Linksys WAP300N User manual

Overview
WAP300Nisahighlyflexible devicewhichfeaturesfour modesofoperation:
•AccessPoint(AP)mode
•WirelessMediaConnector (WMC)mode
•WirelessRangeExtender(WRE)mode
•WirelessBridge(WB)mode
WAP300Nisaselectabledual-bandWireless-N(802.11n)deviceand,therefore,itcanoperateineither
2.4GHzor 5.0GHzradioband.
Access PointMode
•Ifyouhaveawirednetwork, thismodeaddstheabilitytoconnectwirelessdevices(suchas
notebookcomputers,tablets,andsmartphones)tothenetwork.
•Ifyouhavean olderwirelessnetwork, forexample,Wireless-A/B/G (802.11a/b/g),thismodeadds
Wireless-N(802.11n)networkingsupporttoyournetwork.

•IfyouhaveaWireless-N(802.11n)2.4GHz-only network,thismodeadds supportfor the5GHz
radioband.
•Ifyour currentwirelessrouterhasalimitedwirelesscoverageandyouhaveawirednetworkinyour
house,thismodecanextendsthewirelesscoverage, bycreatinganadditionalwirelessnetwork,if
youconnect thisdevicetoyourwirednetwork.
AccessPointmodeisthedefaultoperationmodeincasethedeviceisbeing resettofactorydefault
settings.
IfyouwouldliketouseWAP300Ninthismode,
Step1:Proceedto Setup>Operation Mode and followtheinstructionstosetthedevicetothismode.
Step2:ProceedtoWireless>BasicWirelessSettings andfollow theinstructions toconfigurethebasic
wirelesssettings.
Step3:ProceedtoWireless>WirelessSecurity and follow theinstructions toconfigurethewireless
security.
Step4:UseanEthernetcable toconnectWAP300N sEthernetporttotheEthernet/LAN portofyour
existing routeroryour wirednetwork.
WirelessMediaConnectorMode
Inthismode,WAP300Naddswirelessnetworking capabilitytoanywired(Ethernet-capable)device(e.g.
gameconsole, mediaplayer, DVR, smartTVor networkaccessstorage).Ifyouhaveawirednetwork
device,connectittothisdeviceforwirelessnetworkaccess.
IfyouwouldliketouseWAP300Ninthismode,
Step1:Proceedto Setup>Operation Mode and followtheinstructionstosetthedevicetothismode.
Step2:ProceedtoWireless>WirelessNetworkSiteSurvey (recommended) or Wireless>Basic
WirelessSettings, andfollow theinstructionstoconfigurethebasicwirelesssettings.

Step3:UseanEthernetcable toconnectWAP300N sEthernetporttotheEthernet/LAN portofyour
wireddevicethatwouldliketoaccessthewirelessnetwork.
WirelessRangeExtenderMode
Inthismode,thisdevicewirelesslyextendstherangeofanexistingwirelessnetwork.At thesametime,
italsoaddswirelessnetworking capabilitytoanywired(Ethernet-capable)device(e.g.gameconsole,
mediaplayer,DVR,smartTVornetworkaccessstorage).
IfyouwouldliketouseWAP300Ninthismode,
Step1:Proceedto Setup>Operation Mode and followtheinstructionstosetthedevicetothismode.
Step2:ProceedtoWireless>WirelessNetworkSiteSurvey (recommended)or Wireless>Basic
WirelessSettings, and followtheinstructionstoconfigurethebasicwirelesssettings.
Step3:PlaceWAP300Ninbetweenyour existingwirelessrouterand thewirelessdevicesthatoriginally
havedifficultyofconnecting toyourwirelessrouterduetoweakwirelesssignal.For thebest
positioningofWAP300NinWirelessRangeExtendermode,youmayneedtotestitinmultiple locations.
WirelessBridgeMode

Withmultiple WAP300Nsoperating inthismode,WAP300Nscanwirelesslyconnecttwoormorewired
networkstogether.
NOTE:WhenthisdeviceissettoWirelessBridgemode,itwillcommunicateonlywithotherWAP300N(s)
thatis/arealsoinWirelessBridgemode. Therefore, youwillneedatleasttwoWAP300Nstomakeuse
of thisoperationmode.
IfyouwouldliketouseWAP300Ninthismode,
Step1:Proceedto Setup>Operation Mode and followtheinstructionstosetthedevicetothismode.
Step2:ProceedtoWireless>BasicWirelessSettings andfollow theinstructions toconfigurethebasic
wirelesssettings.
Step3:ProceedtoWireless>WirelessSecurity and follow theinstructions toconfigurethewireless
security.
Step4:Connect WAP300NsEthernetporttooneofyourwirednetworks.Repeat step1 to3on
additionalWAP300Nsand install oneWAP300Nineachwirednetworkthatneedstobewirelessly
connectedtogether.

