Linksys WAP51AB User Manual

Instant WirelessTMSeries

Dual-Band Wireless

Access Point

Use this guide to install: WAP51AB

User Guide

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS
Copyright © 2002 Linksys, All Rights Reserved. Linksys is a registered trademark of
Linksys. Instant Wireless is a trademark of Linksys. Microsoft, Windows, and the
Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks
and brand names are the property of their respective proprietors.

LIMITED WARRANTY
Linksys guarantees that every Instant Wireless™ Dual-Band Wireless Access Point is free
from physical defects in material and workmanship under normal use for one year from
the date of purchase. If the product proves defective during this warranty period, call
Linksys Technical Support in order to obtain a Return Authorization Number. BE SURE
TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODE FROM THE PRODUCT’S
PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING. RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE
PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OF PURCHASE. 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. 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 LINKSYS’ 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. LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANY
PRODUCT. Linksys 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. Linksys 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:

Linksys P.O. Box 18558, Irvine, CA 92623.
FCC STATEMENT

This product 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 Radiation Exposure Statement

This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled
environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance
20cm between the radiator and your body.

UG-WAP51AB-073102NC KL

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

Chapter 1: Introduction

The Instant WirelessTMDual-Band Wireless Access Point

Install an access point that protects your infrastructure investment without lim­iting you to a single type of wireless technology. The Instant Wireless™ Dual­Band Wireless Access Point works simultaneously with both 802.11a and

802.11b wireless standards to bring you the ultimate in wireless freedom. This
means you can enjoy the broadest spectrum of wireless networking now with­out the worry of a costly upgrade later.

The Dual-Band Wireless Access Point's antennas enhance reception and pro­vide seamless roaming through your wireless networks. An advanced user
authentication feature and security encryption of up to 152 bits give you the
highest level of network security. It's both easy to install and easy to use. With
Internet browser-based configuration and Windows-Based Setup Wizard,
you're always in control.

Compact, lightweight, and power-efficient, the Dual-Band Wireless Access
Point is the perfect wireless networking solution, no matter which wireless net­working standard you choose to use.

• High Speed Wireless Networking

• Protection for Your W ireless Investment - Supports Both 2.4GHz and 5GHz
Wireless Technology

• Wireless Security with WEP Encryption of up to 152-bits and MAC
Address Filtering

• Quick and Easy to Use with Web-Based Management and Windows-Based
Setup Wizard

• Operates in Both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz Bands

• Wi-Fi Compatibility with 802.11a and 802.11b Technology

• Up to 72 Mbps Turbo Mode (with Linksys 802.11a products only)

• Supports up to 64 Simultaneous Wireless Users

• Free Technical Support - 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week, Toll-Free U.S.
Calls

• 1-Year Limited War ranty

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction 1

The Instant WirelessTMDual-Band Wireless Access Point 1
Features 1
Package Contents 2
System Requirements 2

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network 3

Network Topology 3
Roaming 3

Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Dual-Band Wireless Access Point 4

The Dual-Band Wireless Access Point’s Back Panel 4
The Dual-Band Wireless Access Point’s Front Panel 5

Chapter 4: Connecting the Dual-Band Wireless Access Point 6
Chapter 5: Setting Up the Dual-Band Wireless Access Point 7
Chapter 6: Configuring the Dual-Band Wireless Access Point 16

The Setup Tab 16
The Password Tab 20
The Status Tab 21
The Help Tab 22
The Filter Tab 23
The Wireless Tab 24

Appendix A:T roubleshooting 27

Frequently Asked Questions 27

Appendix B: Setting Up the TCP/IP and IPX Protocols 32

Setting Up TCP/IP in Windows 32
TCP/IP Setup for Windows 95, 98, and Millennium 33
IPX Setup for Windows 95, 98, and Millennium 33
TCP/IP Setup for Windows NT 4.0 34
IPX Setup for Windows NT 4.0 34
TCP/IP Setup for Windows 2000 35
IPX Setup for Windows 2000 35
TCP/IP Setup for Windows XP 36

Appendix C: Glossary 37
Appendix D: Specifications 45

Environmental 46

Appendix E:Warranty Information 47
Appendix F: Contact Information 48

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Instant WirelessTMSeries

Features

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

3

Chapter 2: Planning Your
Wireless Network

A wireless LAN is a group of computers, each equipped with one Instant
Wireless™ Series adapter. Computers in a wireless LAN must be configured
to share the same radio channel.

The Instant W ireless™ Series adapters pro vide access to a wired LAN for wire­less workstations. An integ rated wireless and wired LAN is called an infra­structure configuration. A group of Instant Wireless™ Series adapter users and
an Instant Wireless™ Dual-Band Wireless Access Point compose a Basic
Service Set (BSS). Each Instant Wireless™ Series adapter PC in a BSS can
talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the Dual-Band W ireless
Access Point.

An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of an Instant
Wireless™ Series adapter PC to a wired LAN, and doubles the effective wire­less transmission range for two Instant Wireless™ Series adapter PCs. Since
the Dual-Band W ireless Access Point is able to forward data within its BSS, the
effective transmission range in an infrastructure LAN is doubled.

Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. More
than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Ser vice Set (ESS). This con­tinuous network allows users to roam freely within an ESS. All PCs equipped
with an Instant Wireless™ Series adapter within one ESS must be conf igured
with the same ESS ID and use the same radio channel.

Before enabling an ESS with roaming capability, choosing a feasible radio
channel and optimum Dual-Band Wireless Access Point position is recom­mended. Proper Access Point positioning combined with a clear radio signal
will greatly enhance performance.

Instant WirelessTMSeries

• One Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

• One Setup CD-ROM with User Guide

• One Power Adapter

• One Quick Installation guide

• One Registration Card

One Pentium Class PC (200MHz or Faster Processor) with:

• 64MB RAM,

• Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape Navigator 4.7 or Higher for Web-based
configuration,

• one CD-ROM Drive, and

• 802.11a or 802.11b Wireless Adapter with TCP/IP Protocol Installed

• a Network Adapter with Categor y 5 Ethernet Network Cabling and
TCP/IP protocol installed

2

Roaming

Figure 1-1

Network Topology

Package Contents

System Requirements

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

Instant WirelessTMSeries

Chapter 3: Getting to Know the
Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

The Access Point’s ports, where a network cable is connected, are located on
the Access Point’s back panel.

LAN This LAN (Local Area Network) port connects to

Ethernet network devices, such as a hub, switch, or
router.

Power The Power port is where you will connect the power

adapter.

Power Switch The Power Switch is where you will turn the Access

Point on and off.

Reset Button There are two ways to Reset the Access Point’s factory

defaults. Either press the Reset Button, for approximate­ly ten seconds, or restore the defaults from the password
tab in the Access Point’s Web-Based Utility.

4

The Dual-Band Wireless Access Point’s Back Panel

Figure 3-1

T

Power Green. The Powe r LED lights up when the Access Point is

powered on.

Diag Red. The Diag LED indicates the Access Point’s self-diagnosis

mode during boot-up and restart. It will turn off upon com­pleting the diagnosis. If this LED stays on for an abnormally
long period of time, refer to the Troubleshooting Appendix.

