP/IP), each machine that can connect to the Internet needs aunique IP address. When an organization sets up its computer users with a con-nection to the Internet, an IP address must be assigned to each machine.Without DHCP, the IP address must be entered manually at each computer and,if computers move to another location in another part of the network, a new IPaddress must be entered. DHCP lets a network administrator supervise and dis-tribute IP addresses from a central point and automatically sends a new IPaddress when a computer is plugged into a different place in the network. DHCP uses the concept of a "lease" or amount of time that a given IP addresswill be valid for a computer. The lease time can vary depending on how long auser is likely to require the Internet connection at a particular location. It's espe-cially useful in education and other environments where users change fre-quently. Using very short leases, DHCP can dynamically reconfigure networksin which there are more computers than there are available IP addresses. DHCP supports static addresses for computers containing Web servers thatneed a permanent IP address. DNS - The domain name system (DNS) is the way that Internet domain nameare located and translated into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. A domain nameis a meaningful and easy-to-remember "handle" for an Internet address. Dynamic IP Address - An IP address that is automatically assigned to a clientstation in a TCP/IP network, typically by a DHCP server. Network devices thatserve multiple users, such as servers and printers, are usually assigned static IPaddresses. 29Wireless USB Network Adapter28Instant WirelessTM Series
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) - A communications method (protocol) thatoffers a limited amount of service when messages are exchanged between com-puters in a network that uses the Internet Protocol (IP). UDP is an alternativeto the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and, together with IP, is sometimesreferred to as UDP/IP. Like the Transmission Control Protocol, UDP uses theInternet Protocol to actually get a data unit (called a datagram) from one com-puter to another. Unlike TCP, however, UDP does not provide the service ofdividing a message into packets (datagrams) and reassembling it at the otherend. Specifically, UDP doesn't provide sequencing of the packets that the dataarrives in. This means that the application program that uses UDP must be ableto make sure that the entire message has arrived and is in the right order.Network applications that want to save processing time because they have verysmall data units to exchange (and therefore very little message reassembling todo) may prefer UDP to TCP. USB (Universal Serial Bus) - A "plug and play" interface between a comput-er and add-on devices (such as audio players, joysticks, keyboards, telephones,scanners, and printers). With USB, a new device can be added to your comput-er without having to add an adapter card or even having to turn the computeroff. The USB peripheral bus standard was developed by Compaq, IBM, DEC,Intel, Microsoft, NEC, and Northern Telecom and the technology is availablewithout charge for all computer and device vendors. USB supports a data speed of 12 megabit per second. This speed will accom-modate a wide range of devices, including MPEG video devices, data gloves,and digitizers. It is anticipated that USB will easily accommodate plug-in tele-phones that use Integrated Services Digital Network and digital private branchexchange. Since October, 1996, the Windows operating systems have been equipped withUSB driver or special software designed to work with specific I/O device types.USB is integrated into Windows 98. Today, most new computers and peripher-al devices are equipped with USB. A different "plug-and-play" standard, Firewire/IEEE 1394, is designed to sup-port much higher data rates and devices such as video camcorders and digitalvideo disk (digital versatile disk) players. Both standards are expected to existtogether, serving different device types.WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) - A data privacy mechanism based on a 64-bit shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11b standard. Instant WirelessTM SeriesLAN - A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associateddevices that share a common communications line and typically share theresources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (forexample, within an office building). MAC Address - The MAC (Media Access Control) address is your computer'sunique hardware number. mIRC - mIRC runs under Windows and provides a graphical interface for log-ging onto IRC servers and listing, joining and leaving channels.Network Mask - also known as the “Subnet Mask”.Ping - (Packet INternet Groper) An Internet utility used to determine whethera particular IP address is online. It is used to test and debug a network by send-ing out a packet and waiting for a response.Roaming - The ability to use a wireless device and be able to move from oneaccess point’s range to another without losing the connection.Static IP Address - A permanent IP address that is assigned to a node in aTCP/IP network. Subnet Mask - The method used for splitting IP networks into a series of sub-groups, or subnets. The mask is a binary pattern that is matched up with the IPaddress to turn part of the host ID address field into a field for subnets. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - A method (protocol) used along withthe Internet Protocol (Internet Protocol) to send data in the form of messageunits between computers over the Internet. While IP takes care of handling theactual delivery of the data, TCP takes care of keeping track of the individualunits of data (called packet) that a message is divided into for efficient routingthrough the Internet. TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is thebasic communication language or protocol of the Internet. It can also be usedas a communications protocol in a private network (either an intranet or anextranet). When you are set up with direct access to the Internet, your comput-er is provided with a copy of the TCP/IP program just as every other computerthat you may send messages to or get information from also has a copy ofTCP/IP. 31Wireless USB Network Adapter30
33SpecificationsStandards: IEEE 802.11b, USB Standard 1.0 and 1.1 Type BWEP: 64 and 128 bitChannels: 11 Channels (US, Canada)13 Channels (Europe)14 Channels (Japan)Operating Range:Indoors: up to 50M (164 ft.) @ 11 Mbpsup tp 80M (263 ft.) @ 5.5 Mbps or lowerOutdoors: up to 150M (492 ft.) @ 11 Mbpsup to 300M (984 ft.) @ 5.5 Mbps or lowerData Rate: Up to 11Mbps (with Automatic Scale Back)LEDs: Power, LinkInstant WirelessTM SeriesWINIPCFG - Configuration utility based on the Win32 API for querying,defining and managing IP addresses within a network. A commonly used util-ity, under Windows 95, 98, and Millennium, for configuring networks withstatic IP addresses.32Wireless USB Network Adapter
EnvironmentalDimensions: 3.98” x 3.11” x .91”(101 mm x 79 mm x 23 mm)Unit Weight: 2.9 oz. (0.08 Kg)Power Output: 15 dBm (typical)Certifications: FCC Class B, CE Mark Commercial, Wi-FiOperating Temp: 32ºF to 131ºF (0ºC to 55ºC)Storage Temp: -13ºF to 158ºF (-25ºC to 70ºC)Operating Humidity: 0% to 70% Non-CondensingStorage Humidity: 10% to 90% Non-Condensing34Instant WirelessTM Series35Warranty InformationBE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODEFROM THE PRODUCT'S PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING.RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OFPURCHASE. IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS’ LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAIDFOR THE PRODUCT FROM DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDEN-TAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USEOF THE PRODUCT, ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFTWARE, OR ITS DOCU-MENTATION. LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANY PROD-UCT. LINKSYS OFFERS CROSS SHIPMENTS, A FASTER PROCESS FOR PRO-CESSING AND RECEIVING YOUR REPLACEMENT. LINKSYS PAYSFOR UPS GROUND ONLY. ALL CUSTOMERS LOCATED OUTSIDE OFTHE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA SHALL BE HELDRESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES. PLEASECALL LINKSYS FOR MORE DETAILS.Wireless USB Network Adapter
Contact InformationFor help with the installation or operation of this product, contact LinksysCustomer Support at one of the phone numbers or Internet addresses below.Sales Information 800-546-5797 (LINKSYS)Tech Support 866-242-8558RMA Issues 949-261-1288Fax 949-261-8868Email support@linksys.comWeb http://www.linksys.comFTP Site ftp.linksys.com36Instant WirelessTM Series
© Copyright 2001 Linksys,All Rights Reserved.http://www.linksys.com

Navigation menu