Linksys WUSB54GP User Manual

A Division of Cisco Systems, Inc.

®

2.4

Model No.

GHz

802.11g

WIRELESS

WUSB54GP

Wireless-G

Portable USB Adapter

Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc.
and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries.

User Guide

Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

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 © 2004 Cisco Systems, Inc. All
rights reserved. Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
holders.

How to Use this User Guide

This User Guide has been designed to make understanding networking with the Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter
easier than ever. Look for the following items when reading this User Guide:

This checkmark means there is a Note of interest and
is something you should pay special attention to
while using the Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter.

This exclamation point means there is a Caution or
warning and is something that could damage your
property or the Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter.

This question mark provides you with a reminder
about something you might need to do while using
the Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter.

In addition to these symbols, there are definitions for technical terms that are presented like this:

word: definition.

Also, each figure (diagram, screenshot, or other image) is provided with a figure number and description, like
this:

Figure 0-1: Sample Figure Description

Figure numbers and descriptions can also be found in the "List of Figures" section in the “Table of Contents”.

Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction 1

Welcome 1
What’s in this Guide? 2

Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network 4

Network Topology 4
Roaming 4
Network Layout 5

Chapter 3: Software Installation and Configuration for Windows 2000 6
Chapter 4: Connecting the Portable USB Adapter 10

Using the USB Extension Base 11

Chapter 5: Driver Installation for Windows XP 12

Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration 13

Chapter 6: Using the WLAN Monitor 15

Overview 15
Accessing the WLAN Monitor 15
The Link Information Tab 15
The Site Survey Tab 17
The Profiles Tab 18
Creating a New Profile 20

Appendix A: Troubleshooting 24

Common Problems and Solutions 24
Frequently Asked Questions 25
Security Precautions 28
Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks 28

Appendix B: Wireless Security 28
Appendix C: Windows Help 31
Appendix D: Glossary 32
Appendix E: Specifications 35
Appendix F: Warranty Information 37
Appendix G: Regulatory Information 38
Appendix H: Contact Information 39

Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

Appendix I: Windows Help 31
Appendix J: Glossary 32
Appendix K: Specifications 35
Appendix L: Warranty Information 37
Appendix M: Regulatory Information 38
Appendix N: Contact Information 39

Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

List of Figures

Figure 3-1: The Setup Wizard’s Welcome Screen 6
Figure 3-2: The License Agreement Screen 7
Figure 3-3: The Wireless Mode Screen 7
Figure 3-4: The Ad-Hoc Mode Settings Screen 8
Figure 3-5: The Wireless Security Screen 8
Figure 3-6: The Check Settings Screen 9
Figure 3-7: The Congratulations Screen 9
Figure 4-1: The Portable USB Adapter on Your Laptop 10
Figure 4-2: A USB Port 10
Figure 4-3: The Windows 2000 Digital Signature Screen 11
Figure 5-1: XP Setup Welcome Screen 12
Figure 5-2: Windows logo testing screen 12
Figure 5-3: New Hardware Found screen 12
Figure 5-4: Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration icon 13
Figure 5-5: Network Connection - No WEP 13
Figure 5-6: Network Connection - WEP 14
Figure 5-7: Optional Settings 14
Figure 6-1: The Wireless Icon 15
Figure 6-2: The Link Information Tab 15
Figure 6-3: The Link Information Tab - More Information 16
Figure 6-4: The Site Survey Tab 17
Figure 6-5: The Profiles Tab 18
Figure 6-6: Importing a Profile 19
Figure 6-7: Optional Settings 19
Figure 6-8: The Profiles Tab 20
Figure 6-9: Create Connection Profile 20
Figure 6-10: Profiles - Network Settings 21
Figure 6-11: Profiles - Wireless Mode 21
Figure 6-12: Profiles - Ad-Hoc Settings 22
Figure 6-13: Profiles - Security Settings 22

Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

Figure 6-14: Profiles - Confirm New Settings 23
Figure 6-15: Profiles - Congratulations 23

Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

Chapter 1: Introduction

Welcome

Thank you for choosing the Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter. With this Adapter, your wireless networking
experience will be faster and 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. Connecting to your PC via the USB port means that this Adapter leaves the PC’s
slots open for other purposes. This adapter communicates over the 802.11g wireless standard, one of the newest
wireless standards, to communicate with your network.

But what does all of this mean?

Networks are useful tools for sharing computer resources. You can access one printer from different computers
and access data located on another computer's hard drive. Networks are even used for playing multiplayer video
games. So, networks are not only useful in homes and offices, they can also be fun.

PCs equipped with wireless cards and adapters can communicate without cumbersome cables. By sharing the
same wireless settings, within their transmission radius, they form a wireless network.

Use the instructions in this Guide to help you connect the Adapter, set it up, and configure it for your network.
These instructions should be all you need to get the most out of the Adapter.

network: a series of computers or devices
connected for the purpose of data sharing, storage,
and/or transmission between users.

adapter: a device that adds network functionality to your PC.

802.11g: an IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a

maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an operating frequency
of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11b devices.

Chapter 1: Introduction
Welcome

1

Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

What’s in this Guide?

This user guide covers the steps for setting up and using the Wireless-B USB Network Adapter.

• Chapter 1: Introduction
This chapter describes the Adapter’s applications and this User Guide.

• Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network
This chapter discusses a few of the basics about wireless networking.

• Chapter 3: Software Installation and Configration for Windows 2000
This chapter instructs you on how to install the Adapter’s Setup Wizard and Configure the Adapter for
Windows 2000.

• Chapter 4: Connecting the Portable USB Adapter
This chapter shows you how to connect the Adapter to your PC’s USB port.

• Chapter 5: Driver Installation and Configuration for Windows XP
This chapter explains how to install the Adapter’s driver and use Windows Zero Configuration.

• Chapter 6: Using the WLAN Monitor
This chapter show you how to use the Adapter’s WLAN Monitor.

• Appendix A: Troubleshooting
This appendix describes some problems and solutions, as well as frequently asked questions, regarding
installation and use of the Adapter.

• Appendix B: Wireless Security
This appendix discusses security issues regarding wireless networking and measures you can take to help
protect your wireless network.

• Appendix C: Windows Help
This appendix describes how you can use Windows Help for instructions about networking, such as installing
the TCP/IP protocol.

• Appendix D: Glossary
This appendix gives a brief glossary of terms frequently used in networking.

• Appendix E: Specifications
This appendix provides the Adapter’s technical specifications.

Chapter 1: Introduction
What’s in this Guide?

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Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

• Appendix F: Warranty Information
This appendix supplies the Adapter’s warranty information.

• Appendix G: Regulatory Information
This appendix supplies the Adapter’s regulatory information.

• Appendix H: Contact Information
This appendix provides contact information for a variety of Linksys resources, including Technical Support.

Chapter 1: Introduction
What’s in this Guide?

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Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network

Network Topology

A wireless network is a group of computers, each equipped with one wireless adapter. Computers in a wireless
network must be configured to share the same radio channel. Several PCs equipped with wireless cards or
adapters can communicate with one another to form an ad-hoc network.

Linksys wireless adapters also provide users access to a wired network when using an access point or wireless
router. An integrated wireless and wired network is called an infrastructure network. Each wireless PC in an
infrastructure network can talk to any computer in a wired network infrastructure via the access point or wireless
router.

An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of a wireless PC to a wired network, and can double the
effective wireless transmission range for two wireless adapter PCs. Since an access point is able to forward data
within a network, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure network can be doubled.

Roaming

Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. Roaming means that you can move your
wireless PC within your network and the access points will pick up the wireless PC's signal, providing that they
both share the same channel and SSID.

Before enabling you consider roaming, choose a feasible radio channel and optimum access point position.
Proper access point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance performance.

ad-hoc: a group of wireless devices
communicating directly with each other (peer­to-peer) without the use of an access point

access point: device that allows wireless­equipped computers and other devices to
communicate with a wired network.

infrastructure: Configuration in which a
wireless network is bridged to a wired
network via an access point.

roaming: the ability to take a wireless
device from one access point's range to
another without losing the connection.

ssid: your wireless network’s name

Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network
Network Topology

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Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

Network Layout

Linksys wireless access points and wireless routers have been designed for use with 802.11a, 802.11b, and

802.11g products. With 802.11g products communicating with the 802.11b standard and some products

incorporating both “a” and “g”, products using these standards can communicate with each other.

Access points and wireless routers are compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g adapters, such at the PC
Cards for your laptop computers, PCI Card for your desktop PC, and USB Adapters for when you want to enjoy USB
connectivity. Wireless products will also communicate with the wireless PrintServer.

When you wish to connect your wired network with your wireless network, network ports on access points and
wireless routers can be connected to any of Linksys's switches or routers.

With these, and many other, Linksys products, your networking options are limitless. Go to the Linksys website at
www.linksys.com for more information about wireless products.

802.11b: an IEEE wireless networking standard
that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of
11Mbps and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz.

switch: device that is the central point of connection for
computers and other devices in a network, so data can
be shared at full transmission speeds.

router: a networking device that connects multiple networks
together, such as a local network and the Internet.

Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network
Network Layout

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Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

Chapter 3: Software Installation and Configuration for Windows 2000

IMPORTANT: You must run the Setup Wizard to

install the software before connecting the Adapter. If
The Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter Setup Wizard will guide you through the installation procedure. The Setup
Wizard will install the WLAN Monitor and driver, as well as configure the Adapter.

1. Insert the Setup Wizard CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. The Setup Wizard should run automatically, and the

Welcome screen should appear. If it does not, click the Start button and choose Run. In the field that appears,
enter D:\setup.exe (if “D” is the letter of your CD-ROM drive).

you are running Windows XP, connect the Adapter

as shown in Chapter 4 and proceed to Chapter 5.

Chapter 3: Software Installation and Configuration for Windows 2000

Figure 3-1: The Setup Wizard’s Welcome Screen

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Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

2. Read the License Agreement displayed on the following screen and click the Next button to continue the
installation. If you click the Cancel button, you will end the installation.

3. The Wireless Mode screen will ask for some information about your wireless network. In the SSID field, enter
your network’s SSID (Service Set Identifier). The SSID is your network name and must be identical for all
devices in the network. The default setting is linksys (all lowercase).

Figure 3-2: The License Agreement Screen

Next, choose a wireless mode. Click the Infrastructure Mode radio button if you want your wireless
computers to network with computers on your wired network using an access point. Click the Ad-Hoc Mode
radio button if you want multiple wireless computers to network directly with each other.

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

Chapter 3: Software Installation and Configuration for Windows 2000

Figure 3-3: The Wireless Mode Screen

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Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter

4. If you chose Infrastructure Mode, go to Step 5 now. If you chose Ad-Hoc Mode, select the correct operating
channel for your network from the Channel drop-down menu. Then, select the Network Mode from the drop­down menu. Click the Next button, and go to Step 5. Click the Back button to change any settings.

Channel - The channel you choose should match the channel set on the other devices in your wireless
network. If you are unsure about which channel to use, select the default channel (Channel 6).

Network Mode - Keep the default setting, Mixed, if you have Wireless-G and Wireless-B devices in your
network. Select G-Only if you have only Wireless-G devices in your network.

5. The Wireless Security screen allows you to set the security level for your network. Enable or disable Wired
Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption for your wireless network. If you enable WEP, enter a Passphrase or WEP
key. Click the Next button to continue or the Back button to return to the previous screen. For more
information about the information on this screen, you can also click the Help button.

WEP - If you do not want to use WEP encryption, choose Disabled. To use WEP encryption (recommended to
increase network security), select 64-bit or 128-bit WEP from the drop-down menu, and enter either a
Passphrase or WEP key.
Passphrase - Instead of manually entering WEP keys, you can enter a Passphrase, so that a WEP key is
automatically generated. It is case-sensitive and should not be longer than 16 alphanumeric characters. This
passphrase must match the passphrase of your wireless network and is compatible with other Linksys
wireless products only. (If you have any non-Linksys wireless products, enter the WEP key(s) manually on
those products.)
WEP Key - This WEP key must match the WEP key of your wireless network. If you are using 64-bit WEP
encryption, then the key must consist of exactly ten hexadecimal characters. If you are using 128-bit WEP
encryption, then the key must consist of exactly 26 hexadecimal characters. Valid hexadecimal characters
are “0” to “9” and “A” to “F”.
TX Key - This allows you to access different WEP keys used by different routers or access points in your
network. Choose the TX Key used in that network. For instance, if the device uses TX Key 3, use TX Key 3. If
you’re not using multiple WEP Keys, leave this set at 1.
Authentication - Select the Authentication method used by your network. Open Authentication does not
employ WEP keys. Shared Authentication employs WEP encryption. Auto (the default setting) chooses the
method of the network to which you're connecting.

Figure 3-4: The Ad-Hoc Mode Settings Screen

Figure 3-5: The Wireless Security Screen

Chapter 3: Software Installation and Configuration for Windows 2000

8