D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G122 ® 802.11g (2.4GHz) Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter Manual Building Networks for People Contents Package Contents ................................................................................3 Introduction............................................................................................4 Features and Benefits ...........................................................................6 Wireless Basics ....................................................................................7 Installation Considerations ....................................................................8 Getting Started ......................................................................................9 Using the Configuration Utility .............................................................. 11 Networking Basics ..............................................................................20 Troubleshooting ...................................................................................33 Technical Specifications ......................................................................36 Contacting Technical Support ..............................................................38 Warranty ..............................................................................................39 Registration ........................................................................................43 2 Package Contents Contents of Package: D-Link AirPlus® G DWL-G122 2.4 GHz Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter Manual on CD-ROM Quick Installation Guide USB Extension Cable If any of the above items are missing, please contact your reseller. System Requirements: A computer or laptop with an available USB port Windows XP/2000 At least 32MB of memory and a 300MHz processor Properly installed and working USB Controller 3 Introduction The D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G122 Wireless USB Adapter is a convenient Plug & Play USB 2.0 solution that brings wireless networking to your laptop or desktop PC. With transfer rates up to 54Mbps you can connect to a wireless network at home, at the office or at any wireless hotspot. Now you can stay connected wherever you are and wherever you go. The DWL-G122 is Wi-Fi compliant, meaning that it can connect and interoperate with other 802.11b or 802.11g Wi-Fi-compliant wireless routers, access points and adapters. The DWL-G122 connects to any available USB port on a laptop or desktop Windows and Macintosh-based computer and also includes a standard USB extension cable. With the optional USB extension cable, the DWL-G122 can be positioned virtually anywhere at a workstation to achieve the best available wireless signal reception - whether that workstation is in your office, on your deck or patio, by the pool, at the local coffee shop, or in an airport terminal while waiting to board your next flight. The adapter works with Microsoft Windows XP/2000 to ensure that you'll be up and running on a wireless network in just a matter of seconds. Using its default settings, the DWL-G122 automatically connects to other D-Link Air or AirPlus wireless products as soon as it's active. In addition to featuring 64- or 128-bit WEP encryption, the DWL-G122 offers the added security of WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) when used with other WPA devices in a network with a RADIUS server. For home users that will not incorporate a RADIUS server in their network, the security for the DWL-G122, used in conjunction with other WPA-compatible 802.11 products, will still be much stronger than ever before. Utilizing the Pre- Shared Key mode of WPA, the DWL-G122 will obtain a new security key every time it connects to the 802.11 network. You need only to input your encryption information once in the configuration menu. No longer will you have to manually input a new WEP key frequently to ensure security. With the DWL-G122, you will automatically receive a new key every time you connect, vastly increasing the safety of your communication. TM 4 Features and Benefits Provides high-speed wireless connection at up to 54Mbps Compact size for placement anywhere Convenience of Plug & Play installation Fully 802.11b/802.11g compatible Powered by the USB port; no external power source is required USB 2.0 standard Better Security with WPA - In addition to 64-,128-bit WEP encryption, you can also securely connect to a wireless network using WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) providing you a much higher level of security for your data and communication than has previously been available. Optimal wireless reception using its USB cable (included). Position the DWL-G122 almost anywhere in your workspace to achieve the best reception possible. Supports Infrastructure networks via an access point and Peer-to-Peer communication in Ad-Hoc mode User-friendly configuration and diagnostic utilities Connects at up to 328 feet indoors1 One year warranty ** 1 Environmental factors may adversely affect range 5 Wireless Basics D-Link wireless products are based on industry standards to provide easy-to-use and compatible high-speed wireless connectivity within your home, business or public access wireless networks. D-Link wireless products will allow you access to the data you want, when and where you want it. You will be able to enjoy the freedom that wireless networking brings. A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a computer network that transmits and receives data with radio signals instead of wires. WLANs are used increasingly in both home and office environments, and public areas such as airports, coffee shops and universities. Innovative ways to utilize WLAN technology are helping people to work and communicate more efficiently. Increased mobility and the absence of cabling and other fixed infrastructure have proven to be beneficial to many users. Wireless users can use the same applications they use on a wired network. Wireless adapter cards used on laptop and desktop systems support the same protocols as Ethernet adapter cards. People use WLAN technology for many different purposes: Mobility - Productivity increases when people have access to data in any location within the operating range of the WLAN. Management decisions based on real-time information can significantly improve worker efficiency. Low Implementation Costs - WLANs are easy to set up, manage, change and relocate. Networks that frequently change can benefit from WLANs ease of implementation. WLANs can operate in locations where installation of wiring may be impractical. Installation and Network Expansion - Installing a WLAN system can be fast and easy and can eliminate the need to pull cable through walls and ceilings. Wireless technology allows the network to go where wires cannot go - even outside the home or office. Inexpensive Solution - Wireless network devices are as competitively priced as conventional Ethernet network devices. Scalability - WLANs can be configured in a variety of ways to meet the needs of specific applications and installations. Configurations are easily changed and range from Peer-to-Peer networks suitable for a small number of users to larger Infrastructure networks to accommodate hundreds or thousands of users, depending on the number of wireless devices deployed. 6 Wireless Basics (continued) Installation Considerations The DWL-G122 lets you access your network using a wireless connection from virtually anywhere within its operating range. Keep in mind, however, that the number, thickness and location of walls, ceilings, or other objects that the wireless signals must pass through, may limit the range. Typical ranges vary depending on the types of materials and background RF (radio frequency) noise in your home or business. The key to maximizing wireless range is to follow these basic guidelines: 1 Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the DWL-G122 and other network devices to a minimum - each wall or ceiling can reduce your DWL-G122's range from 3-90 feet (1-30 meters.) Position your devices so that the number of walls or ceilings is minimized. 2 Be aware of the direct line between network devices. A wall that is 1.5 feet thick (.5 meters), at a 45-degree angle appears to be almost 3 feet (1 meter) thick. At a 2-degree angle it looks over 42 feet (14 meters) thick! Position devices so that the signal will travel straight through a wall or ceiling (instead of at an angle) for better reception. 3 Building materials can impede the wireless signal - a solid metal door or aluminum studs may have a negative effect on range. Try to position wireless devices and computers with wireless adapters so that the signal passes through drywall or open doorways and not other materials. 4 Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet or 1-2 meters) from electrical devices or appliances that generate RF noise. 7 Getting Started With its default settings, the DWL-G122 will connect with other D-Link AirPlus ® G products, right out of the box. There are basically two modes of networking: Infrastructure ­ using an access point or router, such as the DI-624. Ad-Hoc ­ directly connecting to another computer, for Peer-to-Peer communication, using wireless network adapters on each computer, such as two or more DWL-G122 Wireless Network USB adapters. On the following pages we will show you an example of an Infrastructure Network and an Ad-Hoc Network. An Infrastructure network contains an access point or router. The Infrastructure network example shown on the following page contains the following D-Link network devices (your existing network may be comprised of other devices): A wireless router - D-Link AirPlus® G DI-524 A laptop computer with a D-Link AirPlus ® G DWL-G122 A desktop computer with a D-Link AirPlus ® G DWL-G120 A cable modem - D-Link DCM-201 8 Getting Started (continued) Setting up a Wireless Infrastructure Network 1 2 3 DWL-G122 DWL-G122 4 5 For a typical wireless setup at home (as shown above), please do the following: You will need broadband Internet access (a cable or DSL-subscriber line into your home or office). Consult with your cable or DSL provider for proper installation of the modem. Connect the cable or DSL modem to your broadband router. (See the Quick Installation Guide included with your router.) Install the D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G122 Wireless USB adapter into an available USB port on your desktop computer. (See the Quick Installation Guide included with the DWL-G122.) Install the D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G122 wireless USB adapter into an available USB port on your laptop computer. (See the Quick Installation Guide included with the DWL-G122.) 9 Getting Started (continued) Setting up a Wireless Ad-Hoc Network DWL-G122 Wireless USB Adapter Install the D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G122 Wireless USB adapter into the desktop computer. (See the Quick Installation Guide included with the product.) Install the D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G122 Wireless USB adapter into the laptop computer. (See the Quick Installation Guide included with the product.) Set the wireless configuration for the adapters to Ad-Hoc mode, set the adapters to the same channel, and assign an IP address to each computer on the Ad-Hoc network. IP Address When assigning IP addresses to the computers on the network, please remember that the IP address for each computer must be in the same IP address range as all the computers in the network, and the subnet mask must be exactly the same for all the computers in the network. For example: If the first computer is assigned an IP address of 192.168.0.2 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, then the second computer can be assigned an IP address of 192.168.0.3 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, etc. IMPORTANT: If computers or other devices are assigned the same IP address, one or more of the devices may not be visible on the network. 10 Using the Configuration Utility D-Link AirPlusTM G DWL-G122 uses the Configuration Utility as the management software. The utility provides the user an easy interface to change any settings related to the wireless adapter. After you have completed the installation of the DWL-G122 (refer to the Quick Installation Guide that came with your purchase) whenever you start the computer, the Configuration Utility starts automatically and the system tray icon is loaded in the toolbar (see illustration below.*) Clicking on the utility icon will start the Configuration Utility. Another way to start the Configuration Utility is to click on Start>Programs>D-Link AirPlus G >D-Link AirPlus G Utility. If you are using Windows XP, you can use either the Zero Configuration Utility or the D-Link Configuration Utility. To use the D-Link Configuration Utility with XP, right-click on the wireless network icon in the taskbar in the lower right-hand corner of your computer screen. In the window that appears, select View Available Wireless Networks and click the Advanced button. The screen at right will appear. Select the Wireless Networks tab. Uncheck the box i ...