Wireless-G Range Expander Copyright and Trademarks Specifications are subject to change without notice. Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. Copyright © 2004 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Wireless-G Range Expander Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Welcome What’s in this Guide? 1 2 Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network Network Topology Roaming Network Layout Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Range Expander The Front Panel The Side Panel The Power Plate Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Range Expander Wall Mounting Chapter 5: Setting Up the Wireless-G Range Expander Chapter 6: Configuring the Wireless-G Range Expander Overview The Setup Tab Appendix A: Trouble
Wireless-G Range Expander List of Figures Figure 3-1: The Front Panel 6 Figure 3-2: The Power Plate with Cord 7 Figure 3-3: The Two-Prong Power Plate 7 Figure 4-1: Wall-mounting the Range Expander with the Power Plate with Cord 9 Figure 4-2: Wall-mounting the Range Expander with the Two-Prong Power Plate9 Figure 5-1: The Setup Wizard’s Welcome screen 10 Figure 5-2: Connecting to an access point 11 Figure 5-3: Confirm Wireless Settings 11 Figure 5-4: Cannot find Wireless Network 11 Figure 5-5: Choose an acc
Wireless-G Range Expander Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome Thank you for choosing the Wireless-G Range Expander. This Range Expander will allow you to expand your network beyond the range of your current access point or wireless router. access point - a device that allows wireless-equipped computers and other devices to communicate with a wired network. Also used to expand the range of a wireless network.
Wireless-G Range Expander What’s in this Guide? This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Wireless-G Range Expander. • Chapter 1: Introduction This chapter describes the Range Expander’s applications and this User Guide. • Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network This chapter discusses a few of the basics about wireless networking. • Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Range Expander This chapter describes the physical features of the Range Expander.
Wireless-G Range Expander • Appendix F: Warranty Information This appendix supplies the Range Expander’s warranty information. • Appendix G: Regulatory Information This appendix supplies the Range Expander’s regulatory information. • Appendix H: Contact Information This appendix provides contact information for a variety of Linksys resources, including Technical Support.
Wireless-G Range Expander Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network Network Topology A wireless network is a group of computers, each equipped with one wireless adapter. Computers in a wireless network must be configured to share the same radio channel. Several PCs equipped with wireless cards or adapters can communicate with one another to form an ad-hoc network. Linksys wireless adapters also provide users access to a wired network when using an access point or wireless router.
Wireless-G Range Expander Network Layout Linksys wireless access points and wireless routers have been designed for use with 802.11b, and 802.11g products. With 802.11g products communicating with the 802.11b standard and some products incorporating both “a” and “g”, products using these standards can communicate with each other. Access points and wireless routers are compatible with 802.11b and 802.
Wireless-G Range Expander Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Range Expander The Front Panel The Range Expander's LEDs, where information about network activity is displayed, are located on the front panel. In addition, the Range Expander’s antenna is adjustable and located on the front panel. Make sure the antenna is positioned straight up into the air, however the Range Expander is positioned. Power Blue/Red. The Power LED lights up when the Range Expander is powered on.
Wireless-G Range Expander The Power Plate The back of the Range Expander has a recess where its power plates can be connected. Two power plates come with the Range Expander, one with two prongs for connecting directly to a power outlet, and another with a cord to reach a power outlet. These power plates are slid into the recess and are fully connected when the orange tab snaps into place. To remove the power plate, slide the tab to the right and slide out the power plate.
Wireless-G Range Expander Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Range Expander Since the Range Expander does not physically connect to your network, through cables, etc., connection is very simple. 1. Locate an optimum location for the Range Expander. The best placement is usually at the edge of your wireless network. 2. Fix the direction of the antenna. Try to place it in a position that will best cover your wireless network.
Wireless-G Range Expander Wall Mounting For more convenient placement, the Range Expander can be positioned/mounted on any wall. There are two ways to do this. With the Power Plate with Cord. Use the Wall Mounting Kit included with the Range Expander With the Two-Pronged Power Plate. Wall-mounting can be achieved simply by plugging the Range Expander into a socket. You should always plug your networking gear into a surge protector.
Wireless-G Range Expander Chapter 5: Setting Up the Wireless-G Range Expander Now that you've placed the Range Expander within your wireless network, you are ready to begin setting it up. This Setup Wizard will take you through all the steps necessary to configure the Range Expander. 1. Insert the Setup Wizard CD into your PC's CD-ROM drive. Your PC must be communicating with your wireless network to set up the Range Expander.
Wireless-G Range Expander 3. The next screen advises you to have your PC communicating with your wireless network before starting the setup process. The Range Expander does not yet require connection. You should always connect your networking gear to a surge protector. Click the Next button to continue or Exit to exit the Setup Wizard. Figure 5-2: Connecting to an access point 4. The Setup Wizard will run a search for your wireless network. If found, you will be asked to confirm the settings.
Wireless-G Range Expander c.The Security Settings screen will appear next. From this screen, you can set the level of encryption on your network, along with entering the appropriate passphrases and/or encryption keys. If your network’s WEP encryption uses a passphrase, enter it here. The passphrase can consist of no more than 16 alphanumeric characters.
Wireless-G Range Expander 7. The Security Settings screen will appear next, if you have not entered this information already. From this screen, you can set the level of encryption on your network, along with entering the appropriate passphrases and/or encryption keys. If your network’s WEP encryption uses a passphrase, enter it here. The passphrase can consist of no more than 16 alphanumeric characters.
Wireless-G Range Expander 9. You should now review the settings you've chosen. If these settings are correct, click the Yes button to save these settings. If you wish to change any of the settings, click the No button. You will exit the Setup Wizard and can start it again to revise your settings. Figure 5-11: The Confirm New Settings screen 10. At this point, the configuration performed with the Setup Wizard is complete.
Wireless-G Range Expander Chapter 6: Configuring the Wireless-G Range Expander Overview The Range Expander has been designed to be functional right out of the box, setting it up with the Auto configuration button or with the Setup Wizard. However, if you'd like to change these settings, the Range Expander can be configured through your web browser with the Web-Based Utility. This chapter explains how to configure the Range Expander in this manner.
Wireless-G Range Expander The Setup Tab Basic Setup The first screen that appears displays the Basic Setup screen. This allows you to change the Range Expander's general settings. Change these settings as described here and click Save Settings to apply your changes or Cancel Changes to cancel your changes. If you require online help, click Help. • Firmware. This will display the Range Expander's current firmware version. Firmware can be upgraded from the Help tab. • Name.
Wireless-G Range Expander someone could easily obtain the SSID information with site survey software and gain unauthorized access to your network. Click Enable to broadcast the SSID to all wireless devices in range. Click Disable to increase network security and prevent the SSID from being seen on networked PCs. • Channel. Select the appropriate channel from the list provided, between 1 and 11, to correspond with your network settings.
Wireless-G Range Expander Password The Password screen allows you to change the Range Expander's password and restore factory defaults. Changing the sign-on password for the Range Expander is as easy as typing the password into the Password field. Then, type it again into the second field to confirm. To restore the Range Expander's factory default settings, click the Yes button beside Restore Factory Defaults.Then, click the Save Settings button.
Wireless-G Range Expander Help For help on the various tabs in this Web-based Utility, along with upgrading the Range Expander’s firmware and viewing this User Guide, click the Help tab. The help files for the various tabs in this Web-based Utility are listed by tab name on the left hand side of the screen. Click the Linksys Website link to connect to the Linksys homepage for Knowledgebase help files and information about other Linksys products, provided you have an active Internet connection.
Wireless-G Range Expander Appendix A: Troubleshooting This appendix consists of two parts: “Common Problems and Solutions” and “Frequently Asked Questions.” This appendix provides solutions to problems that may occur during the installation and operation of the Wireless-G Range Expander. Read the description below to solve your problems. If you can't find an answer here, check the Linksys website at www.linksys.com. Common Problems and Solutions 1.
Wireless-G Range Expander •Multi-Channel Roaming •Automatic Rate Selection •RTS/CTS feature •Fragmentation •Power Management What is Ad-hoc? An Ad-hoc wireless network is a group of computers, each with a wireless adapter, connected as an independent wireless network. An Ad-hoc wireless network is applicable at a departmental scale for a branch or SOHO operation. What is Infrastructure? An integrated wireless and wired network is called an Infrastructure configuration.
Wireless-G Range Expander What is Spread Spectrum? Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communications systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability, integrity, and security.
Wireless-G Range Expander How do I avoid interference? Using multiple access points on the same channel and in close proximity to one another will generate interference. When employing multiple access points, be sure to operate each one on a different channel (frequency). How do I reset the Range Expander? Press the Reset button on the back of the Range Expander for about ten seconds. This will reset the unit to its default settings.
Wireless-G Range Expander Appendix B: Wireless Security Linksys wants to make wireless networking as safe and easy for you as possible. The current generation of Linksys products provide several network security features, but they require specific action on your part for implementation. So, keep the following in mind whenever you are setting up or using your wireless network.
Wireless-G Range Expander SSID. There are several things to keep in mind about the SSID: 1. Disable Broadcast 2. Make it unique 3. Change it often Most wireless networking devices will give you the option of broadcasting the SSID. While this option may be more convenient, it allows anyone to log into your wireless network. This includes hackers. So, don’t broadcast the SSID. Wireless networking products come with a default SSID set by the factory. (The Linksys default SSID is “linksys”.
Wireless-G Range Expander WPA Pre-Shared Key. If you do not have a RADIUS server, select the type of algorithm, TKIP or AES, enter a password in the Pre-Shared key field of 8-64 characters, and enter a Group Key Renewal period time between 0 and 99,999 seconds, which instructs the Router or other device how often it should change the encryption keys. WPA RADIUS. WPA used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router or other device.
Wireless-G Range Expander Appendix C: Upgrading Firmware The Range Expander's firmware is upgraded through the Web-Utility's Help tab. Follow these instructions: 1. Download the firmware from Linksys's website at www.linksys.com. 2. Click Upgrade Firmware from the Web-Utility's Help tab, and the Upgrade Firmware screen will appear. 3. Enter the location of the firmware's file or click the Browse button to find the file. 4. Then, click the Upgrade button to upgrade the firmware.
Wireless-G Range Expander Appendix D: Windows Help All wireless products require Microsoft Windows. Windows is the most used operating system in the world and comes with many features that help make networking easier. These features can be accessed through Windows Help and are described in this appendix. TCP/IP Before a computer can communicate within a network, TCP/IP must be enabled. TCP/IP is a set of instructions, or protocol, all PCs follow to communicate over a network.
Wireless-G Range Expander Appendix E: Glossary 802.11b - An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz. 802.11g - An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an operating frequency of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11b devices. Access Point - A device that allows wireless-equipped computers and other devices to communicate with a wired network.
Wireless-G Range Expander DSSS (Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum) - Frequency transmission with a redundant bit pattern resulting in a lower probability of information being lost in transit. Encryption - Encoding data transmitted in a network. Firmware - The programming code that runs a networking device. Fragmentation -Breaking a packet into smaller units when transmitting over a network medium that cannot support the original size of the packet.
Wireless-G Range Expander Roaming - The ability to take a wireless device from one access point's range to another without losing the connection. Router - A networking device that connects multiple networks together. RTS (Request To Send) - A networking method of coordinating large packets through the RTS Threshold setting. Server - Any computer whose function in a network is to provide user access to files, printing, communications, and other services. Software - Instructions for the computer.
Wireless-G Range Expander Appendix F: Specifications Standards IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b Buttons Auto configuration/Mode, Reset LEDs Link (Red/Blue), Activity (Blue) Transmit Power 802.11g: Typ. 13±1 1dBm @ Normal Temp Range 802.11b: Typ: 15±1 1dBm @ Normal Temp Range" Security features WEP WEP key bits 64/128 Dimensions (W x H x D) 3.18" x 8.27" x 1.77" (80.7 mm x 210 mm x 45 mm) Power Input: 115-230V AC 0.2A, Output: 3.3V DC 1.5A Certification FCC, CE, UL Operating Temp.
Wireless-G Range Expander Appendix G: Warranty Information LIMITED WARRANTY Linksys warrants to You that, for a period of three years (the “Warranty Period”), your Linksys Product will be substantially free of defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. Your exclusive remedy and Linksys' entire liability under this warranty will be for Linksys at its option to repair or replace the Product or refund Your purchase price less any rebates.
Wireless-G Range Expander Appendix H: Regulatory Information FCC STATEMENT This product has been tested and complies with the specifications for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
Wireless-G Range Expander EN 609 50 Safety EN 300-328-1, EN 300-328-2 Technical requirements for Radio equipment. Caution: This equipment is intended to be used in all EU and EFTA countries. Outdoor use may be restricted to certain frequencies and/or may require a license for operation. Contact local Authority for procedure to follow.
Wireless-G Range Expander FCC PART 68 STATEMENT This equipment complies with Part 68 of the FCC Rules. A label is attached to the equipment that contains, among other information, its FCC registration number and ringer equivalence number. If requested, this information must be provided to the telephone company. This equipment uses the following USOC Jack: RJ-11. An FCC compliant telephone cord and modular plug is provided with this equipment.
Wireless-G Range Expander Caution: To reduce the risk of fire, use only No.26 AWG or larger telecommunication line cord. Do not use this product near water, for example, in a wet basement or near a swimming pool. Avoid using this product during an electrical storm. There may be a remote risk of electric shock from lightning.
Wireless-G Range Expander Appendix I: Contact Information Need to contact Linksys? Visit us online for information on the latest products and updates to your existing products at: http://www.linksys.com or ftp.linksys.
® A Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. 2.4 GHz Wireless-G 802.11g Range Expander WIRELESS Model No.