LINKSYS WPC600NV11 User Manual
USER GUIDE
Dual Band Wireless-N
Notebook Adapter
Model No: WPC600N
About This Guide
Icon Descriptions
While reading through the User Guide you may see
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a description of these icons:
NOTE: This check mark indicates that there is
a note of interest and is something that you
should pay special attention to while using the
product.
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About This Guide
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website address or e-mail address.
Online Resources
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without adding the http:// in front of the address. This
User Guide will refer to websites without including http://
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require you to add it.
Resource Website
Linksys www.linksys.com
Linksys International www.linksys.com/international
Glossary www.linksys.com/glossary
Network Security www.linksys.com/security
Copyright and Trademarks
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco
Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain
other countries. Copyright © 2007 Cisco Systems, Inc. All
rights reserved. Other brands and product names are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
holders.
Dual Band Wireless-N Notebook Adapter
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Product Overview 1
LEDs ......................................................1
Chapter 2: Wireless Security Checklist 2
General Network Security Guidelines .................................2
Additional Security Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chapter 3: Advanced Conguration 3
Accessing the Wireless Network Monitor............................... 3
Using the Wireless Network Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Link Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Proles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Appendix A: Troubleshooting 13
Appendix B: Specications 1
Appendix C: Windows XP Wireless Zero Conguration 1
Windows XP Wireless Zero Conguration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Appendix D: Warranty and Regulatory Information 17
Limited Warranty..............................................17
FCC Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
FCC Radiation Exposure Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Industry Canada Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Declaration d’Industrie Canada.....................................18
Industry Canada Radiation Exposure Statement:..........................18
Safety Notices................................................18
Wireless Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Avis de non-responsabilité concernant les appareils sans l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
User Information for Consumer Products Covered by EU Directive 2002/96/EC on Waste
Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) ..............................19
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Dual Band Wireless-N Notebook Adapter
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Chapter 1
Chapter 1:
Product Overview
Thank you for choosing the Dual-Band Wireless-N
Notebook Adapter. Setting up your network and your Dual
Band Wireless-N Notebook Adapter is easier than ever.
How does the Adapter do this? Like all wireless products,
the Adapter allows for greater range and mobility within
your wireless network, whether it’s using the Wireless-A
(802.11a), Wireless-G (802.11g) or Wireless-B (802.11b)
standard. But with Wireless-N, it has even better range
and speed.
LEDs
Product Overview
Power Power (Green) The Power LED lights up
when the Adapter is powered on.
Link/Act Link/Act (Green) The Link/Act LED lights up
when the Adapter has an active connection.
Dual Band Wireless-N Notebook Adapter
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Chapter 2
Wireless Security Checklist
Chapter 2:
Wireless Security Checklist
Wireless networks are convenient and easy to install, so
homes with high-speed Internet access are adopting them
at a rapid pace. Because wireless networking operates by
sending information over radio waves, it can be more
vulnerable to intruders than a traditional wired network.
Like signals from your cellular or cordless phones, signals
from your wireless network can also be intercepted. Since
you cannot physically prevent someone from connecting
to your wireless network, you need to take some additional
steps to keep your network secure.
1. Change the default wireless
network name or SSID
Wireless devices have a default wireless network name
or Service Set Identifier (SSID) set by the factory. This
is the name of your wireless network, and can be up
to 32 characters in length. Linksys wireless products
use linksys as the default wireless network name. You
should change the wireless network name to something
unique to distinguish your wireless network from other
wireless networks that may exist around you, but do not
use personal information (such as your Social Security
number) because this information may be available for
anyone to see when browsing for wireless networks.
2. Change the default password
For wireless products such as access points and routers,
you will be asked for a password when you want to change
their settings. These devices have a default password set
by the factory. The Linksys default password is admin.
Hackers know these defaults and may try to use them
to access your wireless device and change your network
settings. To thwart any unauthorized changes, customize
the device’s password so it will be hard to guess.
3. Enable MAC address filtering
Linksys routers give you the ability to enable Media Access
Control (MAC) address filtering. The MAC address is a
unique series of numbers and letters assigned to every
networking device. With MAC address filtering enabled,
wireless network access is provided solely for wireless
devices with specific MAC addresses. For example, you can
specify the MAC address of each computer in your home
so that only those computers can access your wireless
network.
4. Enable encryption
Encryption protects data transmitted over a wireless
network. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2) and Wired
Equivalency Privacy (WEP) offer different levels of security
for wireless communication.
A network encrypted with WPA/WPA2 is more secure
than a network encrypted with WEP, because WPA/WPA2
uses dynamic key encryption. To protect the information
as it passes over the airwaves, you should enable the
highest level of encryption supported by your network
equipment.
WEP is an older encryption standard and may be the
only option available on some older devices that do not
support WPA.
General Network Security Guidelines
Wireless network security is useless if the underlying
network is not secure.
•
Password protect all computers on the network and
individually password protect sensitive files.
•
Change passwords on a regular basis.
•
Install anti-virus software and personal firewall
software.
•
Disable file sharing (peer-to-peer). Some applications
may open file sharing without your consent and/or
knowledge.
Additional Security Tips
•
Keep wireless routers, access points, or gateways away
from exterior walls and windows.
•
Turn wireless routers, access points, or gateways
off when they are not being used (at night, during
vacations).
•
Use strong passphrases that are at least eight characters
in length. Combine letters and numbers to avoid using
standard words that can be found in the dictionary.
WEB: For more information on wireless
security, visit www.linksys.com/security
Dual Band Wireless-N Notebook Adapter
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Chapter 3
Configuration
Chapter 3:
Advanced Configuration
Advanced configuration is done through the Wireless
Network Monitor (the Monitor). You can use the Monitor
to check the link information, search for available
wireless networks, or create profiles that hold different
configuration settings.
Accessing the Wireless Network Monitor
After installing the Adapter, the Wireless Network Monitor
icon appears in the system tray of your computer. If the
Wireless Network Monitor is enabled, the icon is green. If
the Wireless Network Monitor is disabled or the Adapter is
not connected, the icon is gray.
Using the Wireless Network Monitor
The opening screen of the Wireless Network Monitor is
the Link Information screen. From this screen, you can
find out how strong the current wireless signal is and how
good the connection’s quality is. You can also click More
Information to view additional status information about
the current wireless connection. To search for available
wireless networks, click the Connect tab. To perform
configuration changes or create connection profiles, click
the Profiles tab.
Link Information
The Link Information screen displays network mode, signal
strength, and link quality information about the current
connection. It also provides a More Information button to
click for additional status information.
Link Information
Ad-Hoc Mode or Infrastructure Mode The screen
indicates whether the Adapter is currently working in adhoc or infrastructure mode.
Signal Strength The Signal Strength bar indicates signal
strength.
Link Quality The Link Quality bar indicates the quality of
the wireless network connection.
Click More Information to view additional information
about the wireless network connection on the Wireless
Network Status screen.
Wireless Network Status
The Wireless Network Status screen provides information
on your current network settings.
Wireless Network Status
Radio Band This is the radio band used on the network.
Wireless Network Name This is the unique name (SSID)
of the wireless network.
Wireless Mode This is the mode of the wireless network
currently in use.
Wide Channel This is the Wireless-N primary channel
used with a 40 MHz radio band network.
Standard Channel This is the channel used by your
wireless network.
Security This is the status of the wireless security
feature.
Authentication This is your wireless network’s
authentication method.
Network Type This is the wireless network type.
IP Address This is the IP Address of the Adapter.
Subnet Mask This is the Adapter’s Subnet Mask.
Default Gateway This is the Default Gateway address.
DNS1 This is the DNS address of the Adapter.
Dual Band Wireless-N Notebook Adapter
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Chapter 3
Configuration
MAC Address This is the MAC address of the wireless
network’s access point or wireless router.
Signal Strength The Signal Strength bar indicates the
signal strength.
Link Quality The Link Quality bar indicates the quality of
the wireless network connection.
Click Statistics to go to the Wireless Network Statistics
screen. Click Back to return to the initial Link Information
screen. Click Save to Profile to save the currently active
connection settings to a profile.
Wireless Network Statistics
The Wireless Networks Statistics screen provides statistics
on your current network settings.
Noise Level This shows the level of background noise
that affects the wireless signal. A lower reading translates
into a higher quality signal.
Signal Strength This is the intensity of the wireless signal
that the Adapter receives.
Transmit Power This is the power output at which the
Adapter transmits.
Up Time This indicates the length of the most recent
connection to a wireless network.
Total Up Time This indicates the cumulative total of the
Adapter’s connection time.
Signal Strength The Signal Strength bar indicates the
signal strength.
Link Quality The Link Quality bar indicates the quality of
the wireless network connection.
Click Back to return to the initial Link Information
screen. Click Status to go to the Wireless Network Status
screen. Click Save to Profile to save the currently active
connection settings to a profile. Click Refresh to reset the
statistics.
Connect
Wireless Network Statistics
Transmit Rate This is the data transfer rate of the current
connection. (In Auto mode, the Adapter dynamically shifts
to the fastest data transfer rate at any given time.)
Receive Rate This is the rate that the Adapter receives
data.
Packets Received This shows the packets that the
Adapter receives, in real time, after connecting to the
wireless network or after clicking Refresh Statistics.
Packets Transmitted This shows the packets that the
Adapter transmits, in real time, after connecting to the
wireless network or after clicking Refresh Statistics.
Bytes Received This shows the bytes that the Adapter
receives, in real time, after connecting to the wireless
network or after clicking Refresh Statistics.
Bytes Transmitted This shows the bytes that the Adapter
transmits, in real time, after connecting to the wireless
network or after clicking Refresh Statistics.
Driver Version This shows the Adapter’s driver version.
The Connect screen displays a list of available networks
in the table on the left. The table shows each network’s
wireless network name, channel, and the quality of
the wireless signal the Adapter receives. You may click
Wireless Network Name, CH (Channel), or Signal, to sort
by that field.
Connect
Wireless Network Name This is the SSID or unique name
of the wireless network.
CH This is the channel that the network uses.
Signal This is the percentage of signal strength, from 0
to 100%.
Dual Band Wireless-N Notebook Adapter
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Chapter 3
Site Information
For each network selected, the following settings are
listed:
Wireless Mode This is the mode of the wireless network
currently in use.
Network Type This is the network type used by your
wireless network.
Radio Band This is the radio band used by your wireless
network.
Security This is the status of the wireless security
feature.
MAC Address This is the MAC address of the wireless
network’s access point.
Refresh Click Refresh to perform a new search for
wireless devices.
Connect To connect to one of the networks on the list,
select the wireless network, and click Connect. If the
network’s wireless security is enabled, then one of these
wireless security screen appears:
Configuration
WPA-Personal Security
WPA2
If the network has WPA2 Personal wireless security
enabled, then you will see the WPA2 Personal Needed for
Connection screen. Enter the network’s Pre-shared Key in
the Pre-shared Key field. To connect to the network, click
Connect. To cancel the connection, click Cancel.
WEP
If the network has the wireless security WEP encryption
enabled, then you see the WEP Key Needed for Connection
screen. Select the appropriate level of WEP encryption,
64-bit or 128-bit. Then enter the network’s Passphrase
or WEP Key. Click Connect. To cancel the connection, click
Cancel.
WEP Security
WPA
WPA2-Personal Security
Profiles
The Profiles screen lets you save different configuration
profiles for different network setups. The table on the left
displays a list of available profiles with their profile names
and wireless network names.
If the network has the wireless security WPA Personal
security enabled, then you see the WPA Personal Needed
for Connection screen. Select the appropriate encryption
type, TKIP or AES. Enter the network’s Pre-shared Key in
the Pre-shared Key field. Then click Connect. To cancel the
connection, click Cancel.
Dual Band Wireless-N Notebook Adapter
Profiles
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