About This Manual

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Chapter 1

About This Manual

This chapter describes the intended audience, scope, conventions, and formats of this manual.

Audience, Scope, Conventions, and Formats

This reference manual assumes that the reader has basic to intermediate computer and Internet

skills. However, basic computer network, Internet, firewall, and VPN technologies tutorial

information is provided in the Appendices and on the NETGEAR Web site.

This guide uses the following typographical conventions:

This guide uses the following format to highlight special messages:

This manual is written for the Wireless Range Extender according to these specifications.

Table 1-1.

Typographical Conventions

italics

Emphasis, books, CDs, URL names

bold

User input

SMALL

CAPS

Screen text, file and server names, extensions, commands, IP addresses

Note:

This format is used to highlight information of importance or special interest.

Table 1-2.

Manual Scope

Product Version

54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender WGX102

Manual Publication Date

March 2007

Note:

Product updates are available on the NETGEAR Web site at

.

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Reference Manual for the 54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender WGX102

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About This Manual

202-10042-02 v1.1

How to Use This Manual

The HTML version of this manual includes the following:

•

Buttons,

and

, for browsing forwards or backwards through the manual one page

at a time

•

A

button that displays the table of contents and an

button. Double-click on a

link in the table of contents or index to navigate directly to where the topic is described in the

manual.

•

A

button to access the full NETGEAR, Inc. online knowledge base for the

product model.

•

Links to PDF versions of the full manual and individual chapters.

How to Print this Manual

To print this manual you can choose one of the following several options, according to your needs.

•

Printing a HTML Page:

Each page in the HTML version of the manual is dedicated to a

major topic. Use the

Print

button on the browser toolbar to print the page contents.

•

Printing a Chapter

: Use the

PDF of This Chapter

link at the top left of any page.

–

Click the “

PDF of This Chapter

” link at the top right of any page in the chapter you want

to print. The PDF version of the chapter you were viewing opens in a browser window.

Note:

Your computer must have the free Adobe Acrobat reader installed in order to view

and print PDF files. The Acrobat reader is available on the Adobe Web site at

.

–

Click the print icon in the upper left of the window.

Tip

: If your printer supports printing two pages on a single sheet of paper, you can save

paper and printer ink by selecting this feature.

•

Printing the Full Manual

.

Use the

Complete PDF Manual

link at the top left of any page.

–

Click the

Complete PDF Manual

link at the top left of any page in the manual. The PDF

version of the complete manual opens in a browser window.

–

Click the print icon in the upper left of the window.

Tip

: If your printer supports printing two pages on a single sheet of paper, you can save

paper and printer ink by selecting this feature.

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Introduction

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Chapter 2

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the NETGEAR

®

54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range

Extender WGX102. The Wireless Range Extender lets you completely network your home by

simply plugging into your existing electrical wiring, so your network connection is as close as the

nearest 110-volt electrical outlet. Now your high-speed cable/DSL connection can be available in

every room. And you can also extend an existing Ethernet network to PCs in other rooms without

any additional wiring.

This chapter describes the features of the NETGEAR 54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range

Extender WGX102.

Key Features

The 54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender WGX102 connects your local area network

(LAN) to the Internet through the included XE102 Wall-Plugged Ethernet Bridge.

The Wireless Range Extender provides the following features:

•

802.11g wireless networking, with the ability to operate in 802.11g-only, or 802.11b+g modes.

•

Data encryption for both the powerline and wireless portions of the network.

•

Easy, Web-based setup for installation and management.

•

Extensive protocol support.

•

Login capability

•

Front panel LEDs for easy monitoring of status and activity.

•

Flash memory for firmware upgrades.

Note:

This manual provides information on the complete features as of the date of

publication. Earlier versions of this product may not have all the features presented in

this manual. Go to

http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/WGX102.asp

where you will

find product firmware updates for your WGX102.

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Introduction

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802.11g Wireless Networking

The Wireless Range Extender includes an 802.11g wireless access point, providing continuous,

high-speed 54 Mbps access between your wireless and wall-plugged devices. The access point

provides:

•

802.11g wireless networking at up to 54 Mbps.

•

Operates in 802.11g-only, 802.11b-only, or 802.11g and b modes. Provides backwards

compatibility with 802.11b devices or dedicates the wireless network to the higher bandwidth

802.11g devices.

•

64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption security.

•

WEP keys can be generated manually or by passphrase.

•

WPA-PSK support. Support for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) data encryption which

provides strong data encryption and authentication based on a pre-shared key.

•

Wireless access can be restricted by MAC address.

•

Wireless network name broadcast can be turned off so that only devices that have the network

name (SSID) can connect.

Easy Installation and Management

You can install, configure, and operate the 54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender

WGX102 within minutes after connecting it to the network. The following features simplify

installation and management tasks:

•

Browser-based management

Browser-based configuration allows you to easily configure your wireless range extender from

almost any type of personal computer, such as Windows, Macintosh, or Linux. A user-friendly

Setup Wizard is provided and online help documentation is built into the browser-based Web

Management Interface.

•

Firmware Updates

The Wireless Range Extender can be updated if a newer version of firmware is available. This

lets you take advantage of product enhancements for your WGX102 as soon as they become

available.

•

Visual monitoring

The Wireless Range Extender’s front panel LEDs provide an easy way to monitor its status

and activity.

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Reference Manual for the 54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender WGX102

Introduction

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Content Filtering in Router Mode

When used in Router Mode, the WGX102 provides you with multiple Web content filtering

options, plus browsing activity reporting and instant alerts via e-mail. Parents and network

administrators can establish restricted access policies based on time of day, Web site addresses and

address keywords. High-speed cable/DSL Internet access lines can be shared between multiple

computers. In addition to the Network Address Translation (NAT) feature, the built-in firewall

protects you from hackers.

Maintenance and Support

NETGEAR offers the following features to help you maximize your use of the Wireless Range

Extender:

•

Flash memory for firmware upgrades.

•

Free technical support seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, for 90 days from the date

of purchase.

Package Contents

The product package should contain the following items:

•

A 54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender WGX102.

•

A Wall-Plugged Ethernet Bridge XE102.

•

NETGEAR 54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender WGX102 Resource CD

,

including:

—

This guide.

—

Installation Guide for the WGX102

.

—

Application Notes and other helpful information.

•

Registration, Warranty Card, and Support Information Card.

If any of the parts are incorrect, missing, or damaged, contact your NETGEAR dealer. Keep the

carton, including the original packing materials, in case you need to return the wireless range

extender for repair.

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