StarTech.com USB511WB Instruction Manual

11 Mbits/sec USB 802.11b Wireless
Mini Adapter

USB511WB

Instruction Guide

The Professionals’ Source For Hard-to-Find Computer Parts

WIRELESS LAN USB

ADAPTER

* Actual product may vary from photo

FCC COMPLIANCE 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 or more 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

This equipment must be installed and operated in accordance with provided
instructions and a minimum 20cm (8 inches) spacing must be provided between
computer mounted antenna and a person’s body (including extremities of hands, wrists,
and feet) during wireless modes of operation.

R&TTE Compliance Statement

This equipment complies with all the requirements of DIRECTIVE 1999/5/CE OF THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL of March 9, 1999 on radio equipment
and telecommunication terminal Equipment and the mutual recognition of their
conformity (R&TTE).
The R&TTE Directive repeals and replaces in the directive 98/13/EEC
(Telecommunications Terminal Equipment and Satellite Earth Station Equipment) as of
April 8, 2000.

Safety

This equipment is designed with the utmost care for the safety of those who install and
use it. However, special attention must be paid to the dangers of electric shock and
static electricity when working with electrical equipment. All guidelines of this and of
the computer manufacturer must therefore be allowed at all times to ensure the safe use
of the equipment.

EU Countries Intended for Use

The ETSI version of this device is intended for home and office use in Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The ETSI version of
this device is also authorized for use in EFTAmember states: Iceland, Liechtenstein,
Norway, and Switzerland.

Potential Restrictive Use

None

1

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Using the Configuration Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

More Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

WEP Key Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Advanced Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Appendix A: Installation Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Appendix B: Setting Up a Wireless Ad Hoc Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Appendix C: Setting up an Infrastructure Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

2

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing a StarTech.com 11 Mbits/sec USB 802.11b wireless mini
adapter. Based on the IEEE 802.11b 2.4 GHz wireless standard, the USB511WB instantly
provides your USB-enabled desktop or notebook computer with wireless LAN (WLAN)
access. Whether you are setting up a peer-to-peer Ad Hoc network with other computers
using 802.11b devices (like the StarTech.com CB511WB) or setting up an Infrastructure
network with a wireless access point (like the StarTech.com WAP1011BB), this Plug and
Play adapter connects quickly and easily with 11 Mbits/sec of data transfer.

Features

• Complies with IEEE 802.11b (DSSS) 2.4 GHz standard

• Uses high-speed data transfer rate up to 11 Mbits/sec

• Plugs directly into USB port without cables

• Supports 64/128-bit WEP Data Encryption for high security

• Supports peer-to-peer communication between wireless users with no Access Point
required

• Suitable for any notebook or desktop PC

• Supports RTS and CTS threshold control for better throughput

• Automatic rate fallback enables data security and reliability

• Supports Plug and Play specifications

• Backed by StarTech.com’s lifetime year warranty

Before You Begin

To ensure a quick and easy adapter installation, please read through this section carefully
before attempting to install the adapter.

System Requirements

•Adesktop or laptop computer running Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98SE

•An open USB port

Package Contents

•1 x USB511WB wireless LAN USB adapter

•1 x driver/utility CD

•1 x USB cable

3

Installation

Installing the Card and Drivers

1. With your computer turned on, insert the adapter into your computer’s USB port.
You can also use the USB cable to adjust the location of the adapter. Make sure that
the adapter is firmly seated.

2. Windows will automatically detect the new device. Insert your driver/utility disk
into the disk drive and direct the system to the appropriate location in the “Driver”
folder on the disk. For example, Windows 2000 users should select the
“Driver\Win2000” folder. The system will now install the necessary drivers.

Installing the Utility

1. Insert your driver/utility disk into the disk drive. From the disk, open the
“Utility” folder and run setup.exe.

2. Click Next.

3. Choose the location where you want the application installed and click Next.
Windows will complete the rest of the installation automatically.

Note: If Windows XP/2000 gives you a “Digital Signature Not Found” message, you can
safely choose “Yes.”

4. To launch the program, click on Start and select “ZyDAS Wireless LAN - USB.”

Removing the Windows XP Wireless Utility
Windows XP has contains a default built-in wireless network utility. It is recommended

that you use the utility provided with the USB511WB. To remove this default utility,

perform the following steps:

1. Click on Start, Control Panel, and select Network Connections.

2. Right click Wireless Network Connection, and click Properties.

3. Click the Wireless Networks tab.

4. Clear the “Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings” checkbox and
click OK.

4

Using the Configuration Utility

The Configuration Utility helps you configure your USB wireless mini adapter and
monitor the communication statistics for the device. You can dynamically configure your
card while the card is operating. From the main screen, you can view information about
your connection and nearby devices.

Parameter Description

Network Adapter Displays the product information about the adapter.
Available Network Displays the SSID and Signal Strength of nearby

wireless devices. Use the Refresh button to re-survey
the area. To make a connection to one of the devices on
the list, double-click on the name of the device, or click
on the name of the device and press the “Connect to this
site” button.

Current Network Displays information about the wireless network the

card is connecting to. You can edit these (and more)
network settings by clicking on the More Settings
button. See “More Settings” on page 5 for more
information.

Link Status Displays the status of the wireless connection.
Signal Strength Displays the signal strength level. The higher the

percentage shown in the bar, the stronger the signal. You
can use this indicator to find the proper position of the
wireless device.

Link Quality Displays the quality of the link. The higher the

percentage shown in the bar, the higher the link quality.

TX/RX Frame Displays the number of data frames successfully

sent/received by the device.