802.11g Turbo WLAN USB Adapter w/ RP-SMA Connector User Manual Version: 1.
COPYRIGHT Copyright ©2005/2006 by this company. All rights reserved.
Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
R&TTE Compliance Statement This equipment complies with all the requirements of DIRECTIVE 1999/5/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL of March 9, 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunication terminal Equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity (R&TTE) The R&TTE Directive repeals and replaces in the directive 98/13/EEC (Telecommunications Terminal Equipment and Satellite Earth Station Equipment) As of April 8, 2000.
CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 Features ......................................................................................................................... 2 Specifications................................................................................................................ 2 Package Contents ....................................................................................................
1 Introduction Thank you for purchasing the 802.11g Turbo Wireless LAN USB Adapter with Reverse SMA Connector. This USB adapter is designed with a Reverse SMA connector to accommodate attachable antenna, providing user the flexibility to change with suitable antenna in different environments. It also designed to comply with IEEE 802.11g Wireless LAN standard and easy to carry with the Mini size. It is suitable for any Laptop or Desktop computers.
1.1 Features • • • • • • • • • • • • Works with both IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g products. High-speed data transfer rate – up to 54Mbps. Supports Turbo Mode to enhance the data transfer speed within the specific wireless network. Supports WMM (IEEE 802.11e QoS standard) function to meet the multi-media data bandwidth requirement. Supports 64/128-bit WEP, WPA (TKIP with IEEE 802.1x), WPA2 (AES with IEEE 802.1x) functions for high level of security. Supports CCX 2.
1.3 Package Contents Before you begin the installation, please check the items of your package. The package should include the following items: • One USB Adapter • One External Antenna • One USB 2.0 Extension Cable (100 cm) • One CD (Driver/Utility/User’s Manual) • One Quick Guide If any of the above items is missing, contact your supplier as soon as possible.
2 Installation Procedure Before you proceed with the installation, please notice following descriptions. Note1: Please do not install the adapter into your computer before installing the software program from the CD. Note2: The following installation was operated under Windows XP. Windows 98SE/Me/2000/2003 Server.) (Procedures are similar for Note3: If you have installed the Turbo Wireless LAN USB Adapter driver & utility before, please uninstall the old version first. A.
C. In Windows XP, there is a “Windows Zero Configuration Tool” for you to setup the wireless adapter. You can choose to configure the adapter through the Windows Zero Configuration Tool or the Ralink Configuration Tool for the adapter. It is recommended to choose the Ralink Configuration Tool for the adapter. Click “Next” to continue. D. If you need the adapter to operate with better performance, please choose the “Optimize for performance” to enable the Tx Burst mode.
E. The system starts to install the software of the adapter. Please follow the instructions of the program to plug in the adapter into the USB port of your computer. And the system will automatically detect the adapter F. Please click “Finish” to complete the installation.
3 Configuration Utility The Ralink Configuration Utility is a powerful application that helps you configure the USB adapter and monitor the link status and the statistics during the communication process. When the adapter is installed, the configuration utility will be displayed automatically. This adapter will auto connect to wireless device which has better signal strength and no wireless security setting.
Second Way A. Right-click the icon and select “View Available Wireless Networks”. B. Click “Advanced”. C. Uncheck “Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings” to enable the utility for the adapter.
Note: If “Wireless Zero Configuration” is enabled, you can only configure the advance setting or check the link status and statistics from the configuration utility of the adapter. 3.1 Site Survey When you open the Ralink Configuration Utility, the system will scan all the channels to find all the access points/stations within the accessible range of your adapter and automatically connect to the wireless device with the highest signal strength.
3.2 Profile The “Profiles List” is for you to manage the networks you connect to frequently. You are able to Add/Delete/Edit/Activate a profile. Parameter Description Profiles List The profiles list display all the profiles and the relative settings of the profiles including Profile Name, SSID, Channel, etc. This sign indicates the activated profile is been connecting. This sign indicates the activated profile is not been connecting.
3.2.1 Configure the Profile 3.2.1.1 Configuration Parameter Description Profile Name Define a recognizable profile name for you to identify the different networks. SSID The SSID (up to 32 printable ASCII characters) is the unique name identified in a WLAN. The ID prevents the unintentional merging of two co-located WLANs. You may specify a SSID for the adapter and then only the device with the same SSID can interconnect to the adapter.
Parameter Description Network Type Infrastructure – This operation mode requires the presence of an 802.11 Access Point. All communication is done via the Access Point or Router. Ad-Hoc – Select this mode if you want to connect to another wireless stations in the Wireless LAN network without through an Access Point or Router. TX Power If you want to lower the transmit power of the adapter for saving the power of the system, you can select the lower percentages from the list.
3.2.1.2 Authentication and Security Parameter Description Authentication Type This setting has to be consistent with the wireless networks that the adapter intends to connect. Open – No authentication is needed among the wireless network. Shared – Only wireless devices using a shared key (WEP Key identified) are allowed to connecting each other. LEAP – LEAP is a pre-EAP, Cisco-proprietary protocol, with many of the features of EAP protocols.
Parameter Description WPA-PSK – It is a special mode designed for home and small business users who do not have access to network authentication servers. In this mode, known as Pre-Shared Key, the user manually enters the starting password in their access point or gateway, as well as in each wireless station in the network.
Parameter Description AES – AES has been developed to ensure the highest degree of security and authenticity for digital information and it is the most advanced solution defined by IEEE 802.11i for the security in the wireless network. Note: All devices in the network should use the same encryption method to ensure the communication. WPA Pre-Shared Key The WPA-PSK key can be from 8 to 64 characters and can be letters or numbers. This same key must be used on all of the wireless stations in the network.
The IEEE 802.1X specification describes a protocol that can be used for authenticating both clients and servers on a network. The authentication algorithms and methods are those provided by the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP), a method of authentication that has been in use for a number of years on networks that provide Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) support as many internet service providers and enterprises do.
3.2.1.3 802.1x Setting-Certification Parameter Description Authentication Type The EAP authentication protocols this adapter has supported are included as follows. This setting has to be consistent with the wireless APs or Routers that the adapter intends to connect. PEAP &TTLS – PEAP and TTLS are similar and easier than TLS in that they specify a stand-alone authentication protocol be used within an encrypted tunnel.
3.2.1.4 802.1x Setting-CA Server Parameter Description Use Certificate Chain When the EAP authentication type such as TLS, TTLS or PEAP is selected and required a certification to tell the client what server credentials to accept from the authentication server in order to verify the server, you have to enable this function. Certificate Issuer Choose the server from the list to issue the certificate.
3.3 Link Status From the “Link Status” option, you can view all the information of the network you are connecting to. Parameter Description Status Display the SSID and MAC ID of the network the adapter is connecting to. Extra Info Display the link status. Channel Display the number of the radio channel and the frequency used for the networking. Link Speed (Mbps) Display the transmission and reception rate of the network. The maximum transmission rate is 54Mbps.
Parameter Description Noise Level Display the noise level in the wireless environment. 3.4 Statistics This option enables you to view the statistic information of the connection including transmit statistics and receive statistics. You may reset the counters by clicking ”Reset Counter”. 3.5 Advance This option enables you to configure more advanced settings, for example: wireless mode, protection mode and etc.
Parameter Description Wireless Mode 802.11 B/G mix – If you have a mix of 802.11b and 802.11g wireless stations in your network, it is recommended to set the adapter to this mode. This mode is also the default setting. 802.11 B only – This adapter can be compatible with both 802.11g and 802.11b wireless stations. If there are only 802.11b wireless stations in the network, you can set the adapter to this mode.
Parameter Description Tx Rate There are several options including Auto/1/2/5.5/11/6/9/12/18/24/36/48/54Mbps for you to select. When the “Auto” is selected, the device will choose the most suitable transmission rate automatically. The higher data rate you designated in the network, the shorter distance is allowed between the adapter and the wireless stations. When the wireless mode is “802.11 B only”, the maximum data rate is 11Mbps (11b) so that there are only “Auto/1/2/5.
Parameter Description LEAP Turn on CCKM During normal operation, LEAP-enabled client devices mutually authenticate with a new access point by performing a complete LEAP authentication, including communication with the main RADIUS server. When you configure your wireless LAN for fast re-association, however, LEAP-enabled client devices roam from one access point to another without involving the main server.
Parameter Description WMM Enable Check on this item and click “Apply” to enable WMM function, and then further you can configure WMM Power Save and Direct Link Setup function. WMM – Power Save Enable Check on this item to enable WMM Power Save function. Click “Setting” to further configure WMM Power Save setting, which includes: AC_BK, AC_BE, AC_VI and AC_VO. Direct Link Setup Enable Check on this item and click “Apply” to enable DLS function.
3.8 Turbo Mode This adapter supports specific ways to increase the data transfer rate at a time; compress the data and decrease the waiting time to send the next data to the Routers or APs, this feature (known as Turbo Mode) enables higher throughput than IEEE 802.11g standard (Up to 54Mbps). When the adapter is connecting to the Routers or APs with the proprietary Turbo Mode feature, the Turbo Mode will be enabled automatically without any configuration. 3.
Parameter Description Wireless Mode Selects the wireless mode supports by the AP. 802.11 B/G Mixed – The AP works in 11b+g mixed mode. 802.11 B Only – The AP works in 11b mode. 802.11 G Only – The AP works in 11g mode. TX Rate There are several options including Auto/1/2/5.5/11/6/9/12/18/24/36/48/54Mbps for you to select. When the “Auto” is selected, the AP will choose the most suitable transmission rate automatically.
Parameter Description B/G Protection If you have a mix of 802.11b and 802.11g wireless clients in the network, it is recommended to enable the protection mechanism. This mechanism can decrease the rate of data collision between 802.11b and 802.11g wireless clients. When the protection mode is enabled, the throughput of the AP will be a little lower due to many of frame traffic should be transmitted. Auto – Based on the status of the network and automatically disable/enable protection mode.
Parameter Description Default Click to use with default value. Apply Click to apply the setting change. 3.9.1.1 Auth. Vs. Security This option enables you to configure the authentication mode and encryption algorithm used within the AP. Parameter Description Authentication Type There are four types of authentication mode supported. Open – No authentication is needed among the wireless network.
Parameter Description Encryption Type Not Use - Disable the encryption mode. WEP - Enable the WEP Data Encryption. When the item is selected, you have to continue setting the WEP Key. TKIP - TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) changes the temporal key every 10,000 packets (a packet is a kind of message transmitted over a network.) This ensures much greater security than the standard WEP security.
3.9.2 Access Control The Access Control page enables you to configure the access control policy used within the AP. Parameter Description Access Policy Disable – Disable the MAC Address filtering function. Allow All – Only the wireless adapters with the MAC Address listed in Access List can connect to the AP. Reject All – The wireless adapters with the MAC Address listed in Access List will be rejected to connect to the AP.
3.9.3 Mac Table The Mac Table page displays the detail information of the wireless adapters connected to the AP. Parameter Description MAC Address The MAC Address of the wireless adapters connected to the AP. AID The Association ID of current connection. Power Saving Mode The supporting status of Power Saving Mode of the wireless adapter connected.
3.9.4 Event Log The Event Log page displays all the event time and message. You may clear the table by clicking “Clear”. 3.9.5 Statistics The Statistics page displays the statistic information of the AP including transmit statistics and receive statistics. You may reset the counters by clicking “Reset Counters”.
3.9.6 About The About page displays the basic information about the Utility, including Driver, Utility and EEPROM Version. The MAC Address of the adapter is displayed in the screen as well.
4 Troubleshooting This chapter provides solutions to problems usually encountered during the installation and operation of the adapter. 1. What is the IEEE 802.11g standard? 802.11g is the new IEEE standard for high-speed wireless LAN communications that provides for up to 54 Mbps data rate in the 2.4 GHz band. 802.11g is quickly becoming the next mainstream wireless LAN technology for the home, office and public networks. 802.11g defines the use of the same OFDM modulation technique specified in IEEE 802.
6. What is BSS ID? A specific Ad hoc LAN is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). Computers in a BSS must be configured with the same BSS ID. 7. What is WEP? WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a 40 bit shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802 .11 standard. 8. What is TKIP? TKIP is a quick-fix method to quickly overcome the inherent weaknesses in WEP security, especially the reuse of encryption keys. TKIP is involved in the IEEE 802.
13. What is Spread Spectrum? Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communication systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability, integrity, and security.