Caution For use with UL Listed, CSA and GS approved personal computers. Not intended for use in machinery, medical or industrial applications. Do not use onboard an aircraft or in hazardous locations such as a gas station or other explosive environment. My Network Settings Use this page to record your network settings. Workgroup or domain name: ______________________________________ Base Station password: __________________________________________ For indoor use only.
contents 1 | Introduction: Welcome to Wireless-G ..................................................................................1 About Your Wireless PCI Adapter................................................................................... 1 About Wireless (Radio) Connections ............................................................................. 3 Types of Wireless Networks........................................................................................
Making Your Network More Secure ............................................................................ 24 Help Protect Your Network from Computer Viruses ............................................... 24 Help Protect Your Network from Hackers ............................................................... 25 Help Protect Your Network from Unauthorized Access.......................................... 25 5 | Troubleshooting: Finding Answers to Common Problems............................................
Appendix B: Support and Technical Information ........................................................... 44 Getting Help ..................................................................................................................44 Visit Us on the Web ...................................................................................................44 Click Help in the Broadband Network Utility............................................................44 Technical Support Options ...................
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introduction Welcome to Wireless-G Thank you for purchasing the Microsoft® Broadband Networking Wireless PCI Adapter. This wireless adapter is up to five times faster than 802.11b adapters. You can use your adapter to add a computer to a new or existing wireless network. This chapter describes your wireless adapter and explains wireless (radio) connections. Note For more information about 802.11g, see “Understanding Wireless Transmission Standards” later in this chapter.
Antenna Mounting bracket Wireless light The Wireless status light provides information about network connectivity and data activity. The following table describes the behavior of the Wireless light. 2 When the light is… This means… On The adapter has established communication with a wireless network. Blinking quickly Data is being sent or received wirelessly. Blinking slowly The adapter is trying to establish communication with a wireless network.
About Wireless (Radio) Connections Your adapter communicates by radio transmission. Radio waves travel in all directions, and can be transmitted through walls and floors. This section on wireless connections explains wireless network types and provides important information about wireless performance. Types of Wireless Networks There are two types of wireless networks: infrastructure and ad hoc.
In an ad hoc network, a wireless adapter connects directly to wireless adapters that are installed in other computers. This type of network is often used when only two computers or devices are being connected, when a broadband Internet connection will not be shared, or when the connection to another computer is intended to be temporary. The following illustration shows an ad hoc network.
Adjusting the Antenna To improve wireless reception, you can adjust the adapter’s antenna. Start with the antenna pointing straight up, and adjust the antenna if you experience poor signal strength. Certain areas, such as directly below the antenna, get relatively poor reception. Pointing the antenna toward another wireless component does not improve reception. Understanding Wireless Transmission Standards 802.
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2 setup Using the Setup Wizard This chapter will guide you through the setup process for your Microsoft® Broadband Networking Wireless PCI Adapter. To set up your adapter, you need a computer that: O Is running Microsoft Windows® XP, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 98, or Windows 98 SE. O Has an available PCI slot. The steps in this chapter correspond to the steps that you will go through in the wizard on the Setup CD.
3. If you are setting up an adapter on a computer that is already connected to a network over Ethernet, disconnect the computer from the network. Note After you set up the wireless adapter, you can still return to using the Ethernet connection (instead of the wireless connection) at times if you want to. For some tasks that you might perform on your network, using an Ethernet connection may increase the data transfer rate.
Step 3: Install the Adapter in Your Computer 1. After your computer shuts down completely, unplug the power cord from the back of the computer to prevent electric shock. 2. Remove the cover from your computer. For instructions, see your computer documentation. Caution Electronic components are sensitive to static electricity. Always ground yourself by touching the metal frame of your computer with your bare hand before touching the PCI adapter or any other internal components of your computer. 3.
8. Adjust the antenna so that it points upward and away from any adjacent cabling, as shown in the following illustration. Make sure that the antenna is screwed in snugly, being careful not to overtighten it. 9. Plug in the power cord, and make sure that no other cables have come loose during installation. Step 4: Configure the Adapter 1. Turn on your computer. When Windows starts, the Setup Wizard automatically resumes.
4. If you are connecting to a network with a base station, gateway, or router, the wizard will prompt you for your wireless network settings. If you want to join an adhoc network, see “Joining an Available Network” in Chapter 4. Note For more information about network types, see “Types of Wireless Networks” in Chapter 1. 5. The wizard will help you set up your computer for file and printer sharing. 6. When you reach the end of the Setup Wizard, click Finish to exit the wizard.
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3 network activities Sharing Resources and Joining Other Networks After setting up your wireless network, you can perform common network tasks, such as making files and printers available to other computers (a process called “sharing”), and then accessing these shared resources. You can also use the same Internet connection from multiple computers on your network. This chapter describes how to: O Log on to your network. O Use the same Internet connection from multiple computers on your network.
Logging on to Your Network After starting your computer, you must always log on to your network to access files, printers, and other resources that have been shared. If you have Microsoft® Windows® 98 or Windows Millennium Edition operating system, do not click Cancel during the logon process, even if you decide to leave your password blank. Type your user name, type your password (or leave it blank), and then click OK.
Using an Internet Connection over a Network If you have the Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Base Station and a broadband connection to the Internet, the other computers on your network can share the original Internet connection. Internet sharing is automatically configured by the Setup Wizard when you install the base station.
To start the Broadband Network Utility O Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Microsoft Broadband Network Utility. -orO Double-click the Broadband Network Utility icon far right of the Windows taskbar.
Step 1: Make your files and folders available to the network You may have set up file sharing on your computers when you set up the base station and adapter. If you did not set up file sharing when you set up your hardware, you can enable it by using the Windows operating system. You can also use Windows to change or further refine the settings you selected during Setup. For more detailed instructions and information about sharing files and folders, see Windows Help.
To share a folder or drive on your computer (in Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows Me) 1. Enable file sharing on your computer if you have not already done so. You need to do this only once. For information about how to enable file sharing, see Windows Help. 2. Open My Computer. 3. Select the file or folder that you want to make available to other computers on your network. 4. On the File menu, click Sharing. 5. Click Shared as. Change the level of access if you want, and then click OK.
To copy a file or folder from a network computer to your local computer 1. Use the preceding steps to browse to the shared file or folder that you want to copy. 2. On the File menu, point to Explorer Bar, and then click Folders. The Folders bar appears in the left pane. You can now see the hierarchical structure of drives, folders, and files on your computer and on the other computers that are part of your network. 3.
Using Other Peripheral Devices over a Network In addition to using most printers over a network, you can use other peripheral devices—such as hard drives, CD drives, and Zip drives—over your network. Some peripheral devices (such as some scanners) cannot be shared with other computers on your network. Before you can use a device that is attached to another computer on your network, you will need to do the following: O Make the device available to the network (this is also known as sharing the device).
O If you have problems connecting to an Internet-based game, you might need to configure your base station to work with your game. If you have a Microsoft base station, see the MN-500: Base Station Configuration Guide or MN-700: Base Station Configuration Guide on the Setup CD. For information about playing games on the Internet, and for other game-related information, visit: www.microsoft.com/broadbandnetworking.
Joining an Available Wireless Network By using the Broadband Network Utility, you can view any network that is within range and broadcasting its wireless network name (SSID). To join an available network, you simply select the network from a list of available networks and then change the wireless security settings of your adapter to match the settings of the network you want to join. To join an available network (in Windows XP) 1. Start the Broadband Network Utility. 2.
4 network management Understanding Network Maintenance and Security Now that you have a wireless network, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with some important network management tasks. This chapter describes how to monitor network performance, view adapter settings, update network software, and improve network security.
View Adapter Settings You can view the settings for your Microsoft wireless adapter from the Broadband Network Utility. These settings include the IP address, wireless network name (also known as Service Set Identifier, or SSID), and wireless channel. To view adapter settings O From the Tools menu of the Broadband Network Utility, click Adapter Settings. For information about how to change your adapter settings, see Broadband Network Utility Help.
O Educate yourself about how viruses are commonly spread so that you do not spread one yourself: O Do not load a program from an untrusted source onto one of your network computers. Files from the Internet or online bulletin boards are particularly risky. O Never open attachments to e-mail messages that you are not expecting. O Use your antivirus software to scan all floppy disks before copying or opening files from them, or before starting your computer from them.
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5 troubleshooting Finding Answers to Common Problems This chapter will help you solve the most common installation and setup problems that you may have with your Microsoft® Broadband Networking components.
Setup does not recognize my wireless PCI adapter. The following troubleshooting steps will help you track down and solve the problem. O Verify that the status light is illuminated. Make sure that the status light labeled “Wireless” on your PCI adapter is illuminated to indicate that the adapter is receiving power and that the network has recognized and acknowledged the adapter.
Network and Internet Problems This section will help you solve common issues that might occur while you are using your local area network (LAN) or Internet connection. I can’t stay connected to my wireless network. If you are running the Windows XP operating system with Service Pack 1 (SP1), you might lose connection to your wireless network every 3 to 5 minutes. This can be caused by incorrect wireless network security settings. To solve this problem, you need to disable 802.
Interference can also cause Internet connection problems. Signals that are transmitted between the base station and a wireless adapter can be affected by interference from other wireless devices—including 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) cordless phones, microwave ovens, and neighboring wireless networks. Move the other devices further from your wireless networking hardware as needed, and refrain from using them while you are using the network.
My network is slow. If networked programs are running slowly, or you are experiencing large slowdowns in your Internet connection speed, try decreasing the number of computers or programs that are simultaneously accessing your network. Note Programs that do not use network resources, for example Microsoft Word when it is editing a local document, will not interfere with the speed of your network. Only programs that must constantly use your network connection to function will be affected.
Several troubleshooting steps addressing these issues are listed below, with solutions to the most common problems listed first. O Make sure that the rest of your network is functioning correctly. Verify that you can access the Internet from other computers on your network. If other computers also cannot access the Internet, the problem might be with your base station, modem, or Internet service provider (ISP). See the following troubleshooting steps for more information.
O If you are using a wireless connection, check for range and interference issues. You might be out of range of the wireless base station, gateway, or router. Position the computer with the wireless adapter in the same room as your base station and try connecting again. If you can connect to the wireless network and run applications and games without a problem, you might have been previously out of range.
Printing and File Sharing Issues This section will help you solve problems you might encounter while printing over your network or accessing shared files and folders. I can’t print to a networked printer. The following troubleshooting steps will help you track down and solve the problem. O Make sure that the printer is functioning properly. There could be a problem with the printer itself. Verify that the printer is on and working correctly by using the printer’s self-test functions.
I cannot access a shared file or folder from a computer on my network. Files and folders are “shared” when they are made available to other users on your network from the computer on which they reside. The following troubleshooting steps will help you track down and solve the problem. O Make sure that your network is functioning correctly.
Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows Me 1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2. Double-click Network, and then click the Identification tab. If you need to modify the workgroup name, click Change. When all computers are members of the same workgroup, try sharing or accessing shared files again. O Turn on file and printer sharing on the computer that contains the file you want to share.
I can open shared files or folders, but cannot write to or delete them. The following troubleshooting steps will help you track down and solve the problem. O Check to see if the file is read-only. “Read-only” is a file attribute that prevents anyone from writing to the file or otherwise making alterations. To check the attributes of a file, locate the file in its folder, right-click the file, and choose Properties.
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appendixes Appendix A: Locating Your Internet and Network Settings If the Setup Wizard cannot detect your settings, or if you are setting up a product without using the Setup Wizard, you will need to enter your Internet and local area network (LAN) settings manually. The following instructions will help you locate the settings that you need. You can record this information on the inside back cover of this User’s Guide for future reference.
General Internet Settings If you have not set up a base station, gateway, or router, and you have an adapter that is currently configured correctly for your ISP, you can use the following procedure to locate most of the Internet settings you need. To locate your Internet settings 1. On the Start menu, click Run. 2. Do one of the following: O If you have Microsoft Windows® XP or Windows 2000, type cmd O If you have Windows Me, Windows 98, or Windows 98 SE, type command 3.
