Hercules USB WiFi Transmitter User Manual

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Hercules USB WiFi Transmitter

User Manual

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................3

2. BOX CONTENTS ..............................................................................................................3

3. MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS............................................................................. 3

4. INSTALLING THE USB WIFI TRANSMITTER................................................................. 4

5. INSTALLING THE DRIVERS............................................................................................ 5

6. HOW CAN I USE WIFI ON MY LAPTOP COMPUTER OR GAME CONSOLE?............. 9

6.1. On a WiFi-equipped computer...................................................................................................... 9

6.2. On a game console or any other WiFi-equipped device.............................................................11

7. HOW CAN I CONTROL ACCESS TO MY WIFI NETWORK? .......................................11

8. SWITCHING OFF OR RE-ENABLING WIRELESS INTERNET SHARING...................16

9. IF YOU HAVE TO CHANGE USB PORTS ..................................................................... 16

10. IF YOU CHANGE YOUR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER.........................................19

11. WELCOME TO THE WIRELESS ATTITUDE™! ............................................................ 20

11.1. Computers running Windows XP: Sharing folders or a printer ................................. 20

11.1.1. Windows XP: Using the Network Setup Wizard............................................ 20

11.1.2. Windows XP: Sharing folders........................................................................25

11.1.3. Windows XP: Accessing shared folders............................................................. 26

11.1.4. Windows XP: Sharing a printer .....................................................................26

11.1.5. Windows XP: Modifying a workgroup name .................................................28

11.2. Computers running Windows 2000: Sharing folders or a printer..............................29

11.2.1. Creating a workgroup in Windows 2000 ....................................................... 29

11.2.2. Windows 2000: Sharing folders .................................................................... 30

11.2.3. Windows 2000: Accessing shared folders.............................................................. 30

11.2.4. Windows 2000: Sharing a printer.......................................................................... 30

11.2.5. Windows 2000: Modifying a workgroup name.................................................. 32

11.2.6. Windows 2000: Accessing the shared Internet connection ..........................33

11.3. Computers running Windows Me: Sharing folders or a printer.................................34

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11.3.1. Windows Me: Using the Home Networking Wizard....................................... 34

11.3.2. Windows Me: Sharing folders........................................................................36

11.3.3. Windows Me: Accessing shared folders...............................................................36

11.3.4. Windows Me: Sharing a printer .....................................................................37

11.3.5. Windows Me: Modifying a workgroup name..................................................39

11.4. Computers running Windows 98 SE: Sharing folders or a printer ............................40

11.4.1. Windows 98 SE: Creating a workgroup.........................................................40

11.4.2. Windows 98 SE: Sharing folders...................................................................40

11.4.3. Windows 98 SE: Accessing shared folders ..............................................................41

11.4.4. Windows 98 SE: Sharing a printer ................................................................ 41

11.4.5. Windows 98 SE: Accessing a shared Internet connection............................ 43

12. UNINSTALLING YOUR HERCULES USB WIFI TRANSMITTER..................................45

13. TECHNICAL SUPPORT..................................................................................................46

14. WARRANTY ....................................................................................................................47

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RECOMMENDATION .......................................................49

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Hercules USB WiFi Transmitter

1. INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on your purchase! With your Hercules USB WiFi Transmitter, you will be able to share your Internet connection from your PC with other computers or devices and consoles via WiFi, all without having to make any changes to your existing Internet connection or modem. You’ll then be able to enjoy all the fun of surfing the Internet and online gaming made possible by these products.

In this manual you will find detailed information allowing you to configure and use your Hercules USB WiFi Transmitter.

This manual and any related updates are also available on the www.hercules.com website, under the Technical Support heading.

2. BOX CONTENTS

 - 1 USB WiFi Transmitter

 - 1 semi-rigid USB cable

 - 1 installation CD-ROM

 - This user manual

3. MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

• Windows® XP Home or Professional Edition

• Intel® Pentium® III / AMD Athlon™ processor or compatible

• 128MB RAM

• Available USB 2.0 or 1.1 port (maximum transfer speed attained with USB 2.0 port only)

• CD-ROM drive

• 50MB free hard disk space

• Internet connection

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4. INSTALLING THE USB WIFI TRANSMITTER

Do not connect your USB WiFi Transmitter to your computer before inserting the

installation CD-ROM into your drive. Should this occur, click Cancel when prompted by Windows to install the USB device it has found.

Installation of your USB WiFi Transmitter should only take place on the PC with the Internet connection. You will be guided step by step by simply following the installation assistant available on your CD-ROM and described below.

1. Insert the Hercules installation CD-ROM  into your computer’s CD-ROM drive.

Note: If you have disabled the Windows auto-run function, or if the user interface does not

appear on-screen, simply launch the Windows Explorer and double-click the CD-ROM icon, then double-click the file Setup.exe.