WLAN Act Green. If the WLAN’s Act LED is flickering, the Access Point

is actively sending or receiving data to or from one of the
devices on the network.

WLAN Link Green. The WLAN’ s Link LED lights whenever there is a suc-

cessful wireless connection.

LAN Act/Link Green. The LAN’s LINK LED serves two purposes. If the

LED is continuously lit, the Access Point is successfully con­nected to a device through the LAN port. If the LED is flick­ering, it is an indication of any network activity.

LAN Full/Col Green. The LAN’s Full/Col LED also serves two purposes.

When this LED is continuously lit, the connection made
through the corresponding port is running in Full Duplex
mode. A flickering LED indicates that the connection is expe­riencing collisions. Infrequent collisions are normal. If this
LED blinks too often, there may be a problem with your con­nection. Refer to the Troubleshooting Appendix if you think
there is a problem.

LAN 100 Orange. The LAN’s 100 LED indicates when a successful

100Mbps connection is made through the LAN port.

The Dual-Band Wireless Access Point’s Front Panel

Figure 3-2

Important: Resetting the Access Point will erase all of your settings
(WEP Encryption, Wireless and LAN settings, etc.) and replace
them with the factory defaults. Do not reset the Access Point if you
want to retain these settings

5

Chapter 5: Setting Up the Dual­Band Wireless Access Point

Now that you’ve connected the Access Point to your wired network, you are
ready to begin setting it up. This Setup Wizard will take you through all the
steps necessary to conf igure the Access Point.

1. Inser t the Setup Wizard CD into your PC’s CD-ROM drive. Your PC must
be on your wired network to set up the Access Point.

2. The screen in Figure 5-1 should appear on your monitor. If it does not, this
means the autorun is not functioning. Start the Setup Wizard manually by
clicking the Start button, selecting Run, and typing d:\setup.exe (where
“D” is your PC’s CD-ROM drive). Click the Setup button to continue this
Setup Wizard. Clicking the User Guide button opened this User Guide. To
access the Linksys web site on an active Internet connection, click the
Linksys W eb button or to exit this Setup Wizard, click the Exit button.

Chapter 4: Connecting the Dual­Band Wireless Access Point

1. Locate an optimum location for the Access Point.The best place for the

Access Point is usually at the center of your wireless network, with line of
sight to all of your mobile stations.

2. Fix the direction of the antenna. Try to place it in a position which can

best cover your wireless network. Normally, the higher you place the anten­na, the better the performance will be. The antenna’s position enhances the
receiving sensitivity.

3. Connect a standard Ethernet network cable to the Access Point. Then,

connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to a switch or hub. The Access
Point will then be connected to your 10/100 Network.

4. Connect the AC Power Adapter to the Access Point’s Power Socket.

Only use the power adapter supplied with the Access Point. Use of a differ­ent adapter may result in product damage.

Now that the hardware installation is complete, proceed to Chapter 5:Setting
Up the Dual-Band Wireless Access Point for directions on how to set up the
Access Point.

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Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

Instant WirelessTMSeries

Hav e You: Connected the Access Point to a hub, switch or router
on your wired network as shown in Chapter 4: Connecting the
Dual-Band Wireless Access Point? The Access Point can only be
set up through your wired network.

Note: While the Access Point has been designed to work correctly
right out of the box, setting it up on a wireless computer will require
you to use the Linksys default settings. These settings can then be
changed with the Setup Wizard or Web-based Browser Utility.

Note: In order for all other wireless devices to communicate with
the Access Point, those devices must be operating in the
Infrastructure Mode. If any wireless devices are configured in
the Ad Hoc Mode, they will not be recognized by the Access P oint.

7

9

3. The following screen, shown in Figure 5-2, displays how the Access Point
is configured in this Setup Wizard. Optimally, you should perform this
setup through a PC on your wired network. Click the Next button to con-
tinue or Exit to exit the Setup Wizard.

8

4. The next screen to appear, shown in Figure 5-3, will display a list of access
points on your network along with the status information for each access
point. If this is the only access point on your netw ork, it will be the onl y one
displayed. If there are more than one displayed, select the Access Point by
clicking on it and click the Yes button to continue or No to exit the Setup
Wizard.

5. You will be asked to sign onto the
Access Point you’ve selected, as
shown in Figure 5-4. Enter the
Password you’ve assigned. If
none has been assigned, enter the
default password: admin. Then,
click the OK button. (This pass­word can be changed from the
Web-based Utility’s Password
tab.)

6. As shown in Figure 5-5, the IP Settings screen will appear next. Enter an
IP Address, Subnet Mask, and enter a unique access point name for the
Access Point appropriate to your network. Then, click the Next button to
continue or Back to return to the previous page.

• IP Address. This IP address must be unique to your network. (The

default IP address is 192.168.1.250.)

Dual-Band Wireless Access PointInstant WirelessTMSeries

Figure 5-2

Figure 5-3

Figure 5-1

Figure 5-4

The WEP key can consist of the letters “A” through “F” and the numbers
“0” through “9” and should be 10 characters in length for 64-bit encryption,
26 characters in length for 128-bit encryption, or 32 characters in length for
152-bit encryption. All points in your wireless network must use the same
WEP key to utilize WEP encryption.

Then, click the Next button to continue or Back to return to the previous

page.

11

• Subnet Mask. The Access Point’s Subnet Mask must be the same as your

Ethernet network.

• Access Point Name. Assign a name to the Access Point. Unique, mem-

orable names are helpful, especially if you are employing multiple access
points on the same network.

7. As shown in Figure 5-6, the Basic Settings screen for your 5 GHz/802.11a
wireless products will appear. Enter your wireless network’s SSID and
select the channel at which the network broadcasts its wireless signal. Then,
click the Next button to continue or Back to return to the previous page.

• SSID. The SSID is the unique name shared among all points in a wire-

less network. The SSID must be identical for all points in the wireless
network. It is case sensitive and must not exceed 32 characters, which
may be any keyboard character. Make sure this setting is the same for all
points in your wireless network.

• Channel. Select the appropriate channel from the list provided to corre-

spond with your network settings, between 36 and 64. All points in your
wireless network must use the same channel in order to function correct­ly.

8. The Security Settings screen (Figure 5-7) for your 5 GHz/802.11a wireless
products will appear next. From this screen, you will set the Wired
Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption, 64-bit/128-bit/152-bit, for your
wireless network. Select a WEP conf iguration method and a WEP key.

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Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

Instant WirelessTMSeries

Figure 5-6

Figure 5-5

Figure 5-7

9. As shown in Figure 5-8, the Basic Settings screen for your 2.4
GHz/802.11b wireless products will appear. Enter your wireless network’s
SSID and select the channel at which the network broadcasts its wireless
signal. Then, click the Next button to continue or Back to return to the pre-
vious page.

• SSID. The SSID is the unique name shared among all points in a wire-

less network. The SSID must be identical for all points in the wireless
network. It is case sensitive and must not exceed 32 characters, which
may be any keyboard character. Make sure this setting is the same for all
points in your wireless network.

• Channel. Select the appropriate channel from the list provided to corre-

spond with your network settings, between 1 and 11 (in North America).
All points in your wireless network must use the same channel in order
to function correctly.

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Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

10. The Security Settings screen (Figure 5-9) for your 2.4 GHz/802.11b wire­less products will appear next. From this screen, you will set the Wired
Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption, 64-bit/128-bit, for your wireless
network. Select a WEP conf iguration method and a WEP passphrase.

• WEP (Disable/64-bit WEP/128-bit WEP). In order to utilize WEP

encryption, select the WEP setting from the pull-down menu. If you do
not wish to utilize WEP encryption, make sure Disable is selected.

• Passphrase. This is a text string with a maximum of 16 alphanumeric

characters used for generating a WEP Key. Type the passphrase here.
This passphrase may not w ork with non-Linksys products due to possib le
incompatibility with other vendors’passphrase generators. If you’d rather
not use a passphrase and would rather enter the WEP Key manually, click
the Next button.

Click the Next button to continue or Back to return to the previous page.

13

Figure 5-8

Figure 5-9

Note: WEP encryption should be used whenever communicating
over a wireless network. Wireless transmissions, by their very
nature, are unprotected and WEP encryption helps to close this
hole in security and make your wireless network safer to use.

Note: The Access Point’s passphrase function when mixing prod­ucts from other manufacturers into your wireless network. Linksys
products should always be used for optimum functionality. If
another company’s wireless product is used, however, the WEP key
should be set manually.

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

13. At this point, the conf iguration performed with the Setup Wizard is com­plete, as shown in Figure 5-12. To configure any other Access P oints in y our
network, you can run this Setup Wizard again. Click the Exit button to exit
the Setup Wizard.

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Instant Wireless™ Series

11. The following Security screen, shown in Figure 5-7, will allow you to enter
your WEP ke y. Each point in your wireless network must use the same WEP
key for the network to function properly. Verify that the appropriate key is
entered and click the Next button to continue or Back to retur n to the pre­vious page.

The WEP key can consist of the letters “A” through “F” and the numbers
“0” through “9” and should be 10 characters in length for 64-bit encryption
or 26 characters in length for 128-bit encryption. All points in your wireless
network must use the same WEP key to utilize WEP encr yption.

12. You should now review the settings you’ve chosen, as shown in Figure 5-

11. If these settings are correct, click the Yes button to save these settings.
If you wish to change any of the settings, click the No button. You will exit
the Setup Wizard and can start it again to revise your settings.

14

Figure 5-12

Figure 5-11

Figure 5-10

16

• Static IP Address. This IP address must be unique to your network. (The

default IP address is 192.168.1.250. As this is a private IP address, there is
no need to purchase a separate IP address from your service provider.)
Verify the address and click the Apply button to save changes.

• Subnet Mask. The Access Point’s Subnet Mask (or IP Mask) must be the

same as your Ethernet (wired) network. Verify this is cor rect and click the
Apply button to set it.

The following entries are for both 5GHz/802.11a and 2.4GHz/802.11b:

• SSID. The SSID is the unique name shared among all points in a wire-

less network. The SSID must be identical for all points in the wireless
network. It is case sensitive and must not exceed 32 alphanumeric char­acters, which may be an y ke yboard character . Mak e sure this setting is the
same for all points in your wireless network.

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Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

Instant WirelessTMSeries

Chapter 6: Configuring the Dual­Band Wireless Access Point

The Access Point has been designed to be functional right out of the box, with
the default settings in the Setup Wizard. However, if you’d like to change these
settings, the Access Point can be configured through your web browser with the
Web-Based Utility. This chapter explains how to configure the Access Point in
this manner.

Open your web browser and type the
IP Address you entered in the Setup
Wizard. (The default IP address is

192.168.1.250.) (Should you need to

learn what IP Address the Access
Point presently uses, run the Setup
Wizard again. It will scan the Access
Point and give you its IP Address.)
Press the Enter key and the follow­ing screen, shown in Figure 6-1, will
appear. Leave the User Name field
blank. The first time you open the
Web-Based Utility, use the default
password admin. You can set a new
password from the Password tab.

The first screen that appears, shown in Figure 6-2, is the “Setup” tab. This
allows you to change the Access Point’s general settings. Change these settings
as described here and click the Apply button to apply your changes or Cancel
to cancel your changes. If you require online help, click the Help button.

• Firmware. This will display the Access Point’s cur rent firmware version.
Firmware can be upgraded from the Help tab.

• Access Point Name. You may assign any name to the Access Point.
Unique, memorable names are helpful, especially if you are employing
multiple access points on the same network. Verify this is the name you
wish to use and click the Apply button to set it.

Figure 6-1

Figure 6-2

The Setup Tab

Note: The Access Point is designed to function properly after
using the Setup Wizard. This chapter is provided solely for those
who wish to perform more advanced configuration or monitoring.

From the pull-down menu, select the type of WEP encryption you wish to use.
If you are using 5GHz/802.11a wireless technology, you will need to enter the

key manually.
If you are using 2.4GHz/802.11b wireless technology and wish to use a WEP

Passphrase, it can be a maximum of 16 alphanumeric characters. This
passphrase may not work with non-Linksys products due to possible incom­patibility with other vendors’passphrase generators. The WEP Ke y can be gen­erated using your Passphrase or you can enter it manually. Type that here.

The WEP key must consist of the letters “A” through “F” and the numbers “0”
through “9” and should be 10 characters in length for 64-bit encryption or 26
characters in length for 128-bit encryption. (When using 5GHz/802.11a wire­less technology, 152-bit encr yption is also available. The WEP key under this
setting should be 32 characters in length.) All points in your wireless network
must use the same WEP key to utilize WEP encryption.

Once the Passphrase is entered, click the Generate key to generate a WEP key.
Click the Apply button to apply your changes and return to the Setup tab or

Cancel to cancel your changes. To clear any of the information you’ve typed
but not yet applied, click the Clear button.

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

19

• Channel. Select the appropriate channel from the list provided to corre-

spond with your network settings. This should be between 1 and 11 (in
North America) for 2.4GHz/802.11b devices and 36 and 64 (in North
America) for 5GHz/802.11a devices. All points in your wireless network
must use the same channel in order to function correctly.

• WEP. The WEP Encryption method is Disabled by default. To enable
WEP, click the WEP Key Setting button.

Click the Apply button to apply your changes or Cancel to cancel your
changes. If you require online help, click the Help button.

SETTING WEP ENCR YPTION:

Setting WEP Encryption through the Web-based Browser Utility is done by
clicking the WEP Key Setting button on the Setup Screen as shown in Figure
6-2.

This will open the WEP Key Setting screen. This screen is shown in Figure 6­3 for 5GHz/802.11a or Figure 6-4 for 2.4GHz/802.11b. Select the WEP
encryption for the type(s) of wireless technology you are using. From this
screen, you can select the type of WEP encryption to use as well as set the WEP
Key for that encryption.

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18

Important: Always remember that each point in your wireless net­work MUST use the same WEP Encryption method and encryption
key or your wireless network will not function properly.

Figure 6-4

Figure 6-3

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

The “Status” tab, shown in Figure 6-8, will display cur rent infor mation on the
Access Point, its settings and performance.

• Firmware Version. This displays the current version of the Access Point’s

fir mware. Firmware should only be upgraded if you experience problems
with the Access Point and can be upg raded from the Help tab.

• IP Address. This IP address is the unique address to your network.

• Subnet Mask. The Access Point’s Subnet Mask, which is the same as your

Ethernet network.

• SSID. The SSID is the unique name shared among all points in a wireless

network.

• Encryption Function. The encryption method you chose in the Setup

Wizard or changed from the Setup Tab of this Web-based Utility is dis­played here.

• Channel. This is the channel at which your wireless network broadcasts.

All points in your wireless network must use the same channel in order to
function correctly.

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Instant Wireless™ Series

The “Password” tab, shown in Figure 6-7, allows you to change the Access
Point’s password and restore factory defaults.

Changing the sign-on password for the Access Point is as easy as typing the
password into the AP Password field. Then, type it again into the second field
to confir m.

To restore the Access Point’s factory default settings, click the Ye s button
beside Restore Factory Defaults.

Click the Apply button to apply your changes or Cancel to cancel your
changes. If you require online help, click the Help button.

20

Figure 6-7

The Status TabThe Password Tab

Important: Restoring the Access Point’s facory defaults will erase
all of your settings (WEP Encr yption, Wireless and LAN settings,
etc.), and replace them with the factory defaults. Do not reset the
Access Point if you want to retain these settings

Figure 6-8

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

UPGRADING FIRMWARE:

Before upgrading the Access Point’s firmware, be sure to download the
fir mware from Linksys’s website at www.linksys.com.

Once that is done, click the Upgrade Firmwar elink on the Help Tab. This will
bring up the screen shown in Figure 6-10.

Type in the location of
the firmware’s file or
click the Browse but-
ton to find the file.
Then, click the
Upgrade button to
upgrade the f ir mware.

The “Filter” tab, shown in Figure 6-11, allows you to block and allow certain
computers, by their MAC Address, from communicating with the Access P oint.

To enable filtering of computers by their MAC Addresses, click the Enable
radio button. To disable this feature, click the radio button by Disable.

Type the MAC Addresses for those PCs you wish to allow access to the Access
Point in the MAC Address f ields. As long as Filtering is enabled, PCs with
MAC Addresses not entered in the MAC Address field will not be allowed to
communicate with the Access Point.

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Instant Wireless™ Series

For help on the v arious tabs in this Web-based Utility, along with upgrading the
Access Point’s firmware and viewing this User Guide, click the “Help” tab,
shown in Figure 6-9.

The help files for the various tabs in this Web-based Utility are listed by tab
name on the left-hand side of the screen.

The following resources require an Internet connection in order to access them.

Click the Linksys Website link to connect to the Linksys homepage for
Knowledgebase help files and information about other Linksys products.

For an Online Man ual in PDFformat, click that text link. The manual will appear
in Adobe pdf format. If you do not have the Adobe PDF Reader installed on your
computer, click the Adobe Website link to download this software.

Firmware can be upgraded by clicking the Upgrade Firmwar elink. Do not upgrade
your firmware unless you are experiencing problems with the Access Point.

22

The Help Tab

Figure 6-9

Figure 6-10

The Filter Tab

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

• Fragmentation Length. This specifies the maximum size a data packet

will be before splitting and creating a new packet and should remain at its
default setting of 2,346. A smaller setting means smaller packets, which
will create more packets for each transmission. If you have decreased this
value and experience high packet error rates, you can increase it again, but
it will likely decrease overall network performance. Only minor modifica­tions of this value are recommended.

• Data Beacon Rate. (5GHz/802.11a only) This value, between 1 and

16384, indicates the interval of the Delivery Traffic Indication Message. A
Data Beacon Rate field is a countdown f ield informing clients of the next
window for listening to broadcast and multicast messages. When the Access
Point has buffered broadcast or multicast messages for associated clients, it
sends the next message with a rate value. Access Point Clients hear the bea­cons and awaken to receive the broadcast and multicast messages.

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Instant Wireless™ Series

When you’ve completed making any changes on this tab, click the Apply button to
save those changes or Cancelto exit the Web-based Utility without saving changes.
T o clear an y of the information you’ve typed by not yet applied, click the Clearbut­ton. For more information on this tab, you can click the Help button.

Before making any changes to the Wireless tab, shown in Figure 6-12, please check
your wireless settings on other systems, as these changes will alter the effecti v eness
of the Access Point. In most cases, these settings do not need to be changed.

• Beacon Interval. This value indicates the frequency interval of the beacon. A

beacon is a packet broadcast by the Access Point to keep the network synchro­nized. A beacon includes the wireless LAN service area, the AP address, the
Broadcast destination addresses, a time stamp, Delivery Traffic Indicator Maps,
and the Traffic Indicator Message (TIM).

• RTS Threshold. This value should remain at its default setting of2,346. Should

you encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor modifications are recom­mended.

24

Figure 6-11

The Wireless Tab

Figure 6-12

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

Appendix A: Troubleshooting

This chapter provides solutions to problems usually encountered during the
installation and operation of the Access Point. Read the description below to
solve your problems. If you can’t find an answer here, check the Linksys web­site at www.linksys.com.

Can the Access Point act as my DHCP Server?

No. The Access Point is nothing more than a wireless hub, and as such cannot
be configured to handle DHCP capabilities.

Can I run an application from a remote computer over the wireless net­work ?

This will depend on whether or not the application is designed to be used over
a network. Consult the application’s user guide to determine if it supports oper­ation over a network.

Can I play multiplayer games with other users of the wireless network?

Yes, as long as the game supports multiple players over a LAN (local area net­work). Refer to the game’s user guide for more information.

What IEEE 802.11a features are supported?

The product supports the following IEEE 802.11a functions:

• OFDM protocol

• Multi-Channel Roaming

• Automatic Rate Selection

• RTS/CTS feature

• Fragmentation

What IEEE 802.11b features are supported?

The product supports the following IEEE 802.11 functions:

• CSMA/CA plus Acknowledge protocol

• Multi-Channel Roaming

• Automatic Rate Selection

• RTS/CTS feature

• Fragmentation

• Power Management

27

Frequently Asked Questions

Instant Wireless™ Series

• Turbo Mode. (5GHz/802.11a only) Click the radio button beside Enable

to increase the speed of your wireless transmissions to 72 Mbps, keeping in
mind that the Access Point’s range diminishes in Turbo Mode. If you do not
wish to utilize Turbo Mode, make sure the radio button beside Disable is
selected.

• DTIM Interval. (2.4GHz/802.11b only) This value indicates the interval

of the Delivery Traffic Indication Message (DTIM). A DTIM field is a
countdown field informing clients of the next window for listening to
broadcast and multicast messages. When the Access Point has buffered
broadcast or multicast messages for associated clients, it sends the next
DTIM with a DTIM Interval value. Access Point Clients hear the beacons
and awaken to receive the broadcast and multicast messages.

• Transmission Rates. The basic transfer rates should be set depending on

the speed of your wireless network. You can select from a range of trans­mission speeds or select Best to have the Access P oint automaticall y engage
the network’s optimum speed.

• Preamble Type. (2.4GHz/802.11b only) The preamble defines the length

of the CRC block for communication between the Access Point and a roam­ing Network Card. (High network traffic areas should use the shorter pre­amble type.) Select the appropriate preamble type and click the Apply but-
ton to set it.

• Authentication Type. You may choose between Open System or Shared
Key. The Authentication Type default is set to Open System, in which the

sender and the recipient do NOT share a secret key. Each party generates
its own key-pair and asks the recei v er to accept the randomly-generated k ey.
Once accepted, this key is used for a short time only. Then a new key is
generated and agreed upon. Shared Key is when both the sender and the
recipient share a secret key.

When you’ve completed making any changes on this tab, click the Apply but-
ton to save those changes or Cancel to exit the Web-based Utility without sav­ing changes. For more information on this tab, you can click the Help button.

26

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

What is ESSID?

An Infrastructure configuration could also support roaming capability for
mobile workers. More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service
Set (ESS). Users within an ESS could roam freely between BSSs while main­taining a continuous connection to the wireless network stations and Access
Points.

What is ISM band?

The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U.S. have set aside bandwidth
for unlicensed use in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band.
Spectrum in the vicinity of 2.4 GHz, in particular, is being made available
worldwide. This presents a truly revolutionary opportunity to place convenient
high speed wireless capabilities in the hands of users around the globe.

What is Spread Spectrum?

Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique devel­oped by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communica­tions systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability,
integrity, and security. In other words, more bandwidth is consumed than in the
case of narrowband transmission, but the trade-off produces a signal that is, in
effect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the receiver knows the
parameters of the spread-spectrum signal being broadcast. If a receiver is not
tuned to the right frequency, a spread-spectr um signal looks like background
noise. There are two main alternatives, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
(DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).

What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences?

Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) uses a narrowband carrier that
changes frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver.
Properly synchronized, the net effect is to maintain a single logical channel. To
an unintended receiver, FHSS appears to be short-duration impulse noise.
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) generates a redundant bit pattern for
each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chipping code).
The longer the chip, the greater the probability that the original data can be
recovered. Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmis­sion, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the original data
without the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appears
as low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowband
receivers.

29

Instant Wireless™ Series

What is Ad-hoc?

An Ad-hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers, each with a WLAN adapter,
connected as an independent wireless LAN. An Ad-hoc wireless LAN is appli­cable at a departmental scale for a branch or SOHO operation.

What is Infrastructure?

An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure conf igura­tion. Infrastructure is applicable to enterprise scale for wireless access to a cen­tral database, or wireless application for mobile workers.

What is Roaming?

Roaming is the ability of a portable computer user to communicate continu­ously while moving freely throughout an area greater than that covered by a
single Access Point. Before using the roaming function, the workstation must
make sure that it is the same channel number as the Access Point of the dedi­cated coverage area.

To achieve true seamless connectivity, the wireless LAN must incor porate a
number of different functions. Each node and Access Point, for example, must
always acknowledge receipt of each message. Each node must maintain contact
with the wireless network even when not actually transmitting data. Achieving
these functions simultaneously requires a dynamic RF networking technology
that links Access Points and nodes. In such a system, the user’ s end node under­takes a search for the best possible access to the system. First, it evaluates such
factors as signal strength and quality, as well as the message load currently
being carried by each Access Point and the distance of each Access Point to the
wired backbone. Based on that information, the node next selects the right
Access Point and registers its address. Communications between end node and
host computer can then be transmitted up and down the backbone.

As the user moves on, the end node’s RF transmitter regularly checks the sys­tem to determine whether it is in touch with the original Access Point or
whether it should seek a new one. When a node no longer receives acknowl­edgment from its original Access Point, it undertakes a new search. Upon find­ing a new Access Point, it then re-registers, and the communication process
continues.

What is BSS ID?

A specific Ad-hoc LAN is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). Computers in a
BSS must be configured with the same BSS ID.

28

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

You may also try using different channels, as this may eliminate interference
affecting only one channel. Also, due to FCC regulations, more power ma y be
transmitted, using 802.11a, on channels 52, 56, 60 and 64, than on the lower
channels. Lastly, check the Advanced tab of the Web-Based Utility and make
sure that FULL is selected in the Transmission Rate field.

Does the Turbo Mode work with Windows XP PCs?

No. The Turbo Mode does not work with Windows XP PCs.

Does the Access Point function as a firewall?

No. The Access Point is only a bridge from wired Ethernet to wireless clients.

I have excellent signal strength, but I cannot see my network.

WEP is probably enabled on the Access Point, but not on your wireless adapter
(or vice versa). Verify that the same WEP K eys and levels (64, 128 or 152) are
being used on all nodes on your wireless network.

What is the maximum number of users the Access Point facilitates?

No more than 65, but this depends on the volume of data and may be less if
many users create a large amount of network traffic.

How many channels/frequencies are available with the Access Point?

Using 802.11a, there are eight available frequencies, ranging from 5.15GHz to

5.32GHz. Using 802.11b, there are eleven available channels, ranging from 1
to 11.

What is Turbo mode?

Turbo mode allows high-speed connections, but severely limits range. Turbo
mode must be enabled on both the Access Point and the wireless PCs to func­tion. Turbo mode is not compatible with Windows XP and may only function
with Linksys 5GHz wireless adapters.

What is the difference in range
between 802.11a and 802.11b
products?

Overall, range will be a little
less in a typical environment,
while higher speeds may be
achieved with 802.11a, through­put degrades more quickly. (See
Figure A-1.)

31

Instant Wireless™ Series

Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air?

WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, as with
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology, it has the inherent security fea­ture of scrambling. On the software side, the WLAN series offers the encryp­tion function (WEP) to enhance security and access control. Users can set it up
depending upon their needs.

Can Instant WirelessTMproducts support file and printer sharing?

Instant Wireless

TM

products perform the same function as LAN products.
Therefore, Instant WirelessTMproducts can work with Netware, Windows
NT/2000, or other LAN operating systems to support printer or f ile sharing.

What is WEP?

WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a 40-bit
shared-key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11 standard.

What is a MAC Address?

The Media Access Control (MAC) address is a unique number assigned by the
manufacturer to any Ethernet networking device, such as a network adapter,
that allows the netw ork to identify it at the hardw are lev el. For all practical pur­poses, this number is usually permanent. Unlike IP addresses, which can
change every time a computer logs on to the network, the MAC address of a
device stays the same, making it a valuable identifier for the network.

How do I avoid interference?

Using multiple Access Points on the same channel and in close proximity to
one another will generate interference. When employing multiple Access
Points, be sure to operate each one on a different channel (frequency).

How do I reset the Access Point?

Press the Reset button on the back of the Access Point for about ten seconds.
This will reset the unit to its default settings.

How do I resolve issues with signal loss?

There is no way to know the exact range of your wireless network without test­ing. Every obstacle placed between an Access Point and wireless PC will cre­ate signal loss. Leaded glass, metal, concrete floors, water and walls will inhib­it the signal and reduce range. Start with your Access Point and your wireless
PC in the same room and move it away in small increments to determine the
maximum range in your environment.

30

Figure A-1

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

The following instructions are provided as examples for reference only. For
complete instructions on installing and troubleshooting TCP/IP and IPX, con­sult your Windows operating system documentation.

1. Click the Star t button, select Settings, and open the Control Panel. Inside
the Control Panel, double-click the Network icon.

2. If the TCP/IP Protocol is listed for your network adapter, go to step f ive.
Otherwise, click the Add button.

3. When the Component Type window appears, select Protocol and click the
Add button.

4. Select Microsoft in the Manufacturers list and choose TCP/IP in the
Network Protocols list. Then, click the OK button.

5. When the Network window reappears, click TCP/IP. Then, click the
Properties button.

6. Select Specify an IP Address.

7. Enter an IP Address for the computer, along with a Subnet Mask. Click the
OK button. If you do not have these values, consult your network adminis­trator.

8. When the Network window reappears, click the OK button. Restart your
machine. TCP/IP has now been successfully installed.

1. Click the Star t button, select Settings, and open the Control Panel. Inside
the Control Panel, double-click the Network icon.

2. If the TCP/IP Protocol is listed for your network adapter, go to step four.
Otherwise, click the Add button.

3. When the Component Type window appears, select Protocol and click the
Add button.

4. Select Microsoft in the Manufacturers list and choose IPX/SPX protocol
in the Network Protocols list. Then, click the OK button.

33

Instant Wireless™ Series

Appendix B: Setting Up the TCP/IP and
IPX Protocols

Before a computer can communicate with the Access Point, it must be config­ured with the TCP/IP protocol. If y ou know how to set up TCP/IP on your com­puters, do so now. Otherwise, use the guidelines below to help get TCP/IP
installed on all of the computers that need to communicate with the Access
Point. If you are unable to successfully install TCP/IP on one or more comput­ers after following the directions, contact the manufacturer of your computers'
network operating system for further assistance. Check with your network
administrator for your TCP/IP settings.

The directions below pro vide general guidelines for coming up with IP address­es and subnet masks. Check with your network administrator to see if you need
to use specific IP addresses or DHCP settings.

First, each computer on the network will require an IP address, w hich is a series
of numbers, separated by periods, identifying the PC on the network. To make
things simple, you should use the following numbering scheme:

192.168.1.X

In this example, X is a unique, arbitrarily assigned number from 1 to 254. Each
computer must have its own unique X number. Note: Never use 0, 250 or 255
for X. These numbers are reserved by TCP/IP for other uses.

For example, if you have three computers, you could number them as follows:

192.168.1.17

192.168.1.44

192.168.1.126

In this case, 17, 44, and 126 are arbitrary numbers between 1 and 254.

Each computer will also require a subnet mask, which is a numerical “filter”
that tells a computer what kinds of TCP/IP data packets to accept. If you’re not
sure which mask to use, the following mask is recommended:

255.255.255.0

32

TCP/IP Setup for Windows 95, 98, and Millennium

IPX Setup for Windows 95, 98, and Millennium

Setting Up TCP/IP in Windows

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

2. When the Network window appears, click the Protocols tab. Then, click
the Add button.

3. Find the IPX/SPX protocol in the Select Network Protocol field. Click it
once and click the OK button.

1. At the Windows 2000 desktop, right click My Network Places and select
Properties. Then, right click Local Ar ea Connection. Choose Properties.

2. If the TCP/IP Protocol is listed for your network adapter, go to step f ive.
Otherwise, click the Install button.

3. When the Component Type window appears, select Protocol, and click the
Add button.

4. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) from the list and click the OK button.

5. When the Local Area Connection Properties window reappears, select
TCP/IP, and click the Properties button.

6. Select Use the following IP Address.

7. Enter an IP Address for the computer, along with a Subnet Mask and
Default Gateway. Then, click the OK button. If you do not have these val­ues, consult your network administrator.

8. When the Local Area Connection Properties window reappears, click the
OK button. TCP/IP has now been successfully installed.

1. At the Windows 2000 desktop, right click My Network Places. Then right
click Local Area Connection. Choose Properties.

2. If the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol is listed
for your network adapter, click the Cancel button. Otherwise, click the
Install button.

3. When the Component Type window appears, select Protocol and click the
Install button.

35

Instant Wireless™ Series

1. Click the Star t button, select Settings, and open the Control Panel. Inside
the Control Panel, double-click the Network icon.

2. When the Network window appears, click the Protocols tab. Then, click
the Add button.

3. Find the TCP/IP protocol in the Select Network Protocol field. Click it
once and then click the OK button.

4. When asked if you want to use DHCP, choose No.

5. If asked to supply your Windows NT CD, do so. NT will copy the neces­sary files to your system. You may have to switch between the Access
Point’s Setup CD and the NT CD.

6. When TCP/IP appears in the Network Protocols window, click the
Bindings tab. Windows will store your new bindings.

7. Click the Protocols tab. Then, select TCP/IP.

8. Click the Properties button. Select the type of network adapter you have
from the Adapters box and select Specify an IP Address.

9. Enter the computer’s IP Address and Subnet Mask. Check with your net­work administrator for your settings.

10. Enter your Default Gateway if you have one.

11. When you f inish, click the OK button. If NT asks about WINS, ignore it.

12. When the Network window reappears, click the Close button. Restart your
computer when prompted. TCP/IP has now been successfully installed.

1. Click the Star t button, select Settings, and open the Control Panel. Inside
the Control Panel, double-click the Network icon.

34

TCP/IP Setup for Windows 2000

IPX Setup for Windows 2000

TCP/IP Setup for Windows NT 4.0

NNoottee::

a Default Gateway is not required. Check with your network administrator.

IPX Setup for Windows NT 4.0

Instant Wireless™ Series

4. Select NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol
from the list and click the OK button.

5. When the Network window reappears, click the OK button. Restar t your
computer. NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol has
now been successfully installed.

1. Click the Star t button and open the Control Panel.

2. Double click the Network and Internet Connections icon.

3. Double click the Network Connections icon.

4. Right click the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties.

5. If the TCP/IP Protocol is listed for your network adapter, go to step f ive.
Otherwise, click the Install button.

6. When the Component Type window appears, select Protocol, and click the
Add button.

7. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) from the list and click the OK button.

8. When the Local Area Connection Properties window reappears, select
TCP/IP, and click the Properties button.

9. Select Use the following IP Address.

10. Enter an IP Address for the computer, along with a Subnet Mask and
Default Gateway. Then, click the OK button. If you do not have these val­ues, consult your network administrator.

11. When the Local Area Connection Properties window reappears, click the
OK button. TCP/IP has now been successfully installed..

36

Appendix C: Glossary

Adapter - Printed circuit board that plugs into a PC to add to capabilities or
connectivity to a PC. In a networked environment, a network interface card is
the typical adapter that allows the PC or server to connect to the intranet and/or
Internet.

Ad-hoc Network- An ad-hoc netw ork is a wireless network or other small net­work in which some of the network devices are part of the network only for the
duration of a communications session while in some close proximity to the rest
of the network.

Backbone - The part of a network that connects most of the systems and net­works together and handles the most data.

Bandwidth - The transmission capacity of a given facility, in terms of how
much data the facility can transmit in a fixed amount of time; expressed in bits
per second (bps).

Beacon Interval - A beacon is a packet broadcast by the Access Point to keep
the network synchronized. A beacon includes the wireless LAN ser vice area,
the AP address, the Broadcast destination addresses, a time stamp, Delivery
Traffic Indicator Maps, and the Traffic Indicator Message (TIM).

Bit - A binary digit. The value - 0 or 1-used in the binary numbering system.
Also, the smallest form of data.

Browser - A browser is an application program that provides a way to look at
and interact with all the information on the World Wide Web or PC. The word
"browser" seems to have originated prior to the Web as a generic term for user
interfaces that let you browse text files online.

BSS (Basic Service Set) - A group of wireless Network PC Card users and an
Access Point.

Buffer - A buffer is a shared or assigned memory area used by hardware
devices or program processes that operate at different speeds or with different
sets of priorities. The buffer allows each device or process to operate without
being held up by the other. In order for a buffer to be effective, the size of the
buffer and the algorithms for moving data into and out of the buffer need to be

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

37

TCP/IP Setup for Windows XP

quently. Using very short leases, DHCP can dynamically reconfigure networks
in which there are more computers than there are available IP addresses.

DHCP supports static addresses for computers containing Web servers that
need a permanent IP address.

Download - To receive a file transmitted over a network. In a communications
session, download means receive, upload means transmit.

Driver - A workstation or server software module that provides an interface
between a device and the upper-layer protocol software running in the comput­er; it is designed for a specific device, and is installed during the initial instal­lation of a network-compatible client or server operating system.

DSSS (Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum) - DSSS generates a redundant bit
pattern for each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chip­ping code). The longer the chip, the greater the probability that the original data
can be recovered. Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during
transmission, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the orig­inal data without -the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS
appears as low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most nar­rowband receivers.

DTIM (Delivery Traffic Indication Message) - A DTIM field is a countdown
field infor ming clients of the next window for listening to broadcast and mul­ticast messages. When the AP has buffered broadcast or multicast messages for
associated clients, it sends the next DTIM with a DTIM Interval value. AP
Clients hear the beacons and awaken to receive the broadcast and multicast
messages.

Dynamic IP Address - An IP address that is automatically assigned to a client
station in a TCP/IP network, typically by a DHCP server. Network devices that
serve multiple users, such as servers and printers, are usually assigned static IP
addresses.

Encryption - A security method that applies a specific algorithm to data in
order to alter the data's appearance and prevent other devices from reading the
information.

ESS - More than one BSS in a network.

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

3938

Instant WirelessTMSeries

considered by the buffer designer. Like a cache, a buffer is a "midpoint hold­ing place" but exists not so much to accelerate the speed of an activity as to
support the coordination of separate activities.

CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance) - In local
area networking, this is the CSMA technique that combines slotted time-divi­sion multiplexing with carrier sense multiple access/collision detection
(CSMA/CD) to avoid having collisions occur a second time. This works best if
the time allocated is short compared to packet length and if the number of sit­uations is small.

CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection) - The LAN
access method used in Ethernet. When a device wants to gain access to the
network, it checks to see if the network is quiet (senses the carrier). If it is not,
it waits a random amount of time before retrying. If the network is quiet and
two devices access the line at e xactl y the same time, their signals collide. When
the collision is detected, they both back off and each wait a random amount of
time before retrying.

CTS (Clear To Send) - An RS-232 signal sent from the receiving station to the
transmitting station that indicates it is ready to accept data.

Database - A database is a collection of data that is organized so that its con­tents can easily be accessed, managed, and updated.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - A protocol that lets network
administrators manage centrally and automate the assignment of Internet
Protocol (IP) addresses in an organization's network. Using the Internet's set of
protocol (TCP/IP), each machine that can connect to the Internet needs a
unique IP address. When an organization sets up its computer users with a con­nection to the Internet, an IP address must be assigned to each machine.
Without DHCP, the IP address must be entered manually at each computer and,
if computers move to another location in another part of the network, a new IP
address must be entered. DHCP lets a network administrator supervise and dis­tribute IP addresses from a central point and automatically sends a new IP
address when a computer is plugged into a different place in the network.

DHCP uses the concept of a "lease" or amount of time that a given IP address
will be valid for a computer. The lease time can vary depending on how long a
user is likely to require the Internet connection at a particular location. It's espe­cially useful in education and other environments where users change fre-

The IEEE fosters the development of standards that often become national and
international standards. The organization publishes a number of journals, has
many local chapters, and several large societies in special areas, such as the
IEEE Computer Society.

Infrastructure- An infrastructure network is a wireless netw ork or other small
network in which the wireless network devices are made a part of the network
through the Access Point which connects them to the rest of the network.

IP Address - In the most widely installed level of the Internet Protocol
(Internet Protocol) today, an IP address is a 32-binary digit number that identi­fies each sender or receiver of information that is sent in packet across the
Internet. When you request an HTML page or send e-mail, the Internet
Protocol part of TCP/IP includes your IP address in the message (actually, in
each of the packets if more than one is required) and sends it to the IP address
that is obtained by looking up the domain name in the Uniform Resource
Locator you requested or in the e-mail address you're sending a note to. At the
other end, the recipient can see the IP address of the Web page requestor or the
e-mail sender and can respond by sending another message using the IP address
it received.

ISM band - The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U.S. have set aside
bandwidth for unlicensed use in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical)
band. Spectrum in the vicinity of 2.4 GHz, in particular, is being made avail­able worldwide. This presents a tr uly revolutionary opportunity to place con­venient high-speed wireless capabilities in the hands of users around the globe.

LAN - A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated
devices that share a common communications line and typically share the
resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for
example, within an office building).

MAC (Media Access Control) Address - A unique number assigned by the
manufacturer to any Ethernet networking device, such as a network adapter,
that allows the network to identify it at the hardware level.

Mbps (MegaBits Per Second) - One million bits per second; unit of measure-
ment for data transmission.

Multicasting - Sending data to a group of nodes instead of a single destination.

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

41

Instant WirelessTMSeries

40

Ethernet - IEEE standard network protocol that specif ies how data is placed
on and retrieved from a common transmission medium. Has a transfer rate of
10 Mbps. Forms the underlying transport vehicle used by several upper-level
protocols, including TCP/IP and XNS.

FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) - FHSS continuously changes
the center frequency of a conventional carrier several times per second accord­ing to a pseudo-random set of channels, while chirp spread spectrum changes
the carrier frequency. Because a fixed frequency is not used, illegal monitoring
of spread spectrum signals is extremely difficult, if not downright impossible
depending on the particular method.

Firmware - Programming that is inserted into programmable read-only mem­ory (programmable read-only memory), thus becoming a permanent part of a
computing device.

Fragmentation - Breaking a packet into smaller units when transmitting over
a network medium that cannot support the original size of the packet.

Gateway - A device that interconnects networks with different, incompatible
communications protocols.

Hardware - Hardware is the physical aspect of computers, telecommunica­tions, and other information technology devices. The term arose as a wa y to dis­tinguish the "box" and the electronic circuitry and components of a computer
from the program you put in it to make it do things. The program came to be
known as the software.

Hub - The device that serves as the central location for attaching wires from
workstations. Can be passive, where there is no amplification of the signals; or
active, where the hubs are used like repeaters to provide an extension of the
cable that connects to a workstation.

IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) - The IEEE
describes itself as "the world's largest technical professional society, promoting
the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences for
the benefit of humanity, the advancement of the profession, and the well-being
of our members."

Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

Server - Any computer whose function in a network is to provide user access
to files, printing, communications, and other ser vices.

Software- Instructions for the computer. A series of instructions that performs
a particular task is called a "program." The tw o major categories of softw are are
"system software" and "application software." System software is made up of
control programs such as the operating system and database management sys­tem (DBMS). Application software is any program that processes data for the
user.

A common misconception is that software is data. It is not. Software tells the
hardware how to process the data.

SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) - Market segment of professionals who
work at home or in small offices.

Spread Spectrum - Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequen­cy technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-crit­ical communications systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency
for reliability, integrity, and security. In other words, more bandwidth is con­sumed than in the case of narrowband transmission, but the trade off produces
a signal that is, in effect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the
receiver knows the parameters of the spread-spectrum signal being broadcast.
If a receiver is not tuned to the right frequency, a spread-spectrum signal looks
like background noise. There are two main alternatives, Direct Sequence
Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).

Static IP Address - A permanent IP address that is assigned to a node in an IP
or a TCP/IP network.

Subnet Mask - The method used for splitting IP networks into a series of sub­groups, or subnets. The mask is a binary pattern that is matched up with the IP
address to turn part of the host ID address field into a f ield for subnets.

Switch - 1. A data switch connects computing devices to host computers,
allowing a large number of devices to share a limited number of ports. 2. A
device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical cir­cuit.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - A method (protocol) used along with
the Internet Protocol (Internet Protocol) to send data in the form of message
units between computers over the Internet. While IP takes care of handling the

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Instant Wireless™ Series

Network- A system that transmits any combination of v oice, video and/or data
between users.

Node - A network junction or connection point, typically a computer or work
station.

OFDM - OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Muliplexing) works by
breaking one high-speed data stream into a number of lower-speed data
streams, which are then transmitted in parallel. Each low er speed stream is used
to modulate a subcarrier. Essentially, this creates a multi-carrier transmission
by dividing a wide frequency band or channel into a number of narrower fre­quency bands or sub-channels.

Packet- A unit of data routed betw een an origin and a destination in a netw ork.

Passphrase - Used much like a password, a passphrase simplifies the WEP

encryption process by automatically generating the WEP encryption keys for
Linksys products.

PC Card - A credit-card sized removable module that contains memory, I/O,
or a hard disk.

Port - A pathway into and out of the computer or a network device such as a
switch or router. For example, the serial and parallel ports on a personal com­puter are external sockets for plugging in communications lines, modems and
printers.

RJ-45 (Registered Jack-45) - A connector similar to a telephone connector that
holds up to eight wires, used for connecting Ethernet devices.

Roaming - The ability to use a wireless device and be able to move from one
access point's range to another without losing the connection.

Router - Protocol-dependent device that connects subnetworks together.
Routers are useful in breaking down a very large network into smaller subnet­works; they introduce longer delays and typically have much lower throughput
rates than bridges.

RTS (Request To Send) - An RS-232 signal sent from the transmitting station
to the receiving station requesting permission to transmit.

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Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

Appendix D: Specifications

Standards IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.11a and 802.11b

Channels 802.11a 8 Channels (US, Canada)

802.11b 11 Channels (US, Canada)
13 Channels (Europe)
14 Channels (Japan)

Ports/Buttons One 10/100 RJ-45 Port, One Power Port,

One Reset Button, One Power Switch

Cabling Type UTP CAT 5 or better

Data Rate Up to 54Mbps (up to 72 Mbps in Turbo Mode)

Transmit Power 802.11a 18dBm

802.11b 15dBm

LEDs Power, Diag

802.11a: Act, Link

802.11b: Act, Link

LAN: Link/Act, Full/Col, 100

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Instant Wireless™ Series

actual delivery of the data, TCP takes care of keeping track of the individual
units of data (called packet) that a message is divided into for efficient routing
through the Internet.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - The basic com-
munication language or protocol of the Internet. It can also be used as a com­munications protocol in a private network (either an intranet or an extranet).
When you are set up with direct access to the Internet, your computer is pro­vided with a copy of the TCP/IP program just as every other computer that you
may send messages to or get information from also has a copy of TCP/IP.

Throughput- The amount of data mo ved successfull y from one place to anoth­er in a given time period.

Topology - A network's topology is a logical characterization of how the
devices on the network are connected and the distances between them. The
most common network devices include hubs, switches, routers, and gateways.
Most large networks contain several levels of interconnection, the most impor­tant of which include edge connections, backbone connections, and wide-area
connections.

Upgrade - To replace existing software or f irmware with a newer version.

Upload - To transmit a file over a network. In a communications session,

upload means transmit, download means receive.

UTP - Unshielded twisted pair is the most common kind of copper telephone
wiring. Twisted pair is the ordinary copper wire that connects home and many
business computers to the telephone company. To reduce crosstalk or electro­magnetic induction between pairs of wires, two insulated copper wires are
twisted around each other. Each signal on twisted pair requires both wires.
Since some telephone sets or desktop locations require multiple connections,
twisted pair is sometimes installed in two or more pairs, all within a single
cable.

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) - A data privacy mechanism based on a 64-
bit, 128-bit, or 256-bit shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11
standard.

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Dual-Band Wireless Access Point

47

Appendix E: Warranty Information

BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODE
FROM THE PRODUCT’S PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING.
RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OF
PURCHASE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS’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. LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANY
PRODUCT.

LINKSYS OFFERS CROSS SHIPMENTS, A FASTER PROCESS FOR PRO­CESSING AND RECEIVING YOUR REPLACEMENT. LINKSYS PAYS
FOR UPS GROUND ONLY. ALL CUSTOMERS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA SHALL BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES. PLEASE
CALL LINKSYS FOR MORE DETAILS.

Dimensions 7.31" x 1.88" x 6.88" (186 mm x 48 mm x 175 mm)

Antenna Height 4.5" (114 mm)

Unit W eight 15 oz. (0.42 kg)

Power External, 5V DC, 2.5A

Certifications FCC, Canada

Operating Temp. 0ºC to 40ºC (32ºF to 104ºF)

Storage Temp. -20ºC to 70ºC (-4ºF to 158ºF)

Operating Humidity 10% to 85% Non-Condensing

Storage Humidity 5% to 90% Non-Condensing

Environmental

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Appendix F: Contact Information

For help with the installation or operation of this product, contact Linksys
Technical Suppor t at one of the phone numbers or Inter net addresses below.

Sales Information 800-546-5797 (LINKSYS)
Technical Support 800-326-7114
RMA Issues 949-261-1288
Fax [phone]
Email [e-mail]
Web http://www.linksys.com
FTP Site ftp.linksys.com

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© Copyright 2002 Linksys,All Rights Reserved.

http://www.linksys.com