User Manual for the NETGEAR WGE111 Wireless Game Adapter NETGEAR, Inc. 4500 Great America Parkway Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA 202-10007-02 Version v1.1 2005.03.14 Technical Support Please refer to the support information card that shipped with your product. By registering your product at http://www.netgear.com/register, we can provide you with faster expert technical support and timely notices of product and software upgrades. NETGEAR, INC. Support Information Phone: 1-888-NETGEAR, for US & Canada only. For other countries, see your Support information card. E-mail: support@netgear.com Web site: http://www.netgear.com Statement of Conditions In the interest of improving internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to make changes to the products described in this document without notice. NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur due to the use or application of the product(s) or circuit layout(s) described herein. ©2004 NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, The Gear Guy and Everybody's Connecting are trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Information is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved. 2005.03.14 Certificate of the Manufacturer/Importer It is hereby certified that the Model WGE111 Wireless Game Adapter has been suppressed in accordance with the conditions set out in the BMPT- AmtsblVfg 243/1991 and Vfg 46/1992. The operation of some equipment (for example, ii test transmitters) in accordance with the regulations may, however, be subject to certain restrictions. Please refer to the notes in the operating instructions. Federal Office for Telecommunications Approvals has been notified of the placing of this equipment on the market and has been granted the right to test the series for compliance with the regulations. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Compliance Notice: Radio Frequency Notice NETGEAR Wireless Game Adapter WGE111 Tested to Comply with FCC Standards FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE Warning! To comply with the FCC's exposure requirements you must maintain a distance of at least 1 cm from the antenna of this device while it is in use. This device should not be co-located with other transmitters. This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause harmful interference. 2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one of more of the following measures: (1) Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna, (2) Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver, (3) Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected, (4) Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Radiation Exposure Statement This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. In order to avoid the possibility of exceeding the FCC radio frequency exposure limits, human proximity to the antenna shall not be less than 20 cm (8 inches) during normal operation. Canadian Department of Communications Radio Interference Regulations This digital apparatus (NETGEAR WGE111 Wireless Game Adapter) does not exceed the Class B limits for radio-noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications. FCC ID: PY3WGE111 Canada ID: 4054A-WGE111 CE0560! iii iv Contents Chapter 1 About This Manual Audience, Conventions, Scope ......................................................................................1-1 Chapter 2 Introduction About the NETGEAR WGE111 Wireless Game Adapter ................................................2-1 Key Features and Related NETGEAR Products ............................................................2-2 What's in the Box? ..........................................................................................................2-2 Hardware Description .....................................................................................................2-3 Status Indicators and Ports of the WGE111 .............................................................2-4 Reset Push Button ...................................................................................................2-5 Chapter 3 Basic Setup Preparing to Install Your WGE111 Wireless Game Adapter ...........................................3-1 System Requirements ....................................................................................................3-2 Placement and Range Guidelines ..................................................................................3-2 Switch Operating Modes ................................................................................................3-3 Game Console Plug-and-Go Scenario .....................................................................3-4 Personal Computer Plug-and-Go Scenario ..............................................................3-5 Planning the WGE111 Wireless Game Adapter Configuration .......................................3-6 Planning for TCP/IP Configuration ...........................................................................3-6 Dynamic IP using DHCP ...................................................................................3-6 Fixed IP .............................................................................................................3-7 Understanding WEP Authentication and Encryption ................................................3-7 Authentication Scheme Selection ......................................................................3-7 Encryption Strength Choices .............................................................................3-8 Understanding WPA-PSK Encryption Security ........................................................3-9 Using the NETGEAR Smart Wizard Configuration Assistant .........................................3-9 Chapter 4 Web Configuration Configuring the Wireless Game Adapter Using TCP/IP .................................................4-1 Contents i Connecting to the Wireless Game Adapter ....................................................................4-2 Viewing the Wireless Game Adapter Status ...................................................................4-2 Configuring the Adapter for Infrastructure Mode Access ................................................4-4 Using WEP Security Encryption ...............................................................................4-7 Authentication Type ...........................................................................................4-7 Key Size ............................................................................................................4-7 Automatic Key Generation (Passphrase) ..........................................................4-7 Manual Entry Mode ...........................................................................................4-7 Using WPA-PSK Security Encryption .......................................................................4-7 Configuring the Wireless Game Adapter for Ad-Hoc Mode ............................................4-8 Viewing the Wireless Networks Available .......................................................................4-9 Configuring the IP Settings ...........................................................................................4-10 Changing the WGE111 Wireless Game Adapter Password ......................................... 4-11 Upgrading the Firmware ............................................................................................... 4-11 Restoring the Factory Defaults .....................................................................................4-12 Chapter 5 Troubleshooting Basic Tips .......................................................................................................................5-2 Frequently Asked Questions ..........................................................................................5-5 Troubleshooting the TCP/IP Settings Using Ping ...........................................................5-6 Troubleshooting the Web Configuration Interface ..........................................................5-6 Restoring the Default Configuration and Password ........................................................5-7 Appendix A Technical Specifications Appendix B Understanding IP Addresses IP Addresses and the Internet ................................................................................. B-1 Netmask .................................................................................................................. B-3 Subnet Addressing .................................................................................................. B-4 Private IP Addresses ............................................................................................... B-6 Address Resolution Protocol ................................................................................... B-7 IP Configuration by DHCP ...................................................................................... B-7 Appendix C Wireless Networking Basics Wireless Networking Overview ...................................................................................... C-1 Infrastructure Mode ................................................................................................. C-1 ii Contents Ad Hoc Mode (Peer-to-Peer Workgroup) ................................................................ C-2 Network Name: Extended Service Set Identification (ESSID) ................................ C-2 Authentication and WEP ................................................................................................ C-2 802.11 Authentication .............................................................................................. C-3 Open System Authentication ................................................................................... C-3 Shared Key Authentication ...................................................................................... C-4 Overview of WEP Parameters ................................................................................ C-5 Key Size .................................................................................................................. C-6 WEP Configuration Options .................................................................................... C-6 Wireless Channels ......................................................................................................... C-7 WPA Wireless Security .................................................................................................. C-8 How Does WPA Compare to WEP? ........................................................................ C-9 How Does WPA Compare to IEEE 802.11i? ........................................................ C-10 What are the Key Features of WPA Security? ...................................................... C-10 WPA Authentication: Enterprise-level User Authentication via 802.1x/EAP and RADIUS .................................................. C-12 WPA Data Encryption Key Management ........................................................ C-14 Is WPA Perfect? .................................................................................................... C-16 Product Support for WPA ...................................................................................... C-16 Supporting a Mixture of WPA and WEP Wireless Clients is Discouraged ...... C-16 Changes to Wireless Access Points ............................................................... C-17 Changes to Wireless Network Adapters ......................................................... C-17 Changes to ...