Macsense Connectivity AeroPad Mini User Manual

User Manual
AeroPad Mini
AeroPad Mini — 802.11g Ethernet Adapter for Mac/PC
Revised: 04/27/2005

Copyright

Copyright © 2005 by Xsense Connectivity, Inc. (dba Macsense Connectivity). All rights reserved. No part
of this documentation may be reproduced in any form or by any means or used to make any directive
work (such as translation or transformation) without permission from Xsense Connectivity, Inc. Xsense
Connectivity, Inc. reserves the right to revise this documentation and to make changes in content without
obligation among Xsense Connectivity, Inc. to provide notification of such revision or change. All
products and their associated features are subject to change or upgrade at the time of the shipment or of
the sales.

FCC Notice

This equipment has been tested and found to be FCC Rules certified. These restrictions are designed to
provide protection against harmful interference from residential installations. This equipment generates
radio frequencies that may cause interference with radio communications if not used in accordance with
the instructions. Interference may even occur during proper installation. If this equipment causes
interference, the user is suggested to correct it by one or more of the following:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit that is separate from the one to which the

receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.

CE Declaration of Conformity

The equipment complies with the requirements relating to electromagnetic compatibility, the essential
protection requirement of Council Directive/EEC on the approximation of the Member States relating to
Electromagnetic compatibility.

Trademarks

All products and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective
companies.

Safety Precautions

• Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.

• Slots and openings on the device are provided for ventilation. To protect it from overheating, these

openings must not be blocked or covered.

• Do not use or store this product in the environment that exceeds temperature and humidity

specifications. Do not place this product near a radiator or heat register, or in a built-in installation
unless adequate ventilation is provided.

• Before cleaning, unplug this product from wall outlet. Do not use liquid cleansers or aerosol

cleansers. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

• Do not place cords or cables where they may be walked on or tripped over.

• Be sure to comply with any applicable local safety standards or regulations.

• General-purpose cables are provided with this product. The use of any other cables or

requirements mandated by local authority is user’s responsibility.

• Cables attached to devices in different locations with different power sources and grounding may

cause hazardous voltage. Consult a qualified electronic consultant before installing the product to
check if this phenomenon exists and, if necessary, take corrective action.

• Never touch un-insulated telephone wires or terminals unless the line has been disconnected.

• Avoid using telephone equipment or installing the product during an electrical storm.

• Never install this product, or any kind of telephone jacks, lines, network cables, or power

connections in wet locations.

• Never spill liquid of any kind on this product

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................3

1.1 Benefits ...................................................................................................3

1.2 Features..................................................................................................3

1.3 Ideal Applications.................................................................................... 4

1.4 Wireless Network Planning .....................................................................6

2.0 BEFORE YOU START................................................................................9

2.1 Package Contents...................................................................................9

2.2 System and Other Requirements............................................................ 9

3.0 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR AEROPAD MINI ......................................... 11

3.1 Front LED’s and Back Panel ................................................................. 11

3.2 Installation.............................................................................................12

3.3 Hardware Reset .................................................................................... 12

4.0 Basic Configuration................................................................................ 13

4.1 Manually setting TCP/IP Values ............................................................13

4.1.1 Mac OS X 10.x............................................................................ 14

4.1.2 Mac OS 8/9................................................................................. 15

4.1.3 Windows 2000/XP....................................................................... 15

4.1.4 Windows 95/98/ME .....................................................................17

4.2 Access the Web-Config Pages..............................................................18

4.2.1 Configure using the included Setup Wizard................................ 19

4.3 Activating AeroPad Mini......................................................................... 22

5.0 WEB-CONFIG PAGES.............................................................................23

5.1 Status....................................................................................................23

5.2 Basic Setting .........................................................................................24

5.3 IP Setting............................................................................................... 25

5.5 Advanced Setting ..................................................................................27

5.6 Security ................................................................................................. 28

5.7 Tools......................................................................................................28

6.0 TROUBLESHOOTING ............................................................................. 31

6.1 Common Problems and Solutions.........................................................31

6.2 Glossary................................................................................................33

APPENDIX ..................................................................................................... 37

Specifications..............................................................................................37

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on your purchase of the Macsense AeroPad Mini, the 802.11g
Ethernet Adapter for Mac/PC. Welcome to the Macsense/Xsense Product

Family.
A fast growing trend today is wirel ess networking. By going wireless you reduce

the hassle of cable clutter, the expensive need to run cabling in the home or
office and the aggravation altogether to crawl under that desk for the last time to
see if that Ethernet cable is connected. The convenience of where and when you
want to connect to your network or Internet is now yours! Situate your computer
in the most convenient location without regards to whether there is an access
point or router nearby.

AeroPad Mini follows a WLAN standard called IEEE. The 802.11g standard has
emerged delivering speeds of up to 54Mbps and the ability to take the power of
the Internet with you. Imagine the ease and speed of which you can connect to
your wireless network and to the Internet.

The AeroPad Mini is a perfect solution for those older computers, such as the
iMac and iBook, without a wireless solution, the AeroPad Mini gives them the
wireless capability they deserve.

AeroPad Mini (WUA-800) is an improvement on its predecessor, the AeroPad
Plus (WUA-700).

AeroPad Mini is specifically designed for Small Office and Home Office needs. It
provides a complete SOHO solution for Internet surfing, and is easy to configure
and operate even for non-technical users. Instructions for ins talling and
configuring AeroPad Mini can be found in this manual. Before you install and use
AeroPad Mini, please read this manual carefully to take full advantage of
AeroPad Mini.

1.1 Benefits

• Eliminates the clutter, hassle, and cost of cabling.

• Longer operating range gives you more room to move around.

• Supports any desktop or laptop, Mac or PC with an Ethernet port and USB

port.

• WEP/WPA-PKS encryption provides the highest security.

• Compatible with Apple AirPort Base Station and all 802.11g/b-compliant

access points.

1.2 Features

• Interoperable with IEEE 802.11g/b 2.4GHz-compliant devices.

• Low power consumption <less than 460 mA>, and supports power over USB

which provides the best mobility.

• High-speed data transfer rate of 54,48,36,24,18,12,11,9,6, 5.5, 2 and 1

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Mbps

• Auto-fallback to lower data rate in noisy environments.

• Achieving data rate up to 54Mbps for 802.11g and 11Mps for 802.11b with

wide range coverage.

• AeroPad Mini supports and Mac OS 7, 8, 9 and OS X, Windows 98, Me,
2000, XP.

• No driver or software installation required.

• Supports computer-to-computer (ad-hoc) connection without an access

point.

• Works with all standard Internet applications.

Note: Maximum wireless signal rate based on IEEE Standard 802.11g specifications.
Actual data throughput will vary. Network conditions and environmental factors
lower actual data throughput rate.

1.3 Ideal Applications

There are basically two types of wireless networks: Infrastructure and Ad-hoc. An
Infrastructure network uses one or more access points (such as the Macsense
XRouter Aero, or Apple AirPort Base Station) as a gateway, linking the wireless
network to a wired LAN. As a result, computers on your wireless network have
access to all the features of your wired LAN including email, Internet access,
network printers and file servers.

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This is in contrast with another related wireless topology, called Ad-hoc network,
in which each wireless workstation communicates with one another without the
existence of an access point.

Although Ad-hoc allows for wireless connection between computers without an
access point, it is Infrastructure with its central wireless access point that will be
the most common.

Other Applications

The AeroPad Mini is the perfect wireless 802.11b/g solution for computers that
are not wireless ready. But since no drivers are required for the AeroPad Mini, it
can be extended beyond computers, for use with ANY device with an Ethernet
port. These Ethernet devices include game consoles like Xbox and PlayStation 2,
and DVRs such as Tivo.

These Ethernet devices no longer are restricted by long Ethernet cable clutter to
connect to the internet. With AeroPad Mini, now these devices can be placed
anywhere in the house.

