11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter User Manual Table of Contents 1 Introduction Package Contents Minimum System Requirements Safety Precaution Technical Support 1 1 1 1 2 2 Setting Up the USB Adapter Connecting the Adapter 3 3 3 Using the Wireless LAN Monitor Utility Opening the Monitor Utility Window Using the Wireless LAN Monitor Windows XP 11 11 12 20 4 Using the Wireless LAN Config. Utility Opening the Configuration Utility Window Using the Wireless LAN Configuration Utility Windows XP 21 21 22 28 A Reference Locating Computer Information Locating Windows Operating System Files 29 29 30 B Specifications General Wireless Operating Range Environmental 33 33 33 34 C Glossary Notices Regulatory Compliance Notices Modifications 35 39 39 39 Limited Warranty 41 i Actiontec 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter User Manual ii Introduction 1 Thank you for purchasing the Actiontec 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter. This Wireless USB Adapter features the latest wireless technology and will help you build the world of wireless networking. This easy-to-set-up, easy-to-use product is perfect for the mobile home or small office computer user. If you want to take your computing to the next level, the Actiontec 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter is one of the keys to your success.. Package Contents Actiontec 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter USB cable Installation CD (includes user manual) Quick start guide Warranty and registration card Minimum System Requirements Computer with CD-ROM drive, USB connection, and at least 500 Kbytes of free disk space Microsoft Windows 98, 98 Second Edition (SE), Millennium Edition (Me), 2000, or XP TCP/IP network protocol installed on each computer Safety Precaution Use only the accessories and connection cables that came in the Wireless USB Adapter package. Failure to do so may cause the Wireless USB Adapter to malfunction. If any of the package contents are missing, or if any parts are damaged, contact your local dealer. 1 Actiontec 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter User Manual Technical Support Actiontec Electronics prides itself on making high-quality, durable, high-performance products. If you need assistance, the Actiontec Technical Support Department is available to provide professional support. Actiontec Electronics, Inc. 760 N. Mary Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94085 Technical Support Phone: 1-888-436-0657 (US) or 0845 65 80411 (UK) E-mail: techsupp@actiontec.com Internet: www.actiontec.com/support 2 Setting Up the USB Adapter 2 The instructions that follow parallel the steps contained in the Actiontec Installation BuddyTM, which provides a visual guide to setting up the Wireless USB Adapter. We recommend the user run the Installation Buddy first, before attempting any other procedures. To set up the Adapter, it must be connected to and configured with a computer, and then connected to a wireless network. To do this, use the following procedure. Connecting the Adapter 1. Insert the Actiontec Installation Buddy CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive of the computer. The Installation Buddy will start automatically. Wait until the following window appears, read the onscreen instructions, then click Next. 2. The next window appears. Select the kind of router, gateway, or access point the Adapter will connect to (Actiontec or Other Brand) by clicking in the proper check box, then click Next. 3 Actiontec 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter User Manual 3. In the next window, click in the check box next to Wireless USB Adapter and click Next. 4. The next window appears. Select the type of Adapter used (A or B) by clicking on the check box that corresponds to the Adapter type, then click Next. Note: The rest of this procedure is based on the "A" option chosen in the the window above. If the "B" option Adapter is being connected, the procedure is nearly identical; the only changes are in the pictures in the windows of the hardware used. 4 Chapter 2 Setting Up the USB Adapter 5. The next window appears. Read the onscreen instructions, then click Next. 6. When the next window appears, read the information concerning the items needed to set up the Adapter, then click Next. Note: If the "B" option was chosen in step 4, the picture in the window below will be different.. 7. If Actiontec was chosen in step 2, the following window appears. Read the instructions concerning the gateway, router, or access point, then click Next. 5 Actiontec 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter User Manual If Other Brand was chosen in step 2, the following window appears. Read the instructions concerning the gateway, router, or access point, then click Next. 8. When the next window appears, plug the rectangular end of the USB Cable into a USB Port on the front or back of the computer. Click Next. Note: If the "B" option was chosen in step 4, the picture in the window below will be different. Note: A USB port is shaped like a thin rectangle about 1/4 inch by 1/2 inch, and may be vertically or horizontally oriented. 6 Chapter 2 Setting Up the USB Adapter 9. When the next window appears, connect the smaller end of the USB Cable in the port on the front of the Adapter, then click Next. Note: If the "B" option was chosen in step 4, the picture in the window below will be different. 10. As shown in the next window, select whether Windows XP is used on the computer connected to the Adapter by clicking Yes or No. Then, click Next. 7 Actiontec 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter User Manual 11. If Yes (Windows XP is running on the computer) was selected in step 10, the window below appears, instructing the user to click Start, Settings, and Network Connections from the desktop. Then, click Next in the Installation Buddy. If No was selected in step 10, go to step 14. 12. The next window appears, as well as the "Network Connections" window on the desktop. In the Network Connections window, double-click on the Wireless Network Connection, then click Next in the Installation Buddy. 8 Chapter 2 Setting Up the USB Adapter 13. When the next window appears, follow the onscreen instructions. In the "Connect to Wireless Networks" window on the desktop, select the wireless network the Adapter will connect to, then click Next in the Installation Buddy. 14. The next window appears as the Installation Buddy connects the Adapter to the wireless network. 