USRobotics USR5430 User Manual

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 1 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

802.11g Wireless Gaming Adapter and Ethernet Bridge

User Guide

English

Français

Model USR5430

R24.0459.00

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 2 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 1 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

802.11g Wireless Gaming Adapter and Ethernet Bridge

Thank you for purchasing the U.S. Robotics 802.11g Wireless Gaming Adapter and Ethernet Bridge (Model USR5430). You can use your USR5430 to online game through the Internet so you can play anyone in the world. Or, you can use the USR5430 as an Ethernet bridge to connect any Ethernet device such as a computer, network printer, or digital video recorder (DVR) to a wireless router. Finally, your USR5430 may also be used to play your friend in the same house or building provided you each have a gaming console of the same brand (Xbox-to-Xbox, Playstation-to-Playstation), or other gaming console.

LED information

Power LED

Off = No Power

Solid = Power ON

Wireless LED

Off = No physical link Solid = Physical link established (Wireless) Flashing = Data Activity (Wireless)

Ethernet LED

Off = No physical link Solid = Physical link established (Ethernet) Flashing = Data activity (Ethernet)

Rear Panel information

Ethernet

Reset

Item Description

Antenna connector

Reset

Ethernet Ethernet port for use with an Ethernet cable 12VDC Input jack that accepts cable from AC power adapters

Connect your antenna

Changes the USR5430 configuration. Refer to the Restoring to Default Settings for specific reset options

12VDC

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 2 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

Restoring to Default Settings

You may use the reset button to restore your USR5430 to factory defaults. To restore your USR5430 to factory default settings, insert a pin or paperclip to press the reset button for more than 5 seconds.

Note: To reboot the USR5430, simply unplug the AC power adapter from the 12VDC jack.

Using the reset button to enable Configuration Mode

To access the USR5430’s Web User Interface pages, you will need to have the USR5430 supply your computer with an IP address. In order for the USR5430 to supply this IP address, you must insert a pin or paperclip to press the reset button momentarily (less than 2 seconds). This allows the USR5430 to become a DHCP server capable of serving an IP address of 192.168.1.202 to the device requesting an IP address. The default IP address of the USR5430 is 192.168.1.201

Accessing the USR5430’s Web User Interface pages

You will need to access the Web User Interface pages for a variety of reasons. The most common of these is to change from Client Mode to Ad Hoc Mode, to enable security, and to perform a site survey. Out of the box, the USR5430 is configured in Client Mode. Client Mode converts wireless data to Ethernet data which is forwarded onto your computer’s Ethernet (NIC) connection. The easiest way to access the Web User Interface pages is to put the USR5430 in Configuration Mode. In Configuration Mode, the USR5430 will supply your computer with an IP address.

Follow the steps below to enable the Configuration Mode:

1. Attach the antenna to the back of the USR5430.

2. Plug the AC power adapter into the 12VDC jack on the back of the USR5430.

3. Insert a pin or paperclip to press the reset button momentarily (less than 2 seconds). The reset button is located on the back of the USR5430.

name and password, you may need to refresh the IP settings on your computer. Follow the steps below for your operating system to refresh the IP settings on your computer. Once complete, access the USR5430 using your browser.

Windows 95, 98, or Me Users:

Click Windows Start and then Run. Type winipcfg and click OK. Check the IP address (default is 192.168.1.202), Subnet Mask (default is 255.255.255.0), and Default Gateway (default is 192.168.1.201) to make sure they are correct. If the information is not correct, click

Release All and then click Renew All. Open an Internet browser and enter http://

192.168.1.201

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 3 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

Windows NT, 2000, or XP Users:

Click Windows Start and then Run. Type cmd and click OK. At the DOS prompt, type ipconfig /all. Check the IP address (default is 192.168.1.202), Subnet Mask (default is

255.255.255.0), and Default Gateway (default is 192.168.1.201), to make sure they are correct. If the information is not correct, type ipconfig /release and press Enter. Then, type ipconfig /renew and press Enter. Open an Internet browser and enter http://192.168.1.201

5. Enter your user name and password. The default username is admin. The default password is admin. Press Enter on your keyboard.

6. The Web User Interface will appear. Select Client Mode or Ad Hoc Mode and click Next. Type your wireless network SSID in the SSID field, select the corresponding Data Encryption, Authentication, and Network Key, if applicable. Click Save. A “Your 5430 is configured” message will appear. Click Continue.

