Panasonic KX-HGC200 User Manual

11Mbps Wireless LAN PC Card

Panasonic

KX-HGC200

READY

LINK

Operating Instructions

Model No. KX-HGC200

PLEASE READ BEFORE USE AND SAVE.

Panasonic World Wide Web Address: http://www.panasonic.com

for customers in the USA or Puerto Rico

Before Initial Use

Thank you for purchasing the Panasonic 11 Mbps Wireless LAN PC Card.

Attach your purchase receipt here.

For your future reference

Serial No. Date of purchase

(found on the rear side of the unit)

Name and address of dealer

FOR OPERATION ASSISTANCE: –Call

1-800-272-7033

–Refer to

the Panasonic world wide web site http://www.panasonic.com

≥Microsoft, Windows and Netmeeting are either registered trademarks or

trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

≥Ethernet is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation. ≥Whitecap™ is a trademark of ShareWave™, Inc. ≥Screen shots reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation.

All other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. The operating instructions are subject to change without notice. The screens of the device driver, Network Manager software and the Broadband Networking Gateway administration web screens that are shown in this Operating Instructions manual are subject to change without notice.

For Best Performance

KX-HGC200

L IN K

ANT.

R E A D Y

Location of the units

Communications are transmitted between the KX-HGC200s using wireless radio waves at 11Mbps data speed. For maximum performance, it is recommended that the KX-HGC200 be operated:

Away from electrical appliances such as TVs or cordless telephones.

≥Metal or steel framework, such as refrigerators, can hinder radio

communications. Open areas offer better performance.

≥If the KX-HGC200 is located near a microwave oven which is in use,

communication may be interfered with. For maximum performance, operate the KX-HGC200 away from microwave ovens.

≥It is recommended that the KX-HGC200s be located no closer than

about 1.6 ft. (50 cm) apart.

For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Included Accessory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Contents of the CD-ROM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Part Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Before Start

Installation

Part names. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Installation Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4 important parameters to create a

wireless network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Network with the Broadband Networking

Gateway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Network consisting only of wireless

computers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Installing the KX-HGC200 in

the Broadband Networking Gateway. . . . 13

Conﬁrming the Broadband Networking

Gateway ﬁrmware version. . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Inserting the KX-HGC200 in the

Broadband Networking Gateway. . . . . . . 15

Setting up the Broadband Networking

Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Setting up from a wired computer. . . . . . . . 17

Setting up from a wireless computer. . . . . . 19

Caution when initializing the Broadband

Networking Gateway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Helpful functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Installing the KX-HGC200 to a Computer. . 25

Before inserting the KX-HGC200 . . . . . . . . 25

Inserting the KX-HGC200 into a computer . 27

Installing the device driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Installing the Network Manager . . . . . . . . . 38

Conﬁrming the KX-HGC200 setup . . . . . . . 42

Installation

Network

Manager

Setting up Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Conﬁrming the network protocols . . . . . . . . 44

Setting an IP address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Sharing Files and Printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Preparing for sharing ﬁles and printers . . . . 52

About the Network Manager Software . . . . 54

Using the Network Management Web

Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

About the Network Management web

screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Using the function menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Using the Device Management

Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

About the Device Management dialog box . 59 Creating a new wireless network/

Joining another wireless network . . . . . . . 61

Changing the channel (radio frequency) . . . 62

Setting a computer to the Master Node. . . . 62

Forward Error Correction (FEC) . . . . . . . . . 62

Before Start Installation

Network Manager

Appendix

For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033

Removing the KX-HGC200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Appendix

Removing the KX-HGC200 from

a computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Removing the KX-HGC200 from

the Broadband Networking Gateway. . . . 64

Updating the KX-HGC200 Firmware . . . . . . 65

Uninstalling the KX-HGC200 Software . . . . 67

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Speciﬁcations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

FCC and Other Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Overview

Features

No wiring

The KX-HGC200 helps you network without troublesome wiring using wireless technology and accommodates up to 10 wireless users*.

*Accommodates up to 9 wireless users when used with the Broadband

Networking Gateway.

High data-transmission quality by using the Whitecap™protocol

The features of the Whitecap™ protocol are as follows: ≥Error correction and dynamic TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) for

higher usable network throughput and range

≥Carries several multimedia (video, voice, audio) data streams

simultaneously

Internet sharing and expandability of the home network (With the Panasonic Broadband Networking Gateway)

When operated with the Panasonic Broadband Networking Gateway (In the following pages, Broadband Networking Gateway), the KX-HGC200 allows you to share an Internet connection with the other computers in your home network at the same time and expand your home network by using the HomePNA phoneline and Ethernet interfaces of the Broadband Networking Gateway.

Easy to conﬁgure/administrate

The KX-HGC200 setup wizard and Network Manager software lead you through an easy installation and administration.

System requirements

Operating System

Interface RAM Other (for installation) Protocol CPU

≥The Network Management web screen (p. 20 –21, 55–58) can be

viewed using Internet Explorer 4.0 or later.

Microsoft®Windows®95 operating system (OSR2.0 or later) Microsoft®Windows®98 operating system Microsoft®Windows®Me operating system

PCMCIA Type II PC card slot equipped

32MB or more CD-ROM drive/Ethernet or HomePNA card TCP/IP installed Pentium 133 MHz or faster

Included Accessory

For extra orders, call 1-800-332-5368.

∑ 11Mbps Wireless LAN

Setup CD-ROM

Order No. PQLV50I5AZ (p. 30, 32, 35)

one

≥If the item is missing or damaged, check with the place of purchase. ≥The order number listed above is subject to change without notice. ≥Save the original carton and packing materials for future shipping and

transportation of the unit.

Contents of the CD-ROM

The CD-ROM contains the following software and ﬁles:

The device driver for Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me

–Used while conﬁguring the KX-HGC200. During conﬁguration, the

appropriate driver software is installed depending on the operating system of your computer.

“

Before Start

The Network Manager software

–Used for administrating the wireless network. For more details, refer to

“About the Network Manager Software” on p. 54.

The ﬁrmware update utility software

–Used for updating the KX-HGC200 ﬁrmware written in the Flash-ROM.

For more details, refer to “Updating the KX-HGC200 Firmware” on p. 65.

The uninstall software

–Used for uninstalling all the software of the KX-HGC200 that has been

installed to a computer. For more details, refer to “Uninstalling the KX-HGC200 Software” on p. 67.

The Broadband Networking Gateway ﬁrmware for upgrade

–Used for upgrading the Broadband Networking Gateway ﬁrmware. For

more details about the ﬁrmware, refer to “To obtain and upgrade the Broadband Networking Gateway ﬁrmware” on p. 14.

The Readme.txt

–Contains the latest information about the KX-HGC200.

For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033

“

♪

Included Accessory

To prevent accidental damage to the CD-ROM:

≥Do not touch or write on the

surface of the disc.

≥Do not place heavy objects on

the disc case or drop the case.

≥Do not play the disc on an audio

CD player.

≥Do not leave the disc in direct

sunlight or near heat sources.

≥To clean the disc, hold the disc

by its edges and wipe it from the center to the edges with a dry, soft cloth.

Part Names

Panasonic

KX-HGC200

READY

LINK

Part names

READY indicator

Before Start

Arrow mark (p. 15, 27)

PCMCIA Connector with 68 pins

Note:

≥To prevent the KX-HGC200 from

being damaged, never touch the PCMCIA connector.

Indicators

LED

LINK

Status

Green

(Blinking)

LINK indicator

Indicates

≥The KX-HGC200 is turned on and

transmitting/receiving data to/from another KX-HGC200.

≥The KX-HGC200 is turned on and

transmitting/receiving data to/from another KX-HGC200, but the data transmission status is not stable.

READY

Off

Green

For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033

≥The KX-HGC200 is not connected to

any wireless network.

≥The KX-HGC200 is turned on and

ready for communication.

Installation Overview

4 important parameters to create a wireless network

A wireless network can be created using the 4 parameters below which are programmed in the Flash-ROM of the KX-HGC200 or in a node*. Normally, you would only program the Network Name because the other parameters have been already set. However, for later customization, be sure to read about the parameters below.

*Node: A device that is connected to the network and can communicate

with other network devices. In this Operating Instructions, we use this word for the Broadband Networking Gateway or a computer.

Network Name

Name for a wireless network. For security, only the nodes that are programmed with the same Network Name can communicate. It is necessary to set a Network Name for all the KX-HGC200 during the installation of the Network Manager software or on the Broadband Networking Gateway administration web screen.

Network ID

The ID that is created from the Network Name. Actually, this ID is used for maintaining a wireless network instead of the Network Name. However, users do not need to care what Network ID is programmed to each node.

Node Name

Name of each node in your network (wireless or wired) for identiﬁcation. The Node Name of the Broadband Networking Gateway is set on its administration web screen. The Node Name of a computer is set in the Identiﬁcation tab in the Network dialog box which can be accessed via the Control Panel menu on your computer.

Channel Number

Number of the radio frequency channel on which a wireless network communicates. To prevent the radio frequency interference with other wireless products, the channels below can be selected depending on the status of the wireless communications:

Channel 1 (2412 MHz) Channel 6 (2437 MHz) –default setting of the KX-HGC200

Channel 11 (2462 MHz) On each channel, data-transmission can be performed on a speed up to 11Mbps. Only the nodes that are programmed with the same channel number can communicate.

Network with the Broadband Networking

KX-HGW100

HomePNA

WIRELESS

ETHERNET

INTERNET

POWER

Internet

Broadband Networking Gateway

Cable/xDSL Modem

KX-HGC200

Gateway

Required setup for the Broadband Networking Gateway

Conﬁrming the Broadband Networking Gateway

ﬁrmware version* (p. 13)

“

Before Start

Inserting the KX-HGC200 in

the Broadband Networking Gateway (p. 15)

Setting up from a

wired computer (p. 17)

Setting up from a

wireless computer (p. 19)

Required setup for each computer

Inserting the KX-HGC200 into a computer (p. 27)

*Depending on the Broadband Networking Gateway ﬁrmware version,

upgrading may be necessary.

Installing the device driver (p. 29)

Installing the Network Manager (p. 38)

Setting an IP address (p. 46)

For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033

“

KX-HGC200

Installation Overview

Network consisting only of wireless computers

Required setup for each computer

Inserting the KX-HGC200 into a computer (p. 27)

Installing the device driver (p. 29)

Installing the Network Manager (p. 38)

Setting an IP address (p. 46)

Installing the KX-HGC200 in the Broadband Networking Gateway

“

Conﬁrming the Broadband Networking Gateway ﬁrmware version

Depending on the ﬁrmware version of the Broadband Networking Gateway, it may not support the KX-HGC200. Before adding the Broadband Networking Gateway to your wireless network, check your Broadband Networking Gateway ﬁrmware version and, if needed, upgrade the ﬁrmware ﬁrst.

The steps below are for using the wired computer, not the wireless computer.

To check the Broadband Networking Gateway ﬁrmware version

Access the Broadband Networking Gateway administration web

screen. For more details about accessing the web screen, refer to the Operating Instructions of the Broadband Networking Gateway.

≥The default local IP address of the Broadband Networking Gateway is

192.168.0.254.

Installation

Click [Status].

For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033

“

Installing the KX-HGC200 in the Broadband Networking Gateway

In the Firmware section, check the ﬁrmware version of your

Broadband Networking Gateway. If the ﬁrmware version is 2.00 or later, the ﬁrmware supports the KX-HGC200 use. Then, go to step 4. If the ﬁrmware version is an earlier version than 2.00, upgrade the Broadband Networking Gateway ﬁrmware. For more details about upgrading the ﬁrmware, see below “To obtain and upgrade the Broadband Networking Gateway ﬁrmware.”

Click [Restart] to restart the Broadband Networking Gateway.

To obtain and upgrade the Broadband Networking Gateway ﬁrmware

The Broadband Networking Gateway ﬁrmware is available as follows: ≥ Included in the below directory of the CD-ROM that came with the

KX-HGC200 \KX-HGW\hgwxxxx_us.bin (depending on the version number of the ﬁrmware)

≥ Downloaded from the Panasonic support web site

http://www.kmelink.net/ipproducts/us/download/index.html

For more detailed information about upgrading the ﬁrmware, refer to the Operating Instructions of the Broadband Networking Gateway.

After upgrading the Broadband Networking Gateway, be sure to follow the below notes:

≥Restart the computer connected to the Broadband Networking

Gateway.

≥Conﬁrm the Broadband Networking Gateway has been

successfully upgraded referring to the Status screen of the Broadband Networking Gateway administration web screen.

Inserting the KX-HGC200 in the Broadband

INTERNET

ETHERNET

HomePNA

POWER

KX-HGW200

WIRELESS

KX-HGC200

LINK READY

11Mbps

Wireless LAN PC Card

Arrow mark

Networking Gateway

Make sure the Broadband Networking Gateway and other devices

connected to it are turned off. Open the cover on the front side of the Broadband Networking

Gateway. Insert the KX-HGC200 into the PC card slot of the Broadband

Networking Gateway making sure that the “Panasonic” side is facing toward you and the arrow mark on the KX-HGC200 is pointing toward the slot.

“

Installation

Notes:

≥Be sure to insert the KX-HGC200 ﬁrmly until you hear the click. ≥Insert in the proper direction to prevent device from being

damaged.

For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033

“

INTERNET

ETHERNET

HomePNA

POWER

KX-HGW200

WIRELESS

LINK READY

11M p

Wireless LAN PC Card

KX-HGC200

WIRELESS indicator

READY indicator

LINK

READY

11Mbp

Wireless LAN PC Card

KX-HGC200

Installing the KX-HGC200 in the Broadband Networking Gateway

Turn on the Broadband Networking Gateway and other devices that

are being used with it.

≥Make sure the READY indicator of the KX-HGC200 (p. 9) and the

WIRELESS indicator of the Broadband Networking Gateway are lit. If not lit, refer to p. 13 and conﬁrm the Broadband Networking Gateway ﬁrmware version.

Close the cover of the Broadband Networking Gateway.

Setting up the Broadband Networking Gateway

After the KX-HGC200 is inserted in the Broadband Networking Gateway, conﬁguration of the KX-HGC200 is required. The steps for conﬁguration proceed the Broadband Networking Gateway administration web screen or Network Management web screen. The KX-HGC200 can be conﬁgured from both a wired computer and wireless computer, but using a wired computer is convenient.

≥For setting up from a wired computer, follow the steps below. ≥If you can not set up from a wired computer, follow the steps

from p. 19 “Setting up from a wireless computer”.

“

Setting up from a wired computer

Access the Broadband Networking Gateway administration web

screen.

≥The default local IP address of the Broadband Networking Gateway is

192.168.0.254.

Click [Wireless Setup].

Installation

For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033

“

Setting up the Broadband Networking Gateway

Enter the Node Name and Network Name in the each ﬁeld and

select the Channel Number from the drop-down list.

Node Name

Channel Number

FEC

Network Name

The name of the Broadband Networking Gateway for identiﬁcation in a network.

The KX-HGC200 is preset to communicate using the radio frequency channel 6 (2437 MHz). This preset channel can be changed to channel 1 (2412 MHz) or 11 (2462 MHz) by using the Channel Number pull-down menu. Normally, using the preset channel is recommended. If the wireless communication status is not good, changing the channel may improve the communication status.

To communicate, all the nodes in a wireless network must be set the same radio frequency channel.

The FEC (Forward Error Correction) mechanism of the Whitecap™protocol allows your KX-HGC200 to correct error packets when data is transmitted to the other wireless nodes and contributes to higher throughput.

When you disable this function for one node, be sure to disable this function for all the nodes in the wireless network.

To use the KX-HGC200, a network name must be speciﬁed in this entry. For more details, refer to the next page “About the network name”.

[Uninstall] button

Allows you to reset the Network ID of the KX-HGC200.