The AeroPad Mini unwires game console by connecti ng two consoles together
wirelessly. Configure the AeroPad Mini in ad-hoc mode for peer-to-p eer data
transmission, or configure it to infrastructure mode to connect to the internet and

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join multiple-player games.
TiVo has a built in Ethernet port which can connected to the AeroPad Mini. This

will allow the TiVo to connect wirelessly to the local network, allowing it to access
media content (music, photos, and video) on your computer or on the Internet.
AeroPad Mini simplifies connection by eliminating long cable clutter.

1.4 Wireless Network Planning

Although the arrival of affordable wireless technologies has provided a great deal
of flexibility in how you connect to the Internet, there still is some needed
planning in setting up a WLAN network.

A WLAN can in some respects be considered much like a wired network with the
exception that wireless adapters will transmi t the data over radio frequ ency
waves instead of within a shielded Ethernet cable. Because of this, the initial
location of the Access Point or wireless router is extremely important. Situating
the AeroPad Mini so that it has the least amount of obstruction is highly
advisable.

The setup of all wireless devices involved is quite important, as they should
share the same radio channel and ESSID. Without these common settings, they
will not be able to communicate with one another. Any additional encryption
settings for security measures must be configured identicall y on all devices to
accept the data transfer.

One of the greatest advantages is the adaptability of a wireless network. You can
easily move a desktop computer within a room or to an entirely different room or
floor without restrictions of an Ethernet cable. This, however, does take proper
and precise planning of where to locate your access point(s) and how to overlap
them so as to provide full wireless range.

Some others points to follow when planning a wireless network:

1. Minimize obstructions of the 802.11g/b RF waves
a. Centrally locate the Wireless Router or access point. All obstructions

will weaken the signal to some degree.

b. Certain building materials (metals, concrete, etc.) should be avoided by

the signal.

2. Situate the wireless devices so as to maximize signal output and reception
a. Situate the WLAN devices so the signal is going straight through the

walls instead of at an angle.

b. Stay clear (3 – 5ft.) of devices that introduce “noise” to the reception,

such as microwaves, monitors, etc.

c. Position the antenna to maximize RF signal output. If the antenna is

internal, position the unit in different directions to maximize reception.

d. Additional access points can be placed in areas of low or no signal

reception.

Note: The new 802.11g/b wireless protocol has limitations as to how far the wireless

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range can reach. Take your time to plan your wireless network properly to help
provide the best range. Each obstruction can and will diminish the signal strength.
So bare this in mind when planning and implementing your wireless network.

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2.0 BEFORE YOU START

Before you start using the AeroPad Mini, check for package contents and make
sure you have the system requirements to use the AeroPad Mini.

2.1 Package Contents

• One AeroPad Mini 802.11g Ethernet Adapter

• One RJ-45 Ethernet cables

• One USB Power Cable

• One CD containing the User Manual

• Quick Start Guide

2.2 System and Other Requirements

• Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP or that of later versions

• Mac OS 7.5.3 or later versions including OS X (including 10.4 Tiger)

• Computer with 10/100Mbps Ethernet port to support TCP/IP protocol

• One available USB port

• Apple Safari, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator web browsers

with JavaScript enabled

Note: If you have access points installe d on your network, you will need the
following information to configure your WUA-800 AeroPad Mini: SSID (Service Set
Identifier), the name of the access point in use, and Encryption, any passwords or
keys used by your access point for Wireless Encryption (WEP).

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3.0 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR AEROPAD MINI

This chapter first gives a description of the LED indicators and ports of the
AeroPad Mini. Then it outlines the steps in connecting the unit to your computer.

3.1 Front LED’s and Back Panel

LED’s:

• Power LED: ON when the unit is powered up

• LAN LED: ON indicates LAN conn ection; BLINK indicates LAN activity

• WLAN LED: ON indicates WLAN is working; BLINK indicates wireless

activity.

Ports:

• USB Power Jack: Obtain power from the host computer's USB port.

• Reset Switch: Use to reset the AeroPad Mini back to factory default settings.

• RJ-45 Ethernet Port: Connects to the Ethernet port of the host computer.