NETGEAR WGE101 User Manual

Table of Contents

1: Preparing to Install the WGE101 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Placement and Range Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Operating Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

WGE101 Default Wireless Configuration Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

2: Installing the WGE101 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Connecting the Bridge to a Single Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Connecting the Bridge to Multiple Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

3: Preparing to Configure the WGE101 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Identifying Your Wireless Network Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Connecting the Bridge to a Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Checking and Changing the Computer’s IP Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Changing the Bridge’s IP Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Using the NetBIOS Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

4: Configuring the WGE101 Bridge for Your Wireless Network . . . . . . . . . . .12

Changing the Country/Region Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Selecting a Specific Wireless Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Changing the Bridge’s Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Enabling WEP Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Upgrading the Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Configuring the Bridge for Ad Hoc Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Setting the Bridge’s Data Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

WGE101 Bridge Status Lights and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

WGE101 Bridge Status Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Restoring the Bridge to the Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

WGE101 Bridge Status Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

WGE101 Bridge System Requirements and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Preparing to Install the WGE101 Bridge

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing a NETGEAR WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge. With this bridge you can connect one or more gaming consoles, personal computers, printers, or other Ethernet-enabled devices to communicate with your network.

Note: If you have a wired network, you must have a wireless router or access point set up in the network. To connect more than one device to the bridge you must use switch or a hub.

This guide shows you how to connect the bridge and configure it for your network — whether to work with a wireless router or access point, or to work with other wireless devices. Setup is easy – follow the instructions in this guide and your network will be up and running quickly.

Package Contents

The product package should contain the following items:

• WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge

• Power adapter

• Ethernet cable

• WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge Resource CD, that includes this Reference

Manual for the Model WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge in Adobe®Acrobat

PDF file format

• Installation guide

• Warranty card

• Support information card

Power adapter

Resource CD for 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge, Installation guide, Support information card, Warranty card

100 Mbps Ethernet cable

WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge

System Requirements

Before installing the WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge, please make sure that these minimum requirements have been met:

• For connecting into a wired network, you must have the network set up and working with an access point or wireless router.

• For creating an Ad-Hoc network without an access point, all devices must have a receiver/transmitter. (The receiver/transmitter may be another WGE101 bridge.)

If the default settings on the bridge do not work, you will need to configure the bridge. Also, if you have more than one WGE101 in the network, only one can use the default IP address. Yo u’ll have to configure the others with unique IP addresses. To configure the bridge with the configuration software, you must have a personal computer with Internet browser software installed, such as Microsoft®Internet Explorer 5.0 (or later) or Netscape®6.0 (or later).

Placement and Range Guidelines

Computers and other Ethernet-enabled devices can connect over wireless networks indoors at more than 500 feet. However, the operating distance or range of your wireless connection can vary significantly based on the physical location of the WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge. For best results, avoid potential sources of interference, such as:

• Large metal surfaces

• Microwaves

• 2.4 GHz cordless phones

In general, wireless devices can communicate through walls. However, if the walls are constructed with concrete or have metal (or metal mesh), the effective range will decrease if such materials are between the wireless devices.

Operating Modes

The WGE101 Wireless Ethernet Bridge operates in either Infrastructure or Ad-Hoc mode.

• Infrastructure mode is used when you have an access point or wireless router connected to a wired network. The wireless devices and computers communicate with the wired network (and other wireless devices) through the wireless router or access point. For example, with a wireless router multiple computers (both wired and wireless) can share a single cable or DSL broadband Internet connection.

• You use the bridge in Ad-Hoc mode if you have a small, wireless-only network and all the devices have wireless transmitters/receivers. In this case, there’s no need for an access point or a wireless router for the wireless devices communicate directly to one another.

WGE101 Default Wireless Configuration Settings

Note: If you are setting up a new wireless network, please set up the network and make sure it works before adding the WGE101 Wireless Ethernet Bridge into the network.

You will need to identify the wireless configuration and security parameters already defined in your wireless network.

Note: All NETGEAR, Inc. 802.11g and 802.11b wireless access products use similar factory settings as the WGE101 and will work without any configuration changes.

The factory default settings for your WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge are:

• Mode (Infrastructure or Ad-Hoc): Infrastructure

• Wireless network name Service Set Identification (SSID): Any

Note: Any means the bridge will connect to the access point or wireless router that has the strongest signal. This may not be the closest access point or wireless router. For the WGE101 Wireless Ethernet Bridge to communicate with a specific wireless router or access point, both devices must be configured with the same SSID.