About the network name

To communicate with others in a wireless group, the same Network Name must be programmed into each computer. It is impossible to communicate with a computer that has a different Network Name. To join a wireless network, it is necessary to enter the Network Name that is common to that particular network. For security, specify a unique Network Name that others do not guess, using more than 8 digits or characters, for a wireless network.

Click [Save].

≥After the “Success” screen appears, the Broadband Networking Gateway

restarts and you will connect to the administration initial screen.

Restart all the computers that are connected to the Broadband

Networking Gateway.

The KX-HGC200 has been successfully set up and is ready to communicate with others. Refer to pages from 25 and set up each computer that you want to add to a wireless network.

“

Installation

Setting up from a wireless computer

To set up the Broadband Networking Gateway from a wireless computer, the wireless computer must have already conﬁgured the KX-HGC200. For more details about how to conﬁgure the KX-HGC200, refer to “

Below steps for conﬁguration are performed on the Network Management web screen of the wireless computer. All of the computers in the wireless network can use this function and conﬁgure the Broadband Networking Gateway.

Note:

To set up from a wireless computer, the KX-HGC200 must be set to use the radio frequency channel 6 and the FEC (p. 62) must be activated.

Turn on the Broadband Networking Gateway.

Required setup for each computer

” on p. 11.

For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033

“

Setting up the Broadband Networking Gateway

Turn on the wireless computer.

On the desktop, double-click the Network Manager icon in the

taskbar.

Double-click

Click [Add a New Node] in the Network Management web screen.

≥This step may take a little time. ≥For the overview of the Network Management web screen, refer to “About

the Network Management web screen” on p. 55.

Click [Add].

“

The below screen appears and KX-HGC200 has been successfully set up and is ready to communicate with others. Refer to steps on p. 11 “

Required setup for each computer

want to add to a wireless network.

≥If an error occurs, the screen below appears. Then follow one of the steps

below (A or B).

A: Restart the Broadband Networking Gateway referring to its Operating

Instructions.

B: Close your web browser ﬁrst, then access the Network Management

web screen again.

” and set up each computer that you

Installation

For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033

“

Setting up the Broadband Networking Gateway

Caution when initializing the Broadband Networking Gateway

When the CLEAR SETTING button on the Broadband Networking Gateway is pressed, all the parameters that have been set to the Broadband Networking Gateway reset to the default setting. If the KX-HGC200 is inserted and the WIRELESS indicator of the Broadband Networking Gateway is turning green at that time, all the parameters (Node Name, Channel Number, FEC, Network Name and Network ID) reset to default settings also. If you want to preserve the parameters set to the KX-HGC200, ﬁrst remove the KX-HGC200 from the Broadband Networking Gateway referring to “Removing the KX-HGC200 from the Broadband Networking Gateway” on p. 64, then initialize the Broadband Networking Gateway.

Note:

Before initializing, be sure to take notes of the setup parameters of the Broadband Networking Gateway.

“

Helpful functions

For checking the setup parameters or data-transmission status of the KX-HGC200, helpful functions are available on the Broadband Networking Gateway administration web screen.

Checking the setup parameters

Click [Status] on the Broadband Networking Gateway administration

web screen. Check the Wireless section.

Firmware Version

Network ID (p. 10)

Master Node IP Address (p. 73)

Current version of the ﬁrmware, written in the KX-HGC200 Flash-ROM. To update the ﬁrmware, see p. 65.

The Network ID of the wireless network. This ID works in order to identify a wireless network to prevent an invalid access to the wireless network.

The local IP address of the Master Node in the wireless network.

Installation

Wireless Card State

For assistance, please call: 1-800-272-7033

connected to network:

The KX-HGC200 is connected to a wireless network and working properly.

not connected to network:

The KX-HGC200 is not connected to any wireless network.

TROUBLE:

The KX-HGC200 is not working properly. The hardware or software is defected.

“

Setting up the Broadband Networking Gateway

Checking data-transmission status

Click [Usage data].

Check the WirelessCard section.

+ 56 hidden pages

Panasonic KX-HGC200 User Manual

Table of Contents

Overview

Included Accessory

Part Names

Installation Overview

Installing the KX-HGC200 in the Broadband Networking Gateway

Installation

Setting up the Broadband Networking Gateway