Linksys WAP54Gv1 Router Manual PDF (Setup & Configuration Guide)

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Wireless-G Access Point

Instant Wireless

Series

To upgrade the Access Point’s firmware:

Download the firmware upgrade file from the Linksys website.

Extract the firmware upgrade file.

Click the

Upgrade Firmware

button on the

Help

screen.

Enter the location of the firmware upgrade file in the

File Path

field, or

click the

Browse

button to find the firmware upgrade file.

Double-click the firmware upgrade file.

Click the

Upgrade

button, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Click the

Cancel

button to cancel the firmware upgrade.

To access the

Filter

tab, first click the

Advanced

tab. The

Filter

tab, shown in

Figure 6-12, allows you to control which computers may or may not commu-

nicate with the Access Point—depending on their MAC addresses.

To enable filtering of computers by their MAC Addresses, click the

Enable

radio button. To disable this feature, click the default

Disable

radio button.

Next, determine if the Access Point will

Prevent

Permit

access to the PCs

you will specify. If you want to block specific PCs from communicating with

with the Access Point, click the radio button next to

Prevent PCs listed below

from accessing the wireless network.

If you want to allow specific PCs from

communicating with with the Access Point, click the radio button next to

Permit PCs listed below from accessing the wireless network

The Filter Tab

For help on the various tabs in this Web-based Utility, along with upgrading the

Access Point’s firmware and viewing this User Guide, click the

Help

tab,

shown in Figure 6-10.

The help files for the various tabs in this Web-based Utility are listed by tab

name on the lefthand side of the screen.

Click the

Linksys Website

link to connect to the Linksys home page for

Knowledgebase help files and information about other Linksys products, pro-

vided you have an active Internet connection.

For an

Online manual in PDF format

, click that text link. The User Guide will

appear in Adobe pdf format. If you do not have the Adobe PDF Reader installed

on your computer, click the

Adobe Website

link or go to the Setup Wizard CD-

ROM to download this software. (To access the Adobe website, you will need an

active Internet connection.) To download from the CD-ROM, click the

Start

but-

ton and select

Run

. Type

D:\Acrobat

(if “D” is the letter of your CD-ROM drive).

New firmware versions are posted at

www.linksys.com

and can be downloaded

for free. If the Access Point is not experiencing difficulties, then there is no

need to download a more recent firmware version, unless that version has a

new feature that you want to use. Loading new firmware does not always

enhance the speed or quality of your Internet connection.

The Help Tab

Figure 6-10

Figure 6-11

Note:

When you upgrade the Access Point’s firmware, you may

lose the Access Point’s current configuration settings.

Page 17 / 30

Wireless-G Access Point

Instant Wireless

Series

Before making any changes to the

Advanced Wireless

tab, shown in Figure 6-

13, please check your wireless settings on your other systems, because these

changes will alter the effectiveness of the Access Point. In most cases, these

wireless settings do not need to be changed.

•

Authentication Type.

The default is set to

Auto

, where it auto-detects for

Shared Key

Open System.

Shared Key is when both the sender and the

recipient share a WEP key for authentication. Open Key is when the sender

and the recipient do not share a WEP key for authentication. All points on

your network must use the same authentication type.

•

Transmission Rates.

The default setting is

Auto

. The range is from 1 to

54Mbps. The rate of data transmission should be set depending on the speed

of your wireless network. You can select from a range of transmission

speeds, or you can keep the default setting,

Auto

, to have the Access Point

automatically use the fastest possible data rate and enable the Auto-Fallback

feature. Auto-Fallback will negotiate the best possible connection speed

between the Access Point and a wireless client.

Figure 6-13

Above the

MAC Address

fields, there is a pull-down menu. This pull-down

menu is for selecting the number of computers on your wireless network. For

computers one through ten on your wireless network,

1~20

is selected by

default. If you have more than twenty computers on your wireless network, use

this pull-down menu to select

21~40

Then, type the MAC Address(es) you wish to filter in the

MAC Address

fields.

Do not use colons when entering the digits. Use a xxxxxxxxxxxx format with

the x’s representing the actual characters of the MAC address. If you want to

clear the MAC addresses you entered, click the

Clear

button .

When you’ve completed making any changes on this tab, click the

Apply

but-

ton to save those changes or

Cancel

to cancel your changes. For more infor-

mation on this tab, click the

Help

button.

Figure 6-12

The Advanced Wireless Tab

Page 18 / 30

Wireless-G Access Point

Instant Wireless

Series

The SNMP screen allows you to customize the Simple Network Management

Protocol (SNMP) settings. SNMP is a popular network monitoring and man-

agement protocol.

