Microsoft MN-820 User Manual

Important

Do not plug a phone jack (RJ-11) into any Ethernet (RJ-45) port on your device. Doing so may damage the device. You must use twisted pair cables with RJ-45 connectors that conform to FCC standards in the device’s Ethernet ports.

Ne branchez pas une ligne téléphonique dans aucuns des port de réseau (RJ45).

Caution

For use with UL Listed, CSA and GS approved personal computers.

Base Station: Only use AC Adapter provided with the unit, Model Number FA-4A110 (for U.S. and Canada.)

Not intended for use in machinery, medical or industrial applications.

Do not use onboard an aircraft or in hazardous locations such as a gas station or other explosive environment.

For indoor use only.

Do not touch or re-orient the antenna while the device is transmitting

Base Station: Device should be located at least 20 cm (8 inches) away from any human body in order to meet FCC exposure limits.

Notebook adapter: This device has been tested for compliance with FCC RF Exposure (SAR) limits in the typical laptop computer configuration and this device can be used in desktop or laptop computers with side mounted PCMCIA slots. The antennas used with this transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter within the host device.

Avertissement

N’utilisez qu’avec des composantes homologuées UL, CSA ou TUV.

Point d'accès sans fil: N’utilisez qu’avec le bloc d’alimentation fourni avec cet appareil No de modèle FAFA-4A110

Ne pas utiliser ce dispositif dans une application industrielle ou médicale.

Ne pas utiliser dans un avion ou en présence de vapeur explosive (station-service).

N’utiliser qu’à l’intérieur.

Ne touchez pas à l’antenne lorsque l’appareil est en fonction

Point d'accès sans fil: Ce dispositif doit être à plus de 20 cm (8 pouces) de toute personne.

Ce dispositif radio a été évalué pour son débit d’absorption spécifique (DAS) et respecte les limites d’exposition RF des personnes, telles que spécifiées dans la procédure CNR 102 lorsque utilisé dans le port PCMCIA d’un ordinateur portable ou de table. Les antennes de ce dispositif transmetteur ne doivent ni être copositionnées ou ni utilisées en conjonction avec quelque autre antenne ou transmetteur faisant partie de l’ordinateur hôte.

Information in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references, is subject to change without notice. Unless otherwise noted, the example companies, organizations, products, domain names, e-mail addresses, logos, people, places, and events depicted herein are fictitious, and no association with any real company, organization, product, domain name, e-mail address, logo, person, place, or event is intended or should be inferred. Complying with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of the user. Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part of this document may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), or for any purpose, without the express written permission of Microsoft Corporation.

Microsoft may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expressly provided in any written license agreement from Microsoft, the furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property.

© 2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. UPnP is a trademark of UPnP Implementers Corp. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark and Wi-Fi Protected Access is a

trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

contents

1 | Introduction: Welcome to Wireless-G..................................................................................1

About Your Wireless Notebook Kit................................................................................1

Your Wireless Base Station ........................................................................................1

Your Wireless Notebook Adapter ...............................................................................5

About Wireless (Radio) Connections.............................................................................7

Types of Wireless Networks........................................................................................ 7

Placement of Wireless Components..........................................................................8

Adjusting the Base Station Antenna ..........................................................................9

Understanding Wireless Transmission Standards....................................................9

About Wired (Ethernet) Connections...........................................................................10

Ethernet Cables.........................................................................................................10

2 | Setup: Using the Setup Wizard ..........................................................................................11

Typical Setup.................................................................................................................11

Step 1: Gather Components, Tools, and Information .............................................12

Step 2: Run the Setup Wizard to Set Up the Base Station.....................................13

Step 3: Connect the Base Station............................................................................13

Step 4: Configure the Base Station..........................................................................14

Step 5: Run the Setup Wizard to Set Up the Adapter on the Next Computer .......15

Step 6: Insert the Adapter into Your Computer.......................................................15

Step 7: Configure Your Adapter................................................................................16

Step 8: Test Your Network........................................................................................16

What’s Next? .............................................................................................................16

Setting Up the Base Station Wirelessly.......................................................................17

3 | Custom Setup: Configuring the Base Station Manually ................................................ 19

Base Station Setup.......................................................................................................20

Step 1: Connect the Base Station............................................................................20

Step 2: Open the Base Station Management Tool .................................................20

Step 3: Establish the Base Station Password .........................................................20

Step 4: Establish Your Internet Settings..................................................................21

Step 5: Establish Your Wireless Settings.................................................................22

Step 6: Establish Your Wireless Security Settings ..................................................22

Step 7: Customize Network Settings .......................................................................23

Step 8: Configure Your Computer ............................................................................23

Step 9: Test your Internet Connection.....................................................................24

0703 Part No. X09-47124-03

Access Point Setup ......................................................................................................25

Step 1: Connect the Base Station to a Computer ..................................................25

Step 2: Open the Base Station Management Tool................................................. 25

Step 3: Establish the Base Station Password......................................................... 26

Step 4: Establish Your Wireless Settings ................................................................ 26

Step 5: Establish Your Wireless Security Settings.................................................. 27

Step 6: Set the Base Station to Access Point Mode .............................................. 27

4 | Network Activities: Sharing Resources and Joining Other Networks .......................... 29

