Linksys Wireless-B USB
Network Adapter v3.0
User’s Manual
Rev Draft
USB Wireless Network Adapter User’s Manual
Regulatory compliance
FCC Warning
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits 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 in accordance with 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 can be determined 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:
ŸReorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
ŸIncrease the separation between the equipment and receiver.
ŸConnect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
ŸConsult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
You are cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void your authority to operate the equipment.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Federal Communications Commission (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 & your body.
This transmitter must not be co-located or operation in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
CE Mark Warning
This is a Class B product. In a domestic environment, this product may cause radio interference, in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures.
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USB Wireless Network Adapter User’s Manual
About this manual
This User’s Manual describes how to install and operate your USB Wireless Network Adapter. Please read this manual before you install the product.
This manual includes the following topics:
ØProduct description and features.
ØHardware installation procedure.
ØSoftware installation procedure.
ØFAQ
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USB Wireless Network Adapter User’s Manual
Table of Contents |
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Regulatory compliance................................................................................. |
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2 |
About this manual ......................................................................................... |
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3 |
Chapter 1 - Introduction ................................................ |
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5 |
Features ................................................................................................. |
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5 |
What is Wireless LAN? .......................................................................... |
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6 |
Wireless LAN Modes ............................................................................. |
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6 |
Notes on Wireless LAN Configuration................................................... |
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7 |
Chapter 2 - Hardware Installation.................................. |
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8 |
Package Contents .................................................................................. |
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8 |
System Requirements for the Adapter.................................................. |
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8 |
Connecting the USB Adapter ................................................................ |
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8 |
LED Indicators ..................................................... |
! |
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Disconnecting the USB Adapter............................................................ |
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9 |
Chapter 3 – Driver Installation for Windows ................. |
10 |
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Driver installation for Windows 98....................................................... |
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10 |
Driver installation for Windows 2000................................................... |
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13 |
Driver installation for Windows ME ..................................................... |
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16 |
Driver installation for Windows XP ...................................................... |
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18 |
Chapter 4 – Installing and Using the Wireless Utility .... |
20 |
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Installation in Windows ........................................................................ |
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20 |
Using Wireless Utility In Windows XP................................................. |
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23 |
Use Windows Wireless Network Configuration.................................................. |
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23 |
Use Wireless LAN Utility........................................................................................ |
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26 |
Use Wireless LAN Utility In Windows 98, ME and 2000 .................... |
29 |
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Configuring the USB Wireless Network Adapter ................................ |
30 |
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Chapter 5 – Installing Network Protocols..................... |
34 |
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Installing the Network Protocols for Windows 98 and ME ................. |
34 |
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Appendix A – FAQ ...................................................... |
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37 |
Appendix B – Specifications ....................................... |
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38 |
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USB Wireless Network Adapter User’s Manual
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the USB Wireless Network Adapter. This high-speed USB Wireless Network Adapter provides you with an innovative wireless networking solution. The Adapter is easy to set up and use. With this innovative wireless technology, you can share files and printers on the network— without inconvenient wires! Now you can carry the LAN in your pocket!
The Adapter is a network adapter with a rate of 1, 2, 5.5, and 11 Mbps operating in the ISM band using Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) transmission implementing the IEEE 802.11b standard. This adapter provides Device Drivers for Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. It also provides tools for the configuration of the adapter. The tool, as well as the installation steps of the plug-and-play procedure for the Microsoft Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP operating systems, is described in this document.
Features
The USB Wireless Network Adapter offers compliance with the IEEE 802.11b specification. This feature allows them to communicate with other wireless devices that support the standard. Features of the adapter are:
•Uses 2.4GHz frequency band, which complies with worldwide requirement
•Wireless interface following the IEEE 802.11b standard
•Using Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface
•Enciphering/deciphering of wireless data by the implementation of the WEP algorithm
•Wire-free access to networked resources from anywhere beyond the desktop
•Allows users move between Access Points without resetting their connection reconfiguration
•Delivers data rate up to 11 Mbps
•Supports 11, 5.5, 2, and 1 Mbps rates
•Provide USB Wireless Network Adapter Configuration utility
•Antenna is built in to the Adapter with LEDs indicating Power and Link
•Supports most popular operating systems: Windows 98/ME/2000 & Windows XP
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USB Wireless Network Adapter User’s Manual
What is Wireless LAN?
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) systems offer a great number of advantages over traditional wired systems. WLAN is flexible and easy to setup and manage. They are also more economical than wired LAN systems.
Using radio frequency (RF) technology, WLAN transmit and receive data through the air. WLAN combine data connectivity with user mobility. For example, users can roam from a conference room to their office without being disconnected from the LAN.
Using WLAN, users can conveniently access-shared information, and network administrators can configure and augment networks without installing or moving network cables.
WLAN technology provides users with many convenient and cost saving features:
∙Mobility: WLAN provide LAN users with access to real-time information anywhere in their organization, providing service opportunities that are impossible with wired networks.
∙Ease of Installation: Installing is easy for novice and expert users alike, eliminating the need to install network cables in walls and ceilings.
∙Scalability: WLAN can be configured in a variety of topologies to adapt to specific applications and installations. Configurations are easily changed and range from peer-to-peer networks suitable for a small number of users to full infrastructure networks of thousands of users roaming over a broad area.
Wireless LAN Modes
Wireless LANs can be configured in one of two ways:
Ad-hoc |
Also known as a peer-to-peer network, an ad-hoc |
Networking |
network is one that allows all workstations and |
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computers in the network to act as servers to all other |
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users on the network. Users on the network can share |
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files, print to a shared printer, and access the Internet |
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with a shared modem. However, with ad-hoc |
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networking, users can only communicate with other |
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wireless LAN computers that are in the wireless LAN |
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workgroup, and are within range. |
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Infrastructure |
Infrastructure networking differs from ad-hoc networking |
Networking |
in that it includes an access point. Unlike the ad-hoc |
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structure where users on the LAN contend the shared |
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bandwidth, on an infrastructure network the access |
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point can manage the bandwidth to maximize |
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