Dynex DX-EBDTC User manual

USER GUIDE
GUIDE DE L’UTILISATEUR • GUÍA DEL USUARIO
Wireless Enhanced G Desktop Card
Carte sans fil G amélioré pour ordinateur de bureau
Tarjeta inalámbrica G mejorado para PC de escritorio
DX-EBDTC

2Contents
Dynex DX-EBDTC
Wireless Enhanced G Desktop Card
Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................2
Product features................................................................................2
Setting up your wireless card ............................................................4
Troubleshooting ..............................................................................20
Specifications ..................................................................................24
Legal notices ...................................................................................24
One year limited warranty...............................................................27
Français ...................................................29
Español....................................................57
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the DX-EBDTC Dynex Wireless Enhanced G Desktop Card (the card).
Now you can take advantage of this great new technology and gain the freedom to network
your home and office computers wirelessly. This card lets you connect a desktop computer to
your network. The easy installation and setup will have you networking wirelessly in
minutes. Be sure to read through this User Guide completely.
Product features
The card complies with the IEEE 802.11g standard in order to communicate with other
802.11g-compliant wireless devices at 54 Mbps. The card is compatible with all 802.11g
devices, as well as other 802.11b products at 11 Mbps. 802.11g products run at speeds of up
to 54 Mbps (or 125 Mbps* using Enhanced G) and operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency
band as 802.11b Wi-Fi® products.
• 2.4 GHz ISM (Industrial, Science, and Medical) band operation
• Integrated easy-to-use Wireless Networking Utility
• PCI interface, for operation in virtually any desktop computer
• WPA, WPA2, Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS),64-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), or
128-bit encryption
• Wireless access to networked resources
• Support for both Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc (peer-to-peer) networking modes
• Data rate of up to 125 Mbps*in Enhanced G, 54 Mbps (802.11g), or 11 Mbps (802.11b)
• Easy installation and use
• External antenna
• Network link and activity link LED indicators

Product features 3
*When operating in Enhanced G, this Wi-Fi device may achieve an actual throughput of up to
or greater than 34.1 Mbps, which is the equivalent throughput of a system following
802.11g protocoland operating at a signal rate of 125 Mbps. Actual throughput will vary
depending on environmental, operational, and other factors.
Package contents
• Wireless Enhanced G Desktop Card
• Quick Installation Guide
• Installation Software CD
•ThisUserGuide
System requirements
• PC-compatible desktop computer with one available PCI slot and CD drive
• Windows® 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Vista
Components
# Component Description
1 Antenna Lets you connect to a wireless router
2 Activity LED Lights up and flashes when the card is active
3 Link LED Lights up when the card links to a wireless network
4 Card connector Fits securely into your computer’s PCI slot

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Setting up your wireless card
Windows Vista™
Important note: Install the software before inserting the card.
To install the software and the adapter with Windows Vista:
1Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD/DVD drive. The AutoPlay box opens.
2Double-click Run Installer.exe. If you see a window titled, “An unidentified program
wants access to your computer,” click Allow. The InstallShield Wizard screen opens.
3Click Next to begin the installation process.
You may see a window titled, “Windows can't verify the publisher of this driver
software.” This is normal and does not indicate a problem. Our software has been fully
tested and is compatible with this operating system.
DX-EBDTC

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4Click Install this driver software anyway.
5When the installation completes, the InstallShield Wizard Complete screen opens.
6Click Finish. Your installation is now complete.
7When prompted, turn off your computer and plug in your card. See “Installing the
wireless card” on page 9.
8To connect to the Internet, open the Network and Sharing Center by clicking Start,
Control Panel, Network and Internet - View network status and tasks. The
Network and Sharing Center opens.

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9Click Connect to a network. The Connect to a network screen opens.
10 Select an available wireless network, then click Connect. Your card attempts to
connect to the selected network.
Depending on the security settings of your wireless network, you may be prompted to
enter in a network security key or a passphrase.

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11 Enter thenetwork security key or passphrase, then click Connect. The successful
connection screen opens.
After connecting to the network, you can choose to save this network and connect
automatically after your card is in range.
The Network and Sharing Center should now show the network connection that you
have just made. The links on the left of the window let you configure your network
connections.

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All other Windows versions
Important note: Install the software before inserting the card.
To install the software:
1Insert the setup disc into your CD/DVD drive. The Dynex Wireless Card Installer screen
opens.
Note: If the Dynex Wireless Card Installer screen does not appear, double-click My
Computer, then double-click the CD/DVD drive where the installation CD has been
placed. Double-click the Files folder, then double-click setup.exe.
2Click Next. The InstallShield Wizard Welcome screen opens.
3Click Next. The Choose Destination Location screen opens.

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4Click Next. The InstallShield Wizard Complete screen opens.
5Click Yes, I want to shutdown my computer now, then click Finish. Your
computer shuts down.
Note: If at any time during the installation a warning appears that the software has not
passed Windows logo testing, click Continue anyway. This software is designed to run
on Windows.
Installing the wireless card
Caution: Before touching any electronic components, make sure that you first touch an
unpainted, grounded metal object to discharge any static electricity stored on your
clothing or body.
To install the card:
1Shut down your computer, then unplug the power cord.
2Remove your computer's case cover. See your computer's user guide for information
about removing the cover.
3Locate an available PCI slot. PCI slots are usually white. Keep in mind that the included
antenna needs to be oriented with the top pointing up. If there are cables and other
connectors in the way, pick the PCI slot that has the fewest obstructions to the correct
positioning of the antenna.
4Remove the screw that secures the backplate (the small piece of metal that covers the
opening for the PCI card on the back panel of your computer), then remove the
backplate.
5Carefully insert the card into the PCI slot. Do not touch the metal connector on the
card. Apply pressure as needed until the connector is fully seated.

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6Secure the card to the case using the screw you removed from the backplate.
7Carefully screw the antenna onto the threaded connector on the card.
8Turn the antenna until it is pointing up.
9Reinstall your computer's case cover.
10 Plug in the power cord and other cables, then turn on your computer. The Found New
Hardware Wizard opens.
11 Click No, not at this time, then clickNext. TheWelcome to the Found New Hardware
Wizard screen opens.
12 Click Install the software automatically (Recommended), then click Next. The
Completing the Found New Hardware Wizard screen opens.

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13 Click Finish. The Dynex Wireless Networking Utility opens.
Note: In order to see your available networks, you must be near a working wireless router.
14 Select your network from the Available Networks list, then click Connect.
Note: If the Dynex Wireless Networking Utility did not open automatically, double-click the
Wireless Utility icon in the system tray near the clock.
Accessing the wireless networking utility (WNU)
To access the WNU from the Windows system tray:
• Right-click the WNU icon on the Windows system tray in the lower right corner of the
desktop.
If the icon is not present, click on Start,Programs, Dynex, Wireless Networking
Utility.
The WNU’s default screen is the Current Status tab, which displays the current
network status and available networks.

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Network Status
This area displays the connectivity status of the current network, between the computer and
router and between the router and the Internet. In the event of a problem, use the Network
Status area to determine the source (for example, computer, router, or Internet/modem).
Available Networks
This area displays the available networks at the current location as well as the SSID, Signal
Strength, Security Type, Channel, and Network Type.
Lost Wireless Connection
If the current wireless connection is lost, a window opens and the WNU attempts to
reconnect.
Connection Failure
Other options will appear during attempts to reconnect. To stop trying to connect, click Stop.
To re-try connecting, click Retry.
Network Status and Solution Tips
To further understand the current network status, click Open Wireless Utility. The default
screen is the Current Status tab and the Network Status section determines which
connections are good or faulty.
Setting Wireless Network Profiles
The My Connections tab on the WNU lets you add, edit, and delete connection profiles. It
also displays signal strength, security, and network type.

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Securing your Wi-Fi® Network
If your router has security (WEP or WPA) set, you will see this box when you try to connect.
When this box opens, type the encryption key you set on your router, then click Connect.
The next few pages are advanced options of setting the security through the card instead of
the router.
Note: When you select a network using encryption, you will first see the simple security
screen. Click the Advanced button to see other security options (below).
Currently, there are four encryption methods:
64-Bit Wired
Equivalent
Privacy
128-Bit Wired
Equivalent
Privacy
Wi-Fi Protected
Access-TKIP
Wi-Fi Protected
Access 2
Acronym 64-bit WEP 128-bit WEP WPA-TKIP/AES (or just
WPA) WPA2-AES (or just WPA2)
Security Good Better Best Best

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WEP
WEP is a common protocol that adds security to all Wi-Fi-compliant wireless products. WEP
gives wireless networks the equivalent level of privacy protection as a comparable wired
network.
WEP encryption keys—After selecting either the 64-bit or 128-bit WEP encryption mode,
it is critical that you generate an encryption key. If the encryption key is not consistent
throughout the entire wireless network, your wireless networking devices will be unable to
communicate with one another. You can enter yourkey by typing in the hex key manually, or
you can type a passphrase into the “Passphrase” field and click “Generate” to create a key. A
hex (hexadecimal) key is a combination of numbers and letters from A–F and 0–9. For 64-bit
WEP, you need to enter 10 hex characters. For 128-bit WEP, you need to enter 26 hex
characters.
For instance:
AF 0F 4B C3 D4 = 64-bit WEP key
C3 03 0F AF 0F 4B B2 C3 D4 4B C3 D4 E7 = 128-bit WEP key
The WEP passphrase is NOT the same as a WEP key. Your card uses this passphrase to
generate your WEP keys, but different hardware manufacturers might have different
methods on generating the keys. If you have multiple vendors’ equipment in your network,
the easiest thing to do is to use the hex WEP key from your wireless router and enter it
manually into the hex WEP key table in your card’s configuration screen.
WPA
WPA is a new Wi-Fi standard that improves upon the security features of WEP. To use WPA
security, the drivers and software of your wireless equipment must be upgraded to support
it. These updates will be found on your wireless vendor’s Website. There are three types of
WPA security: WPA-PSK (no server), WPA (with radius server), and WPA2.
WPA-PSK (no server) uses what is known as a pre-shared key as the network key. A network
key is a password that is between eight and 63 characters long. It can be a combination of
letters, numbers, or characters. Each client uses the same network key to access the network.
Typically, this is the mode that will be used in a home environment.
WPA (with radius server) is a system where a radius server distributes the network key to the
clients automatically. This is typically found in a business environment.
Features
Static keys Static keys Dynamic key
encryption and
mutual
authentication
Dynamic key
encryption and
mutual
authentication
Encryption keys based
on RC4 algorithm
(typically 40-bit keys)
More secure than
64-bit WEP using a
key length of 104 bits
plus 24 additional bits
of system generated
data
TKIP (Temporal Key
Integrity Protocol)
added so that keys are
rotated and
encryption is
strengthened
AES (Advanced
Encryption Standard)
does not cause any
throughput loss

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WPA2 requires Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for encryption of data, which offers
much greater security than WPA. WPA uses both Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) and
AES for encryption.
Most Wi-Fi products ship with security turned off. So once you have your network working,
you need to activate WEP or WPA and make sure all your wireless devices are sharing the
same network key.
IMPORTANT: You must now set all wireless network cards/adaptersto match these settings.
Configuring your Wireless Enhanced G Desktop Card to
use security
You should already have your wireless router set to use WPA or WEP. To make a wireless
connection you need to set your Wireless Enhanced G Desktop Card to use the same security
settings.
Changing the Wireless Security Settings
The Wireless G USB network adapter supports the latest WPA security feature as well as the
legacy WEP security standard. By default, wirelesssecurity is disabled.
Your Dynex wireless adapter is equipped with the latest security standard called Wi-Fi
Protected Access 2 (WPA2™) and the legacy security standard called Wired Equivalent Privacy
(WEP). It also supports the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) specification, which simplifies the
setup of a wireless network. WPS uses familiar methodologies, such as typing in a Personal
Identification Number (PIN) or pushing a button, to enable you to automatically configure
network names and strong WPA/WPA2 data encryption and authentication.
Using Wi-Fi protected setup:
• Encryption key if not using WPS
• Personal Identification Number (PIN) method: Your wireless adapter generates a PIN
to be entered into your router.
• Push Button Configuration (PBC) method: Your wireless adapter can also connect by
using the software pushbutton.
• Manual configuration method: This section lists the default security settings to be set
if you are not using WPS.
WPS uses WPA2 for encryption. It does not provide additional security, but standardizedthe
method for securing your wireless network. On your client utility, WPS-enabled networks are
indicated by a key icon. You can use either the PBC method or the PIN method to let a device
access your wireless network.
To use the PBC method:
1Push and hold the WPS button (located on the back of your router) for three seconds.
Initiate the WPS procedure on the client utility within two minutes.
2Open the WNU and select the network name, then click Connect. Your client
automatically exchanges security information and is added to your wireless network.
You can also initiate the PBS method from the client side.
To use the PIN method:
1Open the WNU and select the WPS-enabled network, then click Connect.