LEDs,Ports and Buttons
LEDs
Wireless
InWMCand WREmode, theWirelessLEDlights(solid)up whenthereisawirelessconnectiontothe
wirelessrouter(or accesspoint).
InWBmode,theWireless LEDlights(solid)upwhenthereisawirelessconnectiontoanotherWAP300N.
Inallmodes,theWirelessLEDflasheswhenthedeviceisactivelysendingorreceivingdataoverits
wirelessinterface.
Wi-FiProtected SetupTM
TheLEDflashesslowlyfortwominutesduring Wi-FiProtectedSetup.Itlightsupwhenwirelesssecurity
isenabled.IfthereisanerrorduringtheWi-FiProtectedSetupprocess,theLEDwouldflashesquickly
fortwominutes.Makesurethewirelessclientdeviceorwirelessrouter, thatyouwanttoconnectto
WAP300N,supportsWi-FiProtectedSetup.WaituntiltheLEDisoff,and thentryagain.
Ethernet
TheEthernetLEDlightsup whenthereisawiredconnection.TheLEDflasheswhentheAccessPointis
actively sending orreceivingdataovertheEthernetport.
Power
ThePowerLEDlightsup whenthedeviceispoweredon.

Ports
Ethernet
InAPandWBmode, theEthernetportconnectsthedevicetoarouteroranexisting wirednetwork.
InWMCand WREmode, theEthernetportconnectsthedevicetotheEthernet-capabledevicethat
wouldliketoaccessthewirelessnetwork.
Power
ThePowerportconnectstheAccessPointtotheincludedpoweradapter.
Buttons
Reset
TherearetwowaystoresettheAccessPointtofactorydefaultsettings.Eitherpressand holdtheReset
buttonforapproximately five seconds, orrestorethedefaultsfromtheAdministration>Factory
Defaults screeninthedevice sbrowser-basedutility.
Wi-FiProtected SetupTM
IfWAP300NisinAPmodeandyouhaveclientdevices,suchas wirelessadapters,thatsupportWi-Fi
ProtectedSetup,youcanusethisWi-FiProtectedSetupbuttontoconnect yourclientdevicesto
WAP300N.
IfWAP300NisinWMCmodeandyouhavewirelessrouterthatsupportsWi-FiProtectedSetupTM,you
canusethisWi-FiProtectedSetupbuttontoconnect WAP300Ntoyourwirelessrouter.
IfWAP300NisinWREmodeandyouhavewirelessrouterand wirelessclientsdevicesthatsupportWi-Fi
ProtectedSetup,youcanusethisWi-FiProtectedSetupbuttonfirsttoconnect WAP300Ntoyour
wirelessrouterand, onceWAP300Nisconnectedtoyourwirelessrouter,youcanthenusethesame
buttontoconnect yourwirelessclientdevicestoWAP300N.
NOTE: Wi-FiProtectedSetupisnotsupportedwhenWAP300NisinWBmode.

How toaccessthebrowser-basedutility
Useawebbrowsertoaccessthebrowser-basedutilityforadvancedconfigurationof thisdevice.
Launchyour webbrowser, andenterWAP300N sIP address*(thedefaultsettingis10.100.1.1)inthe
Addressfield.Press Enter.
Apasswordrequestscreenappears(non-Windows7userswillseeasimilarscreen.)LeavetheUser
namefieldblank.Enterthepasswordyouhavecreated.Ifyoudidnotcreateanew password, usethe
defaultpassword admin.(Youcan setanewpasswordfromthe Administration >Management screen.)
ClickOK tocontinue.
*NOTE:

•IfthedeviceisconnectedtoanetworkwithaDHCPserver(usuallythenetworkrouter),thenthe
devicewill obtainitsIPaddressfromtheDHCPserver.Inthiscase,findthedevice sIP addressin
theDHCPclienttable ofyourrouter(refertothedocumentationforyourrouter.)
•IfthereisnoDHCPserver(forexample,ifWAP300Nisnotwirelessly connectedtoanyotherdevice
and itisconnecteddirectlytoacomputerwithanEthernetcable), thenthedevicewilluseits
defaultIP address, 10.100.1.1,untilthedevicedetectsaDHCPserverwhichwillassignadynamicIP
addresstothedevice.
•IfyouhavesetastaticIPaddressonthisdevicethroughthebrowser-basedutility,thenenterthe
staticIP addressinstead.IfyouhavesetastaticIP addressonthisdevicebuthaveforgottentheIP
address, youcanresetthedevice;pressthe Reset buttononthedeviceforapproximately five
seconds using astraightenedpaperclip.Thiswillresetthedevicebacktothefactorydefaultsettings.
Setup >BasicSetup
ThefirstscreenthatappearsistheBasicSetup screen.Usethisscreentochangethebrowser-based
utility slanguage,or tochangethedevice swiredEthernetnetworksettings.
Language