The installation assistant’s welcome message is displayed as follows:

2. Click Start.

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5. INSTALLING THE DRIVERS

The program then proceeds to driver installation.

1. Click Continue and follow the instructions.

2. Click Continue and follow the instructions.

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3. Select the region where you will be using your USB WiFi Transmitter and click Next.

4. When prompted to do so by the assistant, connect your USB WiFi Transmitter  to a USB port on your computer.

The semi-rigid cable  allows you to better position your transmitter (in a vertical position, ideally) in order to optimize RF signal transmission.

5. The installation assistant prompts you to connect your PC to the Internet if you don’t have a permanent connection (this is generally the case if you have a low-speed, ADSL USB or ADSL Ethernet modem).

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6. Once a connection has been established, click Next for the assistant to configure sharing of your Internet connection with your USB WiFi Transmitter.

If you have a remote-access modem connection (low-speed 56K/RTC, or Numéris/RNIS), or a broadband connection (cable modem/ADSL USB or ADSL Ethernet modem), you must first connect your PC to the Internet every time you wish to surf the Internet or play online on a computer or other device connected via WiFi.

7. Sharing of your Internet connection with your USB WiFi Transmitter is confirmed. Click the OK button.

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8. Click the Finish button to complete the installation and follow the instructions to find out how you can enjoy using WiFi with your laptop computer or game console.

Once installation is complete, the icon appears in the taskbar.

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6. HOW CAN I USE WIFI ON MY LAPTOP COMPUTER OR

GAME CONSOLE?

Now that the drivers are installed on your computer and your Internet connection is being shared, you will be able to access your network and Internet connection via WiFi on another WiFiequipped computer or game console.

6.1. On a WiFi-equipped computer

First off, you must connect your computer to the WiFi network transmitted by your USB WiFi Transmitter. The name of this WiFi network is Hercules USB.

Proceed as follows to connect your computer to the WiFi network:

A : If your computer uses proprietary software to establish a connection to the WiFi

network (the Hercules WiFi Station software, for example):

Please refer to the software’s documentation for details on how to connect to a WiFi network and save it in your Favorites, thereby allowing you to connect to it by default.

B : If your computer uses the Microsoft Zero Config utility to establish a connection to the

WiFi network:

1. In the Windows system tray, click the Wireless Network Connection icon.

2. In the list of available networks that appears, click Hercules USB, then click the

Connect button.

By default, your wireless network is not secure; the connection will be automatically established and saved so as to connect automatically each time you restart your computer.

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If the wireless network is secure, you will be prompted to enter a password (or security key). This functionality is described in the “How can I control access to my WiFi network?” section, further along in this manual.

3. You can now verify that the connection to the WiFi network is working properly by

launching your Internet browser.

If the WiFi connection has been established but you are unable to connect to a website on the Internet, verify that the computer equipped with the USB WiFi Transmitter is properly connected to the Internet. (If you have a manual connection, don’t forget to establish a connection yourself.) If necessary, launch the Network Setup Wizard and select the option This computer connects to the Internet through another computer on my network or through a residential gateway.

If a firewall is enabled on the PC equipped with the USB WiFi Transmitter, the computers that connect to the WiFi network cannot disable it, even if their own firewall is disabled.

For more information, please refer to the FAQs available on the www.hercules.com website, under the Technical Support heading.

Your USB WiFi Transmitter can also function as a router for all WiFi computers connecting to its network. These computers can then access shared files and printers on the local area network thereby created. For more information on this subject, please refer to Chapter 11. Welcome to the Wireless Attitude™!

6.2. On a game console or any other WiFi-equipped device

1. On your game console or other WiFi-equipped device, enable the WiFi connection.

2. First off, you must connect your console to the WiFi network transmitted by your USB

WiFi Transmitter. The name of this WiFi network is Hercules USB.

You must set up your console for automatic configuration of the IP address and DNS addresses.

If the Hercules WiFi USB network is not secure, a connection will be established automatically. If the Hercules WiFi USB network is secure, however, you will be prompted to enter a password (or security key). This functionality is described in the “How can I control access to my WiFi network?” section, further along in this manual.

3. You can now verify that the connection to the WiFi network is working properly by

launching your Internet browser or favorite online game.

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7. HOW CAN I CONTROL ACCESS TO MY WIFI NETWORK?

By equipping your computer with the Hercules USB WiFi Transmitter, you not only allow other users to connect to your computer to use your Internet connection; you also allow them to access data shared on this same computer. It may therefore be essential for you to ensure that only the computers or WiFi devices you have expressly authorized to do so are able to access your WiFi network. Similarly, you may very well find it useful to define a connection’s duration validity, thereby allowing you to limit the periods during which your child is able to connect to the Internet on another computer in your WiFi network, for example.

