US Robotics USR5430 User manual

802.11g Wireless Gaming Adapter
and Ethernet Bridge
User Guide
English
Français
R24.0459.00
Model USR5430
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802.11g Wireless Gaming Adapter and Ethernet Bridge
Thank you for purchasing the U.S. Robotics 802.11g Wireless Gaming Adapter and
Ethernet Bridge (Model USR5430). You can use your USR5430 to online game through
the Internet so you can play anyone in the world. Or, you can use the USR5430 as an
Ethernet bridge to connect any Ethernet device such as a computer, network printer, or
digital video recorder (DVR) to a wireless router. Finally, your USR5430 may also be
used to play your friend in the same house or building provided you each have a gaming
console of the same brand (Xbox-to-Xbox, Playstation-to-Playstation), or other gaming
console.
LED information
Power LED
Off = No Power
Solid = Power ON
Wireless LED
Off = No physical link
Solid = Physical link established (Wireless)
Flashing = Data Activity (Wireless)
Ethernet LED
Off = No physical link
Solid = Physical link established (Ethernet)
Flashing = Data activity (Ethernet)
Rear Panel information
Item Description
Antenna
connector Connect your antenna
Reset Changes the USR5430 configuration. Refer to the Restoring to Default
Settings for specific reset options
Ethernet Ethernet port for use with an Ethernet cable
12VDC Input jack that accepts cable from AC power adapters
Ethernet
Reset
12VDC
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Restoring to Default Settings
You may use the reset button to restore your USR5430 to factory defaults. To restore your
USR5430 to factory default settings, insert a pin or paperclip to press the reset button for more
than 5 seconds.
Note: To reboot the USR5430, simply unplug the AC power adapter from the 12VDC jack.
Using the reset button to enable Configuration Mode
To access the USR5430’s Web User Interface pages, you will need to have the USR5430 supply
your computer with an IP address. In order for the USR5430 to supply this IP address, you must
insert a pin or paperclip to press the reset button momentarily (less than 2 seconds). This allows
the USR5430 to become a DHCP server capable of serving an IP address of 192.168.1.202 to the
device requesting an IP address. The default IP address of the USR5430 is 192.168.1.201
Accessing the USR5430’s Web User Interface pages
You will need to access the Web User Interface pages for a variety of reasons. The most common
of these is to change from Client Mode to Ad Hoc Mode, to enable security, and to perform a site
survey. Out of the box, the USR5430 is configured in Client Mode. Client Mode converts wireless
data to Ethernet data which is forwarded onto your computer’s Ethernet (NIC) connection. The
easiest way to access the Web User Interface pages is to put the USR5430 in Configuration Mode.
In Configuration Mode, the USR5430 will supply your computer with an IP address.
Follow the steps below to enable the Configuration Mode:
1. Attach the antenna to the back of the USR5430.
2. Plug the AC power adapter into the 12VDC jack on the back of the USR5430.
3. Insert a pin or paperclip to press the reset button momentarily (less than 2 seconds). The
reset button is located on the back of the USR5430.
4. Connect one end of the included Ethernet cable to the port on the back of the USR5430.
Connect the other end to the Ethernet port on your computer.
Open an Internet browser and enter http://192.168.1.201
Note: If your search for the device “times-out” or you did not get a dialog box for the user-
name and password, you may need to refresh the IP settings on your computer. Follow the
steps below for your operating system to refresh the IP settings on your computer. Once
complete, access the USR5430 using your browser.
Windows 95, 98, or Me Users:
Click Windows Start and then Run. Type winipcfg and click OK. Check the IP address
(default is 192.168.1.202), Subnet Mask (default is 255.255.255.0), and Default Gateway
(default is 192.168.1.201) to make sure they are correct. If the information is not correct, click
Release All and then click Renew All. Open an Internet browser and enter http://
192.168.1.201
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Windows NT, 2000, or XP Users:
Click Windows Start and then Run. Type cmd and click OK. At the DOS prompt, type
ipconfig /all. Check the IP address (default is 192.168.1.202), Subnet Mask (default is
255.255.255.0), and Default Gateway (default is 192.168.1.201), to make sure they are cor-
rect. If the information is not correct, type ipconfig /release and press Enter. Then, type
ipconfig /renew and press Enter. Open an Internet browser and enter http://192.168.1.201
5. Enter your user name and password. The default username is admin. The default password
is admin. Press Enter on your keyboard.
6. The Web User Interface will appear. Select Client Mode or Ad Hoc Mode and click Next.
Type your wireless network SSID in the SSID field, select the corresponding Data Encryp-
tion, Authentication, and Network Key, if applicable. Click Save. A “Your 5430 is config-
ured” message will appear. Click Continue.
7. Once you have configured your USR5430, remove the Ethernet cable from your computer
and connect to the Ethernet port on your gaming console or your Ethernet-ready device.
Performing a Site Survey
Site Survey is a powerful tool and should be utilized to ensure your USR5430 associates to your
wireless network. Performing a Site Survey scans for all wireless routers and access points
within range and displays the SSID (the network names) of each. If you are not associating to
your wireless network or if you are not associating to any wireless network, performing a Site Sur-
vey should be your first course of action. To perform a site survey, follow the steps below:
1. Access the Web User Interface. It is important to verify the status of your USR5430 before
performing a Site Survey. To do so, select the Status tab as demonstrated below:
The network you are associated to will display its SSID name. The MAC address will display
the MAC address of the wireless router or access point. If the SSID name and the MAC
address match those of your wireless router or access point, you are successfully associ-
ated to your wireless network. If the SSID and MAC address to do not match your wireless
router or access point, or if you see a “Device is not associated” message, proceed to Step
2.
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2. Select the Tools tab. Click Site Survey. A separate window will appear displaying the SSID
(the network names) of each wireless router and access point within range. Select your
wireless network SSID and click Select.
3. Wait about 15 seconds in order for the device to reboot and click Continue. The Status page
will appear. Your USR5430 should now be associated to your wireless network. If your
USR5430 is not associated to your wireless network, refer to the Troubleshooting section in
this User Guide.
What is Wireless Networking and how does it work?
There are two types of wireless network set ups: Client Mode (infrastructure) and Ad Hoc Mode
(peer-to-peer).
Client Mode is an 802.11 networking framework in which devices communicate with each other by
first going through a wireless router or access point. Wireless devices can communicate with
each other or can communicate with a wired network. Generally, a majority of small businesses
and home users operate in Client Mode because they require access to the wired LAN (usually
from broadband or cable Internet providers) in order to use services such as file servers or print-
ers. The graphic below depicts one example of an Client Mode network using a USR5430 con-
nected to a gaming console.
Ad Hoc (sometimes referred to as peer-to-peer), is a type of wireless network allowing a wireless
adapter or other Ethernet-ready device to connect directly to another wireless adapter or Ether-
net-ready device. The graphic below depicts one example of an ad hoc network.
Gaming console
DVR, printer, computer, or other Ethernet-ready device
USR5430
Wireless Router
or Access Point
ADSL or cable modem
Internet
Gaming console
USR5430
Gaming console
DVR, computer, or other Ethernet-ready device
USR5430
DVR, computer, or other Ethernet-ready device
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Wireless Antenna Range Performance
If your USR5430 is not maintaining a wireless connection to your network, you might be encoun-
tering interference from walls or other structures that is lowering your link quality. Try placing
your USR5430 at a higher location, such as a higher shelf, or repositioning it in a different area of
your room or office. You may also be experiencing interference from other wireless devices such
as cordless phones, baby monitors, security alarms, etc. Be sure other wireless devices are on
different non-overlapping channels. It may also be necessary for you to move your USR5430
away from major appliances such as TV’s, refrigerators, microwave ovens, etc. Here’s why:
Wireless antenna’s work off of radio waves. Radio waves don't travel the same distance in all
directions. Walls, doors, elevator shafts, people, and other obstacles offer varying degrees of sig-
nal loss (attenuation), which cause the Radio Frequency (RF) radiation pattern to be irregular and
unpredictable. Attenuation is simply a reduction of signal strength during transmission. Attenua-
tion is registered in decibels (dB), which is ten times the logarithm of the signal power at a partic-
ular input divided by the signal power at an output of a specified medium. For example, an office
wall that changes the propagation of an RF signal from a power level of 200 milliwatts (the input)
to 100 milliwatts (the output) represents 3 dB of attenuation. The following provides some exam-
ples of the attenuation values of common office construction:
• Plasterboard wall: 3dB
• Glass wall with metal frame: 6dB
• Cinder block wall: 4dB
• Office window: 3dB
•Metaldoor:6dB
• Metal door in brick wall: 12.4dB
Other factors that will reduce range and affect coverage area include concrete fiberboard walls,
aluminum siding, pipes and electrical wiring, microwave ovens, and cordless phones.
Status Page
The Status page displays the particular status of, amongst other informative details, the network
you’re associated to, including the SSID name, what channel you’re broadcasting on, and what
firmware version your are using.
Note: If the MAC address field displays a “Device not associated” message, this indicates your
USR5430 is not associated to your wireless network. If, however, the MAC address field displays
a valid MAC address, this indicates that your USR5430 is associated to your wireless network.
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Wireless Menu Options
Use the Wireless menu to change your mode from Client to Ad Hoc Mode and enter a Network
Name (SSID) or select a unique channel for Ad Hoc Mode. If you are not sure of the SSID of your
network, use the Site Survey feature under Tools to locate a network near the USR5430.
Security: Using a secure wireless network
A wireless network offers you the freedom to roam without the burden of cables but it also means
that your data is accessible to anyone else in range of your wireless grid. If you are concerned
about a neighbor or someone within range of your wireless network using your wireless connec-
tion for malicious activity, we strongly recommend that you enable wireless security to prevent
unauthorized connection or someone from eavesdropping to listen in on your network traffic.
Today, many wireless routers provide several mechanisms for securing a wireless network and it
is recommended that you first enable security on your wireless router and then match the method
you have selected on your clients.
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U.S. Robotics recommends any one or both of the following two methods:
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
Your USR5430 supports 64-bit and 128-bit WEP security. If available on your wireless router, we
recommend you enable the higher bit security. When you enable WEP, it uses a key to encrypt the
data and this specifically formatted data can only be understood by another wireless device that
knows of this key. Since both ends use the same key, any users who do not know the key cannot
connect to your network and use your Internet connection.
MAC Address filtering
Many wireless routers provide a mechanism for creating a list of devices that can participate in
your wireless network. Refer to your wireless router or access point’s documentation to learn if
MAC Address filtering is supported.
Enabling security on your USR5430
Enabling WEP.
After you have obtained your network name (SSID configured on your wireless router or access
point and its security settings), you can use the Security menu located on the Web User Interface
pages to program your USR5430 for WEP security.
If you select WEP, you have the option to enforce Shared Key Authentication (Forced) or let the
USR5430 send it only when a wireless router requests it (Open System).
It is important that you match the Network Keys with those of your wireless routers. If you have
multiple Network Keys, you can enter up to four keys. Note: Network Keys are case sensitive.
When entering a Network Key, be sure you insert the key exactly as it appears in your wireless
router or access point.
Wireless MAC Filtering
You can use MAC Address filtering to connect only to a specific wireless router or access point.
You can add the MAC Address of your wireless router or access point and change the “Wireless
MAC address filtering” field to Allow. In doing so, your USR5430 will only “talk” to your wireless
router or access point and cannot be accessed by other devices.
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Advance Menu Options
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