7

Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Range Expander

The Power Plate

Wireless-G Range Expander

Reset Button

There are two ways to reset the Range Expander's factory defaults. Either press the

Reset

Button

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

the Range Expander's Web-Based Utility.

The Power Plate

The back of the Range Expander has a two-pronged recess where its power plates can be connected. Two power

plates come with the Range Expander, one with two prongs for connecting directly to a power outlet, and another

with a cord to reach a power outlet.

These power plates are slid into the recess and are fully connected when the orange tab snaps into place. To

remove the power plate, slide the tab to the right and slide out the power plate. Always unplug the Range

Expander before removing the power plate.

Figure 3-2: The Power Plate

8

Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Range Expander

Wireless-G Range Expander

Chapter 4: Connecting the Wireless-G Range Expander

Since the Range Expander does not physically connect to your network, through cables, etc., connection is very

simple.

1.

Locate an optimum location for the Range Expander. The best placement is usually at the edge of your

wireless network.

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 Range Expander’s antenna, the better the performance will be. The

antenna's position enhances the receiving sensitivity.

3.

Connect the appropriate power plate and connect it to a power outlet. You should always plug your

networking gear into a surge protector.

4.

If you would like to use the Range Expander’s Auto configuration button, disable your wireless network’s WEP

security setting. Then, press the

Auto configuration

button. It will then automatically detect your wireless

network and configure itself with those settings. Once this is done, you can once again enable WEP security.

If you would rather configure the Range Expander with the Setup Wizard included, you can leave WEP security

in place. WEP Security should always be enabled.

Now that the hardware installation is complete, proceed to Chapter 5: Setting Up the Wireless-G Range Expander,

for directions on how to set up the Range Expander with the Setup Wizard.

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:

The Auto configuration button can be

used to setup the Range Expander simply

when you have disabled WEP security on your

wireless network.

9

Chapter 5: Setting Up the Wireless-G Range Expander

Wireless-G Range Expander

Chapter 5: Setting Up the Wireless-G Range Expander

Now that you've placed the Range Expander within your wireless network, you are ready to begin setting it up.

This Setup Wizard will take you through all the steps necessary to configure the Range Expander.

1.

Insert the Setup Wizard CD into your PC's CD-ROM drive. Your PC must be communicating with your wireless

network to set up the Range Expander.

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:

You won’t need to use the Setup Wizard, if

you set up the Range Expander with the Auto

configuration button. The Auto configuration button

can be used to setup the Range Expander simply

when you have disabled WEP security on your

wireless network.

10

Chapter 5: Setting Up the Wireless-G Range Expander

Wireless-G Range Expander

3.

The next screen advises you to have your PC communicating with your wireless network before starting the

setup process. The Range Expander does not yet require connection. You should always connect your

networking gear to a surge protector. Click the

Next

button to continue or

Exit

to exit the Setup Wizard.

4.

The Setup Wizard will run a search for your wireless network. If found, you will be asked to

confirm the settings. If you confirm them,

proceed to Step 5

. If you’d like to chose a different

access point for the Range Expander to communicate with,

continue to Step 4b

below. If no

wireless network is found,

click

Continue

and a list with the status information for each access

point will be displayed.

a.A screen will notify you when no access point is detected on your network. Click

Continue

to survey your network for any access points or wireless routers or

Cancel

to

exit the Setup Wizard.

b.The site survey results will display all available access points and wireless routers in your network.

Select the one to which you wish to connect from the list shown. Then, click

Yes

to continue or

No

to

return to the beginning of the Setup Wizard.

Figure 5-3: Confirm

Wireless Settings

Figure 5-2: Connecting to an access point

Figure 5-5: Choose an access point

Figure 5-4: Cannot find

Wireless Network

11

Chapter 5: Setting Up the Wireless-G Range Expander

Wireless-G Range Expander

c.The Security Settings screen will appear next. From this screen, you can set the level of encryption on

your network, along with entering the appropriate passphrases and/or encryption keys.

If your network’s WEP encryption uses a passphrase, enter it here. The passphrase can consist of no

more than 16 alphanumeric characters.

When entering the WEP key directly, it should be no more than 10 hexadecimal characters in length

for 64-bit encryption or 26 hexadecimal characters in length for 128-bit encryption. Hexadecimal

characters are the letters "A" through "F" and the numbers "0" through "9". All points in your

wireless network must use the same WEP key to utilize WEP encryption.

Click the

Next

button to continue or

Exit

to exit the Setup Wizard.

5.

Now that the Setup Wizard has found an access point or wireless router with which to communicate, it will

now search for the Range Expander. Select the one to which you wish to connect from the list shown. Then,

click

Yes

to continue or

No

to return to the beginning of the Setup Wizard.

6.

When you have selected the Range Expander, you will be asked to enter its password. If you have not already

set a password, you can type in the default password:

admin

. Then, click

Enter

to continue. To exit this Setup

Wizard, click

Exit

.

Figure 5-6: The Security Settings screen

Figure 5-7: Choose the Range Expander

Figure 5-8: The Password request screen