Gigafast WF747-UL User Manual

Wireless 802.11 g/b USB 2.0 adapter

WF 747-UI

User Manual

The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any part or as a whole, stored, transcribed in an information retrieval system, translated into any language, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, magnetic, electronic, optical, photocopying, manual, or otherwise, without prior written permission.

Trademark

All product, company, and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. They are used for identification purpose only. Specifications are subject to be changed without prior notice.

FCC 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 radio interference in a commercial environment. This equipment can generate, use and radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions in this manual, may cause harmful interference to

radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interference, in which case the user, at his own expense, will be required to take whatever measures are necessary to correct the interference.

CE Declaration of Conformity

This equipment complies with the requirements relating to electromagnetic compatibility, EN 55022/A1 Class B, and EN 50082-1. This meets the essential protection requirements of the European Council Directive 89/336/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relation to electromagnetic compatibility

Table of Content:

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………..……….4

1.1 Features ……………………………………………………………....……………………..4

1.2 Package Contents ………………………………………………………………………....4

1.3 System Requirements … ………………………………………………………..................5

1.4 Your Wireless 802.11 g/b USB 2.0 adapter ………………………………………….5

Chapter 2: INSTALLATION OF THE Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 adapter……….6

2.1 Installation Procedures …………………………………………………………………....6

2.2 Installation Notes - Windows XP ……………………… ………………………… ……..9

2.3 Verify ing a Successful Installation ……………………………………………………..11

Chapter 3: CONFIGURATIONS FOR WINDOWS XP…………………………….……….12

3.1 To Connect an Available Network via Wireless Zero Configuration ……………..13

3.2 To Configure the Wireless Networks Properties ……………………………………...13

3.3 To Access to Certain Wireless Network Type ………………………………………..18

Chapter 4: WIRELESS-G CONFIGURATION TOOL BASIC………………………...19

4.1 Tray Icon ………………………………………………………………………………………….19

4.2 Right-Click Menu of the Tray Icon ……………………………………………………………19

4.3 Program Controls ……………………………………………………………….............21

4.4 The Advanced Properties ………………………………………………………….…32

APPENDIX A: TROUBLESHOOTING ......................................................................................................36

APPENDIX B: SPECIFICATIONS……………………………………………………….42 APPENDIX C: GLOSSARY………………………………………………………………44 APPENDIX D: WARRANTY INFORMATION…………………………………………..46 APPENDIX E: CONTACT INFOMATION……………………………………………….46

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

Being five times faster than the speed of 802.11b network standard devices, the innovative 802.11g standard lets the wireless network become incredibly easier and faster (up to 54Mbps) than ever. Your Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER surely will bring you into such a high-speed network sphere. This document describes how to install your Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER, which aims to let your computer communicate with 802.11 networks quickly and seamlessly. Wireless LAN is local area networking without wires, which uses radio frequencies to transmit and receive data between PCs or other network devices. Additionally, wireless LAN is able to configure either independent networks, which is also known as peer-to-peer or ad-hoc network, or infrastructure networks. The former is suitable for small or temporary peer-to-peer configurations, and the later is offering fully distributed data connectivity via micro cells and roaming.

To obtain most benefits your Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER provides, please read this manual carefully before using it.

1.1 Features

With the Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER, you can

• establish a wireless connection without the hassles and cost of cabling

• operate Ad-Hoc or Infrast ructure mode

• utilize up to 128-bit WEP encryption

• enjoy high-speed data transfer rate up to 54 Mbps

• employ automatic data rate switching which offers maximum reliability, throughput and

connectivity

• possess the network’s range up to 100 meters indoor and 400 meters outdoor

• monitor and configure the network via the supplied friendly-interfaced application –

Wireless-G Configuration Tool

Package Contents

1.2

Before starting the installation, please make sure the package you purchased includes the following items:

• One Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER

• One Setup Wizard CD with User Manual

• One Quick Installation Guide

• One Limited Warranty card

1.3

System Requirements

To properly operate your Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER, your computer must meet the following minimum requirements:

• 32 MB RAM or above

• A CD-ROM drive

• 300 MHz processor or higher

• Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP

• USB Port version 2.0

Your Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER

1.4

Your Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER should be located in the USB port of your computer, and it looks like the following picture:

Figure 1.4-1: Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER

Chapter 2: INSTALLATION OF THE Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0

ADAPTER

It’s free and easy for you to install your Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER an d the attached software – Wireless-G Configuration Tool. Simply with a few clicks of the mouse, you will succeed the completion of installation.

2.1 Installation Procedures

To have the Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER operated appropriately, please read and go along with the instructions below carefully . Here we take Windows XP as an example.

a) Plug your Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER into a USB 2.0 port on your PC. b) Your system will detect the device, and the Found New Hardware Wizard

dialog box will appear. Choose Cancel to proceed.

Figure 2.1-1: The Found New Hardware Wizard Dialog Box

c ) Insert the supplied Setup CD into your CD-ROM drive. On the prompted startup

screen below, choose Install Driver & Utility to start the installation.

d) Click next in the WLAN 802.1 1G USB window to proceed. The sy st em will start to copy the drivers found.

Figure 2.1-2: The 11Mbps Wireless LAN Window

e) Windows will notify you that the driver has not passed the Windows Logo

testing. Because the USB Adapter has been tested to work with Windows XP, please choose Continue Anyway in the Hardware Installation dialog box.

Figure 2.1-3: The Hardware Installation Dialog Box

f) On the Reboot screen, you may choose either Yes, I want to restart my computer

now or No, I will restart my computer later. Then click Finish to complete the

installation.

Figure 2.1-4: The Reboot

screen

Now you shall find the Wireless-G Configuration Tool tray icon, , appeared in the system tray. The installation is entirely finished at the moment.

Double-click the icon to launch the application and open the Wireless Settings dialog box, in which you may freely arrange your network connection afterwards.

For more details about Wireless-G Configuration Tool, please refer to “WLAN-G Configuration Tool Basics” in this manual.

2.2

Installation Notes - Windows XP

If your system is running Windows XP, you shall find that four tabs are contained in the Wireless Settings dialog box after you’ve followed the instructions above and successfully installed the drivers. However, normally, the dialog box should be consisted of seven tabs. This is because Windows XP has its built-in configuration tools – Windows XP Zero Configuration to assist you in networking activities. It is recommended to utilize the attached Wireless-G Configuration Tool to enjoy more benefits it will bring.

Thus, to employ your Wireless-G Configuration Tool under Windows XP, please proceed to the next step to change the default settings of Windows Zero Configuration to WirelessG Configuration Tool.

Figure 2.2-1: The Wireless-G Configuration Tool Tray Icon

Figure 2.2-2: The Wireless Settings Dialog Box

a) Right-click the Network Connections icon at the task bar to open the Wireless

Network

Connection Status di al og box, and then select Properties.

Figure 2.2-3: The Wireless Network Connection Status Dialog Box

b) Choose the Wireless Networks tab in the Wireless Network Connection

Properties dialog box, and remove the tick from the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings checkbox.

Figure 2.2-4: The Wireless Network Connection Properties Dialog Box

c) Click OK. Now, you have successfully removed the Windows Zero Configuration.

To monitor and configure the network via Wireless-G Configuration Tool, double-click its tray icon, and you shall find seven tabs contained in the popped up Wireless Settings dialog box this time. For more information on Wireless-G Configuration Tool, please refer to the chapter: 4 Wireless-G Configuration Tool Basics below.

Note: If you wish to use Windows XP’s built-in configuration tools – Windows XP Zero Configuration, please refer to the next chapter: Configuration for Windows XP to configure the WLAN USB Adapter.

2.3

Verifying a Successful Installation

To confirm that the Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER is properly installed, please follow the procedures below.

1. Right-click the My Computer desktop icon and choose Properties from the opened menu.

2. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Hardware Device tab, and then choose the Device Manager Button.

3. In the opened window, expand Network adapters to find the USB Adapter –

802.11g/b WLAN USB (2.0) Adapter. Right-click over the item and choose Properties.

4. From the opened dialog box, on the General tab, find the descriptions under the Device Status panel to learn if the USB Adapter is working properly. However, if

there’s an error message shown, please choose Uninstall from the opened menu while right-clicking the USB Adapter item, to which a red or yellow icon is attached beside, in the Device Manager Dialog box. Then restart your system and go through the installation procedures again.

The following picture indicates a successful installation of the Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER.

Figure 2.3-1: The Device Manager Dialog Box

Chapter 3: CONFIGURATION FOR WINDOWS XP

As you have already known, Windows XP has its built-in configuration tools – Windows XP Zero Configuration, to assist you in some basic configurations of wireless network

connection. The service starts right after the completion of the installation of Wireless

802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER, and you will find the icon automatically appears in your system tray like the following picture shows.

Figure 3-1: The Wireless Network Connection Icon

Please refer to the desired topics below to look for more details about utilizing your Wireless

802.11g/b USB 2.0 adapter via Wireless Zero Configurations.

3.1

To Connect an Available Network via Wireless Zero Configuration

1. Double-click the Wireless Network Connection icon.

2. In the opened Connect to Wireless Network dialog box, the currently available networks are listed in the Available networks field. From the list, choose an item that you intend to associate with.

3. If the chosen entry requires a WEP encryption key and also automatically provides it, leave the Network Key field blank and then choose the Connect button to build the connection. Otherwise, you will need to manually enter the identical key in the Network Key field before clicking Connect.

Figure 3.1-1: This is connect to Wireless Network dialog box

4. If the connection is established, there will be a pop-up message shown beside the

Wireless Network Connection icon on the system tray. You could obtain the information on the st atus of connection from the message.

To Configure the Wireless Networks Prop erties

3.2

If you cannot establish a connection with the chosen entry or you wish to configure further wireless network connection settings, choose the advanced button in the Connect to Wireless Network dialogue box.

Figure 3.2-1: This is connect to Wireless Network dialog box

After clicking Advanced, you will enter into the Wireless Networks tab of the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box, in which three other tabs are found, including General, Authentication, and Advanced. The Wireless Networks tab includes almost the main settings for the networking connection. Thus, please chec k the descriptions below to learn more about the tab.

Figure 3.2-2: The Wireless Network Connection Properties Dialog Box

Note: For more detailed information about each tab, please refer to the Windows XP Online-Help.

The Wireless Networks tab is chiefly consisted of two sections: Available networks and preferred networks.

• Under the Available networks area, all the available access points or Wireless LAN PC Card equipped computers are displayed. You may wish to click Refresh to update the list. If you choose any listed item in the field and then click Configure, the Wireless Network Properties dialog box will appear as Figure 3.2-3 shows. Check the descriptions below the figure to obtain more information about the dialog box.

• In the Preferred networks area you could add any displayed networks to the list by clicking over the intended item from Available networks and then selecting the Add button. After clicking Add, the Wireless Network Properties dialog box will appear as Figure 3.2-3 displays. Note that to delete any item under the preferred networks ar ea, simp ly click on it and then select the Remove button. Additionally, you may adjust the items in the list by clicking the desired item and then choosing the Move up or Move down button. It is, however, important to realize that Windows XP will always choose the first one in the list to establish the networking connection.

