Linksys WUSB11 User Manual

Instant WirelessTMSeries

Wireless USB

Network Adapter

Use this Guide to install WUSB11

User Guide

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS
Copyright © 2001 Linksys, All Rights Reserved. Instant Wireless™ is a registered 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 tbanE0snksys VR /1.0667 T4. Inst-7.3T0 TDı˝-0.0 USB Networknks31.643 is a r

Introduction

Put the “mobile” back into mobile computing with the Linksys Instant
Wireless™ USB Network Adapter! The Linksys Instant Wireless™ USB
Network Adapter operates in the ISM band, using Direct Spread Spectrum
(DSSS) transmission to implement the IEEE 802.11b standard. Users can now
move easily between Access Points without the hassle of reconfiguring their
connection.

The Instant Wireless™ USB Network Adapter also gives you the freedom to
work your way, from where you want, letting you take full advantage of your
PC and providing you with access to all your netw ork ed resources from bey ond
your desktop, and a high-powered built-in antenna with LEDs indicates power
and linkage. Compatible with Windows 98, 2000, and Millennium, the Instant
Wireless™ USB Network Adapter from Linksys is a true necessity for all your
wireless PC applications.

• Uses 2.4GHz Frequency Band, Compliant with World Standards

• Wireless Interface Compliant with IEEE 802.11b Standard

• Uses USB Interface

• Capable of up to 128-Bit WEP Encryption

• Wire-Free Access to Networked Resources from Anywhere Beyond the
Desktop

• Allows Users to Move Between Access Points without Resetting Connection
Configuration

• Data Transfer Rate of up to 11Mbps

• Utilizes Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)

• Automatic Fall-Back Rate

• User-Friendly GUI Setup Software Provides Hassle-Free Configuration

• Free Driver/Firmware Upgrades

• Provides Instant Wireless™ Network Configuration Utility

• Built-in Dialectric Antenna with LEDs indicating Power and Link

• Supports Windows 98, 2000, and Millennium

• Free Technical Support—24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week for North America
Only

• Full 1-Year War ranty

1

Wireless USB Network Adapter

Features

The Instant WirelessTMUSB Network Adapter

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

The Instant WirelessTMNetwork USB Adapter 1
Features 1
Package Contents for the Wireless Network USBAdapter 2
System Requirements for the Wireless Network USB Adapter 2

Planning Y our Wireless Network 3

Network Topology 3
Roaming 3

Getting To Know the Wireless USB Network Adapter 4

The Wireless USB Network Adapter’s Port and LEDs 4

Installation and Configuration of the USB Adapter for Windows 6

Software and Driver Installation for Windows 98, 2000, and ME 7

Connecting Your Wireless USB Network Adapter 12

Hardware Detection for Windows 98, 2000 and ME 12
The USB Icon 13
USB Cabling 13
Removing the USBAdapter 13

Uninstall Procedures for Windows 98, ME and 2000 14

Installing Network Protocols 16

Installing the Network Protocols for Windows 98 and ME 16

Configuring the Wireless USB Network Adapter 18
Troubleshooting 24

Common Problems and Solutions 24
Frequently Asked Questions 25

Glossary 28
Appendix 33

Specifications for the Wireless USB Network Adapter 33
Environmental Information for the USB Network Adapter 34
Linksys Warranty Information 35
Contact Information 36

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Wireless USB Network Adapter

Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

A wireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each computer in the
LAN uses a wireless device to connect to the network. Computers in a wire­less LAN must be configured to share the same frequency channel.

The Instant Wireless™ USB Network Adapter provides 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™ USB Network
Adapter users and an Access Point compose a Basic Ser vice Set (BSS). Each
PC equipped with an Instant Wireless™ USB Network Adapter in a BSS can
talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the Access Point.

An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of an Instant
Wireless™ USB Network Adapter PC to a wired LAN, and doubles the effec­tive wireless transmission range for two Instant Wireless™ USB Network
Adapter PCs. Since the Access Point is able to forward data within its BSS, the
effective transmission range in an infrastructure LAN is doubled.

