NETGEAR WG302NA User Manual
Reference Manual for the
NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless
Access Point 802.11g WG302
NETGEAR, Inc.
4500 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA
Phone 1-888-NETGEAR
202-10008-03
July 2005
July 2005 v3.0
Technical Support
Please register to obtain technical support. Please retain your proof of purchase and warranty
information.
To register your product, get product support or obtain product information and product
documentation, go to http://www.NETGEAR.com
. If you do not have access to the World Wide
Web, you may register your product by filling out the registration card and mailing it to
NETGEAR customer service.
You will find technical support information at:
http://www.NETGEAR.com/
through the customer service area. If you want to contact technical
support by telephone, see the support information card for the correct telephone number for your
country.
© 2005 by NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
Trademarks
NETGEAR is a registered trademark of NETGEAR, INC. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft
Corporation. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
holders. Information is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved.
Statement of Conditions
In the interest of improving internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the
right to make changes to the products described in this document without notice. NETGEAR does not
assume any liability that may occur due to the use or application of the product(s) or circuit layout(s)
described herein.
Modifications made to the product, unless expressly approved by Netgear, could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment. NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur due to such condition.
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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Compliance Notice: Radio Frequency Notice
NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point
Tested to Comply
with FCC Standards
FCC ID: PY3WG302
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Placement and Range Guidelines
Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11 wireless networks at a maximum range of 500 feet (152.4 m)
for 802.11b devices. However, the operating distance or range of your wireless connection can vary
significantly, based on the physical placement of the wireless access point.
For best results, identify a location for your wireless access point according to these guidelines:
• Away from potential sources of interference , such as PCs, large metal surfaces, microwaves, and 2.4 GHz cordless
phones.
• In an elevated location such as a high shelf that is near the center of the wireless coverage area for all mobile
devices.
Failure to follow these guidelines can result in significant performance degradation or inability to wirelessly
connect to the wireless access point.
To meet FCC and other nat ional safety guideli nes for RF ex posure, the antennas fo r this device must be
installed to ensure a minimum separation distance of 20cm (7.9 in.) from persons. Further, the antennas shall
not be colocated with other transmitting structures.
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE
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iii
FCC Statement
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
We Netgear,
4500 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95054, USA
Tel: +1 408 907 8000
declare under our sole responsibility that the product(s)
WG302 (Model Designation)
802.11g Pr oSafe Wireless Access Point (Product Name)
complies with Part 15 of FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try and correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
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• Reorient or locate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
RF Exposure Warning for North America, and Australia
Warning! To meet FCC and other national safety guidelines for RF exposure, the antennas for this device
(see below) must be installed to ensure a minimum separation distance of 20cm (7.9 in.) from persons.
Further, the antennas shall not be colocated with other antenna or radio transmitter.
Antenna Statement for North America and Australia
In addition to its own 2 antennas, the WG302 device has been approved for use with the following
detachable antennas and antenna cables:
Approved
Antennas
NETGEAR
ANT24D18
NETGEAR
ANT2409
NETGEAR
ANT24O5
Antenna Gain and
type
18 dBi, directional
outdoor/indoor
9 dBi, omnidirectional
outdoor/indoor
5 dBi, ceiling/wall
indoor
Approved Antenna
Cable
NETGEAR
ACC-10314-01 thru 05
NETGEAR
ACC-10314-01 thru 05
NETGEAR
ACC-10314-01 thru 05
Antenna Cable
Length
1.5 m to 30 m 19 dBm + 18 dBi ant.
1.5 m to 30 m 19 dBm + 9 dBi ant.
1.5 m to 30 m 19 dBm + 5 dBi ant.
Maximum
Transmit ted Power
* WG302 maximum radiated power in North America and Australia: 20 dBm – cable loss + antenna gain
Please go to www.netgear.com/go/wg302_fcc for an updated list of wireless accessories approved to be used
with the WG302 in North America and Australia.
Industry Canada Compliance Statement
This Class B Digital apparatus meets all the requirements of the Canadian Interference Causing Equipment
Regulations ICES 003.
Cet appareil numerique de classe B respecte les exigences du reglement du Canada sur le materiel brouilleur
NMB-003.
The device is certified to the requirements of RSS-210 for 2.4 GHz spread spectrum devices. The use of this
device in a system operating either partially or completely outdoors may require the user to obtain a license
July 2005 v3.0
v
for the system according to the Canadian regulations. For further information, contact your local Industry
Canada office.
Product and Publication Details
Model Number: WG302
Publication Date: July 2005
Product Family: wireless access point
Product Name: NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302
Home or Business Product: Business
Language: English
Publication Part Number: 202-10008-03
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Contents
Chapter 1
About This Manual
Audience, Scope, Conventions, and Formats ................................................................1-1
How to Use This Manual ................................................................................................1-2
How to Print this Manual .................................................................................................1-3
Chapter 2
Introduction
About the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302 ........................2-1
Key Features ..................................................................................................................2-2
AutoCell—The Self-Organizing Wireless Network ...................................................2-3
802.11g Standards-based Wireless Networking ......................................................2-4
Autosensing Ethernet Connections with Auto Uplink ...............................................2-4
Compatible and Related NETGEAR Products ................................................................2-5
System Requirements ....................................................................................................2-5
What’s In the Box? .........................................................................................................2-6
Hardware Description .....................................................................................................2-6
Chapter 3
Basic Installation and Configuration
Observing Placement and Range Guidelines ..................... ................ ................ ............3-1
Cabling Requirements ..............................................................................................3-2
Default Factory Settings ...........................................................................................3-3
Understanding WG302 Wireless Security Options ................................. ........................ 3-4
Installing the WG302 Access Point ................................................................................3-5
How to Log In to the WG302 Using Its Default IP Address ..........................................3-11
Using the Basic IP Settings Options .............................................................................3-11
Understanding Basic Wireless Settings .............................. .......................... ................3-13
Understanding WEP/WPA Security Options .................................................................3-15
Before You Change the SSID and WEP Settings ..................................................3-18
How to Set Up and Test Basic Wireless Connectivity ............................................3-19
How to Restrict Wireless Access by MAC Address ...............................................3-20
How to Configure WEP ..........................................................................................3-21
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How to Configure WPA with Radius .......................................................................3-22
How to Configure WPA-PSK ..................................................................................3-25
How to Configure WPA2 with Radius .....................................................................3-26
How to Configure WPA2-PSK ................................................................................3-28
How to Configure WPA and WPA2 with Radius .....................................................3-29
How to Configure WPA2-PSK and WPA2-PSK ......................................................3-32
Chapter 4
Management
Remote Management .....................................................................................................4-1
Using the Secure Telnet Interface ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ..4-2
How to Use the CLI via the Console Port .................................................................4-2
CLI Commands ........................................................................................................4-3
Using Syslog and Activity Log Information .....................................................................4-4
Viewing General, Log, Station, and Statistical Information .............................................4-5
Statistics ................................................................. .................................................. 4-7
Viewing a List of Available Wireless Stations .................................................................4-8
Detecting a Rogue Access Point ....................................................................................4-9
Upgrading the Wireless Access Point Software ...........................................................4-10
Configuration File Management ...................................................................................4-11
Saving and Retrieving the Configuration ................................................................4-11
Restoring the WG302 to the Factory Default Settings ........................................... 4-12
Using the Reset Button to Restore Factory Default Settings .................................4-12
Changing the Administrator Password ......................... ....................................... ... 4-12
Chapter 5
Advanced Configuration
Understanding Advanced IP Settings for Wireless Clients ........... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ..5-1
Understanding Advanced Wireless Settings ..................................................................5-2
AutoCell RF Management ..... .... ... ... .......................................... ... .... ........................5-2
Configuration .....................................................................................................5-3
AutoCell AP/Client Interaction ...................................... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ..5-4
Additional AutoCell View Management Options ........................ ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ..5-5
Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) Setup ...............................................................................5-5
Configuring Wireless LAN Parameters ....................................................................5-6
Hotspot Settings .............................................................................................................5-7
Enabling Wireless Bridging and Repeating ....................................................................5-8
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How to Configure a WG302 as a Point-to-Point Bridge ...........................................5-9
How to Configure Multi-Point Wireless Bridging ....................................................5-10
How to Configure Wireless Repeating ...................................................................5-11
Chapter 6
Troubleshooting
No lights are lit on the access point. ...................................... ......................................... 6-1
The Wireless LAN activity light does not light up. ...........................................................6-2
The LAN light is not lit. ....................................................................................................6-2
I cannot access the Internet or the LAN with a wireless capable computer. .................6-2
I cannot connect to the WG302 to configure it. ......................... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ..6-3
When I enter a URL or IP address I get a timeout error. ................................................6-3
Using the Reset Button to Restore Factory Default Settings . .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ..6-4
Appendix A
Specifications
Specifications for the WG302 ........................................................................................ A-1
Appendix B
Wireless Networking Basics
Wireless Networking Overview .............................. ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... .............................. B -1
Infrastructure Mode ................................................................................................. B-1
Ad Hoc Mode (Peer-to-Peer Workgroup) ............................... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... . B-2
Network Name: Extended Service Set Identification (ESSID) ................................ B-2
Authentication and WEP Data Encryption .......................................... .... ... ... ... ... ........... B-2
802.11 Authentication .............................................................................................. B-3
Open System Authentication .............................. .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ....................... B-3
Shared Key Authentication ...................................................................................... B-4
Overview of WEP Parameters ................................................................................ B-5
Key Size .................................................................................................................. B-6
WEP Configuration Options ................... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... .................................... B-7
Wireless Channels ....................... .... ... ... ... ..................................................................... B-7
WPA and WPA2 Wireless Security ................................................................................ B-8
How Does WPA Compare to WEP? ........................................................................ B-9
How Does WPA Compare to WPA2 (IEEE 802.11i)? ............................................ B-10
What are the Key Features of WPA and WPA2 Security? ........................ ... .... ... .. B-10
WPA/WPA2 Authentication: Enterprise-level User
Authentication via 802.1x/EAP and RADIUS .................................................. B-12
WPA/WPA2 Data Encryption Key Management ............................................. B-14
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Is WPA/WPA2 Perfect? ................................ ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ............................ B-16
Product Support for WPA/WPA2 ........................................................................... B-16
Supporting a Mixture of WPA, WPA2, and WEP Wireless Clients is Discouraged B-16
Changes to Wireless Access Points ............................................................... B-17
Changes to Wireless Network Adapters ......................................................... B-17
Changes to Wireless Client Programs .......................... ......................... ......... B-18
Appendix C
Command Line Reference
Command Sets ..............................................................................................................C-1
Glossary
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Chapter 1
About This Manual
This chapter describes the intended audience, scope, conventions, and formats of this manual.
Audience, Scope, Conventions, and Formats
This reference manual assumes that the reader has basic to intermediate computer and Internet
skills. However, basic computer network, Internet, firewall, and VPN technologies tutorial
information is provided in the Appendices and on the Netgear website.
This guide uses the following typographical conventions:
Table 1-1. Typographical Conventions
italics Emphasis, books, CDs, URL names
bold User input
fixed Screen text, file and server names, extensions, commands, IP addresses
This guide uses the following formats to highlight special messages:
Note: This format is used to highlight information of importance or special interest.
This manual is written for the WG302 Access Point according to these specifications:
Table 1-2. Manual Scope
Product Version NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302
Manual Publication Date July 2005
Note: Product updates are available on the NETGEAR, Inc. Web site at
http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/WG302.asp.