Figure 3.2-3: The Wireless Network Properties Dialog Box

Note: Once you choose an item from the preferred networks list and then click Properties, the

Wireless Network Properties dialog box will also be provoked.

• In the opened Wireless Network Properties dialog box, edit texts in the Network Name (SSID)

• If, there’s a need, go to the Wireless network key (WEP) area to set the keys as the associated access point or Wireless LAN PC Card equipped computer requests. To set WEP, select Data encryption (WEP enabled) and Network Authentication. Then enter the encryption key for the network you intend to connect to in the Network

key filed. Prior to typing texts as the network key, you may wish to define the Key format and Key length. Click OK when you are finished, and you will return to the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box.

Figure 3.2-4: Enter WEP

Note: For more details of this tab, you may click the link: setting up wireless network configuration at the bottom of the Wireless networks tab to launch the Windows XP

Online-Help.

Figure 3.2-5: Setting up wireless network configuration

3.3 To Access to Certain Wireless Network Type

The default network type of Windows XP Zero Configuration is any available access points (Access Point mode) or WLAN Card equipped computers (Ad-Hoc mode) within the range at the given time. However, you may wish to connect to a certain network type sometimes. To change the default settings, click the advanced button in the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box.

Figure 3.3-1 The Advanced Dialog Box:

The Advanced dialog box provides three options, any available netw ork, Access point networks only, and Computer-to-computer networks only. Choose one of them according to your need and click Close to finish. Then you will find under the Available networks area in the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box, only the specified networks are displayed.

Note: If you wish to use the attached application – Wireless-G Configuration Tool of th e Wireless 802.11g/b USB adapter instead of Windows XP’s Wireless Zero Configuration, please refer to 2.2 Installation Notes –Windows XP in this manual to change the settings.

Chapter 4: WIRELESS-G CONFIGURATION TOOL BASICS

After successfully installing the driver for your Wireless 802.11g/ b USB 2.0 ADAPTER on your computer, you may see the Wireless-G Configuration Tool icon, in the system tray. To set configurations for your USB Adapter, double-click the icon to open the Wireless Settings dialog box, in which seven tabs are contained, including Status, Configuration, Encryption, Site Survey, IBSS, Domain, and about. Each of them proffers different functions to assist you in configuring the connection to the networks.

In this chapter, four topics are offered: Tray I c o n , Right-Click Menu of the Tray Icon, Program Controls, and The Advanced Properties Tab. Please refer to the preferred topic to obtain more information and enjoy vast advantages Wireless-G Configuration Tool brings.

4.1 Tray Icon As long as you finish installing Wireless-G Configuration Tool on your computer system, you will see its icon, the mouse cursor over it, the information on the current link quality is provided in the tips. Furthermore, the color of the icon varies with the current state of your network connection. Check the list below to learn the definition of each color.

, shown at the right bottom corner of your screen. When you move

, displayed

Icon Quality

Excellent Link Quality Data Frame Errors – Check WEP Settings Fair Link Quality

Poor Link Quality or Not Linked

Note: The blue icon indicates that you might have entered incorrect WEP keys. To solve the problems, choose the Configuration tab in the Wireless Settings dialog box to correct the keys for encryption.

4.2 Right-Click Menu of the Tray Icon Right-clicking the Wireless-G Configuration Tool icon in the system tray will open a

menu as the following picture:

Radio Off

Figure 4.2-1: Right-Click Menu of the Tray Icon

Check the descriptions below to obtain detailed information about each command in the menu. Wireless Radio On Choose the Wireless Radio On command to receive the radio frequency signal. Wireless Radio Off Choosing the Wireless Radio Off command will stop receiving the radio frequency signal. Remove Status Icon If you do not wish to have the Wireless-G Configuration Tool icon displayed in the

system tray, choose this command to open the Remove Wireless Status Icon dialog box, and then choose Yes to have the icon disappeared. The icon will reappear next time when you restart the computer. If you intend to remove it permanently, put a tick in the checkbox next to the Remove Status Icon Permanently option. To launch the utility hereafter, click Start on the taskbar, choose Program from the menu, and then point to Wireless-G Configuration Tool of the submenu of Wireless LAN 11G USB Tools. Clicking No will undo the removal.

Figure 4.2-2: The Remove Wireless Status Icon Dialog Box

Wireless Network Status Choose this command to launch the Status tab of the Wireless Settings dialog box. For

more details about the tab, please refer to The Status T ab in the Program Controls

section below.

Advanced Configuration Choose this command to launch the Configuration tab of the Wireless Settings dialog

box. Please refer to The Configuration Tab i n t he Program Controls section below to gain more information about the tab.

WEP Encryption Choose this command to launch the Encryption tab of the Wireless Settings dialog box.

This tab offers you a number of options to maintain the secure management in a wireless LAN environment. See the explanations in The Encryption Tab under the Program

Controls section below for more details. IBSS Channel

Choosing this command will launch the IBSS tab of the Wireless Settings dialog box. To obtain more information about the tab, please refer to The IBSS Tab in the Program

Controls section below . Country/Domain

Choosing this command will launch the Domain tab of the Wireless Settings dialog box. Detailed information about this tab is presented in The Domain Tab of the Program

Controls section. Version Information

Choosing this command will launch the about tab of the Wireless Setti ngs dialog box . The About tab reveals general information on your Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER,

including the release version of driver and the Wireless-G Configuration Tool and the USB network adapter’s MAC Address.

4.3 Program Controls

When you double-click the Wireless-G Configuration Tool tray icon, the Wireless Settings dialog box will be prompted as the picture shows below. You may also launch this dialog box via clicking Start on the taskbar, choosing Program from the menu, and then pointing to Wireless-G Configuration Tool from the submenu of WLAN-G TOOLS.