• User ID: admin

• Password: password

• Authentication type: Auto

• WEP security: Disabled

• Country/Region: United States

Warning: Having the bridge set to the wrong country or region may result in the violation of local laws.

WGE101-specific default settings:

• IP address: 192.168.0.201

• Protocol: Static

• Device name: netgearxxxx (where xxxx is the last 4 digits of the MAC address)

• Data rate: b/g combo

Installing the WGE101 Bridge

This section provides instructions for connecting the WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge, using the default settings, to either a single Ethernet-enabled device or to multiple devices through a switch or hub.

Note: If you find that the default settings don’t work, if you know that you’ve configured your wireless network with WEP security, if you’re placing more than one WGE101 bridge on the network, or if you are not in the United States, you’ll have to configure the bridge before connecting it to the Ethernet-enabled device(s). To configure the bridge, see Configuring the WGE101 Bridge for Your Wireless Network on page 12.

Connecting the Bridge to a Single Device

1. Unpack the box and verify the contents.

2. Identify a flat surface where you will put the wireless bridge. For best results, follow these guidelines:

• Place it away from potential sources of interference, such as computers, monitors,

TVs, microwaves, cordless phones, or large metal surfaces.

Warning: Failure to follow these guidelines can cause intermittent or complete failure of wireless connectivity.

• Place it in an elevated location such as a high shelf or on a wall in the center of

your wireless access area. If you mount the bridge on a wall, do not place the bridge in such a way that it is vertical with the NETGEAR name upside-down and the power adapter plug hanging from the bottom of the unit. Having the unit in this position violates power adapter regulations.

3. Lift the bridge’s antenna so it is vertical.

Internet

family

room

Macintosh computer with

WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge

Gaming console with

WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge

Cable/DSL modem

WGR814 54 Mbps Cable/DSL Wireless Router

Desktop PC with Ethernet connection

4. Turn off the gaming console or other Ethernet-enabled device.

5. Connect the provided Ethernet cable between the WGE101 Wireless Bridge and the gaming console or other Ethernet-enabled device.

6. Connect the power adapter to the bridge and plug the power adapter in to a power outlet. The Power and Wireless LAN lights should light up.

7. After you see the Wireless LAN light light up, turn on the gaming console or other Ethernet-enabled device.

If the bridge and the Ethernet-enabled device are successfully connected, the Network light will light up. This light flashes when there is network activity.

Note: If your setup works with the default settings, you don’t need to configure the bridge unless you need to change the Country/Region setting from the default setting (United States) or you need to assign a unique IP address to subsequent WGE101 bridges. See page 12 for information on configuring the bridge.

Connecting the Bridge to Multiple Devices

1. Unpack the box and verify the contents.

2. Identify a flat surface where you will put the wireless bridge. For best results, follow these guidelines:

• Place it away from potential sources of interference, such as computers, monitors,

TVs, microwaves, cordless phones, or large metal surfaces.

Warning: Failure to follow these guidelines can cause intermittent or complete failure of wireless connectivity.

• Place it in an elevated location such as a high shelf or on a wall in the center of

3. Lift the bridge’s antenna so it is vertical.

4. Turn off the gaming consoles or other Ethernet-enabled devices.

WGE101 54 Mbps

Wireless Ethernet Bridge

Gaming console or other Ethernet-enabled device

5. Connect the provided Ethernet cable between the WGE101 Wireless Bridge and the switch (or hub).

6. Connect each gaming console or other Ethernet-enabled device to the switch (or hub) using an Ethernet cable.

7. Connect the switch’s (or hub’s) power adapter and plug that power adapter in to a power outlet.

8. Connect the bridge’s power adapter and plug the power adapter in to a power outlet. The Power and Wireless LAN lights should light up.

9. After the Wireless LAN light lights up, turn on any gaming console(s).

10. After turning on any gaming consoles, turn on any other Ethernet-enabled device(s). If the bridge, switch, and the Ethernet-enabled devices are successfully connected, the

Network light will light up. This light flashes when there is network activity.

WGR614 54 Mpbs Wireless Router

Cable or DSL modem

WGE101 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge

Fast Ethernet Switch FS605

Ethernet-enabled computer

Gaming console or other Ethernet-enabled device

+ 18 hidden pages

NETGEAR WGE101 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual