Linksys WPC300N manual

Model No . Notebook Adapter Wir eless- N WPC300N User Guide WIRELESS GH z 2.4[...]

Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Copyright and T r ademarks Specifications are subject to change without notice . L inksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc . and/or its affiliates in the U.S . and certain other countries. Co pyright © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc . All rights reserved. Other brands and product names are tradem ar[...]

Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Welcome 1 What’s in this User Guide? 1 Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network 3 Network Topology 3 Roaming 3 Network Layout 4 Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter 5 The LED Indicators 5 Chapter 4: Setting up and Connecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adap[...]

Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Appendix G: Warranty Information 50 Appendix H: Regulatory Information 51 Appendix I: Contact Infor mation 58[...]

Wireless-N Notebook Adapter List of Figures Figure 3-1: Front Panel 5 Figure 4-1: Setup Wizard’s Welcome Screen 6 Figure 4-2: Setup Wizard’s License Agreement 6 Figure 4-3: Connecting the Adapter 7 Figure 4-4: Available Wireless Networks 7 Figure 4-5: WEP Key Needed for Connection 8 Figure 4-6: PSK Personal Needed for Connection 8 Figure 4-7: P[...]

Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Figure 5-7: PSK Personal Needed for Connecti on 20 Figure 5-8: PSK 2 Personal Needed for Connecti on 20 Figure 5-9: Profiles 21 Figure 5-10: Creating a Profile 22 Figure 5-11: WEP Key Needed for Connection 22 Figure 5-12: PSK Personal Needed for Connecti on 23 Figure 5-13: PSK2 Personal Needed for Connecti on 23 Figure 5[...]

1 Chapter 1: Introductio n Welcome Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Chapter 1: Introduction We l c o m e Thank you for choosing the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter . Setting up your network and your Wireless-N Notebook Adapter is easier than ever . How does the Adapter do this? Like all wireless pro ducts, the Adapter allows for greater range and mobility w[...]

2 Chapter 1: Introductio n What’s in this User Guide? Wireless-N Notebook Adapter • Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monitor This chapter show you how to use the Adapter’s Wireless Netw ork Monitor . • Appendix A: T roublesh ooting This appendix describes some problems and solutions, as well as frequently asked questions, regarding ins[...]

3 Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network Network Topology Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network Network T opology A wireless network is a group of computers, each equipped with one wireless adapter . Computers in a wireless network must be configured to share the same radio channel. Several PCs equipped with wirel[...]

4 Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network Network Layout Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Network Layout Linksys wireless access points and wireless routers have been designed for use with 802.11a, 802.11b , and 802.11g products. With 802.11g products communicating with the 802.11b standard and some products incorporating both “a” and “g”, pro[...]

5 Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-N Notebook Ad apter The LED Indicators Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter The LED Indicators The Network Adapter's LEDs display information about network activity . Power Green . The Power LED lights up when the Adapter is powered on. Link/Act Green .[...]

6 Chapter 4: Setting up and Conn ecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Starting the Setup Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Chapter 4: Setting up and Connecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Starting the S etup The Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Setup Wizard will guide you through the installation procedure. The Setup Wizard will install the driver and W[...]

7 Chapter 4: Setting up and Conn ecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Connecting the Adapter Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Connecting the Adapter 1. Locate an available CardBus slot on your notebook PC. 2. With the connector pin end facing the CardBus slot and the lab el facing up, slide the Adapter into the CardBus slot until it locks in place . 3[...]

8 Chapter 4: Setting up and Conn ecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Setting up the Adapter Wireless-N Notebook Adapter 2. If your network has WEP , PSK , or PSK2 wireless security enabled, then that security screen will appear . Continue to the screen for your wireless security . • WEP (Wired Equivalent Privac y) If you have WEP enabled, this[...]

9 Chapter 4: Setting up and Conn ecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Setting up the Adapter Wireless-N Notebook Adapter • PSK2 If your network has the wireless security PSK2 enabled, this screen will appear . Pre-shared Key - Enter a Pre-shared Key of 8-63 characters in the Pre-shared Key field. Then click Connect and proceed to Step 3. 3. Aft[...]

10 Chapter 4: Setting up and Conn ecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Setting up the Adapter Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Advanced Setup If your network is not listed with the available networks, you can use Manual Setup. 1. Click Advanced Setup on the Av ailable Wireless Network screen to set up the adapter manually . 2. The Network Settings scr[...]