7. Once you have configured your USR5430, remove the Ethernet cable from your computer and connect to the Ethernet port on your gaming console or your Ethernet-ready device.

Performing a Site Survey

Site Survey is a powerful tool and should be utilized to ensure your USR5430 associates to your wireless network. Performing a Site Survey scans for all wireless routers and access points within range and displays the SSID (the network names) of each. If you are not associating to your wireless network or if you are not associating to any wireless network, performing a Site Survey should be your first course of action. To perform a site survey, follow the steps below:

1. Access the Web User Interface. It is important to verify the status of your USR5430 before performing a Site Survey. To do so, select the Status tab as demonstrated below:

The network you are associated to will display its SSID name. The MAC address will display the MAC address of the wireless router or access point. If the SSID name and the MAC address match those of your wireless router or access point, you are successfully associated to your wireless network. If the SSID and MAC address to do not match your wireless router or access point, or if you see a “Device is not associated” message, proceed to Step

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 4 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

2. Select the Tools tab. Click Site Survey. A separate window will appear displaying the SSID (the network names) of each wireless router and access point within range. Select your wireless network SSID and click Select.

3. Wait about 15 seconds in order for the device to reboot and click Continue. The Status page will appear. Your USR5430 should now be associated to your wireless network. If your USR5430 is not associated to your wireless network, refer to the Troubleshooting section in this User Guide.

What is Wireless Networking and how does it work?

There are two types of wireless network set ups: Client Mode (infrastructure) and Ad Hoc Mode (peer-to-peer).

Client Mode is an 802.11 networking framework in which devices communicate with each other by first going through a wireless router or access point. Wireless devices can communicate with each other or can communicate with a wired network. Generally, a majority of small businesses and home users operate in Client Mode because they require access to the wired LAN (usually from broadband or cable Internet providers) in order to use services such as file servers or printers. The graphic below depicts one example of an Client Mode network using a USR5430 connected to a gaming console.

DVR, printer, computer, or other Ethernet-ready device

ADSL or cable modem

Internet

Wireless Router or Access Point

USR5430

Gaming console

Ad Hoc (sometimes referred to as peer-to-peer), is a type of wireless network allowing a wireless adapter or other Ethernet-ready device to connect directly to another wireless adapter or Ethernet-ready device. The graphic below depicts one example of an ad hoc network.

DVR, computer, or other Ethernet-ready device

Gaming console

USR5430

DVR, computer, or other Ethernet-ready device

Gaming console

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 5 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

Wireless Antenna Range Performance

If your USR5430 is not maintaining a wireless connection to your network, you might be encountering interference from walls or other structures that is lowering your link quality. Try placing your USR5430 at a higher location, such as a higher shelf, or repositioning it in a different area of your room or office. You may also be experiencing interference from other wireless devices such as cordless phones, baby monitors, security alarms, etc. Be sure other wireless devices are on different non-overlapping channels. It may also be necessary for you to move your USR5430 away from major appliances such as TV’s, refrigerators, microwave ovens, etc. Here’s why:

Wireless antenna’s work off of radio waves. Radio waves don't travel the same distance in all directions. Walls, doors, elevator shafts, people, and other obstacles offer varying degrees of signal loss (attenuation), which cause the Radio Frequency (RF) radiation pattern to be irregular and unpredictable. Attenuation is simply a reduction of signal strength during transmission. Attenuation is registered in decibels (dB), which is ten times the logarithm of the signal power at a particular input divided by the signal power at an output of a specified medium. For example, an office wall that changes the propagation of an RF signal from a power level of 200 milliwatts (the input) to 100 milliwatts (the output) represents 3 dB of attenuation. The following provides some examples of the attenuation values of common office construction:

• Plasterboard wall: 3dB

• Glass wall with metal frame: 6dB

• Cinder block wall: 4dB

• Office window: 3dB

•Metal door: 6dB

• Metal door in brick wall: 12.4dB

Other factors that will reduce range and affect coverage area include concrete fiberboard walls, aluminum siding, pipes and electrical wiring, microwave ovens, and cordless phones.

Status Page

The Status page displays the particular status of, amongst other informative details, the network you’re associated to, including the SSID name, what channel you’re broadcasting on, and what firmware version your are using. Note: If the MAC address field displays a “Device not associated” message, this indicates your USR5430 is not associated to your wireless network. If, however, the MAC address field displays a valid MAC address, this indicates that your USR5430 is associated to your wireless network.

