Actiontec electronic HWE05490-01 User Manual

Solutions for the Digital Life

™

User Manual

54 Mbps

Wireless

Ethernet Adapter

Model #: HWE05490-01 Firmware version: 1.31 (Utility version: 1.3)

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Features 1

Package Contents 1

System Requirements 2

Contacting Technical Support 2

Getting to Know the 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter 3

Front Panel 3

Rear Panel 4

Understanding your Wireless Network 5

What is Adhoc Mode? 5

What is Infrastructure Mode? 6

Installing the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter 7

Physical installation of the 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter 7

Connecting the Adapter to a network 8

Configuring the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter 10

How to configure the Adapter 10

Starting the Web Interface 14

Configuring the Adapter on Macintosh OS/X 19

Starting the Web Interface using Macintosh OS/X 21

Configuring the Adapter for operating with a Game Console 26

Troubleshooting/Frequently Asked Questions 27

Glossary 30

Specifications 32

Notices 33

Limited Warranty 36

Introduction

Congratulations on becoming the owner of the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter.Your Wireless Ethernet Adapterprovides bridging capabilities between your Wireless LAN (local area network) and one or more personal computers, gaming consoles,or other Ethernet-ready devices such as printers and storage devices.

This User Guide will show you how to set up the A ctiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter, customize its configuration to get the most out of your network. The Ethernet Adapter s compliant with the 802.11g specifications and requires that you have a Wireless Router,Access Point, or any other compatible wireless device.

Features

802.11g Wireless Ethernet Bridge 10/100Base-T Ethernet DHCP Client DHCP Server Configurable through HTML browser

Package Contents

Make sure the following items came in this package:

Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter with antenna

Pow er C or d Yellow Ethernet Cable This User’s Manual on the Installation CD-ROM Quick Start Guide

Introduction

Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter

System Requirements

To use the Wireless Ethernet Adapter,you must have the following:

PC with an open Ethernet port

Microsoft Windows XP,ME,2000,NT4.0, 98, 98SE; MAC OS 8 or hig her

TCP/IP network protocol installed

Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape 4.0 or higher

Contacting Technical Support

Actiontec Electronics, Inc., prides itself on making durable, high-quality, highperformance products. If you need assistance, the Actiontec Technical Support Department is available to provide professional support 24 hours a day,every day, except major holidays.

Actiontec Electronics,Inc.

760 North Mary Avenue

Sunnyvale,CA 94086

Technical Support

Phone: 1-888-436-0657 (USA)/0845 65 80411 (UK)

Email: http://support.actiontec.com/email_support/support_form.php

Getting to know the 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter

Getting to Know the 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter

Front Panel

The front panel provides the user with a fast visual feedback of its cur rent status.

Figure 1. Front Panel and LEDs

Power The Power light will turn green when the 54 Mbps Wireless

Ethernet Adapter is powered on.

Wireless The W ireless light will turn solid green when the 54 Mbps W ir eless

Ethernet Adapter is connected to the Wireless LAN. The Wireless LED will blink continuosly when data traffic is present on the wireless LAN.

Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter User Manual

Rear Panel

The rear panel contains the ports for the unit's data and power connections.

Figure 2. Back Panel and Ports

Power Connects to the Power Cord. Reset Depress the Reset button to bring the 54Mbsp Wireless Ethernet

Adapter to its fact ory default settings.Hold the button for 15 sec.

Antenna The antenna connector allows you t o connect t o various anten-

nae types. Please use the included antenna if you do not have any other antenna.

Ethernet You connect your Yellow Ehernet Cable to this port

Understanding your Wireless Network

Wireless local area networks (WLAN) perform the exact same functions as wired local area networks (LAN).Each computer in the WLANuses a data radio device to connect to the network,where all computers in the network share the same frequency and method for identifying wireless devices. Wireless local area networks differ from wired Local area networks only in their operating mode. The two operation modes are AdHoc Mode and Infrastructure Mode.

What is Adhoc Mode?

Adhoc mode is a networking framework by which wireless devices or stations communicate directly with each other,without the need for an access point (AP).

Ad-hoc mode can be referred to as peer-to-peer mode or an Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS).This Mode is useful when you want to c ommunicate among man y computers locally without the need to connect to printers or file servers on a wired LAN.

Figure 3. AdHoc Network

Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter User Manual

What is Infrastructure Mode?

Infrastructure mode is a networking framework by which devices communicate with each other by first going through an Access P o int (AP).Infrastructure mode, lets wireless devices communicate with each other or with a wired network. Two possible types of service can exist while in Infrastructure mode:

Basic Service Set (BSS)

Basic Service Set is when an Access Point is connected to a wired network and a set of w ireless stations.

Extended Service Set (ESS)

Extended Service Set is a set of two or more Basic Service Sets BSSs that form a single subnet.

Note: Corporate wireless LANs require infrastructure mode to

access the wired LAN in order to use services such as file servers or printers.

Figure 4. Infrastructure Network

Installing the Actiontec 54Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter

Installing the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter

This equipment is designed with utmost care for the safety of those who install and use it. However, special attention must be paid to the dangers of electric shock and static electricity when working with electronic equipment. All guidelines of this manual and of the computer manufacturer must therefore be followed at all times to ensure the safe use of the equipment.

Physical installation of the 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter

For best performance, and range, the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter needs to be placed in a flat horizontal position with the antenna extended up as shown below:

Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter User Manual

Connecting the Adapter to a network

Now that your Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter has been installed, it is ready to be connected to the power outlet and to your wired network.

1. Get the Wireless Ethernet Adapter from your Quick Start Kit. Make sure that the external antenna is connected to the adapter.

2. Get the Ye l l ow C a b l e from the Quick Start Kit. Plug one end into the Ethernet Port located on the back of the Ethernet Adapter. You will hear a “click”when the Yellow Cable has been properly connected.

Installing the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter

3. Plug the other end of the Yellow cable into the Ethernet port located on the back of the Computer or Game Console (like a Sony Playstation or Xbox). You will hear a “click”when the Yellow Cable has been properly connected.

4. Get the Power Cord and plu g the small end into the Power Port located on the back of the Ethernet Adapter.

5. Plug the other end of the Power Cord into an power outlet.

Actiontec 54Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter User Manual

Configuring the Actiontec 54Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter

How to configure the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter

Configuring the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter means adjusting the following settings: radio channels, security, and identification, etc. You only need to configure the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter when you want to change these settings.

You can configure the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter through the configuration utility provided in the Installation CD or via the Web Interface.

Starting the 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter Configuration Utility

The 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter Configuration Utility helps you identify and modify the IP values of the 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter without launching the Web Interface.

1. Insert the 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet A dapt er Installation CD in your Computer’s CD-ROM Drive, and close the drive tray. Under My Computer, double-click on the CD-ROM drive, then double-click on “Ethernet_Adapter_U tility_1.3”.

2. When the following screen appears, click on Next to continue.

Configuring the Actiontec 54Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter

3. When the following screen appears,click Next to continue.

4. When the following screen appears,click Finish to continue.

5. Once the Installation is complete,from the Windows Desktop click

on the 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter Configuration Icon.

Note: The 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter Configuration

Utility allows the end user to identify the IP address of the 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter as an aid to Adjusting the Access Point’s network address values, we recommend keeping the factory defaults.

+ 28 hidden pages

Actiontec electronic HWE05490-01 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual