NETGEAR manual Chapter Introduction, About the MA101 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter

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Chapter 1

Introduction

This chapter introduces the features, package contents, and appearance of the NETGEAR MA101 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter. See “What You Will Need Before You Begin” on page 9 for the minimum system requirements. Also, a “road map” for achieving your installation objectives is provided on page 3.

About the MA101 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter

The MA101 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter gives you ultimate flexibility in your office or home. It frees you from traditional Ethernet wiring and helps you create a wireless network for sharing your broadband cable or DSL Internet access among multiple PCs in and around your home. It is designed for computer computers running Microsoft® Windows®. Its auto-sensing capability allows packet transfer at up to 11 megabits per second (Mbps), and dynamic range shifting to slower speeds due to distance or electromagnetic interference limitations.

Key Features and Related NETGEAR Products

The MA101 USB Adapter provides the following features:

Reliable IEEE 802.11b standard-based wireless technology.

Supports roaming among access points if configured in Infrastructure mode.

11 Mbps maximum data transfer speed. Wireless nodes negotiate to operate at the optimal data transfer rate. In a noisy environment or when the distance between the wireless nodes is far, the wireless nodes automatically fall back to operate to the lower transfer rate of one or two megabits per second.

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Contents NETGEAR, Inc Technical Support Contents Index Bold times roman User input Preface About This Installation GuidePage Key Features and Related Netgear Products About the MA101 802.11b Wireless USB AdapterChapter Introduction Model MA101 Resource CD, including What’s in the Box?Road Map for How to Get There From Here Road Map for ‘How to Get There From Here’A Road Map for How to Get There From Here Up the MA101 Other computers Connect to Password that have been Help Network Page What You Will Need Before You Begin Chapter Installing MA101 802.11b Wireless USB AdapterObserve Location and Range Guidelines Verify System RequirementsTwo Basic Operating Modes MA101 Default Wireless Configuration Settings MA101 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter in Infrastructure Mode For Windows XP Users Installing a MA101 Setting Up the MA101 in Infrastructure ModeConnect the MA101 USB Adapter to your computer Install the MA101 driver software Verify wireless connectivity to your network Install the MA101 software For Windows 98/Me Users Installing a MA101Insert the Model MA101 Resource CD into your computer Click Yes when asked if you want to reboot the system Ssid Wireless Configure your wireless adapterInsert the Model MA101 Resource CD into your CD-ROM drive For Windows 2000 Users Installing a MA101Page MA101 Configuration Utility MA101 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter in Ad-Hoc Mode Using the MA101 to Connect in Ad-Hoc ModeComputer-to-computer Ad-Hoc networks only Setting Up a MA101 in Ad-Hoc ModeSet up the MA101 USB Adapter for your computer Configure your wireless adaptersVerify wireless connectivity between the computers Color Condition Description Interpreting System Tray Icon ColorsSymptom Cause Solution Troubleshooting TipsPage Enabling Basic Wireless Security Features Protecting Your Wireless ConnectionPage Changing the Ssid Setting the Wireless Network Name SsidConfiguring WEP Encryption Configuring WEP Encryption SecurityDsss Appendix a Technical SpecificationsPage Related Publications Wireless Networking Appendix B 802.11b Wireless Networking BasicsAd Hoc Mode Peer-to-Peer Workgroup Wireless Network ConfigurationAuthentication and WEP Encryption Extended Service Set Identification EssidWired Equivalent Privacy WEP Wireless Channel SelectionRadio frequency channels used are listed in Table Page Preparing Your Computers for TCP/IP Networking Appendix C Preparing Your PCs for Network AccessInstall or Verify Windows Networking Components Configuring Windows 98 and Me for TCP/IP NetworkingPage Page Locate your Network Neighborhood icon Choose Settings, and then Control PanelPrimary Network Logon is set to Windows logon Page Verifying TCP/IP Properties Configuring Windows 2000 or XP for TCP/IP NetworkingDhcp Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows XP Dhcp Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows XP orConnection with the wireless icon and choose Status TCP/IP details are presented on the Support tab Dhcp Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows Page Verifying TCP/IP Properties for Windows XP or Page Numerics IndexPage Page Page Certificate of the Manufacturer/Importer Page NETGEAR, Inc