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2Choose the PIN method option, then complete the WPS procedure on your router. Your
client is automatically enrolled in your wireless network within two minutes.
To enable security, you will first need to determine which standard is used by the router. (See
your wireless router’s guide for directions on how to access the security settings.)
To access the security settings on your card:
1Open the WNU.
2Click the My Connections tab, then click the connection you want to change.
3Click Edit, then click Advanced to change settings.
Setting up WEP
To set up 64-Bit WEP encryption:
1Select OPEN from the Network Authentication menu on the Wireless Network
Properties tab on the Edit information for a network page.
2Select WEP from the Data Encryption menu.
3After selecting your WEP encryption mode, enter your key by typing in the hex key
manually or type in a passphrase in the Passphrase field, then click Generate to
create a key.
A hex (hexadecimal) key is a combination of numbers and letters from A–F and 0–9.
For 64-bit WEP, you need to enter 10 hex characters.

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For instance:
AF 0F 4B C3 D4 = 64-bit WEP key
4Click Save to finish. Encryption in the wireless router is now set. Each of your
computers on your wireless network will now need to be configured with the same
security settings.
Caution: If you are using a wireless client (such as your computer equipped with a wireless
desktop card) to turn on the security settings in your wireless router, you will temporarily
lose your wireless connection until youactivate security on your wireless client. Record the
key prior to applying changes in the wireless router. If you don’t remember the hex key,
your client will be locked out of the wireless router.
Setting up 128-bit WEP encryption:
1Select OPEN from the Network Authentication menu on the Wireless Network
Properties tab on the Edit information for a network page.
2Select WEP from the Data Encryption menu.
3After selecting your WEP encryption mode, enter your key by typing in the hex key
manually or type in a passphrase in the Passphrase field, then click Generate to
create a key.
A hex (hexadecimal) key is a combination of numbers and letters from A–F and 0–9.
For 128-bit WEP, you need to enter 26 hex characters.

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For instance:
C3 03 0F AF 0F 4B B2 C3 D4 4B C3 D4 E7 = 128-bit WEP key
4Click Save to finish. Encryption in the wireless router is now set. Each of your
computers on your wireless network will now need to be configured with the same
security settings.
Caution: If you are using a wireless client (such as your such as your computer equipped with
a wireless desktop card) to turn on the security settings in your wireless router, you will
temporarily lose your wireless connection until you activate security on your wireless
client. Record the key prior to applying changes in the wireless router. If you don’t
remember the hex key, your client will be locked out of the wireless router.
To set up WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK (no server):
Note: Choose this setting if your network does not use a radius server. WPA-PSK or
WPA2-PSK (no server) is typically used in home and small office networking.
1Select WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK (no server) from the Network Authentication menu
on the Wireless Network Properties tab on the Edit information for a network page.
2Select TKIP or AES from the list.

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3Enter your network key. This can be from eight to 63 characters and can be letters,
numbers, or symbols. This same key must be used on all of the clients (network cards)
that you want to include in your network.
4Click Save to finish. You must now set all clients (network cards) to match these
settings.
Wireless networking utility options
The Options tab on the Wireless Networking Utility (WNU) lets you customize your WNU
settings.

20 Troubleshooting
WNU Help
The WNU Help tab lets you access online and telephone support, as well as advanced
diagnostic tools.
Advanced diagnostic tools
The Advanced Diagnostic Tools section is the central control panel for all the settings of
the hardware and software components of the wireless network. It provides an array of tests
and connectivity services to ensure optimal network performance.
Troubleshooting
Placement of your wireless networking hardware for
optimal performance
Your wireless connection will be stronger the closer your computer is to your wireless router.
Typical indoor operating range for your wireless devices is between 100 and 200 feet. In the
same way, your wireless connection and performance will degrade somewhat as the
distance between your wireless router and connected devices increases. This may or may not
be noticeable to you. As you move farther from your wireless router, connection speed may
decrease.
Factors that can weaken signals simply by getting in the way of your network’s radio waves
are metal appliances, obstructions, and walls.