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 6 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

Wireless Menu Options

Use the Wireless menu to change your mode from Client to Ad Hoc Mode and enter a Network Name (SSID) or select a unique channel for Ad Hoc Mode. If you are not sure of the SSID of your network, use the Site Survey feature under To ol s to locate a network near the USR5430.

Security: Using a secure wireless network

A wireless network offers you the freedom to roam without the burden of cables but it also means that your data is accessible to anyone else in range of your wireless grid. If you are concerned about a neighbor or someone within range of your wireless network using your wireless connection for malicious activity, we strongly recommend that you enable wireless security to prevent unauthorized connection or someone from eavesdropping to listen in on your network traffic. Today, many wireless routers provide several mechanisms for securing a wireless network and it is recommended that you first enable security on your wireless router and then match the method you have selected on your clients.

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 7 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

U.S. Robotics recommends any one or both of the following two methods:

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)

Your USR5430 supports 64-bit and 128-bit WEP security. If available on your wireless router, we recommend you enable the higher bit security. When you enable WEP, it uses a key to encrypt the data and this specifically formatted data can only be understood by another wireless device that knows of this key. Since both ends use the same key, any users who do not know the key cannot connect to your network and use your Internet connection.

MAC Address filtering

Many wireless routers provide a mechanism for creating a list of devices that can participate in your wireless network. Refer to your wireless router or access point’s documentation to learn if MAC Address filtering is supported.

Enabling security on your USR5430

Enabling WEP.

After you have obtained your network name (SSID configured on your wireless router or access point and its security settings), you can use the Security menu located on the Web User Interface pages to program your USR5430 for WEP security.

If you select WEP, you have the option to enforce Shared Key Authentication (Forced) or let the USR5430 send it only when a wireless router requests it (Open System).

It is important that you match the Network Keys with those of your wireless routers. If you have multiple Network Keys, you can enter up to four keys. Note: Network Keys are case sensitive. When entering a Network Key, be sure you insert the key exactly as it appears in your wireless router or access point.

Wireless MAC Filtering

You can use MAC Address filtering to connect only to a specific wireless router or access point. You can add the MAC Address of your wireless router or access point and change the “Wireless MAC address filtering” field to Allow. In doing so, your USR5430 will only “talk” to your wireless router or access point and cannot be accessed by other devices.

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 8 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

Advance Menu Options

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 9 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

Radio

Use the Radio menu to enable and disable wireless signal transmission. If you want to shut down the signal of your unit (disconnect from the wireless network), select Radio Off.

Channel

802.11b and 802.11g use channels to limit interference from other devices. If you are experienc-

ing interference with another 2.4Ghz device such as a baby monitor, security alarm, or cordless phone, change the channel on your USR5430 as well as your wireless router. The channel feature will be used mostly in Ad Hoc Mode. In Client Mode, the USR5430 automatically switches the channel to match the one from the wireless router or access point.

54g Mode

If you are having difficulty connecting to an 802.11b wireless only router, try switching your USR5430 to 802.11b only mode and do the same with your wireless router. This will ensure you are connecting to 802.11b devices only. Set the mode to 54g Auto for the widest compatibility. Set the mode to 54g Performance for the fastest performance among 54g certified equipment.

54g Protection

The 802.11g standards provide a protection method so 802.11g and 802.11b devices can co-exist in the same network without “speaking” at the same time. Do not disable 54g Protection if there is a possibility that a 802.11b device may need to use your wireless network. In Auto Mode, the wireless device will use RTS/CTS to improve 802.11g performance in mixed 802.11g/802.11b networks. Turn protection off to maximize 802.11g throughput under most conditions.

54g+ (Xpress)

54g+ is a technology that utilizes standards based on framebursting to achieve higher throughput. With 54g+ enabled, aggregate throughput (the sum of the individual throughput speeds of each client on the network) can improve by up to 25% in 802.11g only networks and up to 75% in mixed networks comprised of 802.11g and 802.11b equipment.

Rate

You may force a lower data rate if you are having trouble getting connected or losing data at a higher rate. It is important to know that some data rates belong only to one 802.11 standard but not the other which will force your USR5430 to connect to only that network.

802.11g rates; 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps

802.11b rates: 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps

Basic Rate Set:

You have the option of supporting all rates as listed in the Rate section above or using the 1, 2 Mbps rates which will support only older 802.11b implementations.

Fragmentation Threshold

This threshold is used to fragment packets which help improve performance in the presence of RF interference.

