D-Link Air DWL-122 User manual

Manual
Building Networks for People
2.4GHz Wireless USB Adapter
Air DWL-122
D-Link

2
Contents
PackageContents ................................................................................3
Introduction............................................................................................4
Wireless Basics....................................................................................6
InsertingandRemovingtheDWL-122;UsingtheExtensionCord ..........9
GettingStarted....................................................................................10
UsingtheConfigurationUtilitywithWindowsOS..................................13
UsingtheConfigurationUtilitywithMacintoshOS ................................20
NetworkingBasics ..............................................................................25
Troubleshooting...................................................................................38
TechnicalSpecifications ......................................................................41

3
At least 32 MB of memory and a 300 MHz processor
Properly installed and working USB Controller
Windows XP/2000/Me/98SE
!
Acomputer or laptop with an available USB port
!
!
!
D-Link Air DWL-122
2.4 GHz Wireless USB Adapter
Manual on CD-ROM
QuickInstallation Guide
USB Extenstion Cable
Contents of Package:
Package Contents
If any of the above items are missing, please contact your reseller.
System Requirements:
!
!
!
!
Mac OSX (v10.2x or later)
!

4
Introduction
The D-Link Air DWL-122 Wireless USB Adapter is a convenient Plug & Play
USB 1.1 solution that brings wireless networking to your laptop or desktop PC.
With transfer rates up to 11Mbps you can connect to a wireless network at
home, at the office or at any wireless hotspot. Now you can stay connected
wherever you are and wherever you go.
The DWL-122 is Wi-Fi compliant, meaning that it can connect and interoperate
with other 802.11b Wi-Fi-compliant wireless routers, access points and
adapters. The DWL-122 connects to any available USB port on a laptop or
desktopWindows and Macintosh-basedcomputerand also includesa standard
USB extension cable. With the optional USB extension cable, the DWL-122
canbepositionedvirtuallyanywhereataworkstationtoachieve the bestavailable
wireless signal reception - whether that workstation is in your office, on your
deckor patio, by the pool,at thelocal coffee shop, or inan airportterminal while
waiting to board your next flight.
The adapter works with Apple Mac OS X (10.2x or later) Jaguar, Microsoft
Windows XP, Windows 2000 and other Windows operating systems to ensure
that you’ll be up and running on a wireless network in just a matter of seconds.
The DWL-122 also features 64 or 128-bit WEP encryption providing a level of
security for the data that you wirelessly transmit.
Using its default settings, the DWL-122 automatically connects to other D-Link
Wireless products as soon as it’s active.

5
Features and Benefits
**
* Environmental factors may adversely affect range
Convenience of Plug & Play installation
!
Fully 802.11b compatible
!
One year warranty (USA only)
!
Connects at up to 328 feet indoors*
!
User-friendly configuration and diagnostic utilities
!
Supports infrastructure networks via an Access Point or Router and
Peer-to-Peer communication in Ad-Hoc mode
!
Network Security with with 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption
!
USB 1.1 standard
!
Powered by the USB port; no external power source is needed
!
Compact size for placement anywhere
!

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D-Link wireless products are based on industry standards to provide easy-to-
useandcompatiblehigh-speedwirelessconnectivitywithinyour home, business
or public access wireless networks. D-Link wireless products will allow you
access to the data you want, when and where you want it. You will be able to
enjoy the freedom that wireless networking brings.
A WLAN is a cellular computer network that transmits and receives data with
radio signals instead of wires. WLANs are used increasingly in both home and
office environments, and public areas such as airports, coffee shops and
universities. Innovative ways to utilize WLAN technology are helping people to
work and communicate more efficiently. Increased mobility and the absence of
cabling and other fixed infrastructure have proven to be beneficial for many
users.
Wireless users can use the same applications they use on a wired network.
Wireless adapter cards used on laptop and desktop systems support the same
protocols as Ethernet adapter cards.
Wireless Basics
Features
Link/ActivityLED
Power - Indicates that the
DWL-122is properly
installed in the computer.
Link - Blinks when data is
beingtransmitted through
thewireless connection.
USB connector
Used to connect the
DWL-122 to your
computer
Internal Antenna
Used to wirelessly connect
to802.11bnetworks

