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Basic Troubleshooting Tips

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Installation Guide for the NETGEAR 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card WG511 Basic Troubleshooting Tips If you have problems connected to your wireless network, try the tips below. Symptom The PC Card LINK LED is not lit. Cause The WG511 is not inserted into the slot properly or the WG511 software is not loaded. Solution Remove and reinsert the WG511. Check the Windows device manager to see if the PC Card is recognized and enabled. Reload the WG511 software, if necessary. Try to install the WG511 in a different CardBus slot on your system if one is available. The LINK LED is blinking repeatedly. The WG511 is attempting to connect to access point but cannot connect. The access point may not be powered on. Or, the access point and the PC card are not configured with the same wireless parameters. Check the SSID and WEP settings. I can connect to an access point, but I cannot connect to other computers on the network or the Internet. This could be a physical layer problem or a network configuration problem. Check to make sure that the access point is physically connected to the Ethernet network. Make sure that the IP addresses and the Windows networking parameters are all configured correctly. Restart the cable or DSL modem, router, access point, and notebook PC. Also, for problems with accessing network resources, the Windows software might not be installed and configured properly on your computers. Please refer to Appendix C, "Preparing Your PCs for Network Access" of the Reference Manual on the NETGEAR 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card WG511 Resource CD. 2-20 Basic Setup

Section	Page
Installation Guide for the NETGEAR 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card WG511	1
Technical Support	2
Statement of Conditions	2
Certificate of the Manufacturer/Importer	2
VCCI Statement	3
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Compliance Notice: Radio Frequency Notice	3
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Radiation Exposure Statement	3
Canadian Department of Communications Radio Interference Regulations	3
Contents	5
Chapter 1 Introduction	5
Chapter 2 Basic Setup	5
Chapter 3 Configuration	5
Appendix A Technical Specifications	6
Appendix B Wireless Networking Basics	6
Appendix C Preparing Your PCs for Network Access	6
Glossary	6
Index	6
Chapter 1 Introduction	7
About the NETGEAR 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card WG511	7
Key Features and Related NETGEAR Products	7
What’s in the Box?	8
A Road Map for ‘How to Get There From Here’	9
Table 1-1. A Road Map for How to Get There From Here ...	9
Chapter 2 Basic Setup	13
What You Will Need Before You Begin	13
Verify System Requirements	13
Observe Location and Range Guidelines	14
Two Basic Operating Modes	14
WG511 Default Wireless Configuration Settings	15
Basic Installation Instructions	16
For Windows XP Users Installing a WG511	16
a. Power on your notebook, let the operating system boot up completely, and log in as needed.	16
b. Insert the Resource CD for the WG511 into your CD-ROM drive. The CD index page shown at the right will load.	16
c. Click the INSTALL button and an Install Software window opens. Read the instructions for running the software setup utility.	16
d. Click the Install Software link. When the browser warning message appears, click Open to start the Install Shield Wizard.	16
e. Follow the Install Shield Wizard steps, and click Finish when done to restart your computer.	16
a. Locate an available CardBus slot on the side of your notebook. Hold the PC Card with the Netgear logo facing up and insert it into the CardBus slot.	17
b. Click Next and follow the prompts to proceed.	17
a. Right click on the network icon in the Windows XP system tray to open the network options menu.	18
b. Click on the View Available Wireless Networks menu item.	18
c. If there is more than one wireless network in your vicinity, click on the one to which you will connect.	18
d. Click on the “Allow me to connect to the selected wireless network even though this is not secure” check box.	18
e. Click Connect.	18
a. Open the WG511 utility by clicking on the icon in the Windows system tray.	19
b. Verify that your Connection and Status Monitor information matches your wireless network.	19
c. Check the two WG511 LEDs:	19
d. Verify connectivity to the Internet or network resources.	19
For Windows 2000 & 98/Me Users Installing a WG511	20
a. Power on your notebook, let the operating system boot up completely, and log in as needed.	20
b. Insert the Resource CD for the WG511 into your CD-ROM drive. The CD index page shown at the right will load.	20
c. Click the INSTALL button and an Install Software window opens. Read the instructions for running the software setup utility.	20
d. Click the Install Software link. When the browser warning message appears, click Open to start the Install Shield Wizard.	20
e. Follow the steps in the Install Shield Wizard, and click Finish when done to restart your computer.	20