Logging on to Your Network ........................................................................................ 30

Using an Internet Connection over a Network ...........................................................30

Using the Broadband Network Utility.......................................................................... 31

Using Files and Folders over a Network .....................................................................32

Step 1: Make your files and folders available to the network ............................... 32

Step 2: Access shared files...................................................................................... 33

Using a Printer over a Network ................................................................................... 34

Using Other Peripheral Devices over a Network ........................................................ 35

About Reading E-Mail Messages on a Network ......................................................... 35

Playing Games on Your Network and on the Internet ............................................... 35

Creating a Computer-to-Computer (Ad Hoc) Network................................................ 36

Joining an Available Wireless Network ....................................................................... 37

5 | Network Management: Understanding Network Maintenance and Security............. 39

Monitoring Your Network............................................................................................. 39

View Status ............................................................................................................... 39

View Network Devices ..............................................................................................39

View Adapter Settings .............................................................................................. 40

Updating Software, Drivers, and Firmware................................................................. 40

Making Your Network More Secure ............................................................................ 40

Help Protect Your Network from Computer Viruses ...............................................41

Help Protect Your Network from Hackers ...............................................................41

Help Protect Your Network from Unauthorized Access.......................................... 42

6 | Troubleshooting: Finding Answers to Common Problems............................................ 43

Setup and Hardware Problems................................................................................... 43

The Setup Wizard will not start or locks up when I run it on my computer........... 43

Setup does not recognize my wireless base station. .............................................44

Setup does not recognize my wireless notebook adapter..................................... 44

Setup can’t detect the Internet after I connect my new base station to a

broadband modem................................................................................................... 45

After I install a new base station on my network, my Internet connection

no longer works. ....................................................................................................... 46

I am having problems upgrading or restoring my base station firmware. ............47

ii Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide

Network and Internet Problems...................................................................................48

I can’t stay connected to my wireless network. ......................................................48

I can’t access the Internet from a computer on my wireless network...................48

I can’t access the Internet from a computer connected to my network

with an Ethernet cable..............................................................................................50

My network is slow....................................................................................................52

I am having problems running a networked program or multiplayer game

on my network or the Internet..................................................................................52

Printing and File Sharing Issues ..................................................................................55

I can’t print to a networked printer. .........................................................................55

I cannot access a shared file or folder from a computer on my network..............56

I can open shared files or folders, but cannot write to or delete them. ................58

I can only access shared resources from certain computers or user accounts

on my network...........................................................................................................58

Appendix A: Locating Your Internet and Network Settings.......................................... 59

Internet Connection Type.............................................................................................59

General Internet Settings.............................................................................................60

Dynamic IP (DHCP) Settings.........................................................................................60

Host name .................................................................................................................60

MAC Address .............................................................................................................60

Static IP Settings ..........................................................................................................61

PPPoE Settings .............................................................................................................62

Workgroup Name..........................................................................................................62

Wireless Network Name...............................................................................................63

Wireless Security Settings............................................................................................63

Appendix B: Support and Technical Information........................................................... 64

Getting Help ..................................................................................................................64

Visit Us on the Web ...................................................................................................64

Click Help in the Broadband Network Utility............................................................64

Technical Support Options .......................................................................................64

Regulatory Information.................................................................................................65

United States Radio and TV Interference Regulations ...........................................65

Canadian Radiocommunication Regulations..........................................................65

Technical Specifications ..............................................................................................66

System Requirements..................................................................................................69

End-User License Agreement.......................................................................................70

Limited Warranty ..........................................................................................................72

Glossary................................................................................................................................. 77

Index ......................................................................................................................................83

Contents iii

introduction

Welcome to Wireless-G

Thank you for purchasing the Microsoft® Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit. The products in this kit are up to five times faster than 802.11b devices. This chapter describes the kit components and explains wireless (radio) and wired (Ethernet) connections.

With your new wireless network, you can share an Internet connection, files, and printers. Besides adding computers to the network, you can add a variety of devices, provided each device has an available Ethernet port or a wireless adapter (that is compatible with 802.11b or 802.11g Wi-Fi

For example, you can connect a game console (such as a Microsoft Xbox system), a Pocket PC, a home security or automation device, a digital audio controller, or even some newer televisions to your network.

Note For more information about 802.11b and 802.11g, see “Understanding Wireless

Transmission Standards” later in this chapter.

About Your Wireless Notebook Kit

The Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit includes a base station, a notebook adapter, and other components to help you set up and connect your wireless network. The box contents are shown in the following illustration.

networks).

video game

Setup CD

Install This First!

Power Supply Blue Ethernet

Wireless

Base Station

(MN-700)

Cable

Base Station Stand

(Detachable)

User's Guide and

Start Here Guide

Your Wireless Base Station

The Microsoft Wireless Base Station is a multifunctional device:

It enables you to share your broadband Internet connection with all the computers on the network.

It helps provide a layer of security between your network and the Internet.

Wireless

Notebook Adapter

(MN-720)

Blank Floppy

Disk

It enables wireless connectivity for computers within its range.

It helps provide security for your wireless transmissions, using Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).

Most people enable all of this functionality, as described in Chapter 2.

