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CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION The ME102 802.11b wireless Access Point is the basic building block of a wireless LAN infrastructure. It provides wireless connectivity to multiple wireless network devices within a fixed range or area of coverage, interacting with a wireless network interface card (NIC) via an antenna. Typically, individual in-building access point provides a maximum connectivity range of about 300 feet.
CHAPTER 2: WIRELESS NETWORK FUNDAMENTALS Wireless Network Configuration Ad-hoc Mode (Peer-to-Peer Workgroup) The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard for wireless LANs (WLANs), 802.11, offers two methods for configuring a wireless network — ad hoc and infrastructure. In an ad hoc network, computers are brought together as needed; thus, there is no structure or fixed points to the network — each node can generally communicate with any other node.
Service Set Identification (SS ID) The Service Set Identification (SS ID) is a thirty-two alphanumeric character (maximum) string identifying the wireless local area network. Some vendors refer to the SS ID as network name. For stations to communicate with each other, all stations must be configured with the same SS ID. A wireless LAN consisting of nodes operating in ad hoc configuration without an access point is called a Basic Service Set (BSS).
Wireless Channel Selection IEEE 802.11 wireless nodes communicate with each other using radio frequency signals in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) band between 2.4Ghz and 2.5Ghz. Neighboring channels are 5Mhz apart. However, due to spread spectrum effect of the signals, a node sending signals using a particular channel will utilize frequency spectrum12.5Mhz above and below the center channel frequency.
CHAPTER 3: Hardware Installation Package Contents The product package should contain: • Model ME102 802.11b Wireless Access Point • Power adapter and cord (5Vdc, 1.0A) • 10-ft Category 5 Ethernet Cable • 5-ft USB cable • MA401/MA301 Wireless Access Point Resource CD • Installation Guide • Support Information Card Call your reseller or customer support in your area if there are any wrong, missing, or damaged parts.
CHAPTER 4: Access Point Configuration The ME102 Wireless Access Point is configurable through its USB interface or using the SNMP utility through the Ethernet or wireless interface. . Using USB Port The installation example below illustrates the wireless access point configuration through its USB interface from a connected PC. This PC must be running Windows 98, Windows 2000, or Windows Millennium. Connecting the USB Cable Plug in the power adapter for the ME102 access point to provide power to the unit.
Installing USB Configuration Utility The access point USB configuration utility enables you to modify the various configurable parameters of the access point. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Insert the ME102 Wireless Access Point Resource CD into the CD-ROM drive. From the Windows 98 desktop, double-click on My Computer. Double-click on the CD-ROM drive to look into the content of the CD. Double-click on the USBMANG folder. Windows displays all of the files in the \USBMANG directory of the CD.
Changing Wireless Parameters The following table explains each of the configurable parameters of the ME102 Wireless Access Point. General Specifications Model ME102 Wireless Access Point Access Point Name Assign name to the access point. IP Address Assign Internet Protocol (IP) address to the access point. Subnet Mask Assign IP Subnet Mask to the access point. MAC Address Displays the six-byte MAC address of the access point. This parameter is not changeable by the user.
Authentication Configurable between Open System (WEP disabled), Shared Key (40bit WEP data encryption), and both. Preamble Mode A long transmit preamble allows the receiver to lock into the received bit patterns more easily. A short transmit preamble provides better performance. The default value is Long Tx Preamble. Auto Rate Enables or disables automatic negotiation of wireless transmit data rate. Fragment Threshold This is the packet length used for fragmentation.
Assigning IP Address In order to set the access point IP address you need to know the access point MAC address. Follow the steps below to give the access point a temporary address at the beginning and save the IP address permanently through the SNMP Configuration Utility. Assigning temporary IP address 1. Connect an Ethernet station and the access point on the same subnet. The simplest way to accomplish this is to connect the access point and the Ethernet station to the same hub.
Configuring Access Point From the Windows desktop, select Start ⇒ Program ⇒ NETGEAR ME102 AP ⇒ Access Point SNMP Manager. All accessible access points from this system are shown in a table. Select the access point, and click on “Configure”. The configurable parameters are categorized into folders and are accessible by clicking on the folder tabs. The definitions of the parameters are explained in the following table.
Encryption Default Key The ME102 Wireless access point supports 40-bit WEP data encryption. (40-bit WEP data encryption is also called 64-bit WEP data encryption by some vendors.) This parameter enables/disables encryption and select the 40-bit WEP data encryption key to use. Up to four keys can be defined in the access point. The possible values for this parameter are Disable, Key1, Key2, Key3, and Key4. .
Ethernet Statistics Received Packets Reports the various receive packet statistics on the Ethernet interface of the access point. Transmitted Packets Reports the various transmit packet statistics on the Ethernet interface of the access point. Wireless Statistics Received Packets Reports the various receive packet statistics on the wireless interface of the access point. Transmitted Packets Reports the various transmit packet statistics on the wireless interface of the access point.
APPENDIX A: HARDWARE SPECIFICATION General Specifications Model ME102 802.11 Wireless Access Point Radio Data Rate 1, 2, 5.5, 11Mbps (Auto Rate Sensing) Frequency 2.4Ghz to 2.5Ghz Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) Range Outdoor environment 1Mbps - 1650 ft (503 m) 2Mbps - 1320 ft (402 m) 5.