RTS Threshold (Request to Send Threshold)

The RTS threshold determines the packet size of a transmission and, through the use of an access point, helps control traffic flow.

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 10 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

DTIM Interval

The DTIM Interval sets the Wake-up interval for clients in power-saving mode.

Beacon Interval

A beacon is a packet of information that is sent from a connected device to all other devices where it announces its availability and readiness. A beacon interval is a period of time (sent with the beacon) before sending the beacon again. The beacon interval may be adjusted in milliseconds (ms).

Preamble Type

Preambles are a sequence of binary bits that help the receivers synchronize and ready for receipt of a data transmission. Some older wireless systems like 802.11b implementation use shorter preambles. If you are having difficulty connecting to an older 802.11b device, try using a short preamble. You can select short preamble on if the 54g mode is set to 802.11b Only in the 54g Mode field.

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 11 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

Changing Between Client and Ad Hoc Modes

To change between Client and Ad Hoc Modes, simply access the Web User Interface, select Setup, and follow the on-screen instructions as demonstrated in the graphics below:

Or, you can also switch between modes by selecting the Wireless tab, selecting the appropriate mode from the Wireless Mode field, and selecting Apply.

Upgrading Your Adapter

Download and place the firmware file to a local directory. Place the USR5430 in Configuration Mode (insert a pin or paperclip to press the reset button momentarily - less than 2 seconds). Connect the Ethernet cable to your computer’s Ethernet port and release and renew your computer’s IP address (refer to the Accessing the USR5430’s Web User Interface pages in this User Guide for more information). Launch an Internet browser and enter http://192.168.1.201 in the address line. Enter the username (the default username is admin) and the password (the default pass- word is admin) to access the Web User Interface. Select the Too l s tab. From the New Firmware line, select Browse and locate where the downloaded firmware file was placed. Select Upgrade to start the upgrade. It is important that you do not unplug the cable or interrupt the upgrade. Allow several minutes for the adapter to reboot after the upgrade.

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 12 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

Tools Menu Options

Site Survey will search for all networks (SSID) in range of the adapter and allow you to select one for association. In case the selected network uses encryption, you first need to setup encryption on your USR5430 using the Security tab (refer to your wireless router or access point documentation for specific networking security information).

Use the To ol s menu to change the USR5430 login account, modify the USR5430’s management IP address and subnet mask, and restore the USR5430 to factory defaults.

R24.0459.00 5430 US Fr Can .book Page 13 Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:43 PM

Troubleshooting

If at any time you are asked to access your Web User Interface in any of the Troubleshooting solutions, follow the steps below to do so:

1. Attach the antenna to the back of the USR5430.

2. Plug the AC power adapter into the 12VDC jack on the back of the USR5430.

3. Insert a pin or paperclip to press the reset button momentarily (less than 2 seconds). The reset button is located on the back of the USR5430.

4. Connect one end of the included Ethernet cable to the port on the back of the USR5430. Connect the other end to the Ethernet port on your computer. Open an Internet browser and enter http://192.168.1.201 Note: If your search for the device “times-out” or you did not get a dialog box for the username and password, you may need to refresh the IP settings on your computer. Follow the steps below for your operating system to refresh the IP settings on your computer. Once complete, access the USR5430 using your browser.

Windows 95, 98, or Me Users:

Release All and then click Renew All. Open an Internet browser and enter http://

192.168.1.201

Windows NT, 2000, or XP Users: Click Windows Start and then Run. Type cmd and click OK. At the DOS prompt, type ipconfig /all. Check the IP address (default is 192.168.1.202), Subnet Mask (default is

5. Enter your user name and password. The default username is admin. The default password is admin. Press Enter on your keyboard.

6. The Web User Interface will appear.

7. Once you have checked your USR5430 settings, remove the Ethernet cable from your computer and connect to the Ethernet port on your gaming console or your Ethernet-ready device.

I am experiencing poor link quality in some areas of my home or office. Possible Solution: For Client Mode users: Try changing channels on your wireless router. For more information

regarding the use of channels, refer to your wireless router or access point’s documentation.

For Ad Ho c users: To change and select the channel of your choice, access the Web User Interface by opening an Internet browser and entering http://192.168.1.201 in the address field. Select the

Wireless tab. Select the corresponding channel from the Channel pull-down menu and click Apply. Be sure the channel selected on your USR5430 matches the channel on your other ad hoc

device.

+ 33 hidden pages

USRobotics USR5430 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual