® A Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. 2.4 GHz Wireless-G 802.11g PCI Adapter WIRELESS Model No.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter 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 PCI Adapter with SpeedBooster 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 4 4 4 5 Chapter 3: Software Installation and Configuration for Windows 2000, 98, and ME 6 Chapter 4: Connecting the PCI Adapter 11 Chapter 5: Driver Installation for Windows XP 13 Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Overview Accessing the Wireless Networ
Wireless-G PCI Adapter with SpeedBooster List of Figures Figure 3-1: The Setup Wizard’s Welcome Screen Figure 3-2: The License Agreement Screen Figure 3-3: The Wireless Mode Screen Figure 3-4: The Ad-Hoc Mode Settings Screen Figure 3-5: The Wireless Security Screen Figure 3-6: The Check Settings Screen Figure 3-7: The Windows Digital Signature Screen Figure 3-8: The Congratulations Screen Figure 4-1: Your Computer’s PCI slot with Adapter installed Figure 4-2: Proper Positioning of the Antenna Figure 5-1: X
Wireless-G PCI Adapter with SpeedBooster Figure 6-14: Profiles - Confirm New Settings Figure 6-15: Profiles - Congratulations 25 25
Wireless-G PCI Adapter Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome Thank you for choosing the Wireless-G PCI Adapter. With this Adapter, your wireless networking experience will be faster and easier than ever. Like all wireless products, the Adapter allows for greater range and mobility within your wireless network. This adapter communicates over the 54Mbps 802.11g wireless standard, which is almost five times faster than 802.11b. But since they share the same 2.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter What’s in this Guide? This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Wireless-G PCI Adapter. • Chapter 1: Introduction This chapter describes the Adapter’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 PCI Adapter This chapter describes the physical features of the Adapter.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter • Appendix G: Regulatory Information This appendix supplies the Adapter’s regulatory information. • Appendix H: Contact Information This appendix provides contact information for a variety of Linksys resources, including Technical Support.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter 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 PCI Adapter Network Layout Linksys wireless access points and wireless routers have been designed for use with 802.11a, 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 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter Chapter 3: Software Installation and Configuration for Windows 2000, 98 SE, and ME The Wireless-G PCI Adapter Setup Wizard will guide you through the installation procedure. The Setup Wizard will install the Wireless Network Monitor and driver, as well as configure the Adapter. IMPORTANT: You must run the Setup Wizard to install the software before connecting the Adapter. If you are running Windows XP, connect the Adapter as shown in Chapter 4 and proceed to Chapter 5. 1.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter 2. Read the License Agreement displayed on the following screen and click the Next button to continue the installation. If you click the Cancel button, you will end the installation. Figure 3-2: The License Agreement Screen 3. The Wireless Mode screen will ask for some information about your wireless network. In the SSID field, enter your network’s SSID (Service Set Identifier). The SSID is your network name and must be identical for all devices in the network.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter 4. If you chose Infrastructure Mode, go to Step 5 now. If you chose Ad-Hoc Mode, select the correct operating channel for your network from the Channel drop-down menu. Then, select the Network Mode from the dropdown menu. Click the Next button, and go to Step 5. Click the Back button to change any settings. Channel - The channel you choose should match the channel set on the other devices in your wireless network.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter 6. The Setup Wizard will ask you to review your settings before it starts to copy files. Click the Next button to save these settings, or click the Back button to change any settings. Figure 3-6: The Check Settings Screen 7. At this point, a screen stating that a digital signature was not found may appear. This software has been tested and found to work properly with Windows 2000. Click the Yes button to continue installation.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter 8. After the files have been successfully copied, the Congratulations screen will appear. Click the Exit button. Now that the software installation is complete, proceed to Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G PCI Adapter.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter Chapter 4: Connecting the PCI Adapter 1. Before connecting the PCI Adapter to your PC, turn off your desktop PC. 2. Open your PC case and locate an available PCI slot on the motherboard. Check with your computer manufacturer for instructions. 3. Slide the PCI Adapter into the PCI slot. Make sure that all of its pins are touching the slot's contacts. You may have to apply a bit of pressure to slide the adapter all the way in.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter 4. Attach the external antenna to the adapter’s antenna port. port: the connection point on a computer or networking device used for plugging in a cable or an adapter. Figure 4-2: Proper Positioning of the Antenna 5. Power on your desktop PC. Windows 2000 users may see a Windows Digital Signature screen, but can continue installation. Windows 98 SE users may be required to insert their Windows CD.