ALFA Network AWUS036NH, AWUS036NEH User Manual

IEEE 802.11n Wireless Series

Long-Range USB Adapter

For Outdoor Use

User Manual

Version: 2.0

Date: January 13, 2009

FCC Certifications

Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement

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 the following measures:

-Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

-Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

-Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.

-Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

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, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

FCC Caution: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
FCC Radiation Exposure Statement:

This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled
environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm
between the radiator & your body.
This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or
transmitter.

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

i

CE Mark Warning

This equipment complies with the requirements relating to electromagnetic compatibility, EN 55022
Class B for ITE, the essential protection requirement of Council Directive 89/336/EEC on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility.

Company has an on-going policy of upgrading its products and it may be possible that information
in this document is not up-to-date. Please check with your local distributors for the latest
information. No part of this document can be copied or reproduced in any form without written
consent from the company.

Trademarks:

All trade names and trademarks are the properties of their respective companies.
Copyright © 2009, All Rights Reserved.

經型式認證合格之低功率射頻電機，非經許可，公司、商號或使用者均不得擅自變更頻率、

加大功率或變更原設計之特性及功能。

低功率射頻電機之使用不得影響飛航安全及干擾合法通信；經發現有干擾現象時，應立即停
用，並改善至無干擾時方得繼續使用。前項合法通信，指依電信法規定作業之無線電通信。
低功率射頻電機須忍受合法通信或工業、科學及醫療用電波輻射性電機設備之干擾。

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW .......................................................... 1

U

NPACKING INFORMATION

I

NTRODUCTION TO THE

K

EY FEATURES

................................................................................................................ 2

................................................................................................. 1

IEEE 802.11N W

IRELESS

USB A

DAPTER

........................................ 1

INSTALLATION GUIDE ........................................ 2

S

OFTWARE INSTALLATION

................................................................................................. 2

MANAGEMENT GUIDE ........................................ 5

M

AKING A BASIC NETWORK CONNECTION

Select a configuration tool .......................................................................................... 5

To connect with Microsoft Zero Configuration tool ...................................................... 5

To connect with 802.11n Wireless LAN Utility ............................................................ 7

I

NTRODUCTION TO THE

802.11N W

IRELESS

Interfaces .................................................................................................................... 8

Link Status Information ............................................................................................... 9

Profile ....................................................................................................................... 10

Network .................................................................................................................... 19

Advanced .................................................................................................................. 20

Statistics ................................................................................................................... 21

WMM ........................................................................................................................ 22

WPS ......................................................................................................................... 24

CCX .......................................................................................................................... 35

Radio On/Off ............................................................................................................. 35

AP

MODE MANAGEMENT GUIDE FOR WINDOWS

Config ....................................................................................................................... 38

Security Setting......................................................................................................... 40

Access Control ......................................................................................................... 41

MAC Table ................................................................................................................ 42

Event Log ................................................................................................................. 43

Statistics ................................................................................................................... 44

.......................................................................... 5

LAN U

TILITY

.................................................... 8

2000/XP/V

ISTA

......................................... 36

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

iii

Overview

Thank you for purchasing this product. Read this chapter to know about your

IEEE 802.11n Wireless USB Adapter.

Unpacking Information

Before getting started, please verify that your package includes the following items:

1. IEEE 802.11n Wireless USB Adapter.

2. One Utility/ Manual CD.

Introduction to the IEEE 802.11n Wireless USB Adapter

The IEEE 802.11n Wireless USB adapter provides users to launch IEEE 802.11n wireless network

at 150 Mbps in the 2.4GHz (AWUS036NH / AWUS036NEH), which is also compatible with IEEE

802.11b/g and IEEE 802.11a/b/g wireless devices at 11/54 Mbps. You can configure this adapter

with ad-hoc mode to connect to other 2.4GHz (AWUS036NH/AWUS036NEH) or with

Infrastructure mode to connect to a wireless AP or router for accessing to Internet. This adapter

includes a convenient Utility for scanning available networks and saving preferred networks that

users usually connected with. Security encryption can also be configured by this utility. This

product should be installed outdoor.

The length of USB cable should be 5M or longer.

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

1

Key Features



Complies with IEEE 802.11n wireless standards



2.4GHz (AWUS036NH / AWUS036NEH)
frequency band, MIMO



2.4GHz (AWUS051NH) frequency



Complies with USB 2.0



High speed transfer data rate up to 150 Mbps



Supports auto-installation



Supports wireless data encryption with
64/128-bit WEP, WPA, WPA2, TKIP, AES



Supports QoS: WMM, WMM-PS



Supports multiple BSSID



Supports driver for Windows 2000, XP 32/64,
Vista 32/64, Windows 7, Linux (2.4.x/2.6.x), and
Mac (10.3.x/10.4.x/10.5.x/10.6.x) Power PC &
PC

Installation Guide

Software Installation

Note:

 For Linux or Mac driver installation guide, please refer to the instruction in

/Driver/Linux/README or /Driver/Mac/README in the CD-Rom.

 The following driver installation guide uses Windows XP as the presumed operation system.

The procedures and screens in Windows 2000 and Vista are familiar with Windows XP.

1. The system finds the newly installed device automatically. Click Cancel to close this window.

2. Insert the CD-Rom that came with this product to your CD-Rom drive. The menu window pops

up automatically. Please click the Driver button of this product.

