HP P 1981 A Installation Manual

www.hp.com/go/pcaccessories

hp

wireless LAN

access point

installation guide

P1981A

Notice

The information contained in the documents accompanying this product is subject to change without notice.
Hewlett-Packard makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited to,
the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in
connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material. Hewlett-Packard assumes no
responsibility for the use or reliability of its software on equipment that is not furnished by Hewlett-Packard.
These documents contain proprietary information that is protected by copyright.
All rights are reserved. No part of these documents may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated to

another language without the prior written consent of Hewlett-Packard Company.

English

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 1

Hardware Installation . . . . . . . . . Chapter 2

Software Installation and

Network Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 3

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 4

Technical Specifications. . . . . . . Chapter 5

Regulatory Information . . . . . . . Chapter 6

Chapter 1 - Introduction

This chapter introduces you to your HP Wireless LAN Access Point.

Welcome

The HP Wireless LAN Access Point enables you to create various types of wireless
network applications in your office.

Wireless networking is an ‘out-of-the-box’ mode of operation for the Wireless LAN
Access Point. After powering the device, it will forward the data communication from
one wireless computer to another. You can easily extend your wireless network by
adding more wireless computers.

A wireless network uses radio waves to communicate between wireless computers.
The waves can pass through solid objects, like walls. A data encryption feature is
used to increase the security of your wireless network.

To create a wireless network you will need:

• An HP Wireless LAN Access Point: To provide wireless data communications
between computers, to the Internet, or to a wired Ethernet network

• USB Wireless LAN devices: For each computer you want to connect to the wireless
network.

Supported Operating Systems

The HP Wireless LAN Access Point is compatible with the following operating
systems:

• Windows 95

• Windows 98

• Windows 2000

• Windows NT 4.0

Support

You can find extra documentation for the HP wireless product range on the software
CD-ROM supplied with the Wireless LAN Access Point.

For the latest information on the HP wireless range, access the HP web site at:

www.hp.com/go/bri osupport
www.hp.com/go/vec trasuppor t
www.hp.com/go/kay aksupport
www.hp.com/go/e-p csupport

Kit Contents

Your HP Wireless LAN Access Point kit includes the following items:

• 1 HP Wireless LAN Access Point

•1 HP Wireless LAN Access Point Getting Started guide

•1 Installation Software CD-ROM

• 1 Power adapter

• 1 Telephone cable

• Screws and plugs.

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Network Options

There are multiple ways to set up a wireless network: Internet through your phone,
Internet through your cable modem and Wireless to wired network.

• Internet through Your Phone Line
The Wireless LAN Access Point includes a built-in 56K modem that allows you to
share an Internet connection between multiple computers. To use the Wireless
LAN Access Point to access the Internet, you must have a traditional phone line,
and an account with an Internet Service Provider.

• Internet through Your Cable Modem
If you have an account with a cable Internet Service Provider and you have a cable
modem, you can use the Wireless LAN Access Point to connect your wireless
computers to the Internet.

• Wireless to Wired Network
When connected by the Wireless LAN Access Point, the computers of a wired
Ethernet group and the computers of your wireless network can share a printer or
any other network device.

NOTE An RG-11 telephone cable for connecting the Wireless LAN Access Point to your

phone outlet comes with your kit. While HP have tried to ensure that the supplied
cable works in as many countries as possible, you may need to purchase the correct
telephone cable for the country where you are using the Wireless LAN Access Point.
Ethernet cables for connecting your cable modem are not supplied with your HP
Wireless LAN Access Point and must be purchased separately.

Network Scenarios

Before you begin installing your USB Wireless LAN it is important to consider which
kind of wireless network you want to create.

The HP Wireless LAN Access Point allows you to create a variety of wireless
networks. For a detailed description of the possible network scenarios, access the HP
web site at www.hp.com/go/pcaccessories

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Chapter 2 - Hardware Installation

This chapter describes how to install a Wireless LAN network.

Before You Start

Before beginning a network installation, read the following information:

CAUTION Once you have supplied po we r to the HP Wir eless LAN Ac cess Po in t, do not cove r the

device or block the airflow to the device with any other objects. Ensure that the device
is not exposed to high temperatures or high levels of humidity.

Placing Your HP Wireless LAN Access Point

Before beginning network installation, it is recommended that you follow these
guidelines:

• Position the device as centrally as possible to the computers that will be in the
wireless network

• Place the device next to a power outlet that can be easily reached by the power
cord

• If you are planning to connect your Wireless LAN Access Point to a phone line,
ensure that the phone outlet is close to the device

• If you are planning to connect external equipment to the Ethernet port of your
Wireless LAN Access Point, ensure that the equipment is close to the device.

Cleaning Your HP Wireless LAN Access Point

To maintain the functionality of your HP Wireless LAN Access Point, always keep the
device as clean as possible. The device can be cleaned with a soft tissue. Avoid the
use of abrasive cleaning materials or aggressive liquids such as alcohol.

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Removing the Rear Cover

When making cable connections to the HP Wireless LAN Access Point, first remove
the rear cover from the device. To remove the cover:

1 Take the front of the device in

one hand and the rear cover in
your other hand.

2 Press in the release latches on

both sides of the rear cover.

3 Pull the unit away from the

rear cover until the release
latches come out of the rear
cover.

4 Lift up the device to

disconnect it from the rear
cover.

release catches

rear cover unit

NOTE Write down the ID code of your HP Wireless LAN Access Point. The code later can

be found on a small label at the rear of the device. You will need this ID code if you
want to make any changes to the settings of your network.

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Connecting the Cables

After removing the rear cover, you will see three cables sockets at the rear of the
device.

telephone socket

power socket

Ethernet socket

Connecting the Power Adapter Cable

To connect the power cable, plug the connector at the end of the power adapter
cable into the power socket of the HP Wireless LAN Access Point.

Connecting a Telephone Cable for Internet through Your Phone
Line

If you want to have Internet via your phone line you can use the telephone cable that
came with your kit. To connect a telephone cable:

1 Plug one of the connectors on the telephone cable into the telephone socket of

the HP Wireless LAN Access Point.

2 Plug the other connector on the telephone cable to your phone outlet.

NOTE Depending on local standards, you may need a special adapter plug to connect the

NOTE To connect the HP Wireless LAN Access Point to an Ethernet network, use a

telephone cable to your outlet.

If you want Internet via your cable modem, use a 10BaseT crossover cable to make a
direct connection between the HP Wireless LAN Access Point and your cable
modem.

Connecting an Ethernet Cable for Internet through Your Cable
Modem

If you want Internet via your cable modem, use an Ethernet cable and a 10BaseT
crossover cable to make a direct connection between the HP Wireless LAN Access
Point and your cable modem.

To connect an Ethernet cable:
1 Plug one of the Ethernet cable connectors into the Ethernet sockets of the HP

Wireless LAN Access Point.

2 Plug the other Ethernet cable connector into your cable modem.

standard 10BaseT cable to connect your HP Wireless LAN Access Point to the
Ethernet hub and a 10BaseT crossover cable for making a direct connection between
the HP Wireless LAN Access Point and a single Ethernet device (not via a hub).

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Wall Mounting the Wireless LAN Access Point

The information in this section is only applicable if you want to mount the HP
Wireless LAN Access Point to the wall.

To mount the Wireless LAN Access Point to the wall:
1 Pierce the three rear screw

holes with a sharp pointed
object.

2 Decide where and how you

want to place the HP Wireless
LAN Access Point (you may
consider mounting the device
upside-down on high spots, to
be able to see the LEDs).

3 Place the rear cover against

the wall, and put three marks
on the wall to indicate the
screw positions.

4 Use the screws and the plugs

that came with your kit to fix
the rear cover to the wall.

rear cover

screw holes

Attaching the Rear Cover

Once the cables have been successfully connected and the placement decided, you
can attach the rear cover to the Wireless LAN Access Point. To attach the rear cover:

1 Bring the device close to the rear cover.
2 Guide the cable(s) coming from the device through the cable entrance of the rear

cover.

3 Insert the small hook at the bottom of the unit in the rear cover slot.
4 Turn the un it to th e rea r cov er. Pr es s in bo th re leas e l atche s to in sert t he m in the

rear cover.

5 Push the rear cover against the unit until the release latches lock into place.
If you want to place the HP Wireless LAN Access Point on a flat surface you have to

guide the cable(s) through the cable entrance at the back of the rear cover. By doing
this, the device can stand upright.

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Powering the HP Wireless LAN Access Point

There is no On/Off switch on the HP Wireless LAN Access Point. This is because the
device uses very little power.

Power LED

Wireless LED

Ethernet LED

Telephone/Modem LED

To power-up the device:
1 Plug the power adapter into a power outlet to start the power-up process.

CAUTION After applying power to the Wireless LAN Access Point, do not cover the device or

block the airflow to the device with any other objects.

2 Monitor the LED activity on the device. The LEDs will change color between

Yellow, Red and Green. When finished, the Wireless LAN Access Point shows
LED activity as listed in the table below.

Name Color/Activity Description

Power Steady Green Power enabled

Wireless Off, or Flashing

Ethernet Off, or Flashing

Telephone/
Modem

NOTE If the HP Wireless LAN Access Point does not switch to normal operation within one

minute, try to solve the problem with the troubleshooting information in the online
manual on the CD-ROM.

Green or Red

Green or Red

Off, or Flashing
Green or Red

Wireless activity

Ethernet activity

Modem activity

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