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Reference Manual for the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302
How to Use This Manual
The HTML version of this manual includes the following:
• Buttons, and , for browsing forwards or backwards through the manual one page
at a time
• A button that displays the table of contents and an button. Double-click on a
link in the table of contents or index to navigate directly to where the topic is described in the
manual.
• A button to access the full NETGEAR, Inc. online knowledge base for the
product model.
• Links to PDF versions of the full manual and individual chapters.
1-2 About This Manual
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Reference Manual for the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302
How to Print this Manual
To print this manual you can choose one of the following several options, according to your needs.
• Printing a Page in the HTML View.
Each page in the HTML version of the manual is dedicated to a major topic. Use the Print
button on the browser toolbar to print the page contents.
• Printing a Chapter.
Use the PDF of This Chapter link at the top left of any page.
– Click the PDF of This Chapter link at the top right of any page in the chapter you want to
print. The PDF version of the chapter you were viewing opens in a browser window.
Note: Your computer must have the free Adobe Acrobat reader installed in order to view
and print PDF files. The Acrobat reader is available on the Adobe Web site at
http://www.adobe.com.
– Click the print icon in the upper left of the window.
Tip: If your printer supports printing two pages on a single sheet of paper, you can save
paper and printer ink by selecting this feature.
• Printing the Full Manual.
Use the Complete PDF Manua l link at the top left of any page.
– Click the Complete PDF Manual link at the top left of any page in the manual. The PDF
version of the complete manual opens in a browser window.
– Click the print icon in the upper left of the window.
Tip: If your printer supports printing two pages on a single sheet of paper, you can save
paper and printer ink by selecting this feature.
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1-4 About This Manual
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Chapter 2
Introduction
This chapter introduces the NETGEAR NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g
WG302. Minimal prerequisites for installation are presented in “System Requirements” on
page 2-5.
About the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.1 1g WG302
The NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302 is the basic building block of a
wireless LAN infrastructure. It provides connectivity between Ethernet wired networks and
radio-equipped wireless notebook systems, desktop systems, print servers, and other devices.
The WG302 provides wireless connectivity to multiple wireless network devices within a fixed
range or area of coverage, interacting with a wireless network interface card (NIC) via an antenna.
T ypically, an individual in-building access point provides a maximum connectivity area with about
a 300 foot radius. The NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302 can support a
small group of users in a range of several hundred feet. Most access points are rated between 30-70
users simultaneously.
The NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302 acts as a bridge between the
wired LAN and wireless clients. Connecting multiple WG302 Access Points via a wired Ethernet
backbone can further lengthen the wireless network coverage. As a mobile computing device
moves out of the range of one access point, it moves into the range of another. As a result, wireless
clients can freely roam from one Access Point to another and still maintain seamless connection to
the network.
The auto-sensing capability of the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302
allows packet transmission at up to 108 Mbps, or at reduced speeds to compensate for distance or
electromagnetic interference.
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Key Features
The WG302 Access Point is easy-to-use and provides solid wireless and networking support.
Supported Standards and Conventions
The following standards and conventions are supported:
• Standards Compliant. The Wireless Access Point complies with the IEEE 802.11g for
Wireless LANs.
• WEP support. Support for WEP is included. 64-bit, 128-bit, and 152-bit keys are supported.
• Full WPA and WPA2 support. WPA and WPA2 enterprise class strong security with
RADIUS and certificate authentication as well as dynamic encryption key generation.
WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK pre-shared key authentication without the overhead of RADIUS
servers but with all of the strong security of WPA.
• DHCP Client Support. DHCP provides a dynamic IP address to PCs and other devices upon
request. The WG302 can act as a client and obtain information from your DHPC server.
• SNMP Support. Support for Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Management
Information Base (MIB) management.
Key Features
The NETGEAR WG302 provides solid functionality, including these features:
• AutoCell RF Management. AutoCell provides advanced automated RF management that
improves performance and enhances security.