The Hercules WiFi Controller software allows you to filter access to your WiFi network and select the level of protection (none, medium, strong). Two types of security are available:

• Protection via “Access Control”

This protection consists of saving in WiFi Controller the list of WiFi devices (computers, consoles) with or without authorization to connect to your WiFi network, identifying them by what is called their “MAC address”. WiFi Controller also allows you to define the length of time during which a given WiFi device is authorized to remain connected to your network.

1. When a WiFi device attempts to access your network, WiFi Controller alerts you

and offers a variety of ways to respond to the connection request:

• Always accept this connection

• Accept this connection for a set period of time (from 15 minutes to several

days)

• Always refuse this connection

2. Make your choice among these options and click Validate my choice now.

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Entering a connection’s duration validity allows you to limit the time during which your child is able to connect to the network to play online or surf the Internet, for example. This type of limitation functions as a complementary element alongside any parental controls you may also have enabled.

3. The WiFi user receives confirmation of the connection to your network.

4. You can modify the list of devices authorized to or prohibited from connecting at

any time by clicking the Access control tab.

Use the and arrows to move a device from one list to the other.

To remove a device from a list, select it and click the recycle bin icon. The device will have to make a new request to access your network the next time it attempts to connect.

limited authorization time. You can view the Connected device list to find out how much time remains.

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Devices identified with a small icon in the shape of a clock only have a

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5. You can also toggle between the different levels of access control:

• I don’t want to control the access:

• I want to control the access:

• I want to close the access:

6. To verify which devices are currently connected to your WiFi network and to view

the connections’ duration validity, click the Connected devices tab.

To modify the remaining connection time for a device, position the cursor over the hours or minutes and click the and arrows. In this way you can

increase or decrease the duration.

• Protection via WEP, WPA or WPA2 security key

This additional protection consists of defining a password which will then be required of any user wishing to access your WiFi network.

Click the lock icon to select your level of protection according to the compatibility of your computers or WiFi devices. Next, define a password (or security key).

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This will then have to be entered on every computer or WiFi device when it first attempts to connect to your network.

To help you select the best level of security for your network, we invite you to consult the table below, which sums up the 5 types of security supported by WiFi Manager.

Type Level of security Key used Encryption type

Weak - WEP 64 bits The lowest level of security,

Medium - WEP 128 bits Level of security identical to that of

High - WPA-PSK (TKIP) Latest-generation heightened level

High - WPA-PSK (AES) Latest-generation heightened level

Very High - WPA2

(AES)

WPA or WPA2(AES) Level of security selected by the

whereby single encryption is carried out on exchanged data. Each wireless client in the network must use the same key to decode the transmission.

WEP 64. Only the key length is different.

of security, specially designed for environments such as a small office or the home, based on a pre-shared key.

Latest-generation very high level of security, specially designed for environments such as a small office or the home, based on a pre-shared key.

router according to the maximum security level supported by devices on the network.

64-bit (10 character) key in hexadecimal format.

A hexadecimal key is composed of numbers 0 to 9 and letters A to F (example: A123BCD45E for a 64-bit key).

128-bit (26 character) key in hexadecimal format.

A hexadecimal key is composed of numbers 0 to 9 and letters A to F.

Password with a minimum of

8 alphanumeric characters.

An alphanumeric character corresponds either to a number (0-9), or to a letter (a-z or A-Z).

Password with a minimum of

8 alphanumeric characters.

An alphanumeric character corresponds either to a number (0-9), or to a letter (a-z or A-Z).

Password with a minimum of

8 alphanumeric characters.

An alphanumeric character corresponds either to a number (0-9), or to a letter (a-z or A-Z).

Password with a minimum of

8 alphanumeric characters.

An alphanumeric character corresponds either to a number (0-9), or to a letter (a-z or A-Z).

TKIP

AES

TKIP or AES

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You must not select a level of security more advanced than that supported by your computers or other

WiFi devices. For example, if your computers or other WiFi devices only support the Weak - WEP 64 bits or Medium - WEP 128 bits levels, you should not select the High - WPA-PSK or Very High - WPA2 levels.

Generating a key automatically:

If you select protection via WEP key (64 or 128), simply click the Generate a key for me! button and the software will generate a valid WEP key for you. This key must be entered by any device wishing to connect to your WiFi network.

• The WiFi Settings tab also allows you to modify the name of your WiFi network and

select the RF channel used:

o Modify the network name:

You can modify the name of your network at any time in the Your WiFi network name (SSID) field.

o Modify the RF channel:

If many WiFi networks are transmitting in the same area as your own network, connecting to your network may become more difficult. In order to avoid this problem, you can select another less-used RF channel.

• The About… tab

This window indicates the version number of the software and drivers. This information will be helpful if you need to contact our technical support service. This window also provides a link to the www.hercules.com website, where you can find information on new software and driver versions, as well as FAQs.

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