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter Chapter 5: Driver Installation for Windows XP After connecting the Adapter to your PC, as shown in Chapter 4, you’ll need to install the driver. Windows XP will automatically detect the Adapter. Insert the Setup CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. Click the radio button next to Install the software automatically (Recommended). Then, click the Next button. Figure 5-1: XP Setup Welcome Screen The next screen shows that the Wizard is complete. Click the Finish button.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration NOTE: Windows XP has a built-in configuration tool. Use Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration (in the system tray at the bottom of your screen) to configure the Adapter. 1. After installing the Adapter, the Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration icon will appear in your computer’s system tray. Double-click the icon.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter 3. If WEP is enabled, you will be asked to enter the network (WEP) key. Enter the WEP key of your wireless network in the Network key field, and re-enter it in the Confirm network key field. Then, click the Connect button, and proceed to step 4. Figure 5-5: Network Connection - WEP NOTE: Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration does not support the use of a passphrase. Enter the exact WEP key used by your access point. 4.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Overview Use the Wireless Network Monitor to check the link information, search for available wireless networks, or create profiles that hold different configuration settings. Accessing the Wireless Network Monitor After installing the Adapter’s Setup Wizard, the Wireless Network Monitor icon will appear in your system tray. Double-click the icon. The Link Information tab will appear.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter Clicking the More Information button displays much more information about the Adapter’s connection, as shown below: Wireless Network Status Status - This shows the status of the wireless network connection. SSID - This is the unique name of the wireless network. Wireless Mode - The mode of the wireless network currently in use is displayed here. Transfer Rate - The data transfer rate of the current connection is shown here.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter Transmit Rate - This shows the speed, in megabits per second, at which data is transmitted from the Adapter. Receive Rate - This shows the speed, in megabits per second, at which data is received by the Adapter. Packets Received - This shows the packets received by the Adapter, in real time, since connecting to the Wireless Network or since the Refresh button was last pressed.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter The Site Survey Tab The Site Survey tab displays available networks and allows you to connect to them. The information about these networks are displayed as below: SSID - The SSID or unique name of the wireless network. CH - The channel upon which the network broadcasts. Signal - The percentage of signal strength, from 0 to 100%. Site Information Figure 6-4: The Site Survey Tab SSID - The SSID or unique name of the wireless network.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter The Profiles Tab The Profiles screen lets you save different configuration profiles for different network setups. You can also import or export profiles. The default profile holds 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 Information Wireless Mode - The mode of the wireless network currently in use.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter Import - Click the Import button to import a profile that has been saved in another location. Select the appropriate file and click the Open button. Figure 6-6: Importing a Profile 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. Figure 6-7: Exporting a Profile Delete - Click the Delete button to delete a profile.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter Creating a New Profile 1. On the Profiles tab, click the New button to create a new profile. Figure 6-8: The Profiles Tab 2. When the Create connection profile screen appears, enter a name for the new profile. Click OK to save the profile name or click Cancel to return to the previous screen.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter 3. Enter your network’s settings on the Network Settings screen, which appears next. If your network has a DHCP server (or Router), click the radio button next to Obtain an IP address automatically (DHCP) and click the Next button to continue. If your network does not have a DHCP server (or router), click the radio button next to Specify the IP address. Enter an IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and DNS appropriate for your network. Enter each address in this format: xxx.xxx.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter 5. The Ad-Hoc Mode Settings screen, for those who chose an Ad-hoc network, will appear next. Select the correct operating channel for your network from the Channel drop-down menu. Then, select the Network Mode from the drop-down menu. Click the Next button to continue or click the Back button to change any settings. Channel - The channel you choose should match the channel set on the other devices in your wireless network.
Wireless-G PCI Adapter 7. The Confirm New Settings screen will appear. To save the new settings, click the Save button. To cancel the settings and return to the Profiles screen, click the Exit button. To edit the new settings, click the Back button. Figure 6-14: Profiles - Confirm New Settings 8. The Congratulations screen shows that the new Profile has successfully been configured. Click Connect to Network to implement the new settings immediately and return to the Link Information screen.