5

Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network

Network Layout

Wireless-G Access Point

Network Layout

The Wireless-G Access Point has been designed for use with 802.11g and 802.11b products. With 802.11g

products communicating with the 802.11b standard, products using these standards can communicate with each

other. The Access point is compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b adapters, such at the PC Cards for your laptop

computers, PCI Card for your desktop PC, and USB Adapters for when you want to enjoy USB connectivity. These

wireless products can also communicate with a 802.11g or 802.11b wireless PrintServer.

When you wish to connect your wired network with your wireless network, the Access Point’s network port can

be used to connect to any of Linksys's switches or routers.

With these, and many other, Linksys products, your networking options are limitless. Go to the Linksys website at

www.linksys.com for more information about wireless products.

6

Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Access Point

The Back Panel

Wireless-G Access Point

Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Access Point

The Back Panel

The Access Point's ports, where the power cord and network cable are connected, are located on the back panel.

LAN

This

LAN

(Local Area Network) port connects to Ethernet network devices, such as a switch or

router.

Power

The

Power

port is where you will connect the power adapter.

Reset Button

There are two ways to Reset the Access Point's factory defaults. Either press the

Reset

Button

, for approximately ten seconds, or restore the defaults from the Password tab in the

Access Point's Web-Based Utility.

With these, and many other, Linksys products, your networking options are limitless. Go to the Linksys website at

www.linksys.com for more information about products that work with the Access Point.

Important:

Resetting the Access Point will

erase all of your settings (WEP Encryption,

Wireless and LAN settings, etc.) and replace

them with the factory defaults. Do not reset

the Access Point if you want to retain these

settings.

Figure 3-1: The Access Point’s Back Panel

port:

the connection point on a computer or networking

device used for plugging in cables or adapters

7

Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Access Point

The Front Panel

Wireless-G Access Point

The Front Panel

The Access Point's LEDs, where information about network activity is displayed, are located on the front panel.

Power

Green. The

Power

LED lights up when the Access Point is powered on.

Act

Green. If the

Act

LED is flickering, the Access Point is actively sending or receiving data to or

from one of the devices over the LAN port.

Link

Green. The

Link

LED lights whenever the Access Point is successfully connected to a device

through the LAN port.

Figure 3-2: Front Panel

8

Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Access Point

Hardware Installation

Wireless-G Access Point

Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Access Point

Hardware Installation

1.

Locate an optimum location for the Access Point. The best place for the Access Point is usually at the center

of your wireless network, with line of sight to all of your PCs and wireless accessories.

2.

Fix the direction of the antenna. Try to place it in a position that will best cover your wireless network.

Normally, the higher you place the antenna, the better the performance will be. The antenna's position

enhances the receiving sensitivity.

3.

Connect a standard Ethernet network cable to the Access Point. Then, connect the other end of the Ethernet

cable to a switch or router. The Access Point will then be connected to your 10/100 Network.

4.

Connect the AC Power Adapter to the Access Point's Power Socket. Only use the power adapter supplied with

the Access Point. Use of a different adapter may result in product damage.

Now that the hardware installation is complete, proceed to Chapter 5: Setting Up the Wireless-G Access Point, for

directions on how to set up the Access Point.

t

cp/ip:

a set of instructions PCs use to

communicate over a network.

HAVE YOU:

Enabled TCP/IP on your PCs? PCs

communicate over the network with this

protocol. Refer to Appendix D: Windows Help

for more information on TCP/IP.

hardware:

the physical aspect of

computers, telecommunications, and

other information technology devices

NOTE:

If you are setting up an Infrastructure

Network, all of your wireless devices must be

in Infrastructure mode in order to function

within the network. Similarly, if your network

is an Ad-Hoc Network, all of your wireless

devices must operate in Ad-hoc mode in order

for all other wireless devices to communicate.

11

Chapter 5: Setting Up the Wireless-G Access Point

Wireless-G Access Point

Chapter 5: Setting Up the Wireless-G Access Point

Now that you've connected the Access Point to your wired network, you are ready to begin setting it up. This

Setup Wizard will take you through all the steps necessary to configure the Access Point.

1.

Insert the Setup Wizard CD into your PC's CD-ROM drive. Your PC must be on your wired network to set up the

Access Point.

2.

The Setup Wizard's Welcome screen should appear on your monitor. If it does not, this means the Setup

Wizard is not automatically running as it should. Start the Setup Wizard manually by clicking the

Start

button,

selecting

Run

, and typing

d:\setup.exe

(where "D" is your PC's CD-ROM drive). Click the

Setup

button to

continue this Setup Wizard. Clicking the

User Guide

button opened this Guide. To exit this Setup Wizard, click

the

Exit

button.

Figure 5-1: The Setup Wizard’s Welcome Screen

Note:

The Access Point should be set up through a

wired network connection as shown in Chapter 4:

Connecting the Wireless-G Access Point. If you wish

to set up the Access Point wirelessly, the wireless

computer will require you to use the Linksys default

settings. These settings can then be changed with

the Setup Wizard or Web-based Browser Utility