You can find the MAC address for your Microsoft adapters printed on the label. You can find the base station MAC address on the side of the base station (or on the underside if the base station is positioned vertically). Note For information about cloning a MAC address, so that the setting conforms to the MAC address on record with your ISP, see Help in the Broadband Network Utility.
To locate your static IP address settings (Windows Me, Windows 98, and Windows 98 SE) 1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network. Note If you do not see the Network item in Control Panel, click View all control panel options on the left side of the screen. 2. On the Configuration tab, select TCP/IP, and then click Properties. Note If there is more than one TCP/IP option listed, select the option for your Ethernet adapter, not your dial-up adapter. 3.
To determine your workgroup name in Windows Me and Windows 98 1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2. Double-click Network, and then click the Identification tab. Your workgroup name appears in the Workgroup box. Wireless Network Name Your wireless network name, or SSID, uniquely identifies your wireless network and is case sensitive. O If you have the Broadband Network Utility installed on a computer on your network, you can use it to identify your wireless network name.
Appendix B: Support and Technical Information This appendix contains the following reference information for your Broadband Networking products: O Getting Help O Regulatory Information O Technical Specifications O System Requirements O Limited Warranty Getting Help If you have a question about your Microsoft® Broadband Networking products, the following resources on the Web, in Help, and from Technical Support may help you find the answer.
Regulatory Information United States Radio and TV Interference Regulations This device complies with Part 15 of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. The Microsoft hardware device(s) that accompanies this software can radiate radio frequency (RF) energy.
Technical Specifications Wireless PCI Adapter 46 Standards IEEE 802.11b, 802.11g, Wi-Fi certified Host Interface PCI card slot, 32-bit, 5V Data Rate 1, 2, 5.
System Requirements To use the Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless PCI Adapter (MN-730), you need: ® O Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Base Station or other Wi-Fi access point O PC with an available PCI slot; PC drivers are included for Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me), Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Professional, and Windows XP Home Edition operating systems ® To use the Microsoft Broadband Networking Setup Wizard and Broadband Network Ut
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glossary This glossary contains common terms for wired and wireless networking. There is a more complete list of terms in Broadband Network Utility Help. 802.11b A wireless networking standard that transmits wireless data at speeds up to 11 megabits per second (Mbps). 802.11g A wireless networking standard that transmits wireless data at speeds up to 54 megabits per second (Mbps). access point ad hoc network adapter bandwidth base station bridge broadband connection See “wireless access point.
computer-tocomputer network crossover cable DHCP See “Ethernet cable.” Acronym for “Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.” DHCP is an Internet protocol that automatically assigns temporary Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to computers. DMZ See “virtual DMZ.” DNS Acronym for “Domain Name System.” A data query service used on the Internet for translating host names, such as www.microsoft.com, into Internet addresses that can be understood by computers.
hub A device that has multiple ports and that serves as a connection point for Ethernet cables on a network. When data arrives at the hub from one computer, it is copied to the other ports to be transmitted to other computers. Unlike the more “intelligent” switch and router, the hub does not direct or control data flow.
network adapter NIC packet PC Card PCI PCMCIA A computer circuit board, card, or other device used to provide network access from a computer to other parts of the network – for example, to another computer, a printer, or a base station (gateway or router). Adapters can be installed inside a computer, inserted into a computer’s expansion slots, or connected to a computer’s ports. Acronym for “Network Interface Card.
PPPoE Acronym for “Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet.” A specification for connecting users on a network to the Internet by using a broadband connection (typically through a DSL modem). protocol A set of rules and conventions for sending information over a network. These rules govern the content, format, timing, sequencing, and error control of messages exchanged among network devices.
UPnP USB USB port virtual DMZ Acronym for “universal serial bus.” A hardware standard for easily connecting peripherals to a computer system. USB supports Plug and Play and UPnP installation, so devices can be connected and disconnected without shutting down and restarting your computer. A rectangular slot in a computer or computer peripheral into which a USB connector is inserted. USB ports can be high-powered or lowpowered.