UPnP Standards and Your Wireless Base Station

The Microsoft Wireless Base Station adheres to the UPnP™ standards that are defined by the Universal Plug and Play Forum. UPnP standards allow devices on the network to communicate their capabilities to the base station by using a common vocabulary. UPnP standards also allow you to use many programs (like instant messaging programs and multiplayer games) on your network without having to go through a complicated configuration process.

Base Station Ports, Status Lights, and the Restore Button

The following illustrations show the locations of the ports, status lights, and Restore button on the base station.

Restore button

Ethernet ports 1-4

To Modem port

Power port

On the back of the base station, you will find a Power port, a To Modem port, four numbered Ethernet ports, and a Restore button.

2 Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide

Antenna

Power, Modem, and Wireless lights

Ethernet port lights, which correspond to the Ethernet ports on the back of the base station

Optional stand

The front of the base station has seven status lights. The following table describes the behavior of each light.

Status light On Off Blinking

Power Green: Ready

Orange: Resetting,

Not receiving power

Error*

restoring factory defaults, or upgrading firmware

Modem Modem connected and

turned on

Modem off or not connected

Data being sent or received through the modem

Wireless Radio enabled Radio disabled Data being sent or received

wirelessly

Ethernet port (4)

Ethernet device connected and on

Ethernet device off or not connected

Data being sent or received over Ethernet connection

*If the Power light is blinking, reset the base station by using the procedure described later in this chapter.

Chapter 1: Introduction 3

Using the Base Station Stand

You can position the base station horizontally or vertically. To position it vertically, use the detachable stand that is included in the box.

To attach the stand

1. Insert the two rectangular hooks on the stand into the two rectangular openings on

the bottom of the base station.

2. Slide the stand toward the center of the base station.

To detach the stand

Slide the stand away from the center of the base station.

Resetting the Base Station

You can reset the base station to correct connectivity problems. Simply unplug the base station power cord and then plug it back in again. The Power light will turn orange and then turn green when the reset is complete.

4 Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide

Restoring Factory Default Settings

You can restore the factory default settings to the base station if, for example, you forget your base station password. Restoring the base station erases all your current base station settings and returns the password to the default, admin. After you restore your base station, you will need to reconfigure the base station settings. You can do this by running the Setup Wizard and clicking Set Up a Product.

To restore the base station to factory default settings

Use a pointed object to press and release the Restore button on the back of the base station.

The Power light turns solid orange. When it turns solid green, the restoration is complete. This process takes about a minute.

Power ligh

Your Wireless Notebook Adapter

The Wireless Notebook Kit contains a Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Adapter that fits into a CardBus PC Card slot on a laptop or other computer. The adapter contains two status lights and two internal antennas.

Wireless light

Power light

Chapter 1: Introduction 5

Adapter Status Lights

The following table describes the behavior of the adapter’s two status lights.

When the Power light is…

On On

And the Wireless light is…

This means…

The adapter has established communication with a wireless network.

On Blinking quickly

Data is being sent or received wirelessly.

On Blinking slowly

The adapter is trying to establish communication with a wireless network.

Off Off

The adapter is not receiving power, is not recognized by Microsoft Windows

, or is

disabled.

CardBus Technology

The Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter uses new CardBus technology. CardBus PC Cards look like earlier PC Cards (16-bit PC Cards), but CardBus PC Cards support faster data transfer and use less power. CardBus PC Cards work only on computers that have CardBus PC Card slots.

Warning You can damage your CardBus adapter by inserting it into a PC Card slot that supports only high-powered 16-bit PC Cards. Do not force your adapter into a PC Card slot if it doesn’t fit.

Make sure that your computer has a CardBus PC Card slot by following one of these procedures, depending on which version of the Microsoft Windows

operating system

your computer is running:

Windows XP or Windows 2000

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click System and then click the Hardware tab.

3. Click Device Manager.

4. Click the plus sign to expand the PCMCIA Adapters item.

If CardBus technology is supported, it will be listed here.

Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows Me

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click System. If you don’t see the System option in Control Panel, click the View All Control Panel

Options link in the left pane.

6 Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide

3. Click the Device Manager tab.

4. Click the plus sign to expand the PCMCIA Adapters item.

If CardBus technology is supported, it will be listed here.

About Wireless (Radio) Connections

Your base station and adapter communicate by radio transmission. Radio waves travel in all directions, and can be transmitted through walls and floors. This section on wireless connections explains wireless network types and provides important information about wireless performance.

Types of Wireless Networks

There are two types of wireless networks: infrastructure and ad hoc. In an infrastructure network, a wireless adapter connects to a wireless network

through a central wireless access point, gateway, or router, such as a Microsoft Wireless Base Station. This type of network is often used when a broadband Internet connection will be shared among computers, or when there are more than two computers or devices on a wireless network. The following illustration shows an infrastructure network.

Active Internet Connection

Broadband Modem

Wireless Base Station

Ethernet Connection

First Computer Second Computer

Chapter 1: Introduction 7

In an ad hoc network, a wireless adapter connects directly to wireless adapters that are installed in other computers. This type of network is often used when only two computers or devices are being connected, when a broadband Internet connection will not be shared, or when the connection to another computer is intended to be temporary. The following illustration shows an ad hoc network.

First computer

Second computer

Because you have purchased the Microsoft Wireless Base Station, you will probably set up an infrastructure network. However, you might want to establish a separate ad hoc network at some time. You can use the same adapter to join different networks (and different types of networks) at different times. For example, you might use your adapter to connect to an infrastructure network at home most of the time, but occasionally, you might use your adapter to set up a temporary ad hoc network to share files with a colleague when you travel together on business.

The Microsoft wireless notebook adapter is very versatile. You can use it to join a network that has a non-Microsoft router, gateway, or wireless access point. You can also establish ad hoc connections to non-Microsoft adapters. When joining these types of networks, you might need to choose or enter some wireless network settings manually.

Placement of Wireless Components

The following placement recommendations will help you achieve the best wireless range, coverage, security, and connection speed from your wireless devices:

Place the base station near the center of your intended wireless network area. This will minimize the possibility of eavesdropping by neighboring wireless networks.

Place wireless components in direct line of sight to one another, if possible.

If you notice poor signal strength on your notebook adapter, try moving your laptop computer by just a few inches in any direction. Because of the way in which radio waves travel, small areas within the network range sometimes receive poor coverage.

Place wireless components on desks or shelves when possible (instead of on the floor) to avoid obstacles and achieve better reception on the upper stories of buildings.

Avoid placing wireless components in a way such that large, solid objects block the direct path between them. Building components, such as fireplaces, concrete or masonry walls and floors, metal framing, UV window film, and metallic paint will reduce radio signal strength.

Avoid placing wireless components next to large metal objects such as computer cases, monitors, and appliances. Metal objects reduce signal strength.

8 Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide

Avoid placing wireless components close to electro-magnetic devices, especially those with frequencies in the 2.4-gigahertz (GHz) range. Devices such as cordless phones, microwave ovens, radios, and televisions can interfere with wireless transmission.

If you notice poor connection speed in an area, try moving your wireless components closer together. Connection speeds will be slower if your wireless components are very far apart from each other on the network.

Be aware that wireless signal range, speed, and strength can be affected by interference from neighboring wireless networks and devices.

Adjusting the Base Station Antenna

To improve wireless reception, you can adjust the base station’s external antenna. Start with the antenna pointing straight up, and adjust the antenna if you get poor

signal strength on an adapter. Certain areas, such as directly below the antenna, get relatively poor reception. Pointing the antenna toward another wireless component does not improve reception.

Understanding Wireless Transmission Standards

802.11 is a series of wireless transmission standards developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for wireless local area networks. Currently, four specifications make up the 802.11 series: 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, and

802.11g. The Microsoft Wireless Base Station and Notebook Adapter in this kit conform to the latest specification, 802.11g. The main features that distinguish these specifications are connection speed and radio frequency.

The following table summarizes the four specifications in the 802.11 series.

Specification Connection speed Radio frequency band

802.11 1 or 2 megabits per second (Mbps) 2.4 GHz

802.11a Up to 54 Mbps 5 GHz

802.11b 5.5 and 11 Mbps 2.4 GHz

802.11g Up to 54 Mbps 2.4 GHz

Note The benefit of the 2.4-GHz radio frequency band is that it allows for greater range than the 5-GHz band. The drawback is that it is susceptible to interference from other devices, such as 2.4-GHz cordless telephones.

Because 802.11b and 802.11g use the same radio frequency, the adapter and base station in this kit are compatible with 802.11b devices. However, when you transfer data between 802.11b and 802.11g devices, the connection speed is limited to the

802.11b maximum of 11 Mbps.

Note The Microsoft wireless base station and adapter are not compatible with

802.11a-only devices.

Chapter 1: Introduction 9

About Wired (Ethernet) Connections

Ethernet is the most commonly used wired network protocol, with data transfer rates of 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, or higher. The base station’s auto-negotiation feature automatically determines the rate of your network connections and uses the fastest speed available.

You will probably use Ethernet cables to connect some devices in your network, for example to connect your base station to a modem and to one or more computers. Each device that makes a wired connection to your base station must have an Ethernet adapter, which provides an Ethernet port. A modem and up to four other Ethernet devices can connect to the base station. By using hubs or switches, you can connect more Ethernet devices to your base station.

Ethernet Cables

An Ethernet cable resembles a phone cord, but has larger connectors at each end. You can distinguish Ethernet cable from phone cable by the larger connector size and, often, by the number of gold pins (or contacts) visible in the connector. Ethernet connectors (RJ-45) commonly contain eight contacts, whereas phone connectors (RJ-

11) contain either two or four, as shown in the following illustration.

RJ-45 Ethernet

Note There are two types of Ethernet cable, “straight-through” and “crossover”. You can

use either type when you connect devices to the Microsoft base station. For other Ethernet connections that you establish on your network, a specific type of Ethernet cable might be required. For more information about the types of Ethernet cable, see the Broadband Network Utility Help.

(8 pins)

RJ-11 Telephone (4 pins)

10 Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide

setup

Using the Setup Wizard

This chapter will guide you through the setup process for your Microsoft® Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit. The procedures described in the Typical Setup section of this chapter will help you set up your base station and adapter by using the wizard on the Setup CD. Typical Setup is recommended because the Setup Wizard identifies and configures a variety of Internet and wireless network settings.

To use the Typical Setup steps, you will need:

One computer that has an Ethernet port and is running Microsoft Windows® XP, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 98, or Windows 98 SE. You will use this computer to set up the base station.

A second computer that has an available PC Card slot that supports CardBus PC Cards. This computer is running Windows XP, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows 98, or Windows 98 SE operating system.

An external broadband modem with an Ethernet port.

Note It is possible to set up the notebook adapter on the same computer that you use for setting up the base station. The Typical Setup steps in this chapter will also guide you through this scenario.

You should not use the Typical Setup steps if any of the following apply to you.

You don’t have a computer with an Ethernet port. See “Setting Up the Base Station Wirelessly” later in this chapter.

You have an existing network with a base station, gateway, or router and you want to use this wireless base station to add wireless connectivity or extend your network’s wireless range. See “Access Point Setup” in Chapter 3.

You want to set up the base station from a computer that isn’t running Windows. See Chapter 3.

You don’t want to run the Setup Wizard to set up the base station. See Chapter 3.

Typical Setup

The steps in this section correspond to the steps that you will go through in the Setup Wizard on the Setup CD. If possible, you should use the Setup Wizard whenever you set up a Microsoft Broadband Networking product on your network.

Note You can use the Setup and Network Utility (v.2.0) CD that comes with this kit to install all current and previous versions of Microsoft Broadband Networking products. If you have other Microsoft Broadband Networking products on your network, you do not need to keep multiple copies of this CD and you can discard earlier versions of this CD.

Step 1: Gather Components, Tools, and Information

1. Check if any of the following special situations apply to you.

If… Do this first…

You haven’t yet set up your broadband Internet connection

You are using this base station to replace an existing base station, gateway, or router

Your computer currently connects to your broadband modem with USB cable

Your computer is running Windows XP or Windows 2000

Your computer is running firewall or Internet connection sharing software

You have a Point-toPoint Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) Internet connection

2. Take the following items to the computer that is currently connected to your broadband modem. If this computer does not meet the base station setup requirements, you can use any other computer that does. However, you will need to enter your Internet settings manually.

Setup and Network Utility CD

Microsoft Wireless Base Station

Blue Ethernet cable that came with your kit

Power supply (Use only the AC adapter included in the box.)

Blank floppy disk from your kit

This User’s Guide

Installation CD for your Windows operating system if your computer is running Windows Me, Windows 98, or Windows 98 SE

Set up your broadband Internet connection and make sure that it works. The Setup Wizard will look for it and gather all of your Internet settings so that you don’t have to locate and enter them manually.

Record your current Internet settings. For information about how to locate them, see Appendix A, “Locating Your Internet and Network Settings.” Do not disconnect your existing network devices until instructed to do so by the Setup Wizard.

Replace the USB cable with the Ethernet cable that came with your modem. Make sure that your Internet connection is working through the Ethernet cable before proceeding.

Log on as a member of the Administrator group on the computer you will use to set up the base station and on the computer you will use to set up the adapter. If you are not logged on as an administrator, click Start, click Log Off, and then press CTRL+ALT+DELETE. Log on again with an administrator’s name and password.

Disable or uninstall any firewall or Internet connection sharing software on your computers. Your base station will replace these functions, and the Setup Wizard cannot proceed if they are enabled.

Make sure that you know your user name, password, and service name. The Setup Wizard will prompt you to enter this information. For information about how to determine your Internet settings, see Appendix A, “Locating Your Internet and Network Settings.”

12 Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide

Step 2: Run the Setup Wizard to Set Up the Base Station

1. Insert the Setup CD into the CD drive. If the Setup Wizard does not start

automatically after a few seconds, open My Computer, double-click the CD icon, and then double-click Setup or Setup.exe.

Note During setup, you may be prompted to restart your computer or insert your Windows operating system CD. You may also need to specify the location of the required setup files on the Windows CD. Do this by typing the drive letter of your CD drive and the appropriate directory (for example, D:\win98).

2. On the first screen that appears, click Set Up a Product.

The wizard will detect any components that are missing on your computer and specify which of these components are required for setup and which are optional.

3. Continue following the instructions in the wizard to install missing components (as

necessary).

4. When the wizard asks whether you are setting up a base station or an adapter, click Base station.

5. When the wizard asks which base station you are setting up, click Wireless-G Base Station (MN-700, MN-820).

6. Continue following the instructions in the Setup Wizard. If you have a question, click

a Help link on the screen for more information. If you need to cancel setup before it is complete, you can rerun the Setup Wizard.

When the Setup Wizard restarts, click Set Up a Product.

Step 3: Connect the Base Station

1. When the Setup Wizard prompts you to connect your base station, place the base

station close to your modem and computer, and near the center of your intended network. If you want to position the base station vertically, attach the provided stand. For more information about optimal placement of your base station, see “Placement of Wireless Components” in Chapter 1.

Note Do not turn off your computer while you connect your base station.

2. Disconnect the modem Ethernet cable from the back of your computer, and then

connect it to the To Modem port on the back of the base station.

3. Connect one end of the blue Ethernet cable that came with your kit to one of the Ethernet ports on the back of the base station, and then connect the other end to an Ethernet port on your computer.

4. Plug one end of the power supply that came with your base station into the Power port on the back of the base station, and then plug the other end into an electrical outlet. The Power light on the front of the base station will turn orange. Wait for the Power light to turn green.

Chapter 2: Setup 13

Your connections should now resemble those in the following illustration.

Computer

Wireless Base Station

Existing broadband modem

Existing

Ethernet

cable

Power port

Blue Ethernet cable

(included in box)

To power supply

5. Return to the Setup Wizard and click Next.

Step 4: Configure the Base Station

1. Continue following the instructions in the Setup Wizard to:

Select wireless security options. For more information about wireless security, see “Making Your Network More Secure” in Chapter 5.

Save your wireless network settings. You can use the provided floppy disk for this.

Set up file and printer sharing on your computer.

Note If your computer is a member of a domain, the Setup Wizard detects this and skips the file and printer sharing part of setup.

2. When you reach the end of the Setup Wizard, click Finish. By default, the

Broadband Network Utility starts automatically.

3. Remove the Setup CD from the CD drive and the floppy disk (if used) from the floppy

disk drive. You will use the CD and floppy disk to set up your adapter.

Note If you want the computer that you used to set up the base station to make a wireless connection instead, remove the blue Ethernet cable between the base station and the computer, leaving the modem connected to the base station. Then continue following these steps to set up the adapter on this computer instead of on a second computer.

14 Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide

Your base station setup is now complete. In Step 5, you will go to the next computer to set up the adapter.

Step 5: Run the Setup Wizard to Set Up the Adapter on the Next Computer

1. Take the following items to the next computer to be networked:

Setup and Network Utility CD

Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter

This User’s Guide

The floppy disk, file, printout, or written record of network settings that you created during the setup of your base station

Installation CD for your Windows operating system if your computer is running Windows Me, Windows 98, or Windows 98 SE

2. Insert the Setup CD into your CD drive. If the Setup Wizard does not start automatically after a few seconds, open My Computer, double-click the CD icon, and then double-click Setup or Setup.exe.

3. On the first screen that appears, click Set Up a Product. The wizard will detect any components that are missing on your computer and

specify which of these components are required for setup and which are optional.

4. Continue following the instructions in the wizard to install missing components (as necessary).

5. When the wizard asks whether you are setting up a base station or an adapter, click Network adapter.

6. When the wizard asks which network adapter you are setting up, click Wireless-G Notebook Adapter (MN-720, MN-820).

Step 6: Insert the Adapter into Your Computer

When the software instructs you to connect your wireless adapter, insert it into the CardBus PC Card slot on your computer.

Note Leave your computer turned on while you insert your adapter.

Chapter 2: Setup 15

Step 7: Configure Your Adapter

1. Continue following the instructions in the Setup Wizard to configure your adapter.

2. When the wizard asks what type of network you have, click My current network already includes a Microsoft base station.

When the wizard prompts you for your wireless network settings, you can insert the floppy disk of network settings that you saved from the setup of your base station. If you saved the settings to a file on a different storage medium, you can browse to the file containing the settings. If you did not save your network settings electronically, you may need to specify your wireless network name (also known as Service Set Identifier, or SSID) and WEP key.

3. When the wizard asks if you want to set up your computer for file and printer sharing, specify whether you want to make files on your computer available to other computers on your network.

Note If your computer is a member of a domain, the Setup Wizard detects this and skips the file and printer sharing part of setup. You will not be able to share files and printers with other computers on your network. For information about switching between a workgroup and a domain, see Broadband Network Utility Help.

4. When you reach the end of the Setup Wizard, click Finish to exit the wizard. By default, the Broadband Network Utility starts automatically.

5. Remove the Setup CD from the CD drive and the floppy disk (if used) from the floppy disk drive. Keep your network settings handy for setting up additional computers on your network.

It is recommended that you install the software on all computers on your network, so that you can use the Broadband Network Utility from all of your computers. If you want to do this, run the Setup Wizard on each of your computers and when the Setup Wizard starts, click Install Software Only. (If the computer already has a version of this software installed, this option is called Update Software Only or

Reinstall Software Only.)

Step 8: Test Your Network

1. View the status of your network in the Broadband Network Utility. Make sure that

the other computers on your network appear under Network Devices. For more information about using the Broadband Network Utility, see Chapter 4.

2. Open your Web browser and try accessing a Web site such as www.microsoft.com. If your network is working properly, you will be able to access the Internet from the computers that you just set up.

What’s Next?

Your base station and adapter are now both set up.

If your network is working properly, you can proceed to Chapter 4, “Network Activities.”

If you are having network problems or you cannot connect to the Internet through your broadband modem, see “Network and Internet Problems” in Chapter 6.

16 Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide

Setting Up the Base Station Wirelessly

It is possible to set up the base station wirelessly by using the Microsoft wireless adapter that came with your kit. Use this setup method only if none of your computers has an Ethernet port.

To set up the base station wirelessly

1. Locate and write down your Internet settings. For instructions, see Appendix A,

“Locating Your Internet and Network Settings.” For most Internet connections, you will need your host name and media access control (MAC) address. For a PPPoE connection, you will need your user name, password, and service name. For a static Internet protocol (IP) address, you will need your IP, subnet mask, and default gateway addresses.

2. Disconnect your modem from your computer, and turn off the modem (or unplug it).

3. On the computer that was connected to your modem, run the Setup Wizard.

4. On the first screen that appears, click Set Up a Product.

The wizard will detect missing components and help you install them.

5. When the wizard asks what you want to install, click Base station.

The wizard will alert you that you don’t have an Ethernet adapter installed on your computer.

6. When the wizard asks which adapter you are setting up, click Wireless-G Notebook Adapter (MN-720, MN-820).

7. When the wizard prompts you to connect your wireless adapter, insert it into the PC

Card slot on your computer.

8. When the wizard asks which base station you are setting up, click Wireless-G Base Station (MN-700, MN-820).

9. When the wizard asks what type of modem you have, click External broadband modem, connected with Ethernet cable. (Select this option even if your modem

made a USB connection to your computer before you disconnected it in step 2.) Because your modem is no longer connected to your computer, the Setup Wizard

will alert you that it cannot detect your Internet connection.

10. Click Next to proceed without an Internet connection. Later, you will be able to

enter the Internet settings you saved in step 1 of this procedure.

11. When the Setup Wizard prompts you to connect your base station, connect an

Ethernet cable from your modem to the To Modem port of the base station, and then plug in the base station power cord. Your modem is now connected to the base station. Do not connect your computer to the base station.

12. Plug in and turn on your modem.

13. When the Setup Wizard asks you for your Internet settings, enter the Internet

settings that you recorded in step 1 of this procedure.

14. Continue following the steps in the Setup Wizard to set up wireless security, to

enable file and printer sharing, and to save your network settings.

Chapter 2: Setup 17

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custom setup

Configuring the Base Station Manually

The Base Station Management Tool is a Web-based utility that you can use to configure your base station for initial setup.

You should use the Base Station Management Tool to configure your base station for setup only in the following situations:

Your computer is not running Microsoft® Windows® operating system.

You want to use the base station as an access point only.

You are an advanced user and you do not want to use the Setup Wizard.

In all other situations, you should run the Setup Wizard to configure your base station. The Setup Wizard automatically configures the base station with your Internet and other network settings. For information about configuring the base station by using the Setup Wizard, see Chapter 2, “Setup.”

There are two options for configuring your base station from the Base Station Management Tool.

Follow the Base Station Setup if you want to share a broadband Internet connection on your network by using the wireless base station in this kit.

Follow the Access Point Setup if you already have a network with a base station, router, or gateway, and you want to add wireless connectivity or extend the wireless range of your network.

In addition to configuring your base station for initial setup, you can also use the Base Station Management Tool to manage your network settings, customize security options, and establish special network requirements such as a Web server. For information about these options, see the MN-700: Base Station Configuration Guide. You can find this guide on the Setup CD that came with your network products.

Base Station Setup

To complete this setup procedure, you must have a computer with an Ethernet port and an external, broadband modem with an Ethernet port.

Step 1: Connect the Base Station

1. Position the base station close to your modem and computer, and then turn off

your modem.

2. Disconnect your modem cable from the Ethernet port on the back of your computer.

Leave the other end of the cable connected to the modem. Connect the cable to the port labeled To Modem on the back of the base station.

3. Connect one end of the blue Ethernet cable that came with your base station to the

Ethernet port labeled 1 on the back of the base station and connect the other end to the Ethernet port on the back of your computer.

4. Plug one end of the power supply that came with your base station into the Power

port on the back of the base station, and plug the other end into an electrical outlet. The Power light on the front of the base station should turn orange, and then turn green.

Step 2: Open the Base Station Management Tool

You can open the Base Station Management Tool directly from a Web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or later, or Netscape Navigator 6.0 or later.

1. From the computer connected to the base station, open your Web browser, and

then type the Internet protocol (IP) address of the base station in the address field. By default, this address is http://192.168.2.1. However, you can change this address in the Base Station Management Tool.

2. To log on, type the default base station password, admin.

Step 3: Establish the Base Station Password

Access to the Base Station Management Tool is password protected to help ensure that only users who know the base station password can change your network configuration. You can use the default password, admin, to access the base station the first time. You should, however, create a new password at the earliest opportunity.

Note It is a good idea to change your password every two to three months, or more

frequently if you are concerned that an unauthorized person has administrative access to the base station.

1. From the Home page of the Base Station Management Tool, click Management, and then click Change Password.

2. In the Current password box, type your current password.

3. In the New password box, type a new password. Use a minimum of 3 characters,

but no more than 16 characters. The base station password is case sensitive.

20 Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide

4. In the Confirm new password box, retype the new password.

5. To save the new password, click Apply.

Be sure to store your password in a safe place. If you forget or misplace your password and cannot log on to the Base Station Management Tool, you can restore the base station to the factory default settings from the base station itself, and then use the default password admin to open the Base Station Management Tool. For more information about restoring factory default settings to the base station, see Chapter 1, “Introduction.”

Step 4: Establish Your Internet Settings

On the Wide Area Network page of the Base Station Management Tool, you must specify whether you have a dynamic, static or Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) Internet connection. Depending upon the type of Internet connection you have and your ISP account, you will be required to specify additional Internet settings information, such as your host name, subnet mask, or domain name server (DNS) address. This information is typically provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

If you need assistance determining your Internet settings, see Appendix A, “Locating Your Internet and Network Settings.”

1. From the Base Station Management Tool, click Wide Area Network. On the Wide Area Network page, under Internet Connection Type, select the type of Internet

connection provided by your ISP.

2. Enter the information required for your specific Internet connection type.

If you selected Dynamic, under Dynamic Connection, specify a host name if your ISP requires it. Specify the DNS primary and secondary addresses, if your ISP provided you with this information. If you are replacing an existing base station, router, or gateway with the Microsoft base station, specify the media access control (MAC) address of that device in the MAC Address box, and then click Clone MAC Address. Otherwise, specify the MAC address of the adapter that was connected to the modem in the MAC Address box, and then click Clone MAC Address. For information about MAC addresses, see Broadband Network Utility Help.

If you selected Static, under Static Connection, type the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway IP address, and DNS addresses provided by your ISP.

If you selected PPPoE, under Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE), type your user name and password, the service name if your ISP provided it, and the maximum idle time, if your ISP instructed you to do so. You will be disconnected from the Internet if the time that you specify elapses without activity. Select the Auto-reconnect check box to reestablish the connection automatically after a disconnect.

3. To save the wide area network (WAN) settings you have entered, click Apply.

Chapter 3: Custom Setup 21

Step 5: Establish Your Wireless Settings

The wireless settings of all the devices on your network must match the wireless settings you provide for the base station. Be sure to note the settings you enter on this page so you can establish the same settings when you configure wireless adapters or other network devices.

1. From the Base Station Management Tool menu, click Wireless.

2. Type the wireless network name in the Wireless network name (SSID) box. The

wireless network name, also known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID), identifies your network. The network name is case sensitive and cannot exceed 32 characters.

3. From the Wireless mode drop-down list box, select the wireless mode for your network.

Select g performance (fastest) if all of your network devices use the IEEE

802.11g protocol.

Select mixed b compatible (fast) if all of your network devices use either IEEE

802.11g or IEEE 802.11b protocol.

Select disabled only when you want to turn off your base station radio. If you select this option, none of the wireless devices on your network will be able to communicate with the base station.

4. To apply these wireless settings, click Apply.

Step 6: Establish Your Wireless Security Settings

The base station uses Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access™ (WPA) to help prevent unauthorized users from joining your network or accessing data that is being transmitted over the network. You cannot enable both types of wireless security; you must choose to enable either WEP or WPA.

To use WPA, all the computers on your network must be running Windows XP with Service Pack 1 and the WPA Support Patch installed. Computers that do not meet these system requirements will not be able to connect to your network. For more information about enabling WPA on your base station, see Broadband Network Utility Help.

The following procedure describes how to enable 128-bit WEP encryption. Any computer that meets the system requirements for Microsoft Broadband Networking products can use WEP.

1. From the Base Station Management Tool Security menu, click Wireless Security.

2. In the Encryption strength drop-down list, select 128-bit WEP (strong).

3. Type a WEP key in the WEP Key box. For 128-bit encryption, the WEP key must be

26 characters in length. WEP keys can contain numbers and the letters A through F.

4. To enable your wireless security settings, click Apply.

Note The wireless security settings of all the devices on your network must match the

wireless security settings you provide for the base station. Be sure to note the settings you enter on this page so you can establish the same settings when you configure wireless adapters or other network devices.

22 Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Kit User’s Guide

Step 7: Customize Network Settings

You can customize network settings from the Base Station Management Tool. For example, you can perform the following tasks:

Block or permit specific Web sites or Web content by using parental controls.

Establish a Web or mail server on your network by using persistent port forwarding.

Control access to your network by using MAC filtering.

Control what computers on your network can access the Internet by using client filtering.

Map ports for specific Internet games by using application-triggered port forwarding.

For information about these options, consult Broadband Network Utility Help or the MN-700: Base Station Configuration Guide. You can find this guide on the Setup CD that came with your network products.

Step 8: Configure Your Computer

When you set up the base station by using the Base Station Management Tool, you must configure the TCP/IP properties of each computer that you connect to your network. If you are using a Microsoft adapter, the correct settings are established automatically when you run the Setup Wizard. If you are using a non-Microsoft adapter, or if you do not want to run the Setup Wizard, you can configure the TCP/IP properties from Windows.

In general, you should configure the computer to use the TCP/IP protocol and to obtain an IP address automatically. However, if you disable the DHCP server on the base station or if you want one or more of your networked computers to use a static IP address, you must configure the computer to use a static IP address. For information about how to establish a static IP address for a computer on your network, see Broadband Network Utility Help.

Note The TCP/IP properties you set are stored on the adapter connected to your networked computer. If you change adapters, you must reconfigure these settings for the computer.

To configure the TCP/IP properties of a computer running Windows 98, Windows 2000, or Windows Me operating system

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click the Network icon.

3. In the Configuration dialog box, select the TCP/IP protocol line that is associated

with your network adapter.

4. Click the Properties button, click the IP Address tab, and then select Obtain an IP address automatically.

5. Click the Gateway tab and make sure that all fields are empty, and then click OK. When the Network Properties dialog box appears, click OK again.

6. If you are prompted to supply the original Windows installation files, insert your

Windows CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then browse to the location of your CD-ROM drive.

7. When you are prompted to restart your computer, click OK.

Chapter 3: Custom Setup 23

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