The Identification settings let you designate the Contact, Device Name, and

Location information for the Access Point. The SNMP Community settings

allow names to be assigned to any SNMP communities that have been set up in

the network. You can define two different SNMP communities, with the default

names being Public and Private.

•

SNMP.

To enable the SNMP support feature, select

Enable

. Otherwise,

select

Disable

•

Identification.

In the

Contact

field, enter contact information for the

Access Point. In the

Device Name

field, enter the name of the Access Point.

In the

Location

field, specify the area or location where the Access Point

resides.

•

SNMP Community.

You may change the name from its default, Public.

Enter a new name in the

Public

field. Then configure the community's

access as either Read-Only or Read-Write.You may change the name from

its default, Private. Enter a new name in the

Private

field. Then configure

the community's access as either Read-Only or Read-Write.

When you’ve completed making any changes on this tab, click the

Apply

but-

ton to save those changes or

Cancel

to cancel your changes. For more infor-

mation on this tab, you can click the

Help

button.

•

Beacon Interval.

This value indicates the frequency interval of the beacon.

The default value is 100. Enter a value between 20 and 1000 milliseconds.

The Beacon Interval value indicates the frequency interval of the beacon. A

beacon is a packet broadcast by the Access Point to synchronize the wire-

less network.

•

RTS Threshold.

This value should remain at its default setting of 2346.

Should you encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor reductions are rec-

ommended.

•

Fragmentation Threshold.

This value specifies the maximum size for a

packet before data is fragmented into multiple packets. It should remain at

its default setting of 2346. A smaller setting means smaller packets, which

will create more packets for each transmission. Only minor reductions of

this value are recommended.

•

DTIM Interval.

The default value is 3. This value, between 1 and 255 mil-

liseconds, indicates the interval of the Delivery Traffic Indication Message

(DTIM). A DTIM field is a countdown field informing clients of the next

window for listening to broadcast and multicast messages. When the Access

Point has buffered broadcast or multicast messages for associated clients, it

sends the next DTIM with a DTIM Interval value.

Access Point Clients

hear the beacons and awaken to receive the broadcast and multicast mes-

sages.

When you’ve completed making any changes on this tab, click the

Apply

but-

ton to save those changes or

Cancel

to cancel your changes. For more infor-

mation on this tab, you can click the

Help

button.

The SNMP Tab

Figure 6-14

Page 19 / 30

Wireless-G Access Point

What is Roaming?

Roaming is the ability of a portable computer user to communicate continu-

ously while moving freely throughout an area greater than that covered by a

single Access Point. Before using the roaming function, the workstation must

make sure that it is the same channel number as the Access Point of the dedi-

cated coverage area.

To achieve true seamless connectivity, the wireless LAN must incorporate a

number of different functions. Each node and Access Point, for example, must

always acknowledge receipt of each message. Each node must maintain contact

with the wireless network even when not actually transmitting data. Achieving

these functions simultaneously requires a dynamic RF networking technology

that links Access Points and nodes. In such a system, the user’s end node under-

takes a search for the best possible access to the system. First, it evaluates such

factors as signal strength and quality, as well as the message load currently

being carried by each Access Point and the distance of each Access Point to the

wired backbone. Based on that information, the node next selects the right

Access Point and registers its address. Communications between end node and

host computer can then be transmitted up and down the backbone.

As the user moves on, the end node’s RF transmitter regularly checks the sys-

tem to determine whether it is in touch with the original Access Point or

whether it should seek a new one. When a node no longer receives acknowl-

edgment from its original Access Point, it undertakes a new search. Upon find-

ing a new Access Point, it then re-registers, and the communication process

continues.

What is BSS ID?

A specific Ad-hoc LAN is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). Computers in a

BSS must be configured with the same BSS ID.

What is ESSID?

An Infrastructure configuration could also support roaming capability for

mobile workers. More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service

Set (ESS). Users within an ESS could roam freely between BSSs while main-

taining a continuous connection to the wireless network stations and Access

Points.

What is ISM band?

The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U.S. have set aside bandwidth

for unlicensed use in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band.

Spectrum in the vicinity of 2.4 GHz, in particular, is being made available

Instant Wireless

Series

Appendix A: Troubleshooting

This chapter provides solutions to problems usually encountered during the

installation and operation of the Access Point. Read the description below to

solve your problems. If you can’t find an answer here, check the Linksys web-

site at www.linksys.com.

Can the Access Point act as my DHCP Server?

No.

The Access Point is nothing more than a wireless hub, and as such cannot

be configured to handle DHCP capabilities.

Can I run an application from a remote computer over the wireless net-

work?

This will depend on whether or not the application is designed to be used over

a network. Consult the application’s user guide to determine if it supports oper-

ation over a network.

Can I play multiplayer games with other users of the wireless network?

Yes, as long as the game supports multiple players over a LAN (local area net-

work). Refer to the game’s user guide for more information.

What IEEE 802.11b features are supported?

The product supports the following IEEE 802.11 functions:

•

CSMA/CA plus Acknowledge protocol

•

Multi-Channel Roaming

•

Automatic Rate Selection

•

RTS/CTS feature

•

Fragmentation

•

Power Management

What is Ad-hoc?

An Ad-hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers, each with a WLAN adapter,

connected as an independent wireless LAN. An Ad-hoc wireless LAN is appli-

cable at a departmental scale for a branch or SOHO operation.

What is Infrastructure?

An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure configura-

tion. Infrastructure is applicable to enterprise scale for wireless access to a cen-

tral database, or wireless application for mobile workers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Page 20 / 30

Wireless-G Access Point

What is WEP?

WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a 40-bit

shared-key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11 standard.

What is a MAC Address?

The Media Access Control (MAC) address is a unique number assigned by the

manufacturer to any Ethernet networking device, such as a network adapter,

that allows the network to identify it at the hardware level.

For all practical pur-

poses, this number is usually permanent.

Unlike IP addresses, which can

change every time a computer logs on to the network, the MAC address of a

device stays the same, making it a valuable identifier for the network.

How do I avoid interference?

Using multiple Access Points on the same channel and in close proximity to

one another will generate interference.

When employing multiple Access

Points, be sure to operate each one on a different channel (frequency).

How do I reset the Access Point?

Press the

Reset

button on the back of the Access Point for about ten seconds.

This will reset the unit to its default settings.

How do I resolve issues with signal loss?

There is no way to know the exact range of your wireless network without test-

ing. Every obstacle placed between an Access Point and wireless PC will cre-

ate signal loss.

Leaded glass, metal, concrete floors, water and walls will inhib-

it the signal and reduce range.

Start with your Access Point and your wireless

PC in the same room and move it away in small increments to determine the

maximum range in your environment.

You may also try using different channels, as this may eliminate

interference

affecting only one channel.

Also, due to FCC regulations, more power may be

transmitted, using 802.11a, on channels 52, 56, 60 and 64, than on the lower

channels.

Lastly, check the Advanced tab of the Web-Based Utility and make

sure that FULL is selected in the Transmission Rate field.

Does the Access Point function as a firewall?

No. The Access Point is only a bridge from wired Ethernet to wireless clients.

I have excellent signal strength, but I cannot see my network.

WEP is probably enabled on the Access Point, but not on your wireless adapter

(or vice versa).

Verify that the same WEP Keys and levels (64 or 128 ) are

being used on all nodes on your wireless network.

Instant Wireless

Series

worldwide. This presents a truly revolutionary opportunity to place convenient

high speed wireless capabilities in the hands of users around the globe.

What is Spread Spectrum?

Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique devel-

oped by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communica-

tions systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability,

integrity, and security. In other words, more bandwidth is consumed than in the

case of narrowband transmission, but the trade-off produces a signal that is, in

effect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the receiver knows the

parameters of the spread-spectrum signal being broadcast. If a receiver is not

tuned to the right frequency, a spread-spectrum signal looks like background

noise. There are two main alternatives, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum

(DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).

What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences?

Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) uses a narrowband carrier that

changes frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver.

Properly synchronized, the net effect is to maintain a single logical channel. To

an unintended receiver, FHSS appears to be short-duration impulse noise.

Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) generates a redundant bit pattern for

each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chipping code).

The longer the chip, the greater the probability that the original data can be

recovered. Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmis-

sion, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the original data

without the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appears

as low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowband

receivers.

Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air?

WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, as with

Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology, it has the inherent security fea-

ture of scrambling. On the software side, the WLAN series offers the encryp-

tion function (WEP) to enhance security and access control. Users can set it up

depending upon their needs.

Can Instant Wireless

products support file and printer sharing?

Instant Wireless

products perform the same function as LAN products.

Therefore, Instant Wireless

products can work with Netware, Windows

NT/2000, or other LAN operating systems to support printer or file sharing.

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