9 Actiontec 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter User Manual 13. When the Adapter has finished connecting, a "Congratulations" window appears. Click Next through the following windows, then click Finish. The Adapter is connected to and configured with a computer, and connected to a wireless network. 10 Using the Wireless LAN Monitor Utility 3 Important: This Utility is for Wireless USB Adapter "A" (see step 4 on page 4). If using Wireless USB Adapter "B," see page 21. To monitor the wireless network to which the Wireless Adapter is connected, as well as check or adjust wireless network settings, use the Wireless LAN Monitor Utility. This utility offers the ability to check wireless network signal strength, connect to a wireless network using an encryption scheme, and many other options. Note: The Utility is used only on computers running Windows 98, 98 SE, Me, or 2000. If the computer being used runs Windows XP, see "Windows XP" on page 20. Opening the Monitor Utility Window To open the Utility, go to the right-hand corner of the desktop. In the System Tray (where the clock is located), double-click on the Actiontec Wireless LAN Monitor Utility icon (shown in the red circle, below) The Wireless LAN Monitor window appears on the desktop. 11 Actiontec 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter User Manual Using the Wireless LAN Monitor After double-clicking on the Wireless LAN Monitor icon, the Wireless LAN Monitor appears. There are six tabs at the top of the window: Status, Statistics, Site Survey, Encryption, Advanced, and Info. To select a particular tab, click on it. To close the Monitor window, click Exit. Status The Status tab (shown in the figure above) features a number of settings and statistics related to the wireless network connection. Some of the settings can be changed. To do this, click Change, which activates the configurable settings. After making changes, click Submit to save the changes, or Cancel to cancel the changes. Operating Mode The Operating Mode text box displays the type of network to which the Adapter is connected. There are two operating modes: Infrastructure and Ad Hoc. 12 Chapter 3 Using the Wireless LAN Monitor Utility Infrastructure - When Infrastructure is selected, the Adapter is connected to a router, gateway, or access point. Ad Hoc - When Ad Hoc is selected, the Adapter is connected to another computer. Channel The Channel text box displays the channel in which the Adapter is currently operating. This setting cannot be changed from here. SSID The SSID text box displays the name of the wireless network to which the Adapter is currently connected. To change the network name, enter a new name in the text box. TX Rate The TX Rate text box sets the rate of packets being sent across the Adapter's wireless connection.Options include 5.5 Mbps, 11 Mbps, and Auto. Radio The Radio text box displays the state of the Adapter's wireless capability. Selecting On, turns the Adapter's wireless capability on; selecting Off turns the wireless capability off. Status The Status text box contains the status of the Adapter's wireless connection, including whether the Adapter is associated with a wireless network and the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the connection's device (router, gateway, access point, or computer). Signal Strength, Link Quality Each bar graph displays the relative strength or quality of the wireless signal and link. 13 Actiontec 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter User Manual Statistics Clicking Statistics in the Wireless LAN Monitor window causes the "Statistics" tab to appear. This tab contains various Tx (transmit cell) and Rx (ATM cell) statistics for the wireless connection. Clicking Reset sets all the statistics displayed back to zero, and starts the count again. 14 Chapter 3 Using the Wireless LAN Monitor Utility Site Survey Clicking Survey Site in the Wireless LAN Monitor window causes the "Survey Site" tab to appear. In the tab's text box, a list of all wireless networks the Adapter can detect appears, along with the particular network's BSSID (MAC address), SSID name, signal strength, channel, encryption state, and BSS (type of connection [Infrastructure or Ad Hoc]). Clicking Re-Scan causes the Adapter to refresh its list of detected networks. 15 Actiontec 11 Mbps Wireless USB Adapter User Manual Encryption Clicking Encryption in the Wireless LAN Monitor window causes the `Encryption" tab to appear. If changing settings in this tab, make sure to click Submit after making all changes. Encryption Types Clicking the arrow next to the "Encryption" text box reveals a list box with three options: Disabled, 64 Bit, and 128 Bit. Disabled - If joining a wireless network with no encryption, select this option. 64 Bit - If joining a wireless network with 64-bit encryption, select this option. 128 Bit - If joining a wireless network with 128-bit encryption, select this option. Key #1 - Key #4 If joining a wireless network with 64-bit or 128-bit encryption, enter the encryption keys here. These keys must be identical to the wireless network's encryption keys to join the network. 16 Chapter 3 Using the Wireless LAN Monitor Utility Default Key When 64 Bit or 128 Bit encryption is selected, the "Default Key" text box activates. Click the arrow next to the text box to reveal a list box with four options: Key #1, Key #2, Key #3, and Key #4. Some networks use a default key when using encryption (rather than using all the keys available) If connecting to a network using a default key, click on the default key number used by the network Mode When 64 Bit or 128 Bit encryption is selected, the "Mode" text box activates. Click the arrow next to the text box to reveal a list box with two options: Mandatory and Optional. Select the option by clicking on it. Mandatory - When Mandatory is selected, all other computers trying to connect to the Adapter must use the same encryption scheme used on the wireless network to which the Adapter is currently connected. Optional - When Optional is selected. other computers can connect to the Adapter without using the encryption scheme used on the wireless network to which the Adapter is currently connected. Authentication Type When 64 Bit or 128 Bit encryption is selected, the "Authentication Type" text box activates. Click the arrow next to the text box to reveal a list box with three options: Open System, Shared Key, and Optional. Select the option by clicking on it. Open System - When Open System is selected, the Adapter and the wireless device to which it is connected send and accept randomly generated keys that last only a short time before new ...