Netgear orporated 06200051 Users Manual

NETGEAR Next 300 Mbp s
Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter
WN121T User Manual

NETGEAR, Inc.

4500 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA

202-10209-01
August 2006

Technical Support

For customer support see http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n10005.asp
NETGEAR, INC. Support Information
Phone: 1-888-NETGEAR, for US & Canada only. For other countries, see your support

information card.
E-mail: [e-mail]
North American NETGEAR website: http://www.netgear.com

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.

© 2006 NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, The Gear Guy and Everybody's Connecting are
trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or
other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
holders. Information is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved

Maximum Wireless Signal Rate Derived from IEEE Standard 802.11 Specifications

Actual data throughput will vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic,
building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate.

.

Safety and Regulatory Notices

FCC Statement

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 to correct the interference by
one of the following measures:

- Reorient or relocate 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
FCC Caution:
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's
authority to operate this equipment.

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, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation. 

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v1.0, August 2006

•This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
FCC Radiation Exposure Statement:
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This
equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator & your body.

Canadian Department of Communications Industry Canada (IC) Notice

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003 and RSS-210. Cet appareil numérique de la classe B
est conforme à la norme NMB-003 et CNR-210 du Canada.

“To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors and away from
windows to provide maximum shielding. Equipment (or its transmit antenna) that is installed outdoors is subject to
licensing.”

“Pour empêcher que cet appareil cause du brouillage au service faisant l’objet d’une licence, il doit être utilisé à
l’intérieur et devrait être placé loin des fenêtres afin de fournir un écran de blindage maximal. Si le matériel (ou son
antenne d’émission) est installé à l’extérieur, il doit faire l’objet d’une licence.”

Europe - EU Declaration of Conformity

A printed copy of the EU Declaration of Conformity certificate for this product is provided in the WN121T product
package.

Èesky
[Czech]

Dansk
[Danish]

Deutsch
[German]

Eesti
[Estonian]

NETGEAR, Inc. tímto prohlašuje, že tento NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0
Adapter WN121T

ustanoveními smìrnice 1999/5/ES.
Undertegnede

Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T

relevante krav i direktiv 1999/5/EF.
Hiermit erklärt

USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T

und den übrigen einschlägigen Bestimmungen der Richtlinie 1999/5/EG befindet.
Käesolevaga kinnitab

2.0 Adapter WN121T

tulenevatele teistele asjakohastele sätetele.

je ve shodì se základními požadavky a dalšími pøíslušnými

NETGEAR, Inc. erklærer herved, at følgende udstyr NETGEAR Next 300

overholder de væsentlige krav og øvrige

NETGEAR, Inc., dass sich das Gerät NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless

in Übereinstimmung mit den grundlegenden Anforderungen

NETGEAR, Inc. seadme NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB

vastavust direktiivi 1999/5/EÜ põhinõuetele ja nimetatud direktiivist

v1.0, August 2006

iii

English Hereby, NETGEAR, Inc., declares that this NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0

Adapter WN121T

provisions of Directive 1999/5/EC.

Español
[Spanish]

Ελληνική
[Greek]

Français
[French]

Italiano
[Italian]

Latviski
[Latvian]

Lietuviø
[Lithuanian]

Nederlands
[Dutch]

Malti
[Maltese]

Magyar
[Hungarian]

Polski [Polish] Niniejszym NETGEAR, Inc. oœwiadcza, ¿e NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB

Por medio de la presente NETGEAR, Inc. declara que el NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps

Wireless USB 2.0 Ad apter WN121T

otras disposiciones aplicables o exigibles de la Directiva 1999/5/CE.
ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΠΑΡΟΥΣΑ NETGEAR, Inc. ΔΗΛΩΝΕΙ ΟΤΙ NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps

Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T

ΑΠΑΙΤΗΣΕΙΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΙΣ ΛΟΙΠΕΣ ΣΧΕΤΙΚΕΣ ΔΙΑΤΑΞΕΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΔΗΓΙΑΣ 1999/5/ΕΚ.
Par la présente NETGEAR, Inc. déclare que l'appareil NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps

Wireless USB 2.0 Ad apter WN121T

autres dispositions pertinentes de la directive 1999/5/CE.
Con la presente NETGEAR, Inc. dichiara che questo NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps

Wireless USB 2.0 Ad apter WN121T

disposizioni pertinenti stabilite dalla direttiva 1999/5/CE.
Ar šo NETGEAR, Inc. deklarç, ka NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter

WN121T

noteikumiem.
Šiuo NETGEAR, Inc. deklaruoja, kad šis NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0

atbilst Direktîvas 1999/5/EK bûtiskajâm prasîbâm un citiem ar to saistîtajiem

Adapter WN121T

Hierbij verklaart

USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T

relevante bepalingen van richtlijn 1999/5/EG.
Hawnhekk, NETGEAR, Inc., jiddikjara li dan NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB

2.0 Adapter WN121T

hemm fid-Dirrettiva 1999/5/EC.
Alulírott, NETGEAR, Inc. nyilatkozom, hogy a NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB

2.0 Adapter WN121T

irányelv egyéb elõírásainak.

2.0 Adapter WN121T

stosownymi postanowieniami Dyrektywy 1999/5/EC.

Português
[Portuguese]

Slovensko
[Slovenian]

Slovensky
[Slovak]

NETGEAR, Inc. declara que este NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter
WN121T

1999/5/CE.

está conforme com os requisitos essenciais e outras disposições da Directiva

NETGEAR, Inc. izjavlja, da je ta NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter
WN121T

ES.

v skladu z bistvenimi zahtevami in ostalimi relevantnimi doloèili direktive 1999/5/

NETGEAR, Inc. týmto vyhlasuje, že NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0
Adapter WN121T

1999/5/ES.

is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant

cumple con los requisitos esenciales y cualesquiera

ΣΥΜΜΟΡΦΩΝΕΤΑΙ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΙΣ ΟΥΣΙΩΔΕΙΣ

est conforme aux exigences essentielles et aux

è conforme ai requisiti essenziali ed alle altre

atitinka esminius reikalavimus ir kitas 1999/5/EB Direktyvos nuostatas.

NETGEAR, Inc. dat het toestel NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless

in overeenstemming is met de essentiële eisen en de andere

jikkonforma mal-tiijiet essenzjali u ma provvedimenti orajn relevanti li

megfelel a vonatkozó alapvetõ követelményeknek és az 1999/5/EC

jest zgodny z zasadniczymi wymogami oraz pozosta³ymi

spåòa základné požiadavky a všetky príslušné ustanovenia Smernice

iv

v1.0, August 2006

Suomi
[Finnish]

Svenska
[Swedish]

NETGEAR, Inc. vakuuttaa täten että NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0
Adapter WN121T

koskevien direktiivin muiden ehtojen mukainen.
Härmed intygar NETGEAR, Inc. att denna [utrustningstyp] står I överensstämmelse med

de väsentliga egenskapskrav och övriga relevanta bestämmelser som framgår av direktiv
1999/5/EG.

tyyppinen laite on direktiivin 1999/5/EY oleellisten vaatimusten ja sitä

Product and Publication Details

Model Number: WN121T
Publication Date: August 2006
Product Family: Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter
Product Name: NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T
Home or Business Product: Home
Language: English
Publication Part Number: 202-10209-01

v1.0, August 2006

v

vi

v1.0, August 2006

Contents

About This Manual

Audience, Scope, Conventions, and Formats .................................................................. ix

How to Print this Manual .................................................................................................... x

Chapter 1
Basic Setup

A Road Map for “How to Get There From Here” ............................................................1-1

What You Need Before You Begin ..................................................................................1-4

Verify System Requirements ....................................................................................1-5

Observe Wireless Location and Range Guidelines ..................................................1-5

What’s in the Box? ...................................................................................................1-6

Default Wireless Settings .........................................................................................1-6

Installation Instructions ...................................................................................................1-6

Connecting to Wireless Networks and the Internet ......................................................1-10

The Smart Wizard Status Bar .................................................................................1-10

Icon Colors ............................................................................................................. 1-11

Removing the Software ................................................................................................1-12

Upgrading the Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter Software .....................................................1-12

Chapter 2
Network Connections and Wireless Security

Understanding the Smart Wizard ...................................................................................2-1

Finding a Network ...........................................................................................................2-2

Profiles ............................................................................................................................2-3

Adding Profiles .........................................................................................................2-3

Setting up a Profile to Connect to an Access Point or Router ........................................2-3

Setting up a Computer-to-Computer (Ad Hoc) Profile ....................................................2-5

Starting a Computer-to-Computer (Ad Hoc) Network Connection ...........................2-7

Wireless Security ............................................................................................................2-8

Know Your Wireless Network Settings .....................................................................2-9

Wireless Network Name (SSID) and Security Settings ................................................2-10

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vii

Setting up WEP Encryption Security ............................................................................ 2-11

Setting up WPA2-PSK Security ....................................................................................2-12

Setting up WPA-PSK Security ......................................................................................2-14

Advanced Settings .................................................................................................2-15

Networks Page .............................................................................................................2-15

Statistics Page ..............................................................................................................2-17

About Page ...................................................................................................................2-18

Chapter 3
Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Tips ......................................................................................................3-1

Frequently Asked Questions ..........................................................................................3-1

Appendix A
Default Configuration Settings and Technical Specifications

Default Configuration Settings ....................................................................................... A-1

Technical Specifications ................................................................................................. A-2

Appendix B
Related Documents

viii

v1.0, August 2006

About This Manual

The NETGEAR® RangeMax™ 240 Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T User Manual describes
how to install, configure and troubleshoot the NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0
Adapter WN121T. The information in this manual is intended for readers with intermediate
computer and Internet skills.

Conventions, Formats and Scope

The conventions, formats, and scope of this manual are described in the following paragraphs:

• Typographical Conventions. This manual uses the following typographical conventions:

Italics Emphasis, books, CDs, URL names

Bold User input

Fixed Screen text, file and server names, extensions, commands, IP addresses

• Formats. This manual uses the following formats to highlight special messages:

Note: This format is used to highlight information of importance or special interest.

Tip: This format is used to highlight a procedure that will save time or resources.

Warning: Ignoring this type of note may result in a malfunction or damage to the

equipment.

Danger: This is a safety warning. Failure to take heed of this notice may result in

personal injury or death.

v1.0, August 2006

ix

NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T User Manual

• Scope. This manual is written for the Next 300 Mbps WN121T Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter

according to these specifications:

Product Version NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T
Manual Publication Date August 2006

For more information about network technologies, see the links to the NETGEAR website in

Appendix B, “Related Documents”.

Note: Product updates are available on the NETGEAR, Inc. website at

http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/WN121T.asp.

How to Print this Manual

To print this manual you can choose one of the following several options, according to your needs.

• 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 bro wser window.
– 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.

x

v1.0, August 2006

NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T User Manual

– 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.

v1.0, August 2006

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NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T User Manual

xii

v1.0, August 2006

Chapter 1

Basic Setup

The NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T lets you connect a PC
computer to wireless networks. It is designed for PC computers running Microsoft Windows. For
information about product features and compatible NETGEAR products, please see the
NETGEAR website at http://www.netgear.com.

This chapter describes how to install your Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter and set up basic wireless
connectivity on your Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). Advanced wireless network set up is
covered in Chapter 2, “Network Connections and Wireless Security”.

A Road Map for “How to Get There From Here”

Wireless technology has removed one of the barriers to networking—running wires. Wireless
technology also adds issues such as range, interference, signal quality, and security to the picture.

The table below shows how to complete common tasks with a network: connecting to a wireless
network, using security, connecting to the Internet, exchanging files with other computers, and
using printers in the combined wireless and wired network.

Table 1-1. A Road Map for How to Get There From Here ...

If I Want to... ? What Do I Do? What Is Needed? How Do I?

Connect to a
wireless
network

1. Get the wireless
network name (SSID)
and, if used, the
wireless security
settings.

2. Set up the Wireless
USB 2.0 Adapter with
the settings from
Step 1.

1. A wireless network

2. A computer within the
operating range of the
wireless network.

v1.0, August 2006

For set up, see “Installation

Instructions” on page 1-6 and

follow the instructions.
For wireless network range,
see “Observe Wireless

Location and Range
Guidelines” on page 1-5.

For wireless networking, see
the Web link to “Wireless

Communications:” in
Appendix B.

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NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T User Manual

Table 1-1. A Road Map for How to Get There From Here ...

If I Want to... ? What Do I Do? What Is Needed? How Do I?

Protect my
wireless
connection from
snooping,
hacking, or
information
theft.

Note: Secure Internet sites such as banks and online merchants use encryption security built into Web
browsers. Wireless security features that you implement are in addition to those on secure Internet sites.

Connect to the
Internet over my
wireless
network.

1. Enable wireless
security for the
wireless network.

2. Set up wireless
security for your
Wireless USB 2.0
Adapter to match the
network.

3. Use Windows
security features.

1. Activate my wireless
link and verify my
network connection.

2. Open an Internet
browser such as
Internet Explorer or
Netscape Navigator.

1. A wireless network with
authentication and WEP,
WPA-PSK, or WPA2-PSK
encryption enabled.

2. Wireless networking
equipment such as the
WN121T that supports
these security features.

1. An Internet service such as
cable modem or DSL.

2. A network with a wireless
router or access point
connected to the cable/
DSL modem.

3. TCP/IP Internet networking
software installed and
configured on your PC
based on the requirements
of the Internet service
provider

4. An Internet browser.

To use wireless security
features, see “Internet

Networking and TCP/IP
Addressing:” in Appendix B

and set up your WN121T
accordingly.

To use your Wireless USB 2.0
Adapter in Infrastructure
Mode, see “Installation

Instructions” on page 1-6.

To set up a Profile, see.

“Profiles” on page 2-3.

For TCP/IP See the Web link
to “Internet Networking and

TCP/IP Addressing:” in
Appendix B.

1-2

v1.0, August 2006

NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T User Manual

Table 1-1. A Road Map for How to Get There From Here ...

If I Want to... ? What Do I Do? What Is Needed? How Do I?

Exchange files
between a
wirelessly
connected
computer and
other computers
in a combined
wireless and
wired network.

1. Use the Windows
Network
Neighborhood feature
to browse for
computers in the
combined wireless
and wired network.

2. Browse the hard drive
of a computer in the
network to locate the
directory or files you
want to work with.

3. Use the Windows
Explorer functions to
exchange files
between the
computers.

1. The computer that
connects to the wireless
network must be
configured with:

• Windows Client and File

and Print Sharing

• The same Windows

Workgroup or Domain
settings as the other
Windows computers in
the combined wireless
and wired network.

2. When Windows prompts
for security access rights
such as login user name/
password, you must enter
them.

3. If Windows ‘peer’
Workgroup networking is
used, the drive, file system
directory, or file need to be
enabled for sharing.

Windows Domain settings are
usually managed by corporate
computer support groups.
Windows Workgroup settings
are commonly managed by
individuals who set up small
networks in their homes, or
small offices.
For TCP/IP see the Web link
to “Internet Networking and

TCP/IP Addressing:” in
Appendix B.

For assistance with setting up
Windows networking, refer to
the PC Networking Tutorial on
the NETGEAR CD and the
Help information provided in
the Windows system you are
using.

v1.0, August 2006

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