The application is a window-based program, which is consisted of seven tabs, including Status, Configuration, Encryption, Site Survey, IBSS, Domain, and about. The following figure displays the Wireless Settings dialog box.

Figure 4.3-1: The Wireless Settings Dialog Box

Check the desired items below to obtain more details about these tabs. The Status Tab In the Wireless Settings dialog box, click the Status tab to appear the following display .

Here presents the status of your current connection. To close the window, click OK.

Note: Choosing the Wireless Network Status command from the right-click menu of Wireless-G Configuration Tool tray icon will launch this tab too.

Figure 4.3-2: The Status Tab

Note: The “Wireless Settings” in the caption bar of the dialog box is the profile name of the current connection.

Thus, the caption contexts vary according to the connectivity at the given time. From the above picture, the associated profile is named “Wireless”. For more information about profiles, please refer to the “The Configuration Tab” section in the manual.

From the window, the general information on the status of currently connected entry is presented. You may want to click the Rescan button to reinitiate the scanning process and update the status. Later the result of scanning will be renewed and displayed in the window. If you wish to stop the networking connection, click the Disable Radio button to stop scanning. Meanwhile, the State tab will indicate that the radio has been stopped and the remaining areas under this tab display either a zero or Not Applicable. However, if you are already in the disabled radio mode, you will find the Enable Radio button here instead. Click Enable Radio to regain the link then.

State Here displays the MAC Address of the current associated entry, which could be a

connected access point in the Infrastructure mode or computers joining in the Peer-toPeer network.

AdHoc: The WLAN USB adapter is operating in Peer-to-Peer mode. This field

also displays the virtual MAC address used by computers participating in the Ad-Hoc network.

Associated: The WLAN USB adapter is operating in Infrastructure mode. This field also

shows the MAC address of the Access Point with which you are communicating.

Listening: Indicates that the adapter is listening on all allowed channels, but has not

yet found a peer-to-peer or infrastructure network with which to associate.

Stopped: The radio has been stopped by the Disable Radio Button. Scanning: The WLAN USB adapter is scanning for transmissions by other wireless

adapters on all channels.

Associating: The WLAN USB adapter is in the process of associating with a network. Not Associated: The WLAN USB adapter has not found any network with which to associate.

Current TX Rate

This feature indicates the transmission rate of the current connection.

Current Channel Here reveals the current channel operated in the wireless network. Note that the

channel number differs as the radio scans any available channels in the Infrastructure

mode.

Throughout (bytes/sec)

This feature indicates the rates of transmitting (TX) and receiving (Rx) data of your Wireless

802.11g/b USB Adapter within a short period of time; thus, the values vary on a time basis.

Link Quality Link Quality is based on the percentage of successfully transmitted or received signal of the

associated access point beacon within a limited period. The bar graph beside also provides a visual interpretation of the current link quality. It is noted that the Link Quality and Signal Strength features only apply to the Infrastructure mode. They are inapplicable in the Ad-Hoc mode since data will be transferred from many different computers.

Signal Strength You may learn the received signal strength of the base band processor of the beacon

signal from the Signal Strength bar beside, and it’s also presented in terms of percentage. As the signal gets stronger, the signal percentage rate gets higher. It is noted that the Signal Strength and Link Quality features only apply to the Infrastructure mode. They are inapplicable in the Ad-Hoc mode since data will be transferred from many different computers.

The Configuration Tab Click this tab to edit different profiles for different network configurations. When finish

changing the settings, please click Apply to perform the new configuration at last.

Note: Choosing the Advanced Configuration command from the right-click menu of Wireless-G Configuration Tool tray icon will launch this tab too.

Figure 4.3-3: The Configuration Tab

Profile Name

A profile is a named set of operating parameters for your Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER. You can, by clicking the down arrow, at the right of this item to display available profiles for your Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 Adapter. You may set values for the chosen pre-defined profile. When you finish setting up the new changes, choose Apply to save the profile.

To identify a new profile, enter texts in the Profile Name field. After defining the configurations below, Click the Apply button to establish a new profile. To switch between any existing profiles, click the arrow button at the right of the Profile Name field to open the pull-down menu and then select an intended one from it.

Note: You will have at least one profile named Default. When selecting any link from the list under the Site Survey tab, you have already automatically established a new profile for it under the Configuration tab.

Network Name

Also known as SSID (Service Set Identifier), must be unique to distinguish itself as a particular wireless network, while all wireless points in this network area share the same SSID. Type the identical SSID in the Network Name field to associate with access points or stations within the specified wireless LAN. To change the Network Name, highlight the texts in the box, edit a new SSID, and then click Apply to save the changes.

Network Type Two network types are offered here: Access Point and Peer-to-Peer. Choose an

intended type from the two options. The Access Point mode, which is also known as the Infrastructure mode, allows you to communicate with a wired network via an access point. If you attempt to operate this mode, you must indicate the identical Network

Name to make a communication with the intended access point. On the other hand, the Peer-to-Peer mode provides you with the so-called Ad-Hoc communication, which

means each wireless-equipped computer within a group is able to connect with each other as an independent wireless LAN without the use of an access point. Each station within this Ad-Hoc network has to define the same Network Name.

Peer-to-Peer Channel This command is only available while you are operating the Peer-to-Peer mode, the so-

called Ad-Hoc mode. Specify the operating radio frequency channel from the pull-down menu if you are the creator of the wireless network. If you are the joiner, just configure the SSID and click Apply. Note that the available channels differ from country to country, and the channel number must be the same between the entries/stations within the range, so that each can communicate with each other. While in the Access Point mode, the

channel number would be the same as the associated access point. Thus, there’s no need to manually set up the value.

Transmit Rate This command allows you to indicate the rate of transferring the data packet from the

associated access point or any nodes within the range. There are four options for you: Auto 1, 2 Mb, 5.5 Mb, 11 Mb, and Fully Automatic. Specify the rate from the provided options according to the speed of your wireless network, or you may simply choose Fully Automatic to set the best available rate according to the received signal quality and the capabilities of the associated access point or station.

The Encryption Tab Click the Encryption tab to define the encryption settings for a specific profile. It offers

you various options concerning the so-called WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) to maintain the secure management in a wireless LAN environment. See the explanations below for more details, and before making any activation of the new settings, click Apply. To leave the window, click OK. To undo the new settings, select the Cancel button.

Note: Choosing the WEP Encryption command from the right-click menu of Wireless-G Configuration Tool Tray icon will launch this tab too.

Figure 4.3-4: The Encryption Tab

Encryption (WEP security)

If you choose Disabled from the pull-down list, you will have the wireless LAN USB adapter communicated with all stations within the same networking community without any data encryption. Otherwise, two key lengths are offered: 64 bit and 128 bit. Specify a preferred one from the two, so that you may use the identical WEP key to make a communication with the chosen access point.

Create Keys Manually Once you set the Encryption type as 64 bit or 128 bit, you may choose to edit WEP

keys manually or create them via the pass phrase of your wireless network. If you choose the Create Keys Man ually option, you may directly enter up to 4 WEP keys for use in WEP encryption. To generate the WEP keys, please define the key entry method as Alphanumeric or Hexadecimal (for hexadecimal characters, only digits 0-9 and letters A-F are valid). Then edit the texts in the blank fields below, from Ke y 1 to Key 4, as the encryption codes. Note that these codes/keys shall be identical between the wireless nodes within the range and the access point only. Check the table below to find valid key length of each encryption type:

64 bit 128 bit

Alphanumeric 5 characters 13 characters Hexadecimal 10 digits 26 digits

Use WEP Key Indicate which WEP key you intend to apply to a c t i v a t e t h e W E P e n c r yp t i o n from t h e p u l l -

down menu. Make sure that the intended access point on the wireless network shares the same keys. By default, Key 1 will be used.

Create Keys with Pass phrase Choose this command when the associated wireless network uses a pass phrase to

create WEP keys. Enter the pass phrase string in the Pass phrase filed to generate four encryption keys in the Key fields above. Note that only letters A-F are valid for the

Pass phrase feature.

Note: When entering the pass phrase here, ensure that you have specified an accurate type of the Encryption (WEP security) above according to the associated agent’s configuration. Otherwise, the inaccuracy will cause any

failure of performance. After finish configuri ng the Encryption features, remember to click Apply to in itia te the new settings.

The Site Survey Tab First of all, while entering this tab, please do choose the Rescan button to reinitiate the scanning

process and update the list. Later the result of scanning will be renewed and displayed afterwards. From the offered information, you may learn the general information on the

status of current scan lines, including BSSID, SSID, signal strength, the channel number, WEP type, and network type.

In addition, to directly make an association with any site on the list, double-click the BSSID field of the intended entry, and you will be led to the Status tab then.

Figure 4.3-5: The Site Survey Tab

The IBSS Tab If you, as a creator of the wireless network, are communicating with other stations via the

IBSS (802.11 Ad-hoc) mode to form peer-to-peer networks, click the IBSS (Independent Basic Service Set) tab to specify an operating radio frequency channel from the pulldown list under the IBSS Channel Selection section.

Note: Choosing the IBSS Channel command from the right-click menu of Wireless-G Configuration Tool. Tray icon will launch this tab too.

Note that the available channels differ from country to country, and the channel number must be the same between the entries/stations within the range, so that each can communicate with each other. Or you may simply click Defaults to automatically determine the channel number for you. When done, click Apply to activate the new configuration. On the other hand, while in the Access Point mode, you will find the channel number is the same as the associated access point. Thus, there’s no need to manually set the value.

Figure 4.3-6: The IBSS Tab

The Domain Tab While in the 2.4GHz range, the network operation may differ from country to country, or

domain to domain. This is because the 802.11d protocol was established. To have the operation normally processed, choose the Domain tab to change relevant settings. Note that if you specify Peer-to-Peer as the network type, you must specify none in the 802.11d support field.

Note: Choosing the Country/Domain command from the right-click menu of Wireless-G Configuration Tool tray icon will launch this tab too.

Figure 4.3-7: The Domain Tab

802.11d Support lets you operate multi-country roaming. To automatically adjust regulatory domain while operating network in different countries, choose either Strict or

Flexible according to your need. Choosing Strict will allow your WLAN USB adapter to communicate with the access points

that provide

802.11d support. On this occasion, the WLAN USB adapter scans all communications channels for an access point which provides information about the channels, frequencies, and power levels permitted in your location. Once it finds such an access point, the WLAN USB adapter conform its operations to these standards. The WLAN USB adapter will not communicate with an access point that does not provide this information, nor will it join or create a peer-to-peer network.

On the other hand, if you choose Flexible in this field, your WLAN USB adapter can communicate with any access point it finds. In this case, you must also choose the county in the Countries/Domains field which corresponds to your location. Your WLAN USB adapter then searches for an access point that offers information about the channels, frequencies, and power levels permitted in your location.

If you choose none, the task will be terminated.

Countries/Domains If you choose Flexible above, go on defining the regulatory domain from the drop-down

menu of this command according to the country you are located in. More detailed information about the defined country/domain will be listed below afterwards.

