® A Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. Dual-Band 5GHz 2.4 GHz 802.11a 802.11g Wireless A/G Game Adapter WIRELESS User Guide Model No. WGA54AG Wireless A/G Game 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 © 2004 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. WARNING: This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. This User Guide The User Guide to the Wireless A/G Game Adapter has been designed to make understanding networking easier than ever. Look for the following items when reading this guide: This checkmark means there is a note of interest and is something you should pay special attention to while using the Game Adapter. This exclamation point means there is a caution or warning and is something that could damage your property or the Game Adapter. This question mark provides you with a reminder about something you might need to do while using the Game Adapter. In addition to these symbols, there are definitions for technical terms that are presented like this: word: definition. Also, each figure (diagram, screenshot, or other image) is provided with a figure number and description, like this: Figure 0-1: Sample Figure Description Figure numbers and descriptions can also be found in the "List of Figures" section in the "Table of Contents". WGA54AG-UG-41025NC JL Wireless A/G Game Adapter Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome What's in this Guide? 1 1 2 Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology Roaming Network Layout 4 4 4 4 Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless A/G Game Adapter The Game Adapter's LED Indicators The Game Adapter's Side Panel 6 6 7 Chapter 4: Fast Setup for the Wireless A/G Game Adapter Overview Instructions 8 8 8 Chapter 5: Setting up the Wireless A/G Game Adapter for PlayStation®2 or GameCubeTM Overview Connecting the Game Adapter to Your Computer Starting the Setup Wizard Easy Setup Wizard Configuration for Head-to-Head Play Advanced Setup Wizard Configuration for Head-to-Head Play Setup Wizard Configuration for Internet Play Connecting the Game Adapter to Your Game Console 9 9 9 10 11 13 18 21 Chapter 6: Setting up the Wireless A/G Game Adapter for Xbox® Overview Connecting the Game Adapter to Your Xbox Setting up the Game Adapter Using Your Xbox 22 22 22 23 Chapter 7: Using the Wireless A/G Game Adapter Web Configuration Utility Overview Accessing the Web Configuration Utility The Setup Tab The Advanced Settings Tab The Help Tab 30 30 30 31 33 35 Wireless A/G Game Adapter Appendix A: Troubleshooting Common Problems and Solutions Frequently Asked Questions 36 36 37 Appendix B: Wireless Security Security Precautions Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks 41 41 41 Appendix C: Glossary Appendix D: Specifications Appendix E: Warranty Information Appendix F: Regulatory Information Appendix G: Contact Information 44 51 53 54 56 Wireless A/G Game Adapter List of Figures Figure 3-1: LED Indicators Figure 3-2: Side Panel Figure 4-1: Connect the Ethernet Network Cable Figure 4-2: Connect the Power Figure 5-1: Connect the Ethernet Network Cable Figure 5-2: Connect the Power Figure 5-3: Setup Wizard's Welcome Screen Figure 5-4: Searching for the Game Adapter Screen Figure 5-5: Setup Wizard's Password Screen Figure 5-6: Setup Wizard's Gaming Mode Screen Figure 5-7: Setup Wizard's Head to Head Setup Screen Figure 5-8: Setup Wizard's Confirmation Screen Figure 5-9: Setup Wizard's Congratulations Screen Figure 5-10: Setup Wizard's Gaming Mode Screen Figure 5-11: Setup Wizard's Head to Head Setup Screen Figure 5-12: Setup Wizard's 5GHz Manual Configuration Screen Figure 5-13: Setup Wizard's 5GHz Security Settings Screen Figure 5-14: Setup Wizard's 2.4GHz Manual Configuration Screen Figure 5-15: Setup Wizard's 2.4 GHz Security Settings Screen Figure 5-16: Setup Wizard's Network Settings Screen Figure 5-17: Setup Wizard's Confirmation Screen Figure 5-18: Setup Wizard's Congratulations Screen Figure 5-19: Setup Wizard's Gaming Mode Screen Figure 5-20: Setup Wizard's Basic Settings Screen Figure 5-21: Setup Wizard's 5GHz Security Settings Screen Figure 5-22: Setup Wizard's 2.4GHz Security Settings Screen Figure 5-23: Setup Wizard's Network Settings Screen Figure 5-24: Setup Wizard's Confirmation Screen Figure 5-25: Setup Wizard's Congratulations Screen Figure 6-1: Connect the Ethernet Network Cable 6 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 22 Wireless A/G Game Adapter Figure 6-2: Connect the Power Figure 6-3: Xbox's Main Menu Figure 6-4: Xbox's SETTINGS Screen Figure 6-5: Xbox's NETWORK SETTINGS Screen Figure 6-6: Xbox's ADVANCED Screen Figure 6-7: Xbox's WIRELESS STATUS Screen Figure 6-8: Xbox's WIRELESS SETTINGS Screen Figure 6-9: Xbox's SELECT NETWORK Screen Figure 6-10: Xbox's WIRELESS SETTINGS Screen Figure 6-11: Xbox's SECURITY TYPE Screen Figure 6-12: Xbox's SECURITY KEY Screen Figure 6-13: Xbox's WIRELESS SETTINGS Screen Figure 6-14: Xbox's WIRELESS STATUS Screen Figure 6-15: Xbox's WIRELESS DETAILS Screen Figure 7-1: Utility's Enter Network Password Screen Figure 7-2: Utility's Setup Screen Figure 7-3: Utility's WEP Encryption Screen Figure 7-4: Utility's Advanced Settings Screen Figure 7-5: Utility's Help Screen 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 Wireless A/G Game Adapter Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome Thank you for choosing the Wireless A/G Game Adapter. With this Adapter, your wireless gaming experience will be faster and easier than ever. How does the Game Adapter do this? Like all wireless products, the Game Adapter allows for greater range and mobility within your wireless network, whether it's using the Wireless-A (802.11a), Wireless-G (802.11g), or Wireless-B (802.11b) standard. Using this Adapter, your game console has the flexibility to communicate using any of the three wireless networking standards. But what does all of this mean? Networks are useful tools for sharing computer resources. You can access one printer from different computers and access data located on another computer's hard drive. Networks are even used for playing multiplayer video games. This is exactly what the Game Adapter is designed for--gaming over a wireless network. So, networks are not only useful in homes and offices, they can also be fun. PCs and game consoles equipped with wireless cards or adapters can communicate without cumbersome cables. By sharing the same wireless settings, within their transmission radius, they form a wireless network. In most cases, you can use the "Fast Setup" chapter to quickly install the Game Adapter. If you need to configure the Game Adapter's settings, run the included Setup Wizard, which will walk you through its configuration, step by step. Use the instructions in this Guide to help you connect and set up the Game Adapter for your PlayStation®2, GameCubeTM, or Xbox®.* These instructions should be all you need to get the most out of the Game Adapter. 802.11a: an IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps and an operating frequency of 5GHz. 802.11g: an IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz. 802.11b: an IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz. network: a series of computers or devices connected for the purpose of data sharing, storage, and/or transmission between users. adapter: a device that adds network functionality to your PC. *Your game console may require a network adapter that is sold separately. Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome 1 Wireless A/G Game Adapter What's in this Guide? This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Wireless A/G Game Adapter. · Chapter 1: Introduction This chapter describes the Game Adapter's applications and this User Guide. · Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network This chapter discusses a few of the basics about wireless networking. · Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless A/G Game Adapter This chapter describes the physical features of the Game Adapter. · Chapter 4: Fast Setup If your wireless network uses no wireless security and has SSID broadcast enabled, then use this chapter to quickly install the Game Adapter. · Chapter 5: Setting up the Wireless A/G Game Adapter for PlayStation®2 or GameCubeTM This chapter instructs you on how to connect and set up the Game Adapter for your PlayStation2 or GameCube. · Chapter 6: Setting up the Wireless A/G Game Adapter for Xbox® This chapter instructs you on how to connect and set up the Game Adapter for your Xbox. · Chapter 7: Using the Wireless A/G Game Adapter Web Configuration Utility This chapter explains how to use the Game Adapter's Utility to make configuration changes. · Appendix A: Troubleshooting This appendix describes some potential problems and solutions, as well as frequently asked questions, regarding installation and use of the Game Adapter. · Appendix B: Wireless Security This appendix discusses security issues regarding wireless networking and measures you can take to help protect your wireless network. · Appendix C: Windows Help This appendix describes how you can use Windows Help for instructions about networking, such as installing the TCP/IP protocol. · Appendix D: Glossary This appendix gives a brief glossary of terms frequently used in networking. Chapter 1: Introduction What's in this Guide? ssid (service set identifier): your wireless network's name. 2 Wireless A/G Game Adapter · Appendix E: Specifications This appendix provides the Game Adapter's technical specifications. · Appendix F: Warranty Information This appendix supplies the Game Adapter's warranty information. · Appendix G: Regulatory Information This appendix supplies the Game Adapter's regulatory information. · Appendix H: Contact Information This appendix provides contact information for a variety of Linksys resources, including Technical Support. Chapter 1: Introduction What's in this Guide? 3 Wireless A/G Game Adapter Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology topology: the physical layout of a network. 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. An integrated wireless and wired network is called an infrastructure network. Each wireless PC in an infrastructure network can talk to any computer in a wired network infrastructure via the access point or wireless router. An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of a wireless PC to a wired network, and can double the effective wireless transmission range for two wireless adapter PCs. Since an access point is able to forward data within a network, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure network can be doubled. network: a series of computers or devices connected for the purpose of data sharing, storage, and/or transmission between users adapter: a device that adds network functionality to your PC ad-hoc: a group of wireless devices communicating directly with each other (peerto-peer) without the use of an access point. access point: a device that allows wirelessequipped computers and other devices to communicate with a wired network. Also used to expand the range of a wireless network infrastructure: a wireless network that is bridged to a wired network via an access point. roaming: the ability to take a wireless device from one access point's range to another without losing the connection. ssid: your wireless network's name. Roaming Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. Roaming means that you can move your wireless PC within your network and the access points will pick up the wireless PC's signal, provided that they both share the same channel and SSID. Choose a feasible radio channel and optimum access point position. Proper access point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance performance. Network Layout Wireless A/G products offer the most flexibility, because they can connect to 802.11a networks, or they can connect to networks with 802.11g and/or 802.11b devices--depending on the settings you configure on the dual-band products. The Wireless A/G Game Adapter ...