The use of a unique ID in a BSS is essential. All computers that have Instant
Wireless™ USB Network Adapter configured without roaming options in an
independent BSS must be configured with a BSS ID (that is used in the BSS).

The Wireless LAN Infrastructure conf iguration is appropriate for enterprise­scale wireless access to a central database, or as a wireless application for
mobile users.

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 Instant
Wireless™ USB Network Adapter PCs within one ESS must be configured
with the same ESS ID and use the same radio channel.

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

Roaming

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• One Instant WirelessTMUSB Network Adapter

• One USB Cable

• One Driver Utility CD-ROM

• One Quick Installation Guide and Registration Card (not shown)

• USB-Ready PC

• One free USB port

• Desktop or Notebook PC with CD-ROM Drive

• Microsoft Windows 98, 2000, or Millennium

• Pentium-Class 90MHz or higher

• Minimum 32MB RAM

Package Contents for the USB Network Adapter

System Requirements for the USB Network Adapter

The LED Indicators

Power Green. The Powe r LED lights up when the Wireless USB

Network Adapter is powered on.

Link Red. The Link LED lights up when the Adapter has an active

connection. If the LED is not on, the Adapter is not inter­facing with the network.

Wireless USB Network Adapter

Getting to Know the Wireless USB
Adapter

The Wireless USB Adapter’s USB port is located on the back of the Adapter.

The Wireless USB Adapter’s USB port

USB Port The USB Port is a port installed in your PC, enabling y ou to

connect to USB peripherals. To work with USB ports, your
PC must be running Windows 98, 2000, or Millennium.

Your Wireless USB Adapter comes with a USB cable that has two different
types of connectors. Type A, the master connector, is shaped like a rectangle
and plugs into your PC’s USB port. Type B, the slave connector, resembles a
square and connects to the USB port on the rear panel of your Wireless USB
Network Adapter .

The Wireless USB Adapter’s Port and LEDs

Windows 95 and NT do not support the USB Adapter.

USB Type A

USB Type B

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Installation and Configuration of
the USB Adapter for Windows

This Wireless USB Network Adapter Setup Utility will guide you through the
Install and Uninstall Procedure for Windows 98, Millennium, and 2000.

Insert the Setup Utility CD into your CD-ROM Drive. The Setup Utility
should run automatically and the screen shown below should appear. If it
does not, click the Start button and choose Run. In the box that appears,
enter D:\setup.exe (where “D” is the letter of your CD-ROM drive).

• The Install tab begins the software installation process, as shown on the

next page.

• The Uninstall tab shows you how to uninstall the adapter (please see the
section titled Uninstall Procedures for more information).

• The User Guide tab shows you a PDF file of the User Guide.

• The Contact Us tab links you to the Linksys website.

• The Exit tab allows you to the exit the Setup Utility.

1. To install your Wireless USB Network Adapter, click on the Install tab.

2. Once you see the following screen, click Next to continue.

3. After reading to the War ranty Policy, click Yes if you agree, or No to end

the installation.

Wireless USB Network Adapter

Software and Driver Installation

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NNoottee::

You must install this software before installation of the hardware.

6. If you chose Infrastructure Mode, go on to Step 7 now. If you chose Ad­Hoc Mode, choose the correct operating channel that applies to your net-

work. The channel you choose should be set as the same as the other
points in your wireless network. The default channel is set to Channel 6.
Click Next.

7. Enter in the name of your SSID for your Ad-Hoc or Infrastr ucture setting.
The SSID must be identical for all points in the network. To join any avail­able SSID, type ANY. The default setting is linksys (all lowercase). Click
Next.

Wireless USB Network Adapter

4. The InstallShield Wizard will automatically choose a folder where Setup

will install files. Click Next.

5. The InstallShield Wizard will ask you to choose a wireless mode. Choose

the mode that applies to your network. Ad-Hoc Mode is used for simple
peer-to-peer networking or sharing of local resources between wireless
Networked PCs, and Infrastructure Mode allows a wireless network to be
integrated into an existing, wired network through an access point, permit­ting roaming between access points while maintaining a connection to all
network resources. Click Next.

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