When you are done, remember to click Apply to let the new settings take effect. The About Tab This tab reveals general information on your wireless LAN USB Adapter, including the

following items.

Note: Choosing the Version Information command from the right-click menu of Wireless-G Configuration Tool tray icon will launch this tab too.

Figure 4.3-8: The About Tab

Network Driver Displays the current version and released date of the Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0

Adapter’s driver. Configuration Utility

Displays the current version and released date of Wireless-G Configuration Tool. NIC Firmware

This displays the current NIC card firmware version and the MAC (Media Access Control) address of your wireless USB Adapter. It is consisted of 12-digit hexadecimal numbers (48 bits in length) to identify your computer's physical address on the local area network.

4.4 The Advanced Properties Tab The Advanced Properties tab provides access to operating parameters for the network adapter which is not controlled by the configuration utility. These properties are accessed

through the Windows hardware device manager. The following steps describe how to access these properties under Windows XP. For Windows 2000, the details may differ slightly; consult your operating system documentation or your system administrator. Also, the properties that appear in the list displayed by the device manager may differ depending on the adapter inst alled in your computer. To display these properties, complete the following steps:

1. Right-click the My Computer desktop icon and choose Properties from the opened menu.

2. Choose the Hardware tab in the System Properties dialog box, and click Device

Manager.

3. In the opened window, expand Network adapters to find the USB Adapter –

802.11g/b WLAN USB (2.0) Adapter. Right-click over the item and choose Properties from the opened menu.

Figure 4.4-1: The Device Manager Dialog B ox

4. When you click on the Advanced tab in the opened dialog box, a display similar

to the following appears

Figure 4.4-2: The Advanced Tab

You shall see the value for any of these properties by clicking on an item displayed in the Property field. If a value has been set for the property, it appears in the Value field to the right of the list. You may click to specify the Value settings from the offered drop-down list. To change a numeric value, simply move the mouse pointer to the Value field and click once with the left mouse button to highlight and type the value for the property according to your needs. Choosing Not Present under the Value field will disable a value.

The following section explains the items in the Property list displayed by this tab.

Configuration Profile Specify a pre-defined profile with standard parameters from here. The provided profiles

include:

 B only – for operation in 802.11b environments only  B WIFI – for operation in 802.11b environments conforming to WiFi standards

 G only – for operation in 802.11g environments only  Mixed – for operation in either 802.11b or 802. 11g environments  Mixed Long – for long-range operation in either 802.11b or 802.1 1g

environments

 Test – for operation under the widest variety of 802.11 conditions

Fragmentation Threshold

The fragmentation threshold defines the size (in bytes) at which a packet is split into smaller packets for transmission. You can enter a value from 256 to 2432 in increments of 128. Normally, you should disable this property unless directed otherwise by your Network Administrator.

Niro Mode This feature may increase data throughput over the WLAN and is particularly effective in

Mixed 802.11b/g environments. This property determines whether Nitro mode is enabled in your wireless USB Adap ter. A value of 0 (zero) disables this mode; a value of 1 (one) enables it.

Power Save Mode This property turns the Station Power Save feature on or off, or sets it to auto. When in

Auto mode, the station enters Power Save based on the battery condition (XP only) on the host. Power Save Mode decreases the amount of power consumed by the adapter by powering off the radio for short periods. Enabling Power Save Mode trades off performance for battery life.

• Auto Dynamic – specifies Disable mode when on AC power and Dynamic mode when on battery

• Auto Maximum – specifies Disable mode when on AC power and Maximum mode when on battery

Note: Auto Dynamic and Auto Maximum require NDIS 5.1 or later, typically available

only on Windows XP.

• Disabled – specifies continuous access mode and is the default

• Dynamic – specifies a f ast power saving mode that provides the best

combination of performance and power usage

• Maximum – specifies the greatest power saving mode

RTS Threshold

The RTS threshold is the packet size (in bytes) at which packet transmission is governed by the RTS/CTS transaction.

You can enter a value from 0 to 2432 in increments of 64 for this property. Normally you should leave this property disabled unless directed otherwise by your Network Administrator.

The Long/Short Retry Limit The Long Retry Limit or Short Retry Limit is the maximum number of retransmission

of a data packet because of the failure of receiving CTS or ACK.

APPENDIX A: TROUBLESHOOTING

This section provides solutions to problems that you might encounter during the installation and operation of your Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER. Please refer to the desired topics below and read the description to solve your problems.

Uninstall Wireless-G Configuration Tool and the Adapter’s Driver Prior to starting the uninstalling, please make sure that Wireless-G Configuration Tool is

closed, and then go along with the procedures below to entirely uninstall Wireless-G Configuration Tool and the Adapter driver.

1. Right-click the My Computer desktop icon and choose Properties from the opened menu.

2. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Hardware tab, and then choose the Device Manager Button.

3. In the opened window, expand Network adapters to find the USB Adapter –

802.11g/b WLAN USB (2.0) Adapter. Right-click over the item and choose Uninstall from the opened menu.

Figure 5-1: The Device Manager Dialog Box

4. In the Confirm Device Removal message box, click OK to proceed with the

removal of the hardware.

Figure 5-2: The Confirm Device Removal Message Box

5. Click Start on the taskbar and choose Control Panel from the Settings menu.

6. Select Add or Remove Programs to open the dialog box shown as below.

Figure 5-3: Add or Remove Programs Dialog Box

7. Click the Change/Remove button under WLAN 1802.11G USB.

8. Please follow the on-screen instruction to complete the removal.

The Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER Does Not Work Properly

If this happens, follow the guidelines below.

. Right-click the My Computer desktop icon and choose Properties to open the System

Properties dialog box.

