2.4 GHz Wireless-N USB Network Adapter WIRELESS Model No.
Wireless-N USB Network 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 © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome What’s in this User Guide? Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network Network Topology Roaming Network Layout Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-N USB Network Adapter The LED Indicators USB Extension Base Chapter 4: Setting up and Connecting the Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Starting the Setup Connecting the Adapter Setting up the Adapter Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Accessing the Wireless Network Mon
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Appendix F: Specifications Appendix G: Warranty Information Appendix H: Regulatory Information Appendix I: Contact Information 49 51 52 59
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter List of Figures Figure 3-1: Front Panel Figure 3-2: USB Extension Base Figure 4-1: Setup Wizard’s Welcome Screen Figure 4-2: Setup Wizard’s License Agreement Figure 4-3: Connecting the Adapter Figure 4-4: Available Wireless Networks Figure 4-5: WEP Key Needed for Connection Figure 4-6: PSK Needed for Connection Figure 4-7: PSK2 Needed for Connection Figure 4-8: Congratulations Figure 4-9: Available Wireless Network Figure 4-10: Network Settings Figure 4-11: Wireless Mode Figu
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Figure 5-6: WEP Key Needed for Connection Figure 5-7: PSK Needed for Connection Figure 5-8: PSK2 Needed for Connection Figure 5-9: Profiles Figure 5-10: Creating a Profile Figure 5-11: WEP Key Needed for Connection Figure 5-12: PSK Needed for Connection Figure 5-13: PSK2 Needed for Connection Figure 5-14: Congratulations Figure 5-15: Available Wireless Networks Figure 5-16: Network Settings Figure 5-17: Wireless Mode Figure 5-18: Ad-Hoc Mode Settings Figure 5-19: Wireless Sec
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome Thank you for choosing the Wireless-N USB Network Adapter. Setting up your network and your Wireless-N USB Network Adapter is easier than ever. Just connect it to your PC's USB port and enjoy incredible high-speed wireless network access, at unheard-of distances. How does the Adapter do this? Like all wireless products, the Adapter allows for greater range and mobility within your wireless network, whether it’s using the Wireless-G (802.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter • Chapter 4: Setting up and Connecting the Wireless-N USB Network Adapter This chapter instructs you on how to install and configure the Adapter. • Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monitor This chapter show you how to use the Adapter’s Wireless Network Monitor. • Appendix A: Troubleshooting This appendix describes some problems and solutions, as well as frequently asked questions, regarding installation and use of the Adapter.
Wireless-N USB Network 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-N USB Network 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-N USB Network Adapter Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-N USB Network Adapter The LED Indicators The USB Network Adapter's LEDs display information about network activity. Link/Act Power Figure 3-1: Front Panel Power Green. The Power LED lights up when the Adapter is powered on. Link/Act Green. The Link/Act LED lights up when the Adapter has an active connection.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter USB Extension Base A USB Extension Base is provided for easy access to the USB port. The USB Extension Base is connected to the USB port in your PC, then the Adapter is connected to the Base.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Chapter 4: Setting up and Connecting the Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Starting the Setup The Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Setup Wizard will guide you through the installation procedure. The Setup Wizard will install the driver and Wireless Network Monitor, as well as connect and configure the Adapter. IMPORTANT: Do not connect the Adapter until you are instructed to do so or the setup will not work. Insert the Setup Wizard CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Connecting the Adapter 1. Locate an available USB port on your PC. 2. Connect the Adapter in one of three ways: 1. Insert the Adapter into the USB port. 2. If you want to use the included USB Extension Base, first connect the USB Extension Base to the USB port on the PC, then insert the Adapter into the USB port on the Base. 3.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter need to configure security on the Adapter. If not, you will be taken directly to the Congratulations screen. 1. If you have wireless security enabled on your network, continue to step 2. If you don’t have wireless security enabled, continue to step 3. 2. If your network has WEP, PSK, or PSK2 wireless security enabled, then that security screen will appear. Continue to the screen for your wireless security.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter • PSK2 (Pre-shared key 2) If your network has the wireless security PSK2 enabled, this screen will appear. You must enter the same security settings used on your network. Pre-shared Key - Enter a Pre-shared Key of 8-63 characters in the Pre-shared Key field. Then click Connect and proceed to Step 3. Figure 4-7: PSK2 Needed for Connection 3. After the software has been successfully installed, the Congratulations screen will appear. Click Finish to exit.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Advanced Setup If your network is not listed with the available networks, you can use Manual Setup. 1. Click Advanced Setup on the Available Wireless Network screen to set up the adapter manually. 2. The Network Settings screen from the Wireless Network Monitor will appear. If your network has a DHCP server or router, click the radio button next to Obtain network settings automatically (DHCP).
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter 4. If you chose Infrastructure Mode, go to Step 5 now. If you chose Ad-Hoc Mode, the Ad-Hoc Mode Settings screen will appear. Network Mode - Select the Network Mode in which your wireless network will operate. In Mixed mode, Wireless-N, Wireless-B and Wireless-G devices can operate on the same network. Standard Channel - Select the correct channel for your wireless network. The channel you choose should match the channel set on the other devices in your wireless network.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter enter exactly 10 hexadecimal characters. For 128-bit encryption, enter exactly 26 hexadecimal characters. Valid hexadecimal characters are “0” to “9” and “A” to “F”. Advanced Users TX Key - The default transmit key number is 1. If your network’s access point or wireless router uses transmit key number 2, 3, or 4, select the appropriate number from the TX Key drop-down box.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter PSK+RADIUS PSK+RADIUS features PSK security used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router.) PSK+RADIUS offers two authentication methods, EAP-TLS and PEAP, as well as two encryption methods, TKIP and AES, with dynamic encryption keys. You must enter the same security settings used on your network. Authentication - Select the authentication method your network is using, EAP-TLS or PEAP.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter PSK2+RADIUS PSK2+RADIUS features PSK2 security used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router.) PSK2+RADIUS offers two authentication methods, EAPTLS and PEAP. You must enter the same security settings used on your network. Authentication - Select the authentication method your network is using, EAP-TLS or PEAP.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter RADIUS RADIUS features use of a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router.) RADIUS offers two authentication types: EAP-TLS and PEAP. You must enter the same security settings used on your network. Authentication - Select the authentication method your network is using, EAP-TLS or PEAP. EAP-TLS If you selected EAP-TLS, enter the login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter 4. The Confirm New Settings screen will appear next and show the new settings. To save the new settings, click the Save button. To edit the new settings, click the Back button. To exit the Advanced Setup through the Wireless Network Monitor, click Exit. Figure 4-22: Confirm New Settings 5. The Congratulations screen will appear next. Click Connect to Network to implement the new settings and return to the Link Information screen.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monitor 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, the Wireless Network Monitor icon will appear in the system tray of your computer. If the Wireless Network Monitor is enabled, then the icon will be green.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Wireless Network Status The Wireless Network Status screen provides information on your current network settings. Radio Band - This shows the radio band used on the network. Wireless Network Name- This is the unique name (SSID) of the wireless network. Wireless Mode - The mode of the wireless network currently in use is displayed here. Wide Channel - This displays the Wireless-N primary channel used with a 40 MHz radio band network.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Wireless Network Statistics The Wireless Networks Statistics screen provides statistics on your current network settings. Transmit Rate - This is the data transfer rate of the current connection. (In Auto mode, the Adapter dynamically shifts to the fastest data transfer rate possible at any given time.) Receive Rate - This is the rate at which data is received.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Connect The Connect screen displays a list of available networks in the table on the left. The table shows each network’s Wireless Network Name, Channel, and the quality of the wireless signal the Adapter is receiving. You may click Wireless Network Name, CH (Channel), or Signal, to sort by that field. Wireless Network Name - The SSID or unique name of the wireless network is displayed here. CH - This is the channel that the network uses.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter • If the network has PSK2 wireless security enabled, then you will see the PSK2 Needed for Connection screen. Enter the network’s Pre-shared Key in the Pre-shared Key field. You must enter the same security settings used on your network. To connect to the network, click Connect. To cancel the connection, click Cancel. Profiles The Profiles screen lets you save different configuration profiles for different network setups.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Create a New Profile The next screen to appear will be the Available Wireless Networks screen. This screen provides two options for setting up the Adapter. • Available Wireless Networks. (For most users.) Use this option if you already have a network set up. The networks available to this Adapter will be listed on this screen. You can choose one of these networks and click the Connect button to connect to it.
Wireless-N USB Network Adapter the passphrase of your wireless network and is compatible with Linksys wireless products only. (If you have any non-Linksys wireless products, enter the WEP key manually on those products.) WEP Key - The WEP key you enter must match the WEP key of your wireless network. For 64-bit encryption, enter exactly 10 hexadecimal characters. For 128-bit encryption, enter exactly 26 hexadecimal characters. Valid hexadecimal characters are “0” to “9” and “A” to “F”.