7
Wireless Basics (continued)
People use wireless LAN technology for many different purposes:
Mobility - Productivity increases when people have access to data in any
locationwithintheoperating range of theWLAN. Managementdecisionsbased
on real-time information can significantly improve worker efficiency.
Low Implementation Costs –WLANsare easy to set up, manage, change
and relocate. Networks that frequently change can benefit from WLANs ease
ofimplementation. WLANscan operate in locations whereinstallation ofwiring
may be impractical.
Installation and Network Expansion - Installing a WLAN system can be
fastandeasyandcaneliminatetheneedtopullcablethroughwallsandceilings.
Wireless technology allows the network to go where wires cannot go - even
outside the home or office.
Scalability – WLANs can be configured in a variety of topologies to meet the
needs of specific applications and installations. Configurations are easily
changed and range from peer-to-peer networks suitable for a small number of
userstolarger infrastructure networksto accommodate hundredsorthousands
of users, depending on the number of wireless devices deployed.
Inexpensive Solution - Wireless network devices are as competitively
priced as conventional Ethernet network devices.

8
Wireless Basics (continued)
Installation Considerations
The D-Link Air DWL-122 lets you access your network, using a wireless
connection, from virtually anywhere within its operating range. Keep in mind,
however, that the number, thickness and location of walls, ceilings, or other
objectsthatthe wireless signals must passthrough,may limit therange. Typical
ranges vary depending on the types of materials and background RF (radio
frequency) noise in your home or business. The key to maximizing wireless
range is to follow these basic guidelines:
Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the DWL-122 and other
network devices to a minimum - each wall or ceiling can reduce your D-
Link wireless product’s range from 3-90 feet (1-30 meters.) Position your
devices so that the number of walls or ceilings is minimized.
Be aware of the direct line between network devices.Awall that is 1.5 feet
thick(.5 meters), ata 45-degree angle appears tobe almost 3feet (1 meter)
thick.At a 2-degree angle it looks over 42 feet (14 meters) thick! Position
devicessothat thesignalwill travel straightthrough a wallorceiling (instead
of at an angle) for better reception.
Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet or 1-2 meters) from electrical
devices or appliances that generate extreme RF noise.
2.
3.
4.
1.
Building Materials can impede the wireless signal - a solid metal door or
aluminumstudsmayhaveanegativeeffect on range.Trytopositionwireless
devices and computers with wireless adapters so that the signal passes
through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.

9
Removing the DWL-122 (Windows XP)
After installing the DWL-122,
this icon will appear in the
taskbar at the bottom of the
screen (for WinXP service
pack I and above).
Before you disengage the
DWL-122 from the USB
port, you must click on the
icon (illustrated above) that
resides in the taskbar.
When the screen at right
appears,highlight the
DWL-122.
Click Stop
Windows will notify you when it is safe to remove the DWL-122 from the USB
port.
Inserting the DWL-122
Using the DWL-122 with
the extension cord
Plug one end of the USB extension cord into
the USB port on your computer and plug the
other end into the DWL-122.
Insert the DWL-122 into an available USB
port.
Getting Started

10
With its default settings, the DWL-122 will connect with other
D-Link Air products, right out of the box.
A wireless broadband Router-
D-Link AirPlus DI-614+
A laptop computer with a USB wireless network adapter -
D-Link Air DWL-122
A desktop computer with a USB wireless network adapter -
D-Link Air DWL-122
A Cable modem -
D-Link DCM-201
There are basically two modes of networking:
Infrastructure – using an Access Point or Router, such as the DI-614+.
Ad-Hoc – directly connecting to another computer, for peer-to-peer
communication, using wireless network adapters on each computer, such
as two or more DWL-122 wireless USB adapters.
On the following pages we will show you an example of an Infrastructure
Network and an Ad-Hoc Network.
An Infrastructure network contains an Access Point or Router. The
Infrastructure Network example shown on the following page contains the
D-Link network devices listed here; (your existing network may be comprised
of other devices).
Getting Started (continued)