2. Click the Hardware t ab and then choose the Device Manager Button.

3. In the opened window , find your USB Adapter to see if the installation is successful. If you see a yellow exclamation mark beside the item, please go along with the steps below to reinstall the drivers.

4. Uninstall the software and hardware drivers from your PC. (P lease refer to t he previous topic for details)

5. Restart your computer and repeat the installation procedures as indicated in this chapter in this manual: Installation of the Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER.

6. When finished, open the Device Manager window again to verify if the installation is approved. The yellow exclamation mark shall be removed for this time.

Upgrade WLAN-G Configuration Tool and the Adapter’s Driver

To upgrade the drivers for WLAN-G Configuration Tool and the Wireless 802.11g/b USB

2.0 ADAPTER, follow the procedures below. Please note that the details might be slightly different according to the Windows system you are using. Here we are taking the example of Windows XP.

1. Click Start on the taskbar and choose Control Panel from the Settings menu.

2. Select System to open the System Properties dialog box, and then under the

Hardware Tab, click the Device Manager Button to open the Device Manager Dialog box.

3. Double-click the Other devices item in the list to show the USB 2.0 Device icon,

which is displayed with a yellow icon beside. Right-click the icon and choose Update Driver from the opened menu.

Figure 5-4: The Device Manager Dialog Box

4. In the Hardware Up dat e Wizard dialog box, choose Instal l from a list or specific

location [Advanced] and then click Next to continue.

Figure 5-5: The Hard ware Update Wizard Dialog Box

5. In the next dialog box, choose to define the path on the supplied CD, and then

select the Browse button. From the Browse for Folder dialog box, find the

directory named Drivers from the CD-ROM. After choosing the folder according to the system you are running, click OK. And then choose the Next button in the previous dialog box.

Figure 5-6: Choose the Folder Named Install

6. Choose Continue Anyway in the prompted Hardware Installation dialog box to proceed.

Figure 5-7: The Hardware Installation Dialog Box

7. When the following dialog box appears, your system is starting to install the software.

Figure 5-8: Installing the Software

8. In a few seconds later , you w ill see the following dialog box appeared. Click Finish to end up upgrading.

Figure 5-9: The Complete Screen

APENDIX B: SPECIFICATIONS

Product Name Wireless 802.11g/b USB 2.0 ADAPTER Host Interface USB2.0

Standards IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g Frequency Band 2.400 ~ 2.4835GHz (subject to local regulations) Current Drain Power save mode=15mA, Standby mode=7mA, Transmit mode=370mA,

Receive mode=340mA

Spreading DSSS (11b), OFDM (11g) Operating Voltage 5.0 V ± 5% Data Rate 1Mpbs, 2Mbps, 5.5Mbps, 6Mbps, 9Mbps, 11Mbps, 12Mbps, 18Mbps,

24Mbps, 36Mbps, 48Mbps, 54Mbps

Transmit Power 802.11b

802.11g 6/9Mbps 12/18Mbps 24Mbps 36Mbps 48Mbps 54Mbps

Receive Sensitivity 802.11b

8% FER@1Mbps-91dBm 8% FER@2Mbps-88dBm 8% FER@5.5Mbps-85dBm 8% FER@11Mbps-83dBm

802.11g 10% PER@6Mbps-88dBm 10% PER@9Mbps-87dBm 10% PER@12Mbps-84dBm

>17dBm

>15dBm >4dBm >14dBm >12dBm >12dBm

10% PER@18Mbps-82dBm 10% PER@24Mbps-79dBm 10% PER@36Mbps-75dBm 10% PER@48Mbps-69dBm 10% PER@54Mbps-68dBm

Modulation CCK (11b), BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM (11g)

Security 64/128 bit WEP Encryption

802.1x, WPA (Windows XP SP1 and Windows 2000 SP4 only)

Internal Antenna Type Single Chip Antenna Media Access Control RF activity

Supplied Driver CSMA/CA with ACK Warranty 1 year Temperature Range 0~65°C (Operating) Humidity Max. 95% Non-condensing Operating Range Open Space: up to 400meters; Indoor: up to 100meters

The transmission speed varies in the surrounding environment.

APPENDIX C: GLOSSARY

802.1 1b – 802.11b is one of the IEEE standards for wireless LANs and specifies a data

transfer rate of 5.5 and up to 11 megabit per second in the 2.4 gigahertz radio band.

802.11b is recently given other widespread names as WI-FI or Wireless Fidelity.

802.11g-- 802.11g standard advertises a data rate boost from the 11Mpbs of the popular

802.11b (Wi-Fi) standard to somewhere in the range of 24 to 54Mbps. The boost in transmission speed gives Wi-Fi networks the ability to serve up to four or five times more users

Ad-hoc Network – Ad-hoc network, also known as peer-to-peer network, means a wireless network which is composed only of stations. This type of network is created with a group of wireless-equipped computers. With the wireless devices, each computer, functioning as a server and a client at the same time, can establish a LAN to directly communicate with other computers without any access points involved. It is easy to set up a peer-to-peer network; however, because all stations must be within a specific distance in order to be capable of communicating with each other, it is also limited. Thus, such a type of network is widely used at small networking requirements, like between a few computers or devices at departmental scales.

IEEE – IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, is the world’s largest technical professional society and is cons isted of more than 366,000 members in approximately 150 countries. As a leading authority on areas ranging from for computer engineering, biomedical technology and telecommunications, IEEE endeavors to set more than 800 active consensus standards till now and publish 30 percent of the world's literature in electrical engineering, computers and control technology.

