NETGEAR WN121T Chapter Basic Setup, What You Need Before You Begin, Verify System Requirements

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Chapter 1

Basic Setup

The NETGEAR Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WN121T lets you connect a PC computer to wireless networks. It is designed for PC computers running Microsoft Windows. For information about product features and compatible NETGEAR products, see the NETGEAR website at http://www.netgear.com.

This chapter describes how to install your Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter and set up basic wireless connectivity on your Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). Advanced wireless network set up is covered in Chapter 2, “Network Connections and Wireless Security”.

What You Need Before You Begin

You need to verify that your computer meets the minimum system requirements and identify the wireless network settings of the wireless network where you will connect before you can set up your VPN firewall and connect.

Verify System Requirements

Before installing the Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter, make sure that these minimum requirements have been met. You must have a computer with:

A Pentium 300 MHz or higher compatible processor with an available USB 2.0 or 1.1 port.

Note: If you do not have a USB 2.0 port on your computer, the throughput of the Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter is limited to the 14 Mbps of the USB 1.1 standard.

A CD drive.

5 MB of free hard disk space.

Windows Vista, Windows XP SP1 with KB822603 hot fix, Windows XP SP2, or Windows 2000 SP4.

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v2.0, February 2007

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Contents Netgear Next 300 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter Technical Support Europe EU Declaration of Conformity English Product and Publication Details V2.0, February Contents Chapter Troubleshooting Conventions, Formats, and Scope About This ManualHow to Print this Manual How to Use This ManualPrinting the Full Manual Xii What You Need Before You Begin Chapter Basic SetupVerify System Requirements What Is in the Box Observe Wireless Location and Range GuidelinesDefault Wireless Settings Installation V2.0, February Hidden Connecting to Wireless Networks and the Internet Smart Wizard Status Bar Icon ColorsInternet connection. See , Wireless Network Performance Removing the Software Upgrading the Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter SoftwareV2.0, February Disabling the Windows Zero Configuration Utility Network Connections and Wireless SecurityUnderstanding the Smart Wizard Viewing Wireless Networks in Your AreaV2.0, February Finding a Network Adding Profiles ProfilesSetting up a Profile to Connect to an Access Point or Router Setting up a Computer-to-Computer Ad Hoc Profile Ping -t 192.168.0.1 and then click OK Starting a Computer-to-Computer Ad Hoc Network Connection Know Your Wireless Network Settings Wireless SecurityIf WEP Authentication is Used Wireless Network Name Ssid and Security SettingsSetting up WEP Encryption Security Setting up WPA2-PSK Security V2.0, February Setting up WPA-PSK Security Advanced Settings Statistics About Optimizing Wireless Performance Chapter Wireless Network PerformanceV2.0, February Optimizing Your Network Bandwidth Broadband Internet Overview of Home and Small Office Networking TechnologiesAssessing Your Speed Requirements Wired EthernetV2.0, February Troubleshooting Tips Chapter TroubleshootingAppendix B Ad Hoc Mode Is Not Working CorrectlyWireless Default Configuration SettingsUSB Technical SpecificationsDocument Link Appendix B Related DocumentsV2.0, February