11 Chapter 4: Setting up and Conn ecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Setting up the Adapter Wireless-N Notebook Adapter 4. If you chose Infrastructure Mode , go to Step 5 now . If you chose Ad-Hoc Mode , the Ad-Hoc Mode Settings screen will appear . Network Mode - Select the Network Mode in which your wireless network will operate . In Mixed m [...]

12 Chapter 4: Setting up and Conn ecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Setting up the Adapter Wireless-N Notebook Adapter WEP Key - The WEP key you enter must match the WEP key of your wireless network. For 64-bit encr yption, enter exactly 10 hexadecimal characters. For 128-bit en cryption, enter exactly 26 hexadecimal characters. Valid hexadeci[...]

13 Chapter 4: Setting up and Conn ecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Setting up the Adapter Wireless-N Notebook Adapter PSK+RADIUS PSK+RADIUS features PSK security used in coordination with a RADIUS server . ( This should only be used when a RADIUS server is con nected to the Router .) PSK Enterprise offers two authentication methods, EAP- TLS [...]

14 Chapter 4: Setting up and Conn ecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Setting up the Adapter Wireless-N Notebook Adapter PSK2+RADIUS PSK2+RADIUS features PSK2 security used in coordination with a RADIUS server . (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router .) PSK2+RADIUS offers two authenticatio n methods, EAP- TLS a[...]

15 Chapter 4: Setting up and Conn ecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Setting up the Adapter Wireless-N Notebook Adapter RADIUS RADIUS features use of a RADIUS server . (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router .) RADIUS offers two aut hentication types: EAP-TLS and PEAP . Authentication - Select the authenticatio[...]

16 Chapter 4: Setting up and Conn ecting the Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Setting up the Adapter Wireless-N Notebook Adapter 4. The Confirm New Settings screen will appear next and sho w the new settings. T o save the new settings, click the Sav e button. T o edit the new settings, click the Back button. T o exit the Advanced Setup through the Wirel[...]

17 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Accessing the Wireless Network Monitor Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Use the Wireless Network Monitor to check the link information, search for available wireless networks, or create profiles that hold different configuration settings. Accessing the Wirele[...]

18 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Link Information Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Wireless Network Status The Wireless Network Status screen provides information on your current network settings. Radio Band - This shows the radio band used on the network. Wireless Network Name- This is the unique name (SSID) of the wireless network. Wi[...]

19 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Link Information Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Wireless Network Statistics The Wireless Networks Statistics screen provides statistics on your current network settings. T ransmit Rate - This is the data transfer rate of the current conn ection. (In Auto mode , the Adapter dynamically shifts to the fas[...]

20 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Connect Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Connect The Connect screen displays a list of available networks in the table on the left. The table shows each network’ s Wireless Network Name , Channel, and the quality of the wireless signal the Adapter is receiving. Y ou may click Wireless Network Name , CH[...]

21 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Profiles Wireless-N Notebook Adapter • If the network has PSK2 wireless security enabled, then you will see the P SK2 Nee ded for Connection screen. Enter the network’ s Pre-shared Key in the Pre-shared Key field. T o connect to the network, click Connect . T o cancel the connection, click Cance[...]

22 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Create a New Profile Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Create a New Profile The next screen to appear will be the A vailable Wireless Networks screen. This screen provides two options for setting up the Adapter . • Av ailable Wireless Networks. (For most users.) Use this option if you already have a net[...]

23 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Create a New Profile Wireless-N Notebook Adapter the passphrase of your other wireless network devices and is compatible with Linksys wireless products only . (If you have any non-Linksys wireless products, enter the WEP key m anually on those products.) WEP Key - The WEP key you enter must match th[...]

24 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Create a New Profile Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Advanced Setup If your network is not listed with the available networks, you can use Advanced Setup. 1. Click Advanced Set up on the Av ailable Wireless Networks screen to set up the adapter manually . 2. The Network Settings screen from the Wireless[...]

25 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Create a New Profile Wireless-N Notebook Adapter 3. The Wireless Mode screen shows a choice of two wireless modes. Click the Infrastructure Mode radio button if you want to connect to a wireless rou ter or access point. Click the Ad-Hoc Mode radio button if you want to connect to another wireless de[...]

26 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Create a New Profile Wireless-N Notebook Adapter 5. If your wireless network doesn’t have wir eless security , select Disable d and then click the Next button to continue . Proceed to Step 6. If your wireless network has wireless security , select the meth od of security used: WEP , PSK , P SK 2 ,[...]

27 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Create a New Profile Wireless-N Notebook Adapter P SK P SK two encryption meth ods, TKIP and AES, with dynamic encryption keys. Select TKIP or AES for encryption . Then enter a Pre-shared Key that is 8-63 characters in length. Encryptio n - Select the type of algorithm you want to use , TKIP or AES,[...]

28 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Create a New Profile Wireless-N Notebook Adapter P SK+RADIUS PSK+RADIUS features PSK security used in coordination with a RADIUS server . ( This should only be used when a RADIUS server is con nected to the Router .) PSK+RADIUS offers two authentication methods, EAP- TLS and PEAP , as well as two en[...]

29 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Create a New Profile Wireless-N Notebook Adapter PSK2+RADIUS PSK2+RADIUS E nterprise features PSK2 security used in coordination with a RADIUS server . (This should only be used when a RADIUS ser ver is connected to the Router .) PSK2+RADIUS offers two authentication me thods, EAP- TLS and PEAP . Au[...]

30 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Create a New Profile Wireless-N Notebook Adapter RADIUS RADIUS features use of a RADIUS server . (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router .) RADIUS offers two aut hentication types: EAP-TLS and PEAP . Authentication - Select the authentication method your network is [...]

31 Chapter 5: Using the Wireless Network Monito r Create a New Profile Wireless-N Notebook Adapter 6. The Confirm New Settings screen will appear next and sho w the new settings. T o save the new settings, click the Save button. T o edit the new settings, click the Back button. T o exit the Advanced Setup through the Wireless Network Monitor , clic[...]

32 Appendix A: Troubleshoo ting Common Problems and So lutions Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Appendix A: Troubleshooting This appendix consists of two parts: “Common Problems and Solutions” and “F requently Asked Questions. ” This appendix provides solutions to problems that may occur d uring the installation and operation of the Wireless-N N[...]

33 Appendix A: Troubleshoo ting Frequently Asked Questions Wireless-N Notebook Adapter What is the IEEE 802.11 g standard? It is one of the IEEE standards for wireless network s. The 802.11g standard allows wireless networking hardware from different manufacturers to communicate , provided that the hardware complies with the 802.11g standard. The 8[...]

34 Appendix A: Troubleshoo ting Frequently Asked Questions Wireless-N Notebook Adapter simultaneously requires a dynamic RF networking technology that links access points and nodes. In such a system, the user’ s end node undertakes a search for the best possible access to the system. First, it evaluates such factors as signal strength and quality[...]

35 Appendix A: Troubleshoo ting Frequently Asked Questions Wireless-N Notebook Adapter What is WP A? WP A is Wi-Fi Protected Access, a wireless security protocol that can be used in conjunction w ith a RADIUS server . What is RAD IUS? RADIUS is Remote Authentication Dial-In User Ser vice , w hich uses an authentication ser ver to control network ac[...]

36 Appendix B: Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuratio n Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Appendix B: Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration Windows XP Wireless Zero Configur ation If your computer is running Windows XP , then this c hoice will be available . If you want to use Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration to control the Adapter , inst ead of us[...]

37 Appendix B: Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuratio n Wireless-N Notebook Adapter 2. The screen that appears will show any available wirele ss netw ork. Select the network you want. Click the Connect button. If your network does not have wireless security enabled, go to step 3. If your network does have wireless security enabled, go to step 4. 3. [...]

38 Appendix B: Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuratio n Wireless-N Notebook Adapter 4. If your network uses wireless security WEP , enter the WEP Key used into the Network Key and Confir m network key fields. If your network uses wireless security WP A Personal, enter the P assphrase used into the Network Key and Confirm network key fields. Click th[...]

39 Appendix C: Wireless Security Security Precautions Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Appendix C: Wireless Securit y Linksys wants to make wir eless networking as safe and easy for you as possible . The current generation of Linksys products provide several network security features, but they require specific action on your part for implementation. So,[...]

40 Appendix C: Wireless Security Security Threats Facing Wireless Netwo rks Wireless-N Notebook Adapter 1. Disable Broadcast 2. Make it unique 3. Change it often Most wireless networking devices will give you the optio n of broadcasting the SSID . While this option may be more convenient, it allows anyone to log into your wireless network. This inc[...]

41 Appendix C: Wireless Security Security Threats Facing Wireless Netwo rks Wireless-N Notebook Adapter WP A Personal. If you do not have a RADIUS server , Select the type o f algorithm, TKIP or AES, and enter a password in the Passphrase field of 8-63 char acters. WP A Enterprise . WP A used in co ordination with a RADIUS server . (This should onl[...]

42 Appendi x D: Wind ows Hel p Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Appendix D: Windows Help All wireless products require Microsoft Windows. Windows is the most used operating system in the world and comes with many features that help make networking easier . These features can be accessed through Windows Help and are described in this appendix. TCP/IP Bef[...]

43 Appendix E: Glossary Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Appendix E: Glossar y This glossary contains som e basic networking terms you may come across when using this product. Fo r more advanced terms, see the complete Linksys glossary at http://www .linksys.com/glossary . Access Point - A device tha t allows wireless-equipped computers and other de vic[...]

44 Appendix E: Glossary Wireless-N Notebook Adapter DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) - Removes the Router's firewall pr otection from one PC, allowing it to be "seen" from the Internet. DNS (Domain Name Ser ver) - The IP address of your ISP's server , which translates the names of websites into IP addresses. Domain - A specific name for[...]

45 Appendix E: Glossary Wireless-N Notebook Adapter IP Address - The address used to identify a computer or device on a network. IPCONFIG - A Windows 2000 and XP utility that displays the IP address for a particular networking device . IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) - A VPN protocol used to implement secure exchange of packets at the IP layer .[...]

46 Appendix E: Glossary Wireless-N Notebook Adapter RJ-45 (Registered Jack-45) - An Ethernet connector that ho lds up to eight wires. Roaming - The ability to take a wireless device from one access point's range to another without losing the connection. Router - A networking device that connects multiple networks together . Server - An y compu[...]

47 Appendix E: Glossary Wireless-N Notebook Adapter TKIP (T emporal Key Integrity Protocol) - a wireless encr yption pro tocol that provides dynamic encr yption keys for each packet transmitted. T opology - The physical layout of a network. TX Rate - T ransmission Rate. Upgrade - T o replace existing software or firmware with a newer version. Uploa[...]

48 Appendix F: Specifications Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Appendix F: Specifications Standards IEEE 802.11b , IE EE 802.11g , draft IEEE 802.11n Channels 802.11b/802.11g/Wireless-N (20MHz) 11 Channels (USA, Canada) 13 Channels (Europe) LEDs Power , Link/Act Protocols 802.11b: CCK, QPSK, BPSK 802.11g: OFDM Wireless-N: BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM T ra[...]

49 Appendix F: Specifications Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Storage Humidity 5% to 90% Non-Condensing[...]

50 Appendix G: Warranty Information Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Appendix G: Warrant y Information LIMITED WARRANTY Linksys warrants to Y ou that, for a p eriod of three years (the “Warranty Period”), your Linksys Product will be substantially free of defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. Y our exclusive remedy and Linksys'[...]

51 Appendix H: Regulatory Informatio n Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Appendix H: Regulator y Information FCC Statement This product has been tested and complies with the specifications 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 reside[...]

52 Appendix H: Regulatory Informatio n Wireless-N Notebook Adapter User Information for Consumer Products Covered by EU Directive 2002/96/EC on Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) This document contains important info rmation for u sers with regards to the proper disposal and recycling of Linksys products. Consumers are required to compl[...]

53 Appendix H: Regulatory Informatio n Wireless-N Notebook Adapter[...]

54 Appendix H: Regulatory Informatio n Wireless-N Notebook Adapter[...]

55 Appendix H: Regulatory Informatio n Wireless-N Notebook Adapter[...]

56 Appendix H: Regulatory Inf ormation Wireless-G Notebook Adap ter with RangeBoo ster For more information, visit www .linksys.co m.[...]

57 Appendix H: Regulatory Informatio n Wireless-N Notebook Adapter[...]

58 Appendix I: Contact Informa tion Wireless-N Notebook Adapter Appendix I: Contact Information Need to contact Linksys? Visit us online for information on the latest products and updates to your existing products at: http://www .linksys.com or ftp.linksys.com Can't find information about a product you want to buy on the web? Do you want to kn[...]