Adaptec Ultra WirelessTM USB Adapter User’s Guide R
Copyright © 2002 Adaptec, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Adaptec, Inc., 691 South Milpitas Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035. Trademarks Adaptec, the Adaptec logo, and Ultra Wireless are trademarks of Adaptec, Inc., which may be registered in some jurisdictions.
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Limited 2-Year Hardware Warranty 1. Adaptec, Inc. (“Adaptec”) warrants to the purchaser of this product that it will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of two (2) years from the date of purchase.
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7. Limited Warranty. Adaptec and its Licensor warrant only that the media upon which the Software is furnished will be free from defects in material or workmanship under normal use and service for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of delivery to you. ADAPTEC AND ITS LICENSORS DO NOT AND CANNOT WARRANT THE PERFORMANCE OR RESULTS YOU MAY OBTAIN BY USING THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION. THE FOREGOING STATES THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES ADAPTEC AND ITS LICENSORS WILL PROVIDE FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY.
Regulatory Compliance Statements Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Interference Statement WARNING: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. 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.
In this Guide Getting Started 2 Installation Task List 3 Installing the Wireless USB Adapter 4 Installing the Device Driver 6 Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility 17 Disabling Zero Configuration (Windows XP only) 21 Installing Network Protocols 23 Connecting to the WLAN 27 Checking Your Network Connection 30 Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN 31 Troubleshooting 40 About Wireless Technology and LANs 42 Technical Specifications 44 Glossary 45 1
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Getting Started This User’s Guide provides detailed instructions for installing and configuring your Adaptec AWN-8030 Ultra Wireless USB Adapter. See the Installation Task List on page 3 for an overview of the installation process. This Guide also includes a basic overview of wireless and Local Area Network (LAN) technology (see page 42) suitable for novice users.
Installation Task List Installation Task List To successfully install your Wireless USB Adapter, complete each of these tasks, in order: ❏ If you are unfamiliar with wireless technology or LANs, read About Wireless Technology and LANs on page 42 for a basic overview. ❏ Install the Wireless USB Adapter. See page 4. ❏ Install the device driver for your computer’s operating system. See page 6. ❏ Install the Adaptec Wireless Utility. See page 17. ❏ Disable Zero Configuration (Windows XP users only).
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Installing the Wireless USB Adapter Your Wireless USB Adapter, shown below, connects to a USB port of your computer, and has two LEDs that help you monitor the status of your wireless connection. The adapter receives power from the USB port. No power adapter is required. Power LED Glows steady when the adapter is receiving power. This LED goes dark when the power is turned off.
Installing the Wireless USB Adapter Removing the Wireless USB Adapter Your Wireless USB Adapter is hot-swappable, which means that you can remove it while your computer is running. ! Caution: To prevent data loss, stop all data transmission before you remove the Wireless USB Adapter. To remove the Wireless USB Adapter: 1 Right-click the Unplug or Eject Hardware icon. 2 Select Unplug or eject hardware. 3 Select your Wireless USB Adapter, then click Stop. Your computer stops your Wireless USB Adapter.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Installing the Device Driver Before you continue, ensure that you have: ❏ Reviewed About Wireless Technology and LANs on page 42 for a basic overview of WLANs. ❏ Installed the Wireless USB Adapter. See page 4. The next step on the Installation Task List (page 3) is to install the device driver. A device driver is a software program that lets your adapter communicate with your computer.
Installing the Device Driver Windows XP Driver Installation To install the device driver on Windows XP: 1 Install the Wireless USB Adapter into your computer. See page 4. Windows XP automatically detects the Wireless USB Adapter and opens the Found New Hardware Wizard. 2 Insert the Ultra Wireless USB CD into your CD-ROM drive. 3 In the Found New Hardware Wizard, select Install the software automatically..., then click Next. 4 Click Continue Anyway. Windows XP installs the driver.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide 5 Click Finish. The device driver installation is complete. Windows XP automatically begins the next installation task by opening the software installation wizard for the Adaptec Wireless Utility. Go to Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility on page 17 to continue.
Installing the Device Driver Windows 2000 Driver Installation To install the device driver on Windows 2000: 1 Install the Wireless USB Adapter into your computer. See page 4. Windows 2000 automatically detects the Wireless USB Adapter and opens the Found New Hardware Wizard. 2 Click Next. 3 Select Search for a suitable driver..., then click Next. 4 Insert the Ultra Wireless USB CD into your CD-ROM drive.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide 5 Select CD-ROM driver, then click Next. 6 Click Next.
Installing the Device Driver 7 Click Yes. 8 Click Finish. The device driver installation is complete. Windows 2000 automatically begins the next installation task by opening the software installation wizard for the Adaptec Wireless Utility. Go to Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility on page 17 to continue.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Windows Me Driver Installation To install the device driver on Windows Me: 1 Install the Wireless USB Adapter into your computer. See page 4. Windows Me automatically detects the Wireless USB Adapter and opens the Add New Hardware Wizard. 2 Insert the Ultra Wireless USB CD into your CD-ROM drive. 3 Select Automatic search for a better driver..., then click Next. 4 Click Finish.
Installing the Device Driver 5 Click Yes to restart your computer. When the restart is complete, Windows Me automatically begins the next installation task by opening the software installation wizard for the Adaptec Wireless Utility. Go to Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility on page 17 to continue.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Windows 98SE Driver Installation To install the device driver on Windows 98SE: 1 Install the Wireless USB Adapter into your computer. See page 4. Windows 98SE automatically detects the Wireless USB Adapter and opens the Add New Hardware Wizard. 2 Click Next. 3 Select Search for the best driver..., then click Next. 4 Insert the Ultra Wireless USB CD into your CD-ROM drive.
Installing the Device Driver 5 Select CD-ROM drive, then click Next. 6 Click Next. Windows 98SE copies files to your hard drive.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide 7 Click Finish. 8 Click Yes to restart your computer. When the restart is complete, Windows 98SE automatically begins the next installation task by opening the software installation wizard for the Adaptec Wireless Utility. Go to Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility on page 17 to continue.
Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility Before you continue, make sure that you have: ❏ Reviewed About Wireless Technology and LANs on page 42 for a basic overview of WLANs. ❏ Installed the Wireless USB Adapter. See page 4. ❏ Installed the device driver. See page 6. The next step on the Installation Task List (see page 3) is to install the Adaptec Wireless Utility, a software application that helps you configure your Wireless USB Adapter.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide 2 The installation wizard chooses a default destination folder for the software files. Click Next to accept the default destination (recommended), or click Browse to select an alternate destination. 3 You can choose where to store program icons in the Program Folder. Type a new folder name or select one from the Existing Folders list. Click Next.
Installing the Adaptec Wireless Utility 4 Click Next. 5 The software installation begins. The Setup Status appears on screen. 6 Click Finish.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Note: Windows XP users only—Windows XP has a built-in configuration application called Zero Configuration, which automatically takes over as the default utility for your Wireless USB Adapter. When the Adaptec Wireless Utility installation is complete, a message appears telling you that you must disable Windows Zero Configuration before using the Adaptec Wireless Utility.
Disabling Zero Configuration (Windows XP only) Disabling Zero Configuration (Windows XP only) Although the Adaptec Wireless Utility is installed on your Windows XP system, Windows XP has a built-in configuration application called Zero Configuration that automatically takes over as the default utility for your Wireless USB Adapter. To use the Adaptec Wireless Utility, you must first disable Zero Configuration.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide 3 Ensure that the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings box is deselected, then click OK. Ensure checkbox is empty. 4 Open the Adaptec Wireless Utility. (See page 28.) If the Adaptec Wireless Utility is already running, close it and re-open it.
Installing Network Protocols Installing Network Protocols Before you continue, make sure that you have completed these tasks: ❏ Reviewed About Wireless Technology and LANs on page 42 for a basic overview of WLANs. ❏ Installed the Wireless USB Adapter. See page 4. ❏ Installed the device driver. See page 6. ❏ Installed the Adaptec Wireless Utility. See page 17. ❏ Disabled Zero Configuration (Windows XP users only). See page 21.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Windows 98SE/Me Users To install the appropriate network protocols: 1 From the Start menu, click Settings, then click Control Panel. 2 Double-click Network. Note: Before you add a network protocol, verify that the protocol is not already installed. (Refer to your Windows documentation for instructions.) Never install duplicate protocols.
Installing Network Protocols 3 Select Adaptec Wireless USB Adapter, then click Add. 4 Select Protocol, then click Add.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide 5 Under Manufacturers, select Microsoft, under Network Protocols, select TCP/IP, then click OK. 6 See Connecting to the WLAN on page 27 to continue with your last Installation Task.
Connecting to the WLAN Connecting to the WLAN Before you continue, make sure that you have: ❏ Reviewed About Wireless Technology and LANs on page 42 for a basic overview of WLANs. ❏ Installed the Wireless USB Adapter. See page 4. ❏ Installed the device driver. See page 6. ❏ Installed the Adaptec Wireless Utility. See page 17. ❏ Disabled Zero Configuration (Windows XP users only). See page 21. Adaptec Wireless products are preset to work together on a WLAN.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide To link your Wireless USB Adapter to your WLAN: 1 Open the Adaptec Wireless Utility by double-clicking the Adaptec Wireless Utility icon on your taskbar. Double-click 2 Click the Configuration tab. a Ensure that the Operating Mode setting is correct for your WLAN. Each station on your WLAN must be set to the same operating mode. (See Changing the Operating Mode on page 32 for more information.
Connecting to the WLAN 3 Click the Encryption tab. a Ensure that the Encryption Key Length setting is correct for your WLAN. Each station on your WLAN must have the same Encryption Key Length setting. If your other WLAN stations are set to Disabled, you must set your Wireless USB Adapter to Disabled.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Checking Your Network Connection You can check the status of your network connection three ways: ■ Look at the Link LED on your Wireless USB Adapter. If the LED is flashing, the adapter is searching for a connection. If it’s glowing steady, the wireless connection is made. If it’s dark, there is no wireless connection. ■ Look at the Adaptec Wireless Utility icon on your taskbar. If the icon is green, the wireless connection is made.
Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN You can use the Adaptec Wireless Utility to change the set-up of your WLAN by: ■ Changing the operating mode. See page 32. ■ Choosing a specific AP. See page 33. ■ Changing the Encryption (WEP) settings. See page 34. ■ Changing the transfer rate. See page 37. ■ Enabling the Power Saving Mode. See page 38. ■ Adjusting the Transmit Threshold Control settings. See page 38. ■ Saving and using configuration profiles. See page 39.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Changing the Operating Mode The Adaptec Wireless Utility offers two possible operating modes: ■ Ad-hoc mode (sometimes referred to as peer-to-peer mode) allows two computers to connect to each other in wireless-towireless (or peer-to-peer) communication. ■ Infrastructure mode allows multiple computers to interact, and is for WLANs that include an AP or Router. To change the operating mode of your Wireless USB Adapter: 1 Open the Adaptec Wireless Utility.
Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN Choosing an Access Point You can choose to connect to a specific AP from a list of all APs currently available to your Wireless USB Adapter. You might want to do this if you want to connect to a different WLAN. To connect to a specific AP: 1 Open the Adaptec Wireless Utility. See Step 1 on page 28. 2 Click the Site Survey tab. Available APs are listed. Click Search to find more APs, if required. 3 Click on your chosen AP.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Changing the Encryption Settings Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a security feature that encrypts the data being sent over the radio waves of your WLAN. Disabled encryption allows your Wireless devices to share data in plain text. The default Encryption Key Length setting is Disabled. Setting encryption to 64-Bit or 128-Bit encryption limits data sharing and increases data security, but may slow data transmission.
Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN 3 In the Encryption (WEP) drop-down box, select the setting you want. 4 If you select either 64-Bit or 128-Bit, you must create WEP keys, which control encryption, and set a default key. (The default key determines which of the four key sets is used for encryption and decryption.) See the next section to continue. Setting the WEP Keys WEP keys can be numeric, alphabetic, or a combination of both.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Creating the Keys with a Passphrase 1 Click Create with Passphrase, then type in your chosen word or phrase in the Passphrase text box. As you type, the Adaptec Wireless Utility will auto-generate the required keys and set a default key. (In the example below, the passphrase lomcevak generated the four unique keys shown and set the default key to 1.) 2 Click Apply Changes.
Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN Changing the Transfer Rate The default transfer rate setting, Auto Rate, allows your Wireless USB Adapter to automatically adjust its transfer speed for optimal performance and the longest operating range. Adaptec recommends that whenever possible, you maintain the Auto Rate setting. However, if your Wireless USB Adapter’s transfer rate changes frequently, you can set a lower transfer rate to achieve a more stable connection.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Enabling the Power Saving Mode You can enable the Power Saving Mode if you want your Wireless USB Adapter to enter sleep mode when not transmitting data. To enable Power Saving Mode: 1 Open the Adaptec Wireless Utility. See Step 1 on page 28. 2 Click the Configuration tab. 3 In the Power Saving Mode drop-down box, select Enabled, as shown above. 4 Click Apply Changes, then click OK to close the Adaptec Wireless Utility.
Changing the Set-up of Your WLAN Saving and Using Configuration Profiles You can save your Wireless USB Adapter set-ups in different profiles for use in different working environments. Using saved profiles removes the need to set up (reconfigure) your Wireless USB Adapter each time you move from one WLAN to another. For instance, you may wish to save two profiles if you use both an office WLAN and a home WLAN. The default profile contains the default settings of your Wireless USB Adapter.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Troubleshooting If you encounter difficulties installing or using your Wireless USB Adapter, work through these troubleshooting tips. My computer cannot link to the other Wireless devices on the WLAN. Ensure that you have configured your Wireless USB Adapter to work with the other Wireless devices on your WLAN. Work through the procedure provided in Connecting to the WLAN on page 27.
Troubleshooting 3 Select an Access Point, then click Connect. If a link is made, the Adaptec Wireless Utility icon turns green (see page 30) and the Link LED on your Wireless USB Adapter lights up. If no link is made, click the Link tab. If the Link Quality or Signal Strength values are lower than 25 percent, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to connect to that AP. Click Re-Scan to search for other available APs and repeat Step 3 if possible.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide About Wireless Technology and LANs This section provides a general overview of Wireless technology and LANs. There are many books and Web sites dedicated to this topic that can provide a more comprehensive explanation. What’s a LAN? A network is a group of computers that are connected together in a way that lets them share and exchange information and resources.
About Wireless Technology and LANs What About Security? You have multiple options for adding security to your WLAN. Set security according to the needs of your network. ■ You can limit access to parts of the network by setting passwords and creating special shared files. Refer to your operating system’s documentation for more information. ■ You can protect your network from intrusion by the outside world (via the Internet) by installing a router. Go to the Adaptec Web site at www.adaptec.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide Technical Specifications Standards IEEE 802.11b USB 1.0, 1.1 Channels 11 channels (US, Canada) 13 channels (Europe) 14 channels (Japan) Antenna Dipole antenna inside Frequency 2.412 to 2.462 GHz (Industrial Scientific Medical Band) Data Rate Up to 11 Mbps Operating Ranges Indoor (varies depending on environment): Up to 50 M @ 11 Mbps ■ Up to 80 M @ 5.5 Mbps Outdoor (varies depending on environment): ■ Up to 150 M @ 11 Mbps ■ Up to 300 M @ 5.
Glossary Glossary Access Point An Access Point (AP) is a wired controller that sends data to the wireless NICs installed in your network computers, and receives data back from them. An AP is often connected to the network computer that has Internet access, or is directly connected to the Internet by a DSL or cable modem. The AP then allows other stations on your WLAN to access the Internet. Ad-hoc mode See operating mode.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide firewall A firewall is a security device that helps prevent users outside your network from accessing your LAN or WLAN. A firewall uses special software that keeps unauthorized users out of your network. hot-swap To hot-swap is to remove or attach a device without first shutting off your computer.
Glossary network protocols Network protocols are rules that determine how devices on a network communicate with each other. NIC Stands for Network Interface Card. A Wireless NIC is a computer card (such as a Wireless PCI adapter, Wireless PC Card, or Wireless USB adapter) that lets your computer link to a WLAN. operating mode Ad-hoc mode (sometimes referred to as peer-to-peer mode) allows two computers to connect to each other in wireless-to-wireless (or peer-to-peer) communication.
Adaptec Ultra Wireless USB Adapter User’s Guide transfer rate The transfer rate is the speed at which your Wireless device is sending data. It is expressed in Mbps. The default transfer rate setting, Auto Rate (or Automatic), allows your Wireless device to automatically adjust its transfer speed for optimal performance and the longest operating range. Adaptec recommends that whenever possible, you maintain the Auto Rate setting.
Glossary Wireless Network ID The Wireless Network ID (also referred to as the SSID) is like a secret code that your AP and your Wireless devices share to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your WLAN. Your Wireless devices can only connect to your AP if they have the same SSID as the AP. Wireless devices in Ad-hoc mode must be set to the same SSID. The Wireless Network ID is case-sensitive and must not exceed 32 characters. WLAN Stands for Wireless Local Area Network.
R Adaptec, Inc. 691 South Milpitas Boulevard Milpitas, CA 95035 USA © 2002 Adaptec, Inc. All rights reserved. Adaptec and the Adaptec logo are trademarks of Adaptec, Inc. which may be registered in some jurisdictions. Stock Number: 513356-06, Ver.