a. Locate an available CardBus slot on the side of your notebook. Hold the PC Card with the Netgear logo facing up and insert it into the CardBus slot.	21
b. Click Next and follow the prompts to proceed. After the installation completes, click Finish to close the wizard.	21
a. Click on the WG511 systray icon in the to open the WG511 configuration utility.	22
b. Change the Network Name SSID to match your network.	22
c. Click the Profile tab. Enter a name for your profile.	22
d. Click the Save button to save all your settings in the Profile, and then click the Activate button. You can save multiple profiles and activate whichever one you need to use.	22
e. Click OK to close the utility.	22
a. Open the WG511 utility by clicking on the icon in the Windows system tray.	23
b. Click the Status tab page. Verify that your Connection and Status Monitor information matches your wireless network.	23
c. Check the two WG511 LEDs:	23
d. Verify connectivity to the Internet or network resources.	23
WG511 Wireless Connection Indicators	24
Interpreting the LED on the WG511	24
Figure 21: WG511 LED	24
Table 21: LED Descriptions	24
Interpreting System Tray Icon Colors	25
Basic Troubleshooting Tips	26
Chapter 3 Configuration	27
Understanding the Configuration Options	27
Using Configuration Profiles	27
Connect to an Access Point in Infrastructure Mode	28
Figure 31: WG511 Wireless PC Card connecting to a wireless access point.	28
How to Configure an Infrastructure Mode Profile	29
1. Run the WG511 Configuration Utility.	29
a. Make sure the WG511 software is installed and the WG511 is fully inserted in an available CardBus slot in your PC.	29
b. Open the configuration utility by clicking on the WG511 icon in the Windows system tray.	29
Figure 32: Configuration tab page	29
c. Click on the Configuration tab to display the view shown above.	29
2. Configure the wireless Network settings.	29
a. In the Network section, be sure that Infrastructure is selected for the Network Mode.	29
b. Enter the SSID. This is also called the Wireless Network Name.	29
3. Save your settings in a Profile.	30
a. Click the Profiles tab to view the screen below.	30
Figure 33: Profiles tab page	30
b. Type a descriptive name for the Profile Name.	30
c. Click the Save button to save this profile. All the configuration settings are saved in this profile.	30
d. Click Activate to activate your settings.	30
e. Click OK to exit the configuration utility.	30
4. Verify wireless connectivity to your network.	30
Connecting to Another PC in Ad-hoc Mode	31
Figure 34: NETGEAR WG511 Wireless PC Card in Peer-to-Peer Mode	31
How to Configure an Ad-hoc Moce Profile	32
1. Run the WG511 Configuration Utility.	32
a. Make sure the WG511 software is installed and the WG511 is fully inserted in an available CardBus slot in your PC.	32
b. Open the configuration utility by clicking on the WG511 icon in the Windows system tray.	32
Figure 35: Configuration tab page Ad-hoc mode selected	32
c. Click the Configuration tab to display the view shown above.	32
d. Select Ad-hoc from the Network mode drop-down list.	32
e. Click Apply to apply your settings	32
2. Save your settings in a Profile.	32
a. Click the Profiles tab to view the screen below.	32
Figure 36: Profiles tab page	33
b. Type a descriptive name for the Profile Name.	33
c. Click the Save button to save this profile. All the configuration settings are saved in this profile.	33
d. Click Activate to activate your settings.	33
e. Click OK to exit the configuration utility.	33
3. Configure the PC network settings.	33
a. Configure each PC with either a static IP address or with the IPX protocol.	33
b. Restart the PCs.	33
4. Verify wireless connectivity between your peer devices.	33
a. On the Windows taskbar click the Start button, and then click Run.	34
b. Assuming the target PC is configured with 192.168.0.1 as its IP address, type ping -t 192.168.0.1 and then click OK.	34
c. This will cause a continuous ping to be sent to the device with the 192.168.0.1 static IP address. The ping response should change to “reply.”	34
Enabling Wireless Security Features	34
Identifying the Wireless Network Name (SSID) and WEP Security Settings	35
How to Configure WEP Encryption Security	36
1. Run the WG511 Configuration Utility.	36
a. Make sure the WG511 software is installed and the WG511 is fully inserted in an available CardBus slot in your PC.	36
b. Open the configuration utility by clicking on the WG511 icon in the Windows system tray.	36
Figure 37: Security tab page	36
c. Click on the Configuration tab to display the view shown above.	36
2. Configure the Security settings.	36
a. Check the Enable Encryption check box.	36
b. Enter the SSID. This is also called the Wireless Network Name.	37
3. Save your settings in a Profile.	37
a. Click the Profiles tab to view the screen below.	37
Figure 38: Profiles tab page	37
b. Type a descriptive name for the Profile Name.	37
c. Click the Save button to save this profile. All the configuration settings are saved in this profile.	37
d. Click Activate to activate your settings.	37
e. Click OK to exit the configuration utility.	37
1. Run the Configuration Utility and select the Encryption tab page.	37
2. Select the WEP encryption strength you will use. The choices are:	38
3. Check the Create with Passphrase radio button and enter the passphrase. Click Apply and the configuration utility automatically generates the WEP keys. Note: The characters are case sensitive. Be sure to use the same passphrase for all the...	38
4. The Default Key setting must match what is set in the access point and the other 802.11 wireless devices.	38
5. Click Apply then OK for the changes to take effect.	38
Appendix A Technical Specifications	39
Appendix B Wireless Networking Basics	41
Wireless Networking Overview	41
Infrastructure Mode	41
Ad Hoc Mode (Peer-to-Peer Workgroup)	42
Network Name: Extended Service Set Identification (ESSID)	42
Authentication and WEP	42
802.11 Authentication	43
1. Turn on the wireless station.	43
2. The station listens for messages from any access points that are in range.	43
3. The station finds a message from an access point that has a matching SSID.	43
4. The station sends an authentication request to the access point.	43
5. The access point authenticates the station.	43
6. The station sends an association request to the access point.	43
7. The access point associates with the station.	43
8. The station can now communicate with the Ethernet network through the access point.	43
Open System Authentication	43
1. The station sends an authentication request to the access point.	43
2. The access point authenticates the station.	43
3. The station associates with the access point and joins the network.	43
Figure 39: 802.11 open system authentication	44
Shared Key Authentication	44
1. The station sends an authentication request to the access point.	44
2. The access point sends challenge text to the station.	44
3. The station uses its configured 64-bit or 128-bit default key to encrypt the challenge text, and sends the encrypted text to the access point.	44
4. The access point decrypts the encrypted text using its configured WEP Key that corresponds to the station’s default key. The access point compares the decrypted text with the original challenge text. If the decrypted text matches the origi...	44
5. The station connects to the network.	44
Figure 310: 802.11 shared key authentication	45
Overview of WEP Parameters	45
Key Size	46
WEP Configuration Options	46
Wireless Channels	47
Table 31. 802.11b and g Radio Frequency Channels	48
Appendix C Preparing Your PCs for Network Access	49
Preparing Your Computers for TCP/IP Networking	49
Configuring Windows 98 and Me for TCP/IP Networking	49
Install or Verify Windows Networking Components	49
1. On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.	50
2. Double-click the Network icon.	50
a. Click the Add button.	50
b. Select Protocol, and then click Add.	50
c. Select Microsoft.	50
d. Select TCP/IP, and then click OK.	50
a. Click the Add button.	50
b. Select Client, and then click Add.	50
c. Select Microsoft.	50
d. Select Client for Microsoft Networks, and then click OK.	50
a. Click the Add button.	51
b. Select Client, and then click Add.	51
c. Select Microsoft.	51
d. Select File and Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and then click OK.	51
3. Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.	51
Enabling DHCP to Automatically Configure TCP/IP Settings in Windows 98 and Me	51
Selecting Windows’ Internet Access Method	53
1. On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.	53
2. Double-click the Internet Options icon.	53
3. Select “I want to set up my Internet connection manually” or “I want to connect through a Local Area Network” and click Next.	53
4. Select “I want to connect through a Local Area Network” and click Next.	53
5. Uncheck all boxes in the LAN Internet Configuration screen and click Next.	53
6. Proceed to the end of the Wizard.	53
Verifying TCP/IP Properties	53
1. On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, and then click Run.	53
2. Type winipcfg, and then click OK.	54
3. From the drop-down box, select your Ethernet adapter.	54
Configuring Windows 2000 or XP for TCP/IP Networking	54
Install or Verify Windows Networking Components	54
1. On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.	54
2. Double-click the Network and Dialup Connections icon.	54
3. If an Ethernet adapter is present in your PC, you should see an entry for Local Area Connection. Double-click that entry.	54
4. Select Properties.	54
5. Verify that ‘Client for Microsoft Networks’ and ‘Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)’ are present. If not, select Install and add them.	54
6. Select ‘Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)’, click Properties, and verify that “Obtain an IP address automatically is selected.	54
7. Click OK and close all Network and Dialup Connections windows.	54
8. Then, restart your PC.	54
DHCP Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows XP or 2000	55
DHCP Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows XP	55
DHCP Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows 2000	57
Verifying TCP/IP Properties for Windows XP or 2000	59
1. On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, and then click Run.	59
2. Type cmd and then click OK.	59
3. Type ipconfig /all	59
4. Type exit	59
Glossary	61
List of Glossary Terms	61