Thisisusedtosetthelanguagedisplayedbythebrowser-basedutility.Selectthedesiredlanguagefrom
thedrop-downmenu.
DeviceIP
Thissetting determineswhetherthedevice sIP address isobtainedautomaticallyfromaDHCPserver,
suchasyournetworkrouter(AutomaticConfiguration -DHCP),or issetmanually (StaticIP).
IfyournetworkhasaDHCPserver(usually thenetworkrouter)assigning IPaddressestoyournetwork
devices, thenkeepthedefault,AutomaticConfiguration -DHCP.ThedevicewillrequestanIP address
fromtheDHCPserver.IfnoDHCPserverisfound, thenthedevicewilluseitsdefaultstaticIPaddress,
10.100.1.1,until ithas detectedaDHCPserverandisassignedadynamicIPaddress.
Formosthomenetworks,leaving thissettingAutomaticConfiguration -DHCPasisrecommended.
IfyouwanttosetapermanentstaticIP addressforthisdevice,thenselect StaticIP.IfyouselectStatic
IP, completethefollowing fields:
-IP Address
EnterauniqueIPaddressthatwillbeusedtoaccessthebrowser-basedutility.
-Subnet Mask
Enterthesubnetmaskof yournetwork.
-DefaultGateway
EntertheIPaddressofthedefaultgatewayforyournetwork(inmostcases,thisisyour router).
ClickSaveSettings toapply yourchanges,or clickCancelChangestocancelyourchanges.
Setup >OperationMode

WAP300Nsupportsfouroperationmodes:
•AccessPoint(AP)mode
•WirelessMediaConnector (WMC)mode
•WirelessRangeExtender(WRE)mode
•WirelessBridge(WB)mode
Select thedesiredoperationmodeandclick SaveSettingstoapply yourchanges, orclick Cancel
Changestocancel yourchanges.
Forinformationabouteachof theseoperationmodes,pleasereferto Overview onpage XXX.
Wireless
Thescreensavailable underthetab Wireless dependontheoperationmodethatyouhaveselected.
Operation
Mode
BasicWireless
Settings
Wireless
Security
Wireless
NetworkSite
WirelessMAC
Filter
QoS

Survey
AccessPoint
X
X
X
X
WirelessMedia
Connector X X X
WirelessRange
Extender X X TBD
WirelessBridge
X
X
Inaddition,thecontentof eachscreenunderWireless mayalsochangedependingontheoperation
modethatyouhaveselected.
Wireless >BasicWirelessSettings
(AccessPointMode)
ConfigurationView
TouseWi-FiProtectedSetup,select Wi-FiProtected Setup .Thenproceedto“Wi-FiProtectedSetup”.
Tomanually configureyourwirelessnetwork,select Manual.Thenproceedto “ManualSetup”onpag .
Wi-FiProtected Setup

Wi-FiProtectedSetup™isafeaturethatmakesiteasytosetupyour wirelessnetwork.Ifyouhave client
devices, suchaswirelessadapters, thatsupportWi-FiProtectedSetup, thenyoucanuseWi-FiProtected
Setup toconfigurewirelesssecurityforyour wirelessnetwork.Otherwise,usemanualsetup(referto
“ManualSetup”).
Therearethree methodsavailable forWi-FiProtectedSetup.
1.UseWi-FiProtectedSetupButton
-ClickorpresstheWi-FiProtectedSetupbuttononthewirelessclientdevice.
-Withintwominutes,clicktheWi FiProtectedSetupbuttonontheaccesspoint sWi-FiProtected
Setup screen.
-Aftertheclientdevicehasbeenconfigured,click Close.

2.EnterWi-FiProtectedSetup PINfromtheClientDeviceonWAP300N
-EntertheclientsPINnumberinthefieldonthisscreen.
-Click Register.
-Aftertheclientdevicehasbeenconfigured,click Close.
3.EnterWi-FiProtectedSetup PINfromWAP300NontheClientDevice
-Ontheclient sWi-FiProtectedSetup screen, enterthePINnumberlistedonWAP300N sWi-Fi
ProtectedSetup screen.Thenclick Registerortheappropriatebuttonontheclientdevice sWi-Fi
ProtectedSetup screen.(ThePINnumberisalsolistedonthelabel onthebottomoftheAccessPoint.)
-Aftertheclientdevicehasbeenconfigured,click Close.
Regardlesswhichmethodwasused, theWi-FiProtectedSetupStatus,WirelessBand,NetworkName
(SSID),andSecuritymodearedisplayedatthebottomof thescreen.
ManualSetup

WirelessBand
Thisisusedtoselect the2.4GHzor5GHzradioband.The5GHzband ismuchlesscrowdedthanthe
2.4GHzband, soitismorelikelythatyouwillhaveyourowninterference-freechanneland,therefore, 5
GHzbandisidealforstreaming multimedia.However, notallwirelessclientdevicessupport5GHzradio
band.
NetworkMode(5GHz)
Fromthisdrop-downmenu, youcan selectthewirelessstandardsrunning onyournetwork.Ifyouhave
bothWireless-N(802.11n)andWireless-A(802.11a)devicesinyournetwork,keepthedefaultsetting,
Mixed.Ifyouhaveonly Wireless-Ndevicesinyournetwork,select Wireless-NOnly.Ifyouhaveonly
Wireless-Adevicesinyournetwork,select Wireless-AOnly.
NetworkMode(2.4GHz)

Fromthisdrop-downmenu, youcan selectthewirelessstandardsrunning onyournetwork.Ifyouhave
Wireless-N(802.11n),Wireless-G(802.11g),and Wireless-B(802.11b)devicesinyour network, keepthe
default, Mixed.Ifyouhaveonly Wireless-Ndevices,select Wireless-NOnly.Ifyouhaveonly Wireless-G
and Wireless-Bdevicesinyournetwork, select Wireless-B/GOnly.Ifyouhave onlyWireless-Gdevices,
select Wireless-GOnly.Ifyouhaveonly Wireless-Bdevices,select Wireless-BOnly.
NetworkName(SSID)
TheSSIDisthenameofyour wirelessnetwork.Awirelessdeviceusesthisnametoidentifywhich
wirelessnetworkitconnectsto.Therefore,thisnetworknameissharedamong all thewirelessdevices
connectedtoyour wirelessnetwork.SSIDiscase-sensitiveandmustnotexceed32characters(useany
charactersonthekeyboard).Foreasyidentificationofyourwirelessnetwork,itisrecommendedto
customizetheSSIDtoauniquenameinsteadofusing thedefaultname.However, donotinclude
sensitiveinformationinaSSID(for example, socialsecuritynumberordateofbirth).ItisbecauseSSID
isvisible toeveryonewithintherangeof yourwirelessnetwork.
Whenyouconnectyourwirelessdevicetotheaccesspoint,make sureyouspecifytheSSIDyouhave set
here.
ChannelWidth
ForbestperformanceinaWireless-Nnetwork,select40MHzonly (only availablein5GHzradioband)or
Auto.InAutomode,theaccesspointand thenetworkclientdevicesautomaticallyswitchtothe40
MHzmodeif:
•Yourwirelessclientdevicessupportthe40MHzmodeinwhichtwo20 MHzchannelsare
bondedtogetherfor betterperformance.
•Thereisnoadjacentinterference.
Channel
Choosetheoperating channel forwirelessnetwork.Youraccesspointwillautomatically selectthe
channel withtheleastamountofinterferenceifyouleave thedefault Auto setting.Keeping thedefault
settingAuto isrecommended.
SSIDBroadcast
Whenwirelessclientdeviceslookforwirelessnetworkstoconnect to, theydetectthewirelessnetwork
name(SSID)broadcastedbytheaccesspoint.Tobroadcastyouraccesspoint sSSID,keepthedefault
setting, Enabled.IfyoudonotwanttobroadcasttheaccesspointsSSID, selectDisabled.Keeping the
defaultsetting, Enabled, isrecommended.

Toapplyyourchanges,click SaveSettingsatthebottomofthescreen, orclick CancelChanges tocancel
yourchanges.
Wireless >BasicWirelessSettings
(Wireless MediaConnector Mode)
ConfigurationView
TouseWi-FiProtectedSetup,select Wi-FiProtected Setup .Thenproceedto“Wi-FiProtectedSetup”.
Tomanually configureyourwirelessnetwork,select Manual.Thenproceedto “ManualSetup”.
Wi-FiProtected Setup

Wi-FiProtectedSetup™isafeaturethatmakesiteasytosetupyour wirelessnetwork.Ifyourwireless
routeroraccesspointsupportsWi-FiProtectedSetup, thenyoucanuseWi-FiProtectedSetup to
connect thisdevicetoyourrouteroraccesspoint.Otherwise,usemanualsetup(referto
“ManualSetup”).
Therearetwomethodsavailablefor Wi-FiProtectedSetup.
1.UseWi-FiProtectedSetupButton
-Clickorpressthe Wi-FiProtectedSetup buttononthewirelessrouter.
-Withintwominutes,clickthe Wi FiProtected Setupbuttononthisdevice sWi-FiProtectedSetup
screen.
-AfterWAP300Nhasbeenconfigured, click Close.
2.EnterWi-FiProtectedSetup PINfromWAP300NontheRouter
-Ontherouter sWi-FiProtectedSetupscreen,enterthePINnumberlistedonWAP300N sWi-Fi
ProtectedSetup screen.Thenclick Registerortheappropriatebuttonontherouter sWi-FiProtected
Setup screen.(ThePINnumberisalsolistedonthelabel onthebottomofWAP300N.)
-OnWAP300N sWi-FiProtectedSetupscreen,click OK.
-AfterWAP300Nhasbeenconfigured, click Close.
Regardlesswhichmethodwasused, theWi-FiProtectedSetupStatus,WirelessBand,NetworkName
(SSID),andSecuritymodearedisplayedatthebottomof thescreen.
ManualSetup
Onthisscreen,youmanuallyentertheinformationofyourwirelessnetworktoconnectthisdeviceto
yournetwork.Alternatively, youmayuse Wireless>WirelessNetworkSiteSurvey screentoestablish
thewirelessconnection(recommended).Toestablishtheconnectionusing Wireless>Wireless
NetworkSiteSurvey screen.

NetworkName(SSID)
TheSSIDisthenameofawirelessnetwork.Awirelessdeviceusesthisnametoidentifywhichwireless
networkitconnectsto.EntertheSSIDofyour wirelessnetworkhere. TheSSIDenteredheremust
matchtheSSIDsettingonyourwirelessrouteroraccesspoint.Otherwise, wirelessconnectiontoyour
networkcannotbeestablished.SSIDiscase-sensitive andmustnotexceed32characters.
SecurityMode
Select thesecuritymodethatmatchesthesecuritysetting onyour wirelessrouteror accesspoint.Ifthe
settingheredoesnotmatchthesetting onyourwirelessrouteroraccesspoint,wirelessconnectionto
yournetworkwillfailandthisdevicewill notbeable toaccessyournetwork.Ifyourwirelessnetwork
doesnothavesecurity(notrecommended),keepthedefault, Disabled.
Dependingonthesecuritymodeyouhaveselected,youwillbeaskedtoenteradditionalinformation
(refertothefollowing table).Onceyouhavefilledinalltherequiredinformation,click SaveSettings to
apply yourchanges, orclick CancelChangestocancelyour changes.
SecurityMode Additional
Information Required
Description
WPA2Personal,or Passphrase Enterthepassphrasesharedbythisdeviceand

WPAPersonal
your
wirelessrouter(oraccesspoint).Itmust
have8-63characters.Alsosupport64hex.
WEP
Encryption Selectalevel of WEPencryption, 40/64-bit(10
hexdigits)or 104/128-bit(26 hex digits).
Key1 EntertheWEPkeyof yournetwork.Key 1is
thetransmitkey usedbythisdevice.
Authentication
Thedefaultis Auto, whichallowseitherOpen
systemorSharedKeyauthenticationtobe
used.SelectOpen touseopensystem
authentication;thesenderand recipientdonot
useaWEPkey forauthentication.Select Shared
tousesharedkeyauthentication;thesender
andrecipientuseaWEPkeyforauthentication.
Nooptionforauthenticationchange.
Wireless >BasicWirelessSettings
(Wireless Range ExtenderMode)
InWREmode, …
(1)BasicWirelessSettingspage(bothWPSview and Manualview)lookslikewhatisinWMCmodeif
WAP300Nhasnotconnectedtoawirelessrouteryet.Thus, youmayre-usethetextinWMCmode.

(2)BasicWirelessSettingspage, inWPSview,lookslikewhatisinAPmode ifWAP300Nhasalready
connectedtoawirelessrouter.Thus, youmayre-usethetextinAPmode.