• Multiple Operating Modes
– Wireless Access Point. Operates as a standard 802.11g.
– Point-to-Point Bridge. In this mode, the WG302 only communicates with another
bridge-mode wireless station. You must enter the MAC address (physical address) of the
other bridge-mode wireless station in the field provided. WEP should be used to protect
this communication.
– Point-to-Multi-Point Bridge. Select this only if this WG302 is the “Master” for a group
of bridge-mode wireless stations. The other bridge-mode wireless stations must be set to
Point-to-Point Bridge mode, using this WG302's MAC address. They then send all traffic
to this “Master”, rather than communicate directly with each other . WEP should be used to
protect this traffic.
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– Wireless Repeater. In this half-duplex mode, the WG302 only communicates with
another repeater-mode wireless station. You must enter the MAC address of both adjacent
repeater-mode wireless stations in the fields provided. WEP should be used to protect this
communication.
• Wireless Multimedia (WMM) support. WMM is a subset of the 802.11e standard. WMM
allows wireless traffic to have a range of priorities, depending on the kind of data.
Time-dependent information such as video or audio will have a higher priority than normal
traffic. For WMM to function correctly, wireless clients must also support WMM.
• Rogue Access Point detection. For enhanced security, you can scan the wireless network to
detect rogue access points.
• Hotspot settings. You can allow all HTTP (TCP, port 80) requests to be captured and
re-directed to the URL you specify.
• Upgradeable Firmware. Firmware is stored in a flash memory and can be upgraded easily,
using only your Web browser, and can be upgraded remotely.
• Access Control. The Access Control MAC address filtering feature can ensure that only
trusted wireless stations can use the WG302 to gain access to your LAN.
• Simple Configuration. If the default settings are unsuitable, they are easy to change.
• Hidden Mode. The SSID is not broadcast, assuring only clients configured with the correct
SSID can connect.
• Secure Telnet Command Line Interface. The Telnet command line interface enables direct
access over the serial port and easy scripting of configuration of multiple WG302 across an
extensive network via the Ethernet interface. An SSH client is required.
• Configuration Backup. Configuration settings can be backed up to a file and restored.
• Secure and Economical Operation. Adjustable power output allows more secure or
economical operation.
• Power over Ethernet. Power can be supplied to the WG302 over the Ethernet port from any
802.3af compliant mid-span or end-span source such as the NETGEAR FSM7326P Managed
Power over Ethernet Layer 3 managed switch.
• Autosensing Ethernet Connection with
IEEE 802.3 Ethernet networks.
• LED Indicators. Power, test, LAN speed, LAN activity, and wirele ss activity are easily
identified.
Auto Uplink Interface. Connects to 10/100 Mbps
AutoCell—The Self-Organizing Wireless Network
AutoCellTM, an embedded control system for 802.11 WLANs. AutoCell increases available
bandwidth and reduces WLAN installation and operating costs significantly.
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AutoCell is completely automatic: It is a continuous communication system that relies on a
lightweight protocol to monitor changes on the wireless domain while keeping overhead very low.
Among AutoCell's inherent advantages:
• Elimination of manual site surveys and channel maps
• Dynamic load balancing
• Plug-and-play-implementation
• Transparent fault recovery and failover
Since AutoCell is completely self-organizing, it holds human intervention to a minimum. That
reduces the people costs associated with deployment, management, and maintenance—making
802.11 WLANs practical, efficient, and cost-effective.
802.11g Standards-based Wireless Networking
The NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302 provides a bridge between
Ethernet wired LANs and 802.11g compatible wireless LAN networks. It provides connectivity
between Ethernet wired networks and radio-equipped wireless notebook systems, desktop
systems, print servers, and other devices. Additionally , the WG302 supports the following wireless
features:
• Distributed coordinated function (CSMA/CA, Back off procedure, ACK procedure,
retransmission of unacknowledged frames)
• RTS/CTS handshake
• Beacon generation
• Packet fragmentation and reassembly
• Short or long preamble
• Roaming among access points on the same subnet
Autosensing Ethernet Connections with Auto Uplink
The WG302 can connect to a standard Ethernet network. The LAN interface is autosensing and
capable of full-duplex or half-duplex operation.
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Reference Manual for the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302
The wireless access point incorporates Auto UplinkTM technology. The Ethernet port will
automatically sense whether the Ethernet cable plugged into the port should have a ‘normal’
connection such as to a computer or an ‘uplink’ connection such as to a switch or hub. That port
will then configure itself to the correct configuration. This feature also eliminates any concerns
about crossover cables, as Auto Uplink will accommodate either type of cable to make the right
connection.
Compatible and Related NETGEAR Products
For a list of compatible products from other manufacturers, see the Wireless Ethernet
Compatibility Alliance Web site (WECA, see http://www.wi-fi.net).
The following NETGEAR products work with the WG302 Access Point:
• WAG511 ProSafe 108 Mbps Dual Band PC Card
• WAG311 ProSafe 108 Mbps Dual Band PCI Card
• WG311T 802.11g 108 Mbps Wireless PCI Card
• WG511T 802.11g 108 Mbps Wireless CardBus Adapter
• WG511 802.11g 54 Mbps Wireless CardBus Adapter
• WG111 801.11g 54 Mbps Wireless Bridge
System Requirements
Before installing the WG302, make sure your system meets these requirements:
• A 10/100 Mbps Local Area Network device such as a hub or switch
• The Category 5 UTP straight through Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connector included in the
package, or one like it
• A 100-240 V, 50-60 HZ AC power source
• A Web browser for configuration such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or above, or
Netscape Navigator 4.78 or above
• At least one computer with the TCP/IP protocol installed
• 802.11b or 802.11b-compliant devices, such as the NETGEAR WG511 Wireless Adapter
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What’s In the Box?
The product package should contain the following items:
• NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302
• Power adapter and cord (12 V dc, 1.2 A)
• Straight through Category 5 Ethernet cable
• WG302 802.11g ProSafe Wireless Access Point Installation Guide
• Resource CD for the NETGEAR WG302 ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Access Point which
includes this manual.
• Support Registration card
Contact your reseller or customer support in your area if there are any missing or damaged parts.
You can refer to the Support Information Card for the telephone number of customer support in
your area. You should keep the Support Information card, along with the original packing
materials, and use the packing materials to repack the WG302 if you need to return it for repair. T o
qualify for product updates and product warranty registrations, we encourage you to register on the
NETGEAR Web site at: http://www.NETGEAR.com.
Hardware Description
The WG302 front and rear hardware functions are described below.
Figure 2-1: WG302 front panel
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The following table explains the LED indicators:
LED DESCRIPTION
PWR Power Indicator
Off No power.
On Power is on.
TEST Self Test Indicator
Blink Indicates self test, loading software, or system fault (if continues).
Note: This LED may blink for a minute before going off.
100 Ethernet LAN Speed Indicator
Off Indicates 10 Mbps Ethernet link detected
Green On 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet link detected.
LINK/ACT LAN Ethernet LAN Link Activity Indicator
Off Indicates no Ethernet link detected.
Green On 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet link detected, no activity.
Green Blink Indicates data traffic on the 100Mbps Ethernet LAN.
Amber 0n 10 Mbps Ethernet link detected, no activity.
Amber Blink Indicates data traffic on the 10Mbps Ethernet LAN.
802.11g WLAN Wireless LAN Link Activity Indicator
Off Indicates no wireless link activity.
Green Blink Wireless link activity.
Figure 2-2: WG302 rear panel
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• Left and Right Detachable Antenna
The WG302 provides two detachable antenna.
• Restore to Factory Defaults Button
The restore to default button located between the Ethernet RJ-45 connector and the power
socket restores the WG302 to the factory default settings.
• Serial Console Port
Male DB-9 serial port for serial DTE connections.
• RJ-45 Ethernet Port
Use the WG302 Ethernet RJ-45 port to connect to an Ethernet LAN through a device such as a
hub, switch, router, or POE switch.
• Power Socket
This socket connects to the WG302 12V 1.2A power adapter.
2-8 Introduction
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Chapter 3
Basic Installation and Configuration
This chapter describes how to set up your NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g
WG302 for wireless connectivity to your LAN. This basic configuration will enable computers
with 802.11b or 802.11g wireless adapters to do such things as connect to the Internet, or access
printers and files on your LAN.
Note: Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11g wireless networks at ranges
of several hundred feet or more. This distance can allow for others outside your area
to access your network. It is important to take appropriate steps to secure your network
from unauthorized access. The WG302 Access Point provides highly effective security
features which are covered in detail in “Understanding WEP/WP A Security Options” on
page 3-15. Deploy the security features appropriate to your needs.
You need to prepare these three things before you can establish a connection through your wireless
access point:
• A location for the WG302 that conforms to the Observing Placement and Range Guidelines
below.
• The wireless access point connected to your LAN through a device such as a hub, switch,
router, or Cable/DSL gateway.
• One or more computers with properly configured 802.11b or 802.11g wireless adapters.
Observing Placement and Range Guidelines
The operating distance or range of your wireless connection can vary significantly bas ed on the
physical placement of the wireless access point. The latency, data throughput performance, and
notebook power consumption of wireless adapters also vary depending on your configuration
choices.
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Note: Failure to follow these guidelines can result in significant performance
degradation or inability to wirelessly connect to the WG302. For complete performance
specifications, see Appendix A, “Specifications”.
For best results, place your wireless access point:
• Near the center of the area in which your PCs will operate.
• In an elevated location such as a high shelf where the wirelessly connected PCs have
line-of-sight access (even if through walls).
• Away from sources of interference, such as PCs, microwaves, and 2.4 GHz cordless phones.
• Away from large metal surfaces.
• Putting the antenna in a vertical position provides best side-to-side coverage. Putting the
antenna in a horizontal position provides best up-and-down coverage.
• If using multiple access points, it is better if adjacent access points use different
radio frequency
Channels to reduce interference. The recommended Channel spacing between adjacent access
points is 5 Channels (for example, use Channels 1 and 6, or 6 and 11).
The time it takes to establish a wireless connection can vary depending on both your security
settings and placement. WEP connections can take slightly longer to establish. Also, WEP
encryption can consume more battery power on a notebook computer.
Cabling Requirements
The WG302 Access Point connects to your LAN via twisted-pair Category 5 Ethernet cable with
RJ-45 connectors.
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Default Factory Settings
When you first receive your WG302, the default factory settings will be set as shown below. You
can restore these defaults with the Factory Default Restore switch on the rear panel — see
“WG302 front panel” on page 2-6.
FEATURE FACTORY DEFAULT SETTINGS
User Name (case sensitive) admin
Password (case sensitive) password
Operating Mode Access Point
Access Point Name netgearxxxxxx where xxxxxx are the last six
digits of the wireless access point's MAC address
Built-in DHCP client
Built-in DHCP server
IP Configuration
(if DHCP server is unavailable)
Network Name (SSID) NETGEAR
Broadcast Network Name (SSID) Enabled
802.11g Radio Frequency Channel 11
AutoCell RF Management
AutoCell Enhanced RF Security ‘stealth’ mode
WEP/WPA Disabled
Restricting connectivity based on MAC Access
Control List
Spanning Tree Protocol Enabled
Time Zone GMT
Time Zone Adjust for Daylight Saving TIme Disabled
SNMP Enabled but Trap forwarding is disabled
Secure Telnet Enabled
SugerG Mode Disabled
WMM Mode Disabled
DHCP client disabled
DHCP server disabled
IP Address: 192.168.0.228
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 0.0.0.0
Enabled
Disabled
Disabled
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Understanding WG302 Wireless Security Options
Your wireless data transmissions can be received well beyond your walls by anyone with a
compatible adapter. For this reason, use the security features of your wireless equipment. The
WG302 Access Point provides highly effective security features which are covered in detail in this
chapter. Deploy the security features appropriate to your needs.
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Figure 3-1: WG302 wireless data security options
There are several ways you can enhance the security of your wireless network:
• Restrict Access Based on MAC address. You can restrict access to only trusted PCs so that
unknown PCs cannot wirelessly connect to the WG302. MAC address filtering adds an
obstacle against unwanted access to your network, but the data broadcast over the wireless link
is fully exposed.
• Turn Off the Broadcast of the Wireless Network Name (SSID). If you disable broadcast of
the SSID, only devices that have the correct SSID can connect. This nullifies the wireless
network ‘discovery’ feature of some products such as Windows XP, but the data is still fully
exposed to a determined snoop using specialized test equipment like wireless sniffers.
• Use WEP. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption provides data security. WEP
Shared Key authentication and WEP data encryption will block all but the most determined
eavesdropper.
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• Use WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, or WPA2-PSK. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2)
data encryption provides data security . The very strong authentication along with dyn amic per
frame rekeying of WPA make it virtually impossible to compromise. Because this is a new
standard, wireless device driver and software availability may be limited.
• Use AutoCell Enhanced RF Security ‘Stealth Mode.’ In addition to standard encryption and
security mechanisms such as WEP and WP A, the WG302 A utoCell feature provides
self-organizing micro cells for an additional level of privacy for enterprises. In this mode,
AutoCell shrinks the size of coverage to the minimum to reach clients but also shrinks the size
of the beacons that access points use to announce their presence. This mode makes an
enterprise wireless LAN nearly invisible to users outside an office building. AutoCell clients
such as the NETGEAR WAG511 are highly-recommended for Enhanced RF Security.
Installing the WG302 Access Point
Before installing the NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Access Point 802.11g WG302, you should
make sure that your Ethernet network is up and working. You will be connecting the access point
to the Ethernet network so that computers with 802.11b or 802.11g wireless adapters will be able
to communicate with computers on the Ethernet network. In order for this to work correctly , verify
that you have met all of the system requirements, shown on page 2-5.
1SET UP THE WG302 ACCESS POINT
Tip: Before mounting the WG302 in a high location, first set up and test the WG302 to verify
wireless network connectivity.
a. Prepare a computer with an Ethernet adapter. If this computer is already part of your
network, record its TCP/IP configuration settings.
b. Configure the computer with a static IP address of 192.168.0.210 and 255.255.255.0 for
the Subnet Mask.
c. Connect an Ethernet cable from the WG302 to the computer.
d. Turn on your computer, connect the power adapter to the WG302 and verify the following:
– The PWR power light goes on.
– The LAN light of the wireless access point is lit when connected to a powered on
computer.
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2CONFIGURE LAN AND WIRELESS ACCESS
a. Configure the WG302 Ethernet port for LAN access.
• Connect to the WG302 by opening your browser and en tering http://192.168.0.228 in
the address field. A login window like the one shown below opens:
Figure 3-2: Login window
• When prompted, enter admin for the user name and password for the password, both
in lower case letters.
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• The Web browser will then display the WG302 settings page.
Figure 3-3: Login result: WG302 home page
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– When the wireless access point is connected to the Internet, click the Knowledge
Base or the Documentation link under the Web Support menu to view support
information or the documentation for the wireless access point.
– If you do not click Logout, the wireless access point will wait 5 minutes after
there is no activity before it automatically logs you out.
• Click the Basic Settings link to view the Basic Settings menu.
Figure 3-4: Basic Settings menu
• Configure the settings appropriate for your network.
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