Note: If the CD-Rom fails to auto-run, please click on My Computer > your CD-Rom drive

> (folder of this product) > Driver then double-click the Setup icon to start this menu.

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

2

3. Select if you are going to install the driver and wireless utility; or install the driver only.

4. Select if you are going to configure your wireless network with this device or with Microsoft

Zero Configuration tool.

Note: This can be changed after installing this software.

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

3

5. Click the Install button to start installing.

6. Click the Finish button to complete installation.

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

4

Management Guide

Read this chapter to understand the management interface of the device and

how to manage the device.

Making a Basic Network Connection

Select a configuration tool

In the following instruction for making a network connection, we use the Utility we provide to

configure your wireless network settings.

Note: You could use either the software we provide or Microsoft Zero Configuration tool to

configure this adapter. To switch between the two configuration tools, please right click on the …..

icon on system tray to select.

To connect with Microsoft Zero Configuration tool

After specifying the Microsoft Zero Configuration tool to configure your wireless network, right

click on the icon on system tray. Select View Available Wireless Networks to specify your
wireless network.

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

5

The tool shows the available wireless networks. Select your demanding network to connect with.

To connect to a wireless network with more security settings, please click Change advanced

settings to be compatible with your wireless network security settings.

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

6

To connect with 802.11n Wireless LAN Utility

We provide this Utility for users to connect to a wireless network easily. It provides more

information and configuration for this adapter. As default, the Utility is started automatically upon

starting your computer and connects to a connectable wireless network with best signal strength

and with no security setting. Right click on the icon in the system ray and select Launch

Config utilities if the Utility does not start. Please refer to the following chapters to get

information regarding to the functions of this Utility.

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

7

Introduction to the 802.11n Wireless LAN Utility

1

2

3

Note: The Utility in Linux and Mac are different from the following.

Interfaces

This Utility is basically consisted of three parts:

1. Functional Buttons: on top of the window. You can click each button to access each

configuration window.

Note: Click to enable/disable wireless connection status.

2. Configuration Column: Center of the Utility window. Make your changes for each function in

this part.

3. Link Status Information: bottom of the utility window. Shows the connection status and

system information.

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

8

Link Status Information

to a

ction quality based on signal strength and TX/RX packet

by mark the

A

B

C

D

A. Network Information:

Items Information

Status

Extra Info Display link status in use.

Channel Display current channel in use.

Authentication Authentication mode in use.

Encryption Encryption type in use.

Network Type Network type in use.

IP Address IP address of current connection.

Sub Mask Subnet mask of current connection.

Default Gateway Default gateway of current connection.

Link Speed Show current transmit rate and receive rate.

Throughput Display transmit and receive throughput in Mbps.

Show the connecting status. Also shows the SSID while connecting
valid network.

B. HT: Display current HT status in use, containing BW, GI, MCS, SNR0, and SNR1 value.
C. Link Quality and Strength Bar:

Items Information

Link Quality

Display conne
error rate.

Signal Strength 1 Receive signal strength 1.

Noise Strength Display noise signal strength.

User can choose to display Signal and Noise Strength as percentage or dBm format

dBm checkbox.

D. Statistics:

Items Information

Link Speed Show current transmit rate and receive rate.

Throughput Display transmit and receive throughput in Mbps.

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

9

Profile

hoc to indicate the network type of the

Open,

There are total 4 modes: None,

802.1x

. There are total 7 types: Auto, 100%,

Constantly

A

B

C

This profile page allows users to save different wireless settings, which helps users to get access

to wireless networks at home, office or other wireless network environments quickly.

A. Profile List: The list shows all the profiles you have added before.

B. Buttons: You can click on these buttons to add a new profile, edit, delete or activate an old

profile.

Note: For Vista user, there are extra and buttons in this feature.

Click on these buttons to import or export the selected profile.

C. Profile Information: While you select a profile in the profile list, you can see the profile

information shows on here.

Items Information

Profile Name The name of the selected profile.

SSID The SSID of the wireless system.

Network Type

Authentication

Encryption

Use 802.1x

Tx Power

Shows Infrastructure / Ad­selected profile.
Shows the authentication mode in use. There are total 8 modes:
Shared, LEAP, WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, WPA2-PSK and WPA-NONE.
Shows the encryption mode in use.
WEP, TKIP and AES.
Shows Yes/No to indicate whether the selected profile use the
feature or not.
Shows the transmit power in use
75%, 50%, 25%, 10% and Low.

Channel Shows the channel in use (1~14) for Ad-Hoc mode.

Power Save Mode

Shows the power save mode in use. Two selections: CAM (
Awake Mode) and PSM (Power Saving Mode).

RTS Threshold Shows the RTS threshold value in use.

Fragment Threshold Shows the fragment threshold in use.

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

10

To add a new profile:

1. Click the Add button. The add profile window pops up.

Note: you could also add a new profile quickly by selecting an available network in the

Network function then click the Add to Profile button.

←←←← Click on these tabs

2. There are three tabs on the window:

Settings for: Profile Name, SSID, Network Type, Tx Power, Preamble,

Power Save Mode, RTS Threshold, and Fragment Threshold.

Settings for: Authentication, Encryption, Preshared Key, and WEP Key.

Settings for: EAP Method, Tunnel Authentication, and Session

Resumption. For different EAP Method, you also have to configure

different require of ID/Password, Client Certificate, or Server

Certificate.

Please follow the steps below to fill in the information gradually.

January 13, 2009 / Version: 2.0

11