LINKSYS WPC54GV12 Wireless-G Notebook Adapter User Manual WPC54G v2 ug 30828C

LINKSYS LLC Wireless-G Notebook Adapter WPC54G v2 ug 30828C

Contents

Revised user manual

User GuideWireless-GNotebook AdapterUse this Guide to install the following: WPC54G
COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS Specifications are subject to change without notice. Copyright © 2003 Cisco Systems,Inc. All rights reserved. Linksys is a registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. Otherbrands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respectiveholders.LIMITED WARRANTY Linksys guarantees that every Wireless-G Notebook Adapter will be free from physicaldefects in material and workmanship for three years from the date of purchase, whenused within the limits set forth in the Specifications section of this User Guide. This Warranty is valid and may be processed only in the country of purchase.If the product proves defective during this warranty period, go to the Linksys website atwww.linksys.com for complete RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) assistance. Youcan also call Linksys Technical Support in order to obtain a RMA Number. BE SURE TOHAVE YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODE FROM THE PRODUCT’S PACK-AGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING. RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSEDWITHOUT PROOF OF PURCHASE. When returning a product, mark the RMA Numberclearly on the outside of the package and include a copy of your original proof of pur-chase. All customers located outside of the United States of America and Canada shallbe held responsible for shipping and handling charges.IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS’S LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE PROD-UCT FROM DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAM-AGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT, ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFT-WARE, OR ITS DOCUMENTATION. LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANYPRODUCT. Linksys makes no warranty or representation, expressed, implied, or statuto-ry, with respect to its products or the contents or use of this documentation and allaccompanying software, and specifically disclaims its quality, performance, mer-chantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. Linksys reserves the right to revise orupdate its products, software, or documentation without obligation to notify any individ-ual or entity. Please direct all inquiries to:Linksys P.O. Box 18558, Irvine, CA 92623. SAFETY AND REGULATORY NOTICESFCC STATEMENTThis Wireless-G Notebook Adapterhas been tested and complies with the specificationsfor a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits aredesigned to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residentialinstallation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energyand, if not installed and used according to the instructions, may cause harmful interfer-ence to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will notoccur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference toradio or television reception, which is found by turning the equipment off and on, the useris encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna• Increase the separation between the equipment or devices• Connect the equipment to an outlet other than the receiver’s• Consult a dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for assistanceFCC Caution: Any change or modification to the product not expressly approved byLinksys could void the user’s authority to operate the device.FCC Radiation Exposure StatementThis transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antna or transmitter.This equipment has been SAR-evaluated for use in laptops (notebooks) with side slotconfiguration.End-users must be provided with specific operations for satisfying RF exposure compli-ance.INDUSTRY CANADA (CANADA)This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.The use of this device in a system operating either partially or completely outdoors mayrequire the user to obtain a license for the system according to the Canadian regulations.EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY (EUROPE)Linksys declares that the product included conforms to the specifications listed below,following the provisions of the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and Low Voltage Directive73/23/EEC:•ETS 300-826, 301 489-1 General EMC requirements for Radio equipment.•EN 609 50 Safety•ETS 300-328-2 Technical requirements for Radio equipment.Note: This equipment is intended to be used in all EU and EFTA countries. Outdoor usemay be restricted to certain frequencies and/or may require a license for operation. Formore details, contact Linksys Corporate Compliance.Note: Combinations of power levels and antennas resulting in a radiated power level ofabove 100 mW are considered as not compliant with the above mentioned directive andare not allowed for use within the European community and countries that have adoptedthe European R&TTE directive 1999/5/EC and/or the CEPT recommendation Rec 70.03.For more details on legal combinations of power levels and antennas, contact LinksysCorporate Compliance.•Linksys vakuuttaa täten että Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge tyyppinen laite on direktiivin1999/5/EY, direktiivin 89/336/EEC ja direktiivin 73/23/EEC oleellisten vaatimusten jasitä koskevien näiden direktiivien muiden ehtojen mukainen.•Linksys déclare que le pont Ethernet sans fil G est conforme aux conditions essen-tielles et aux dispositions relatives à la directive 1999/5/EC, la directive 89/336/EEC,et à la directive 73/23/EEC.•Belgique B L’utilisation en extérieur est autorisé sur le canal 11 (2462 MHz), 12 (2467MHz), et 13 (2472 MHz).Dans le cas d’une utilisation privée, à l’extérieur d’un bâtiment, au-dessus d’unespace public, aucun enregistrement n’est nécessaire pour une distance de moinsde 300m. Pour une distance supérieure à 300m un enregistrement auprès de l’IBPTest requise. Pour une utilisation publique à l’extérieur de bâtiments, une licence del’IBPT est requise. Pour les enregistrements et licences, veuillez contacter l’IBPT.
•France F: Bande de fréquence restreinte: seuls les canaux 10, 11, 12, 13 (2457,2462, 2467, et 2472 MHz respectivement) doivent être utilisés en France. Toute util-isation, qu'elle soit intérieure ou extérieure, est soumise à autorisation. Vous pouvezcontacter l'Autorité de Régulation des Télécommuniations (http://www.art-telecom.fr)pour la procédure à suivre.•France F: Restricted frequency band: only channels 10, 11, 12, 13 (2457, 2462,2467, and 2472 MHz respectively) may be used in France. License required forevery indoor and outdoor installations. Please contact ART for procedure to follow.•Deutschland D: Anmeldung im Outdoor-Bereich notwending, aber nicht genehmi-gungspflichtig. Bitte mit Händler die Vorgehensweise abstimmen.•Germany D: License required for outdoor installations. Check with reseller for proce-dure to follow.•Italia I: E' necessaria la concessione ministeriale anche per l'uso interno. Verificarecon i rivenditori la procedura da seguire. L'uso per installazione in esterni non e' per-messa.•Italy I: License required for indoor use. Use with outdoor installations not allowed.•the Netherlands NL License required for outdoor installations. Check with reseller forprocedure to follow.•Nederlands NL Licentie verplicht voor gebruik met buitenantennes. Neem contact opmet verkoper voor juiste procedure.WPC54G-v2-UG-30828C BWTable of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction 1The Wireless-G Notebook Adapter 1Features 1Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network 2Network Topology 2Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode 2Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G NotebookAdapter 4The Adapter’s LEDs 4Chapter 4: Software Installation and Configurationfor Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 5Overview 5Setup Wizard Instructions for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 6Chapter 5: Hardware Installation 10Chapter 6: Driver Installation and Configuration forWindows XP 11Overview 11Driver Installation for Windows XP 11Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration 13Chapter 7: Using the WLAN Monitor for Windows98SE, Me, and 2000 15Overview 15Accessing the WLAN Monitor 15Link Information 16Site Survey 18Profiles 20Creating a New Profile 22
Chapter 1: IntroductionWireless-G is the upcoming 54Mbps wireless networking standard that'salmost five times faster than the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) prod-ucts found in homes, businesses, and public wireless hotspots around the coun-try — but since they share the same 2.4GHz radio band, Wireless-G devicescan also work with existing 11Mbps Wireless-B equipment. The new Wireless-G Notebook Adapter from Linksys has both standards built in, so you can con-nect your notebook to existing 802.11b infrastructure, and also the new scream-ing fast Wireless-G networks. The included Setup Wizard will walk youthrough configuring the adapter to your network's settings, step by step. Thenjust slide it into your notebook's PC Card slot and enjoy network access withyour notebook computer, while retaining true mobility.Once you're connected, you can keep in touch with your e-mail, access theInternet, and share files and other resources such as printers and network stor-age with other computers on the network, wherever you wander. At home, youcan surf the web or use instant messaging to chat with friends while sitting outon the patio.You'll also be able to connect with any of the growing number ofpublic wireless hotspots springing up in coffee shops, airport lounges, hotelsand convention centers. And as those hotspots upgrade to the new high-speedWireless-G standard, you'll be ready to take advantage of the increasedspeeds.Get connected to current-standard 802.11b networks today, and be pre-pared for the future with the Wireless-G Notebook Adapter from Linksys.•High-speed Wireless-G (802.11g) networking for your notebook computer•Data rates up to 54Mbps -- 5 times faster than Wireless-B (802.11b)•Also interoperates with Wireless-B networks (at 11Mbps)•Wireless security -- up to 128-bit WEP encryption•Free Technical Support—24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week, Toll-Free USCalls•3-Year Limited WarrantyThe Wireless-G Notebook AdapterFeatures1Appendix A: Troubleshooting 28Common Problems and Solutions 28Frequently Asked Questions 29Appendix B: Glossary 32Appendix C: Specifications 37Environmental 38Appendix D: Warranty Information 39Appendix E: Contact Information 40
If the wireless network is relatively small and needs to share resources onlywith the other computers on the wireless network, then the ad-hoc mode canbe used. (See Figure 2-2.) Ad-hoc mode allows computers equipped with wire-less transmitters and receivers to communicate directly with each other, elimi-nating the need for an access point. The drawback of this mode is that, in Ad-Hoc mode, wireless-equipped computers are not able to communicate withcomputers on a wired network. And, of course, communication between thewireless-equipped computers is limited by the distance and interference direct-ly between them.32Figure 2-2Chapter 2: Planning YourWireless NetworkAwireless local area network (WLAN) is exactly like a regular local area net-work (LAN), except that each computer in the WLAN uses a wireless device toconnect to the network. Computers in a WLAN share the same frequencychannel and SSID, which is an identification name for wireless devices.Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in whichthey may be set up: infrastructure and ad-hoc. An infrastructure configura-tion is a WLAN and wired LAN communicating to each other through anaccess point. An ad-hoc configuration is wireless-equipped computers com-municating directly with each other. Choosing between these two modesdepends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or periph-erals with a wired network or not.If the computers on thewireless network need tobe accessed by a wirednetwork or need to share aperipheral, such as a print-er, with the wired networkcomputers, the wirelessnetwork should be set upin infrastructure mode.(See Figure 2-1.) Thebasis of infrastructuremode centers around anaccess point, which servesas the main point of communications in a wireless network. Access pointstransmit data to PCs equipped with wireless network cards, which can roamwithin a certain radial range of the access point. Multiple access points can bearranged to work in succession to extend the roaming range, and can be set upto communicate with your Ethernet (wired) hardware as well. Network TopologyAd-Hoc versus Infrastructure ModeFigure 2-1
54Chapter 4: Software Installationand Configuration for Windows98SE, Me, and 2000The Wireless-G Notebook Adapter Setup Wizard will guide you through theinstallation procedure for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000. The Setup Wizardwill install the WLAN Monitor and driver, as well as configure the Adapter. Insert the Setup Wizard CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. The SetupWizard should run automatically, and Figure 4-1 should appear. If it does not,click the Start button and choose Run. In the field that appears, enterD:\setup.exe (if “D” is the letter of your CD-ROM drive). Figure 4-1Overview Chapter 3:Getting to Know theWireless-GNotebook AdapterPower Green. The Power LED lights up when the Adapter is pow-ered on.Link Green. The Link LED lights up and stays solid when theAdapter is inserted correctly and a link is established withthe Notebook. The LED flashes when data is transmitted orreceived..The Adapter’s LEDsFigure 3-1Important for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 users: You must runthe Setup Wizard to install the software before installing the hardware.Important for Windows XP users: Do NOT run the Setup Wizard.Proceed directly to “Chapter 5: Hardware Installation.”
761. To install the Adapter, click the Setupbutton on the Welcome screen, Figure4-1. Click User Guide to view the User Guide or click Exit to exit theSetup Wizard.2. Read the License Agreement and click the Next button to continue theinstallation. If you click the Cancel button, you will end the installation.Setup Wizard Instructions for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 Figure 4-23. The Setup Wizard will ask you to choose a wireless mode. (See Figure 4-3.) Click the Infrastructure Mode radio button if you want your wirelesscomputers to network with computers on your wired network using a wire-less access point. Click the Ad-Hoc Mode radio button if you want multi-ple wireless computers to network directly with each other. Do not use theAd-Hoc mode if you want your wireless computers to communicate withcomputers on your wired network. In the SSID field, enter the SSID (Service Set Identifier) of your wirelessnetwork. The SSID is your network name and must be identical for alldevices in the network. The default setting is linksys (all lowercase). Clickthe Nextbutton to continue, or click the Back button to return to the previ-ous page.Figure 4-3
986. After the files have been successfully copied, the screen in Figure 4-6 willappear. Click the Exit button7. Odyssey Client will now automatically install its utility on your PC to enable Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). An icon will appear on your system tray. Click thisicon to configure your WPA settings. For more information on this software,refer to their documentation on the CD-ROM.Proceed to “Chapter 5: Hardware Installation.”Figure 4-64. If you chose Infrastructure Mode, go to Step 5 now. If you chose Ad-HocMode, select the correct operating channel for your network from theChannel drop-down menu. Then, select the Network Mode from the drop-down menu. Click the Next button, and go to Step 5. Click the Back but-ton to change any settings.Channel - The channel you choose should match the channel set on theother devices in your wireless network. If you are unsure about which chan-nel to use, select the default channel (Channel 6).Network Mode - Select Mixed Mode, and both Wireless-G and Wireless-B computers will be allowed on the network, but the speed will be reduced.Select G-Only Modefor maximum speed, but no Wireless-B users will beallowed on the network. 5. The Setup Wizard will ask you to review your settings before it starts tocopy files. Click the Next button to save these settings, or click the Backbutton to change any settings.(See Figure 4-5.)Figure 4-4Figure 4-5
Chapter 6:Driver Installation andConfiguration for Windows XPAfter inserting the Adapter into your notebook, you will install the driver andconfigure the Adapter.1. Windows XP will automatically detect the Adapter. Insert the Setup CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. Click the radio button next to Install thesoftware automatically (Recommended). Then click the Next button.11Figure 6-1OverviewDriver Installation for Windows XP10Chapter 5: Hardware Installation1. Turn off your notebook PC. 2. Locate an available CardBus slot on your notebook PC. 3. With the Adapter’slabel facing up, asshown in Figure 5-1,slide the Adapterinto the CardBusslot until it locks inplace.4. Restart your note-book PC. 5. Windows will begin copying the driver files to your computer. If Windowsasks you for the original Windows CD-ROM, insert the CD-ROM, anddirect Windows to its proper location (e.g., D:\).If your PC is using Windows 98SE, Me, or 2000, proceed to “Chapter 7:Using the WLAN Monitor for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000.” If your PC is using Windows XP, proceed to “Chapter 6: DriverInstallation and Configuration for Windows XP.”Figure 5-1Important for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 users:You must runthe Setup Wizard to install the software before installing the hardware.Important for Windows XP users: You must install the Adapter’shardware before installing the software.
132. When Windows has finished installing the driver, click the Finish button.You have now completed the driver installation forthe Adapter. To configure the Adapter, proceed to the next section,“Windows XPWireless Zero Configuration.”12Figure 6-21. After installing the Adapter, theWindows XP Wireless ZeroConfiguration icon will appear inyour computer’s system tray (seeFigure 6-3). Double-click the icon. 2. The screen that appears willshow any available wirelessnetwork. Select the networkyou want. If this network has a pre-shared key encryption (WEP,AES, TKIP) enabled, go tostep 3. If this network doesnot have pre-shared keyencryption enabled, then thescreen in Figure 6-4 willappear. Check the box nextto Allow me to connect to theselected wireless network,even though it is not secure.Then click the Connect but-ton and go to step 4.For Windows XP users: Windows XP has a built-in configuration tool.Use Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration (in the system tray atthe bottom of your screen) to configure the Adapter.Figure 6-3Figure 6-4Note: Steps 2 and 3 are instructions and screenshots for Windows XPwith Service Pack 1 installed. If you have not installed Service Pack1, select the network you want, and click the Connect button. If thenetwork has WEP encryption enabled, enter the WEP key in theNetwork key field, and then click the Connect button.Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration
1514Chapter 7: Using the WLANMonitor for Windows 98SE, Me,and 2000Use the WLAN Monitor to check the link information, search for availablewireless networks, or create profiles that hold different configuration settings.After installing the Adapter, the Wireless-G Notebook AdapterWLAN Monitor icon will appear in your system tray. Double-click the icon (see Figure 7-1).The Link Information screen will appear. (See Figure 7-2.) From this screen,you can find out how strong the current wireless signal is and how good theconnection’s quality is. You can also click the More Information button to viewadditional status information about the current wireless connection. To searchfor available wireless networks, click the Site Survey tab. To perform configu-ration changes, click the Profiles tab.Figure 7-1Figure 7-2Accessing the WLAN MonitorOverview3. The screen in Figure 6-5 will appear. Enter the WEP key of your wirelessnetwork in the Network key field, and re-enter it in the Confirm network keyfield. Click the Connect button.If you want to use AES orTKIP, you will need to down-load the latest patch,Windows XP Support Patchfor Wireless ProtectedAccess, from the Microsoftwebsite, microsoft.com. Tomanually configure the wire-less profile, refer to yourWindows documentation.4. The screen in Figure 6-6 willappear if your connection isactive.For more information about WEP, refer to your access point’s documentation,or visit www.linksys.com.For more information about wireless networking on a Windows XP computer,enter the keyword wirelessin the Windows XP search engine.Congratulations!Your notebook is now connected to your wireless network.Figure 6-5Note: Wireless Zero Configuration does not support the use of apassphrase. Enter the exact WEP key used by your access point.Figure 6-6
17The Link Information screen displays the signal strength and link quality infor-mation about the current connection and provides a button to click for addi-tional status information. Ad-Hoc Mode or Infrastructure Mode - The screen indicates whether theAdapter is currently working in ad-hoc or infrastructure mode. Signal Strength - The Signal Strength bar indicates the signal strength. Link Quality - The Link Quality bar indicates the quality of the wireless net-work connection.Click the More Information button to view more information about the wire-less network connection.16TCP/IP SettingIP Address - The IP Address of the Adapter.Subnet Mask - The Subnet Mask of the Adapter.Default Gateway - The Default Gateway address of the Adapter.DNS - The DNS address of the Adapter.DHCP - The status of the DHCP client.Wireless Network StatusState - The status of the wireless network connection.SSID - The unique name of the wireless network. Network Type- The mode of the wireless network currently in use.Transfer Rate - The data transfer rate of the current connection.Channel - The channel to which the wireless network devices are set. WEP - The status of the WEP encryption security feature.MAC - The MAC address of the wireless network’s access point.Signal Strength - The Signal Strength bar indicates the signal strength. Link Quality - The Link Quality bar indicates the quality of the wireless net-work connection.Click the Back button to return to the initial Link Information screen. Figure 7-4Link InformationFigure 7-3
In the WEP drop-down box, select the type of WEP encryption used by thewireless network: 64-bit, or 128-bit WEP.If the wireless network uses a passphrase, enter the passphrase in thePassphrase field. If the wireless network uses a WEP key, enter the WEP keyin the Key 1 field. Click the OK button to complete the network connection and return to the SiteSurvey screen, or click the Cancel button to cancel the network connection andreturn to the Site Survey screen.1918Figure 7-6The Site Survey screen displays a list of infrastructure and ad-hoc networksavailable for connection. SSID - The SSID or unique name of the wireless network. Signal - The percentage of signal strength, from 0 to 100%.Site InformationNetwork Type - The mode of the wireless network currently in use.Channel - The channel to which the wireless network devices are set. WEP - The status of the WEP encryption security feature.MAC - The MAC address of the wireless network’s access point.Surveyed at - The time at which the wireless network was scanned. Refresh - Click the Refresh button to perform a new search for wirelessdevices. Connect - To connect to one of the networks on the list, select the wireless net-work,and click the Connect button. If the wireless network has WEP encryp-tion enabled, you will see the screen shown in Figure 7-6.Figure 7-5Site Survey
2120Import - Click the Import button to import a profile that has been saved inanother location. Select the appropriate file, and click the Open button.Export - To save the profile(s) in a different location, click the Export button.Direct Windows to the appropriate folder, and click the OK button.Delete - Click the Delete button to delete a profile. Figure 7-8Figure 7-9Note: If you have more than one profile, all profiles will be auto-matically selected and exported to the same folder.The Profiles screen lets you save different configuration profiles for differentnetwork setups. You can also import or export profiles. The default profileholds the initial configuration saved when you ran the Setup Wizard.Profile - Name of the connection profile.SSID - The wireless network’s unique name, as set in the connection profile.Profile InformationNetwork Type - The mode of the wireless network currently in use.Transfer Rate - The data transfer rate of the current connection. (In Automode, the Adapter dynamically shifts to the fastest data transfer rate possibleat any given time.)Channel - The channel to which the wireless network devices are set. WEP - The status of the WEP encryption security feature.Connect - To connect to a wireless network using a specific profile, select theprofile,and click the Connect button. Edit - Select a profile, and click the Edit button to change an existing profile. New - Click the New button to create a new profile. See the next section,“Creating a New Profile,” for detailed instructions.Figure 7-7Profiles
3. The Choose a network type screen shows a choice of two wireless modes.Click the Infrastructure Mode radio button if you want your wirelesscomputers to communicate with computers on your wired network via awireless access point. Click the Ad-Hoc Mode radio button if you wantmultiple wireless computers to communicate directly with each other. Clickthe Next button to continue or the Back button to return to the previousscreen.Infrastructure Mode - This mode allows wireless and wired networks tocommunicate through an access point.Ad-Hoc Mode - This mode allows wireless-equipped computers to com-municate directly with each other. No access point is used.231. On the Profiles screen, click the New button to create a new profile.2. When the Create connection profile screen appears, enter a name for thenew profile. Click OK to save the profile name or click Cancel to return tothe previous screen.22Figure 7-11Creating a New ProfileFigure 7-10Figure 7-12
254. The Wireless Settings screen will appear. If you chose Infrastructure Mode,go to Step 5 now. If you chose Ad-Hoc Mode, select the correct operatingchannel for your network from the Channel drop-down menu. Then, selectthe Network Mode from the drop-down menu. Click the Next button, andgo to Step 5. Click the Back button to change any settings.Channel - The channel you choose should match the channel set on theother devices in your wireless network. If you are unsure about which chan-nel to use, select the default channel (Channel 6).Network Mode- Select Mixed Mode, and both Wireless-G and Wireless-B computers will be allowed on the network, but the speed will be reduced.Select G-Only Mode for maximum speed, but no Wireless-B users will beallowed on the network. 245. The Network Setting screen will appear.If your network has a DHCP server, click the radio button next to Obtainan IP address automatically (DHCP). Click the Next button to continue,or click the Back button to return to the previous screen. Then go to Step 5. If your network does not have a DHCP server, click the radio button next toSpecify the IP address. Enter an IP Address, Subnet Mask, DefaultGateway, and DNSappropriate for your network. Enter each address in thisformat: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (the x’s represent the numbers that make up eachaddress). You must specify the IP Address and Subnet Mask on this screen.If you are unsure about the Default Gateway and DNS addresses, then leavethese fields alone. Click the Next button to continue or the Back button to return to the previ-ous screen. Then go to Step 6. IP Address - This IP Address must be unique to your network. Subnet Mask - The Adapter’s Subnet Mask must be the same as your wirednetwork’s Subnet Mask.Default Gateway - Enter the IP address of your network’s Gateway here. DNS - Enter the DNS addresses of your Ethernet (wired) network here. Figure 7-13Figure 7-14
276. The Security Settings screen will appear. Enable or disable WiredEquivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption for your wireless network. If youenable WEP, enter a Passphrase or WEP key. Click the Next button to con-tinue or the Back button to return to the previous screen.WEP (Disabled/64-bit WEP/128-bit WEP) - If you do not want to useWEP encryption, choose Disabled. To use WEP encryption (recommendedto increase network security), select 64-bit or 128-bit WEP from the drop-down menu, and enter either a Passphrase or WEP key. Passphrase - Instead of manually entering WEP keys, you can enter aPassphrase, so that a WEP key is automatically generated. It is case-sensi-tive and should not be longer than 16 alphanumeric characters. Thispassphrase must match the passphrase of your wireless network and is com-patible with other Linksys wireless products only. (If you have any non-Linksys wireless products, enter the WEP key(s) manually on those prod-ucts.) Key 1 - This WEP key must match the WEP key of your wireless network.If you are using 64-bit WEP encryption, then the key must consist of exact-ly 10 hexadecimal characters. If you are using 128-bit WEP encryption,then the key must consist of exactly 26 hexadecimal characters. Valid hexa-decimal characters are “0” to “9” and “A” to “F”.267. The Confirm New Settings screen will appear. To save the new settings,click the Yes button. To cancel the settings and return to the Profiles screen,click the No button. To edit the new settings, click the Back button.8. The Congratulations screen will appear next. Click Activate new settingsnow to implement the new settings immediately and return to the LinkInformation screen. Click Activate new settings later to keep the currentsettings active, and return to the Profiles screen so that you can edit yourprofile or create another profile. You have successfully created a connection profile.Figure 7-16Figure 7-17Figure 7-15
3. I cannot communicate with a wired computer linked via an access point in theinfrastructure configuration.•Make sure that the notebook PC is powered on.•Make sure that the Adapter is configured with the same SSID and securityoptions as the other computers in the infrastructure configuration.Can I run an application from a remote computer over the wireless network?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.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 the IEEE 802.11b standard?It is one of the IEEE standards for wireless networks. The 802.11b standardallows wireless networking hardware from different manufacturers to commu-nicate, provided that the hardware complies with the 802.11b standard. The802.11b standard states a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an oper-ating frequency of 2.4GHz.What is the IEEE 802.11g standard?It is one of the IEEE standards for wireless networks. The 802.11g standardallows wireless networking hardware from different manufacturers to commu-nicate, provided that the hardware complies with the 802.11g standard. The802.11g standard states a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps and an oper-ating frequency of 2.4GHz.What IEEE 802.11g features are supported?The product supports the following IEEE 802.11g functions: •CSMA/CA plus Acknowledge protocol •Multi-Channel Roaming •Automatic Rate Selection •RTS/CTS feature •Fragmentation •Power Management 29Appendix A:TroubleshootingThis chapter provides solutions to problems that may occur during the installa-tion and operation of the Wireless-G Notebook Adapter. Read the descriptionsbelow to solve your problems. If you can’t find an answer here, check theLinksys website at www.linksys.com.1.My computer does not recognize the Adapter.•Make sure the Adapter is properly inserted into the CardBus slot. Note thatthe Adapter can be inserted either way, but is correctly only when it is insert-ed so that the “Instant Wireless” logo on the front of the Adapter cannot beseen. If in doubt, try inserting the Adapter both ways. The Adapter will slidein further when it is correct. 2.The Adapter does not work properly.•Reinsert the Adapter into your notebook’s CardBus slot. A beep should beheard if the Adapter is properly inserted. •For non-Windows environments, make sure that a PCMCIA card servicedriver is installed on your PC.•Open the Control Panel and click the PC Card. Check whether it has aPCMCIA card in one of the sockets or not. If you find the Adapter in one ofthe sockets, it means that the Adapter has been detected properly. If you seea yellow question mark, the resources are in conflict.•Right-click My Computer and select Properties. Select Device Managerand click the Network Adapter. You will find the Wireless-G NotebookAdapter if it is installed successfully. If you see the yellow exclamation mark,the resources are in conflict. Click PCMCIA card and then click PCMCIAcard service. You will see the status of the Adapter. If there is a yellow ques -tion mark please check the following:•Make sure that your notebook has a free IRQ.•Make sure that you have inserted the right Adapter and installed the prop-er driver.If the Adapter does not function after attempting the above steps, remove theAdapter and do the following:•Uninstall the driver software from your PC.•Restart your PC and repeat the hardware and software installation as spec-ified in this User Guide.28Frequently Asked QuestionsCommon Problems and Solutions
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).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 offers the encryption function(WEP) to enhance security and access control.What is WEP?WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a 64-bitor 128-bit shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11 standard.What is ad-hoc mode?When a wireless network is set to ad-hoc mode, the wireless-equipped com-puters are configured to communicate directly with each other. The ad-hocwireless network will not communicate with any wired network. What is infrastructure mode?When a wireless network is set to infrastructure mode, the wireless network isconfigured to communicate with a wired network through a wireless accesspoint.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 must makesure that it is the same channel number with the access point of dedicated cov-erage 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 currentlybeing 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 node’s RF transmitter regularly checks the sys-tem to determine whether it is in touch with the original access point or whetherit should seek a new one. When a node no longer receives acknowledgmentfrom its original access point, it undertakes a new search. Upon finding a newaccess point, it then re-registers, and the communication process continues.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. 3130
3332user 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. DSSS (Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum) - DSSS generates a redundant bitpattern for all transmitted data. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chippingcode). Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmission,statistical techniques embedded in the receiver can recover the original datawithout the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appearsas low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowbandreceivers. However, to an intended receiver (i.e. another wireless LAN end-point), the DSSS signal is recognized as the only valid signal, and interferenceis inherently rejected (ignored).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. ESS (Extended Service Set) - A set of more than two or more BSSs (multipleaccess points) forming a single network.Firmware - Code that is written onto read-only memory (ROM) or program-mable read-only memory (PROM). Once firmware has been written onto theROM or PROM, it is retained even when the device is turned off.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. Appendix B:Glossary802.11b - One of the IEEE standards for wireless networking hardware.Products that adhere to a specific IEEE standard will work with each other,even if they are manufactured by different companies. The 802.11b standardspecifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps, an operating frequency of2.4GHz, and WEP encryption for security. 802.11b networks are also referredto as Wi-Fi networks.802.11g - One of the IEEE standards for wireless networking hardware, whichspecifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps using OFDM modulation,an operating frequency of 2.4GHz, backward compatibility with IEEE 802.11bdevices and WEP encryption for security.Ad-hoc Network - An ad-hoc network is a group of computers, each with awireless adapter, connected as an independent 802.11 wireless LAN. Ad-hocwireless computers operate on a peer-to-peer basis, communicating directlywith each other without the use of an access point. Ad-hoc mode is alsoreferred to as an Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) or as peer-to-peermode, and is useful at a departmental scale or SOHO operation.CTS (Clear To Send) - An RS-232 signal sent from the receiving station to thetransmitting station that indicates it is ready to accept data.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 a
3534OFDM - Developed for wireless applications, Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiplexing (OFDM) technology offers superior performance-increased datarates and more reliable transmissions-than previous technologies, such asDSSS. OFDM is a scheme in which numerous signals of different frequenciesare combined to form a single signal for transmission on the medium. OFDM works by breaking one high-speed data stream into a number of lower-speed data streams, which are then transmitted in parallel. Each lower speedstream is used to modulate a subcarrier. Essentially, this creates a multi-carriertransmission by dividing a wide frequency band or channel into a number ofnarrower frequency bands or sub-channels. OFDM is also used for other appli-cations, including powerline networking.Plug-and-Play - The ability of a computer system to configure expansionboards and other devices automatically without requiring the user to turn offthe system during installation.Roaming - In an infrastructure mode wireless network, this refers to the abili-ty to move out of one access point's range and into another and transparentlyreassociate and reauthenticate to the new access point. This reassociation andreauthentication should occur without user intervention and ideally withoutinterruption to network connectivity. A typical scenario would be a locationwith multiple access points, where users can physically relocate from one areato another and easily maintain connectivity.SSID (Service Set Identifier) - An identification name that wireless devicesuse to make connections. In order for wireless devices to communicate, theymust all be set to the same channel and they all must use the same SSID. Forinstance, if you are using an access point to connect two computers using wire-less devices, the access point and each of the wireless devices must use thesame SSID. Even if they are set to the same channel, they cannot communicateunless the SSID is the same. 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 IP (Internet Protocol) to send data in the form of message units (datagram)between network devices over a LAN or WAN. While IP takes care of handlingInfrastructure Network - An infrastructure network is a group of computersor other devices, each with a wireless adapter, connected as an 802.11 wirelessLAN. In infrastructure mode, the wireless devices communicate with eachother and to a wired network by first going through an access point. An infra-structure wireless network connected to a wired network is referred to as aBasic Service Set (BSS). A set of two or more BSS in a single network isreferred to as an Extended Service Set (ESS). Infrastructure mode is useful ata corporation scale, or when it is necessary to connect the wired and wirelessnetworks.IPAddress - In the most widely installed level of the Internet Protocol (IP)today, an IP address is a 32-binary digit number that identifies each sender orreceiver of information that is sent in packet across the Internet. When yourequest an HTML page or send e-mail, the Internet Protocol part of TCP/IPincludes your IP address in the message (actually, in each of the packets if morethan one is required) and sends it to the IP address that is obtained by lookingup the domain name in the Uniform Resource Locator you requested or in thee-mail address you're sending a note to. At the other end, the recipient can seethe IP address of the Web page requester or the e-mail sender and can respondby sending another message using the IP address it 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. LAN - 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.”
3736Appendix C: SpecificationsStandards: IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11gModulations: 802.11b: CCK (11 Mbps), DQPSK (2 Mbps), DBPSK (1 Mbps); 802.11g: OFDMChannels:802.11b, 11 Channels (USA)802.11g 13 Channels (Europe)14 Channels (Japan) Interface: CardBus Speed: Up to 54 MbpsLEDs: Power, LinkWEP Key Bits: 64-Bit and 128-Bitthe actual delivery of the data (routing), TCP takes care of keeping track of theindividual units of data (called packets) that a message is divided into for effi-cient delivery over the network. TCP is known as a "connection oriented" pro-tocol due to requiring the receiver of a packet to return an acknowledgment ofreceipt to the sender of the packet resulting in transmission control.TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - The basic com-munication language or set of protocols for communications over a network(developed specifically for the Internet). TCP/IP defines a suite or group ofprotocols and not only TCP and IP.UDP (User Datagram Protocol) - A method (protocol) used along with the IP(Internet Protocol) to send data in the form of message units (datagram)between network devices over a LAN or WAN. While IP takes care of handlingthe actual delivery of the data (routing), UDP takes care of keeping track of theindividual units of data (called packets) that a message is divided into for effi-cient delivery over the network. UDP is known as a “connection-less” protocoldue to NOT requiring the receiver of a packet to return an acknowledgment ofreceipt to the sender of the packet (as opposed to TCP).WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) - A data privacy mechanism based on a 64-bit shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11b standard. WINIPCFG - 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, 98SE, and Me.WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) - A group of computers and associat-ed devices that communicate with each other wirelessly.
39Dimensions: 4.53" x 2.13" x 0.30" (115 mm x 54 mm x 7.5 mm)Unit Weight: 1.66 oz. (0.047 kg)Power: 3.3V Bus poweredCertifications: FCC, CE, Wi-Fi (802.11b, 802.11g), WPA, WHQL:Windows 2000, XPOperating Temp.: 32ºF to 99ºF (0ºC to 55ºC) Storage Temp.: -13ºF to 158ºF (-25ºC to 70ºC) Operating Humidity: 5% to 95%, Non-CondensingStorage Humidity: 5% to 95%, Non-Condensing 38Appendix D:Warranty 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.Environmental
© Copyright 2003 Linksys, All Rights Reserved.http://www.linksys.com40Appendix E:Contact InformationFor help with the installation or operation of the Wireless-G Notebook Adapter,contact Linksys Technical Support at one of the phone numbers or Internetaddresses below.Sales Information 800-546-5797 (LINKSYS)Technical Support 800-326-7114RMA (Return MerchandiseAuthorization) Issues www.linksys.com (or call 949-271-5461)Fax 949-265-6655E-mail support@linksys.comWeb http://www.linksys.comFTP Site ftp.linksys.com

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