Linksys NWU11B Users Manual

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS
Copyright © 2002 Network Everywhere. All rights reserved. Network Everywhere and the
Network Everywhere logo are registered trademarks of The Linksys Group, Inc.
Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation. All other companies and product names are trademarks of their respective
companies.

Network Everywhere guarantees that every Wireless USB Adapter will be free from phys­ical defects in material and workmanship for one year from the date of purchase, when
used within the limits set forth in the Specifications section of this User Guide. If the prod­uct proves defective during this warranty period, call Network Everywhere Technical
Support in order to obtain a Return Authorization number. BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR
PROOF OF PURCHASE ON HAND WHEN CALLING. When returning a product, mark
the Return Authorization number clearly on the outside of the package and include a
copy of your original proof of purchase. RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED
WITHOUT PROOF OF PURCHASE. All customers located outside of the United States
of America and Canada shall be held responsible for shipping and handling charges.

IN NO EVENT SHALL NETWORK EVERYWHERE’S LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAID
FOR THE PRODUCT FROM DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSE­QUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT, ITS ACCOM­PANYING SOFTWARE, OR ITS DOCUMENTATION. NETWORK EVERYWHERE OFFERS
NO REFUNDS FOR ITS PRODUCTS. Network Everywhere makes no warranty or repre­sentation, expressed, implied, or statutory, with respect to its products or the contents or
use of this documentation and all accompanying software, and specifically disclaims its
quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. Network
Everywhere reserves the right to revise or update its products, software, or documenta­tion without obligation to notify any individual or entity. Please direct all inquiries to:

Network Everywhere P.O. Box 18558, Irvine, CA 92623.
FCC STATEMENT

This Wireless USB Adapter has been tested and complies with the specifications 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 according to 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 is found by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to cor­rect the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

• Increase the separation between the equipment or devices

• Connect the equipment to an outlet other than the receiver’s

• Consult a dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for assistance
FCC Caution: Any changes or modifications nor expressly approved by the party respon-

sible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.
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 RF Radiation Exposure Statement
This device and its antenna(s) must operate with a separation distance of at least 20 cm
from all persons and must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other
antenna or transmitter. End-users must be provided with specific operations for satisfy­ing RF exposure compliance.

UG-NWU11B-103002NC JL

INDUSTRY CANADA (CANADA)
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
The use of this device in a system operating either partially or completely outdoors may
require the user to obtain a license for the system according to the Canadian regulations.

Wireless USB Adapter

Chapter 1:Introduction

Connect your USB-equipped desktop or notebook computer to a wireless net­work with the Network Everywhere Wireless USB Adapter. Save the trouble of
opening up the case of your desktop computer. To install, simply plug the
Wireless USB Adapter into any available USB port. It gets its power through
the USB connection, so no pow er cord is necessary. The included Setup Wizard
walks you through configuring the Adapter to your wireless network settings,
step by step.

The Wireless USB Adapter lets you put your computer almost anywhere in the
building, without the cost and hassle of running cables. Now you don’t have to
drill holes in your walls and climb through the attic or cellar to get connected
to the network. Once you’re connected, y ou can k eep in touch with y our e-mail,
access the Internet, use instant messaging to chat with friends, and share f iles
and other resources such as printers and network storage with other computers
on the network.

The Network Everywhere Wireless USB Adapter is fully compliant with the

802.11b wireless network standard, transfer ring data at up to 11Mbps in the

2.4GHz radio band. And your wireless communications are protected by up to
128-bit encryption, so your data stays secure.

So don’t hassle with running cables through your house—get connected the
easy way with the Network Everywhere Wireless USB Adapter.

• Up to 11Mbps High-Speed Data Transfer Rate with Automatic Fallback

• Plug-and-Play Operation Provides Easy Setup

• 802.11b, DSSS, 2.4GHz Compliant

• Compatible with Microsoft Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, and XP

• Supports up to 128-bit WEP Encryption Security

• 1-Year Limited Warranty

The Wireless USB Adapter

Features

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction 1

The Wireless USB Adapter 1
Features 1

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network 2

Network Topology 2
Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode 2

Chapter 3: About USB 4

Overview 4
USB Icon 4
USB Cabling 5

Chapter 4: Getting to Know the Wireless USB Adapter 6

The Adapter’s Port and LEDs 6

Chapter 5: Software Installation and Configuration
for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 7

Overview 7
Setup Wizard Instructions for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 8

Chapter 6: Hardware Installation 12

Hardware Detection for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 13

Chapter 7: Driver Installation and Configuration
for Windows XP 14

Overview 14
Driver Installation for Windows XP 14
Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration 16

Chapter 8: Using the WLAN Monitor for Windows
98SE, Me, and 2000 18

Overview 18
Accessing the WLAN Monitor 18
Link Information 18
Site Survey 21
Profiles 23
Creating a New Profile 25

Appendix A: Troubleshooting 30

Common Problems and Solutions 30
Frequently Asked Questions 30

Appendix B: Glossary 34
Appendix C: Specifications 39

Environmental 40

Appendix D: Warranty Information 41
Appendix E: Contact Information 42

Wireless USB Adapter

If the wireless network is relatively small and needs to share resources only
with the other computers on the wireless network, then the ad-hoc mode can
be used. (See Figure 2-2.) Ad-hoc mode allows computers equipped with wire­less transmitters and receivers to communicate directly with each other, elimi­nating the need for an access point. The drawback of this mode is that, in Ad­Hoc mode, wireless-equipped computers are not able to communicate with
computers on a wired network. And, of course, communication between the
wireless-equipped computers is limited by the distance and interference direct­ly between them.

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Figure 2-2

Chapter 2:Planning Your
Wireless Network

A wireless local area network (WLAN) is exactly like a regular local area net­work (LAN), except that each computer in the WLAN uses a wireless de vice to
connect to the network. Computers in a WLAN share the same frequency
channel and SSID, which is an identification name for wireless devices.

Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in which
they may be set up: infrastructure and ad-hoc. An infrastructure configura-
tion is a WLAN and wired LAN communicating to each other through an
access point. An ad-hoc configuration is wireless-equipped computers com­municating directly with each other. Choosing between these two modes
depends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or periph­erals with a wired network or not.

If the computers on the
wireless network need to
be accessed by a wired
network or need to share a
peripheral, such as a print­er, with the wired network
computers, the wireless
network should be set up
in infrastructure mode.
(See Figure 2-1.) The
basis of infrastructure
mode centers around an
access point, which serves
as the main point of communications in a wireless network. Access points
transmit data to PCs equipped with wireless network cards, which can roam
within a certain radial range of the access point. Multiple access points can be
arranged to work in succession to extend the roaming range, and can be set up
to communicate with your Ethernet (wired) hardware as well.

Network Topology

Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode

Figure 2-1