Infrastructure Network – Infrastructure network allows you to communicate with wired LAN via an access point. Unlike Ad-hoc network that all wireless- equipped stations within the range may directly communicate with each other, clients of Infrastructure network can only transmit and receive data through the use of a central access point. The associated access point also provides communication with the wired network.

MAC Address – The MAC (Media Access Control) address is the serial number of your Network Interface card. It has been burnt into the chip and could not be changed. MAC address is thus unique. While a computer on the network is transferring data, its MAC address is also conveyed and attached to be part of the header of the data packet s.

Roaming – Roaming is an ability to allow users from one cell (or BSS) to another without

losing connection via a wireless device.

SSID – SSID, Service Set Identifier, is a 32-character unique identifier for a workgroup of the wireless network. An SSID of one WLAN should be different from that of others, so all access points and other devices intending to communicate with a specific WLAN cannot achieve successful network connectivity unless presenting the identical SSID. From some perspective, an SSID performs as a kind of password to supply a measure of security on the WLAN. However, if an access point is configured to “Broadcast” its SSID, this essential security is no longer remained. An SSID is also known as a Network Name.

USB – USB, standing for Universal Serial Bus, was designed to make a connection between the computer and its peripherals, such as keyboards, scanners, webcams, printers, etc., via an easy operation of plug-and-play. USB has proved to be a good solution that allows users to quickly and easily connect and add peripherals to computers. Through the USB interface, there’s even no need to turn the computer off while adding new peripherals mentioned above to a computer. Due to its convenience and simplicity, USB has won worldwide popularity, and most peripherals for computers these days are designed for the USB standard.

WEP – Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a security mechanism for wireless local area networks. It is designed for 802.11 standards to offer an equal level of security as that of a wired LAN. Through the configurations of encryption, WEP aims to provide security while the nodes with wireless devices are transferring or receiving data packets over radio waves.

WLAN – Wireless local area network (WLAN) receives and transmit data over the air by using radio frequency (RF) technology. The vital significance of WLAN is it minimizes the requirements for wired connections and provides not only data connectivity but also user mobility. Without the constraint of physical location, wireless LAN allows clients to transmit and receive data via high-frequency radio waves rather than wires.

Appendix D: Warranty Info.

Limited Warranty

Limited Warranty Statement: GigaFast Ethernet Solutions Inc. ("GFE") warrants its products to be free from defects in workmanship and materials, under normal use and service, for the applicable warranty term. All GFE products carry a standard limited warranty from the date of purchase from GFE or its Authorized Reseller. GFE may, at its own discretion, repair or replace any product not operating as warranted with a similar or functionally equivalent product, during the applicable warranty term. All products that are replaced become the property of GFE. Replacement products may be either new or reconditioned. Any replaced or repaired product carries either a 30-day limited warranty or the remainder of the initial warranty, whichever is longer. GFE is not responsible for any custom software or firmware, configuration information, or memory data of Customer contained in, stored on, or integrated with any products returned to GFE pursuant to any warranty. Products returned to GFE should have any customer-installed accessory or add-on components, such as expansion modules, removed prior to returning the product for replacement. GFE is not responsible for these items if they are returned with the product. Customers must contact GFE for a Return Material Authorization number prior to returning any product to GFE. Proof of purchase may be required. Any product returned to GFE without a valid Return Material Authorization (RMA) number clearly marked on the outside of the package will be returned to customer at customer’s expense. For warranty claims within North America, please call our toll-free customer support number at (888) GFE-6788/(888) 433-6788. Customers are responsible for all shipping charges from their facility to GFE. GFE is responsible for return shipping charges from GFE to customer. WARRANTIES EXCLUSIVE: IF A GFE PRODUCT DOES NOT OPERATE AS WARRANTED ABOVE, CUSTOMER'S SOLE REMEDY SHALL BE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE PRODUCT IN QUESTION, AT GFE’S OPTION. THE FOREGOING WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES ARE EXCLUSIVE AND ARE IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, EITHER IN FACT OR BY OPERATION OF LAW, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. GFE NEITHER ASSUMES NOR AUTHORIZES ANY OTHER PERSON TO ASSUME FOR IT ANY OTHER LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE OR USE OF ITS PRODUCTS. GFE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE UNDER THIS WARRANTY IF ITS TESTING AND EXAMINATION DISCLOSE THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE PRODUCT DOES NOT EXIST OR WAS CAUSED BY CUSTOMER'S OR ANY THIRD PERSON'S MISUSE, NEGLECT, IMPROPER INSTALLATION OR TESTING, UNAUTHORIZED ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR, OR ANY OTHER CAUSE BEYOND THE RANGE OF THE INTENDED USE, OR BY ACCIDENT, FIRE, LIGHTNING, OR OTHER HAZARD. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: IN NO EVENT, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), SHALL GFE BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR FOR LOSS OF REVENUE, LOSS OF BUSINESS, OR OTHER FINANCIAL LOSS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, USE, PERFORMANCE, FAILURE, OR INTERRUPTION OF ITS PRODUCTS, EVEN IF GFE OR ITS AUTHORIZED RESELLER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR THE LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, WHICH MAY VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. NOTHING IN THIS WARRANTY SHALL BE TAKEN TO AFFECT YOUR STATUTORY RIGHTS. * GFE will provide warranty service for one year following discontinuance from the active GFE price list. Under the limited lifetime warranty, ternal and external power supplies, fans, and cables are covered by a standard one-year warranty from in date of purchase.

Appendix E: Contact Information

Gigafast Technical Support Department

Hours of Operation:

Monday thru Saturday 8AM - 8PM Excluding Holidays

(888) GFE-6788 or (888) 433-6788

techsupp@gigafast.com

Gigafast WF747-UL User Manual

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