Xsense Connectivity WUA-400 User manual

User Manual for Mac
WUA-400
AeroPad Wireless USB Adapter
Revised: 8/8/2002
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 by Xsense Connectivity, Inc. (dba Macsense Connectivity). All rights reserved. No part
of this documentation may be reproduced in any form or by any means or used to make any directive
work (such as translation or transformation) without permission from Xsense Connectivity, Inc. Xsense
Connectivity, Inc. reserves the right to revise this documentation and to make changes in content without
obligation among Xsense Connectivity, Inc. to provide notification of such revision or change. All
products and their associated features are subject to change or upgrade at the time of the shipment or of
the sales.
FCC Notice
This equipment has been tested and found to be FCC Rules certified. These restrictions are designed to
provide protection against harmful interference from residential installations. This equipment generates
radio frequencies that may cause interference with radio communications if not used in accordance with
the instructions. Interference may even occur during proper installation. If this equipment causes
interference, the user is suggested to correct it by one or more of the following:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit that is separate from the one to which the
receiver is connected.
•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.
CE Declaration of Conformity
The equipment complies with the requirements relating to electromagnetic compatibility, the essential
protection requirement of Council Directive/EEC on the approximation of the Member States relating to
Electromagnetic compatibility.
Trademarks
All products and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective
companies.
Safety Precautions
•Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.
•Slots and openings on the device are provided for ventilation. To protect it from overheating, these
openings must not be blocked or covered.
•Do not use or store this product in the environment that exceeds temperature and humidity
specifications. Do not place this product near a radiator or heat register, or in a built-in installation
unless adequate ventilation is provided.
•Before cleaning, unplug this product from wall outlet. Do not use liquid cleansers or aerosol
cleansers. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
•Do not place cords or cables where they may be walked on or tripped over.
•Be sure to comply with any applicable local safety standards or regulations.
•General-purpose cables are provided with this product. The use of any other cables or
requirements mandated by local authority is user’s responsibility.
•Cables attached to devices in different locations with different power sources and grounding may
cause hazardous voltage. Consult a qualified electronic consultant before installing the product to
check if this phenomenon exists and, if necessary, take corrective action.
•Never touch un-insulated telephone wires or terminals unless the line has been disconnected.
•Avoid using telephone equipment or installing the product during an electrical storm.
•Never install this product, or any kind of telephone jacks, lines, network cables, or power
connections in wet locations.
•Never spill liquid of any kind on this product

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 3
1.1 Benefits ................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Features .................................................................................................. 3
1.3 Introduction to Wireless Networking ........................................................ 4
1.4 Wireless Network Planning ..................................................................... 5
2.0 BEFORE YOU START................................................................................ 7
2.1 Package Overview .................................................................................. 7
2.2 System and Other Requirements ............................................................ 7
3.0 MAC OS 9 SETUP...................................................................................... 9
3.1 Driver Installation..................................................................................... 9
3.2 Hardware Installation of AeroPad ............................................................ 9
3.3 TCP/IP Configuration............................................................................... 9
3.3.1 MacOS TCP/IP Configuration ....................................................... 9
3.3.2 Assigning TCP/IP Values Manually ............................................. 10
3.4 AppleTalk Configuration......................................................................... 11
3.5 Using the AeroPad Control Panel.......................................................... 12
3.5.1 Connecting with an Access Point ................................................ 12
3.5.2 Connecting with Peer-to-Peer ..................................................... 14
3.5.3 Encryption ................................................................................... 14
3.5.4 Information .................................................................................. 15
5.0 TROUBLESHOOTING ............................................................................. 17
5.1 Common Problems and Solutions ......................................................... 17
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio technician for help.5.2 Frequently
Asked Questions ......................................................................................... 17
5.2 Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................. 18
5.3 Glossary ................................................................................................ 19
APPENDIX ..................................................................................................... 23
Specifications .............................................................................................. 23

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on purchasing the AeroPad, the Wireless LAN (WLAN) USB
Adapter for Mac and PC. Welcome to the Macsense/Xsense Networking Product
Family.
These days, business moves at lightning speed. To compete, companies must
make it easy for their employees to share vital business intelligence real-time and
to collaborate without restriction. But until now, network users have been bound
by the limits of their wired network, and forced to settle for access only where the
network reached.
A trend in the technology industry today is to eliminate the cable restrictions and
hassle of wires by implementing a wireless network. By choosing wireless you
reduce the hassle of cable clutter, the expensive need to run cabling in the home
or office and the aggravation altogether to crawl under that desk for the last time
to see if that Ethernet cable is connected. A WLAN standard called IEEE 802.11b
has emerged delivering speeds of up to 11 Mbps and the ability to take the
power of the Internet with you.
Imagine the ease of which you can connect to your wireless network and to the
Internet. Situate your computer in the most convenient location without regards to
whether there is a switch or hub nearby. The AeroPad is a perfect solution when
that Ethernet cable just isn’t long enough or you don’t want to settle for cables
lying openly around the house. And for those older computers, such as the iMac,
without a wireless solution, the AeroPad gives them the wireless capability they
deserve. The convenience of where and when you want to connect to your
network or Internet is now yours.
1.1 Benefits
•Eliminates the hassle and cost of cabling.
•Longer operating range gives you more room to move around.
•Supports any desktop Mac, PowerBook with an USB port.
•WEP encryption provides the highest security.
•Compatible with Apple AirPort Base Station and all 802.11b-compliant
access points.
1.2 Features
•Interoperable with IEEE 802.11b (DSSS) 2.4GHz-compliant devices.
•Up to 900 feet operating range in open environment.
•High-speed data transfer rate of 11, 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbps
•Auto-fallback to lower data rate in noisy environments.
•WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) 40-bit and 128-bit data encryption for
highest security.
•Drivers support and Mac OS 9 and OS X (Available September 2002).

•Supports computer-to-computer (ad-hoc) connection without an access
point.
•Works with all standard Internet applications.
1.3 Introduction to Wireless Networking
There are basically two types of wireless networks: Infrastructure and Ad-hoc. An
Infrastructure network uses one or more access points (such as the XRouter
Aero) as a gateway, linking the wireless network to a wired LAN. As a result,
portable workstations on your wireless network have access to all the features of
your wired LAN including email, Internet access, network printers and file servers.
This is in contrast with another related wireless topology, called Ad-hoc network,
in which each wireless workstation communicates with one another without the
existence of an access point.
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Although Ad-hoc allows for wireless connection between computers without an
access point or Wireless Router, it is Infrastructure with its central wireless
access point or Broadband Router that will be the most common.
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1.4 Wireless Network Planning
Although the arrival of affordable wireless technologies has provided a great deal
of flexibility in how you connect to the Internet, there still is some needed
planning in setting up a WLAN network.
A WLAN can in some respects be considered much like a wired network with the
exception that wireless adapters will transmit the data over radio frequency
waves instead of within a shielded Ethernet cable. Because of this, the initial
location of the access point or Wireless Router is extremely important. Situating
the AeroPad so that it has the least amount of obstruction is highly advisable.
The setup of all wireless devices involved is quite important, as they should
share the same radio channel and ESSID. Without these common settings, they
will not be able to communicate with one another. Any additional encryption
settings for security measures must be configured identically on all devices to
accept the data transfer.
One of the greatest advantages is the adaptability of a wireless network. You can
easily move a desktop computer within a room or to an entirely different room or
floor without restrictions of an Ethernet cable. This, however, does take proper
and precise planning of where to locate your access point(s) and how to overlap
them so as to provide full wireless range.
Some others points to follow when planning a wireless network:
1. Minimize obstructions of the 802.11b RF waves
a. Centrally locate the Wireless Router or access point. All obstructions
will weaken the signal to some degree.
b. Certain building materials (metals, concrete, etc.) should be avoided by
the signal.
2. Situate the wireless devices so as to maximize signal output and reception
a. Situate the WLAN devices so the signal is going straight through the
walls instead of at an angle.
b. Stay clear (3 – 5ft.) of devices that introduce “noise” to the reception,
such as microwaves, monitors, etc.
c. Position the antenna to maximize RF signal output.
d. Additional access points can be placed in areas of low or no signal
reception.
Note: The new 802.11b wireless protocol has limitations as to how far the wireless
range can reach. Take your time to plan your wireless network properly to help
provide the best range. Each obstruction can and will diminish the signal strength.
So bare this in mind when planning and implementing your wireless network.

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2.0 BEFORE YOU START
2.1 Package Overview
•One AeroPad USB Adapter
•One Installer CD-ROM
2.2 System and Other Requirements
•One available USB port
•Mac OS 9 or OS X
Note: If you have access points installed on your network, you will need the
following information to configure your WUA-400 AeroPad: SSID (Service Set
Identifier), the name of the access point in use, and Encryption, any passwords or
keys used by your access point for Wireless Encryption (WEP).

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3.0 MAC OS 9 SETUP
This section contains info for OS 9.x only. OS X driver is not included in this
release of the Installer CD. OSX driver is expected to be available in September
2002, and will be available for free download for existing users of AeroPad.
Please check the Macsense website often for up-to-date info on OSX driver.
3.1 Driver Installation
You must first install the drivers before the OS will recognize the WUA-400
AeroPad.
Note: You may use the Extension Manager to turn “off” any other wireless adapter
drivers, such as Apple Airport card drivers that may cause conflicts with our wireless
adapter.
Follow these simple steps to load the drivers properly:
1. Double-click the AeroPad OS9 Install icon and follow the steps. This will
install the necessary drivers.
2. Restart the computer to load these drivers.
To Disable Drivers:
1. Under the Apple Menu, go to Extensions Manager under Control Panels.
2. Uncheck the AeroPad extension and control panel and restart the computer.
To Remove Drivers:
1. If AeroPad is currently in use, select another networking method other than
“AeroPad” in the AppleTalk and TCP/IP control panels. Close the window
and save the settings.
2. Then manually remove the AeroPad control panel, extension and control
strip from the System folder.
3.2 Hardware Installation of AeroPad
1. Insert the AeroPad USB cable firmly into an available USB port.
2. To properly release the AeroPad from the computer, it is best to first turn
“Off” the adapter. You can do this by opening both the TCP/IP and
AppleTalk control panels and switch them to an alternate protocol, such as
PPP, then Close and Save the new settings.
3.3 TCP/IP Configuration
3.3.1 MacOS TCP/IP Configuration
Clicking the TCP/IP button on the Configuration tab will open the TCP/IP control
panel. The user can also choose TCP/IP from Control Panels under the Apple
menu.

1. Open the TCP/IP control panel.
2. In the Connect via menu, select AeroPad.
3. In the Configure pull-down menu, select Using DHCP Server to allow the
DHCP server on the network to dynamically assign IP addressing. If you do
not have a DHCP Server, choose Manually and assign the IP addressing.
4. Close the TCP/IP window and save the changes.
3.3.2 Assigning TCP/IP Values Manually
If you are assigning Manual IP addresses, then you must first have valid
addresses before continuing. Your ISP or Network Administrator might provide
these. To manage the computer’s address manually, perform the following steps:
1. In the Connect via menu, select the AeroPad protocol installed in your
computer.
2. In the Configure menu, select Manually.
a. In the IP Address field, enter the IP address provided by your network
administrator or ISP.
NOTE: No two computers on the LAN can have the same IP address or an
IP address conflict will occur. Name Server addresses must be obtained
from your ISP as we have only provided example addresses here.
b. In the Subnet Mask field enter the valid address.
c. In the Router Address field enter the valid address.
d. In the Name Server Address field enter the DNS addresses in proper
order provided by your ISP. If you do not have this information, call your
ISP and ask for the Primary and Secondary Domain Name Server
addresses.
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e. In the Search Domains field, enter the domain information provided by
your ISP. Typically this field can be left blank.
f. Close the TCP/IP window and save the changes.
3.4 AppleTalk Configuration
AppleShare allows Macintosh computers to access one another’s drives over
the network via the AppleTalk protocol. Both the AppleTalk and FileShare
control panels must be configured properly to allow this. Clicking the AppleTalk
button on the Configuration tab will open the AppleTalk control panel.
To access AppleShare to transfer files:
1. Verify that AeroPad is selected in the AppleTalk control panel and it is
associated with the access point.
2. Verify that File Sharing is turned “On” in both computers and that the
proper resources have been shared for user access.
3. Select “Chooser” from the Apple menu and select AppleShare to view the
available machines on the network.
4. Choose the appropriate server to transfer files.
5. Enter the proper username and password.
6. Click the “OK” button. The selected server should now mount to the
desktop. You may access this mounted drive just like your own drive, with

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access only allowed to properly shared folders.
3.5 Using the AeroPad Control Panel
The AeroPad control panel can be opened from the Control Panel folder under
the Apple menu or from within the AeroPad control strip.
The AeroPad is capable of two wireless networking topologies, Infrastructure and
Ad-hoc (or Computer-to-Computer).
An Infrastructure network uses one or more access points (such as the XRouter
Aero or Apple Airport access point) as a gateway, linking the wireless network to
a wired LAN. As a result, wireless workstations have access to all the features of
your wired LAN including email, Internet access, network printers and file
servers.
This is in contrast with another related wireless topology, called Ad-hoc network,
in which each wireless workstation communicates with one another without the
existence of an access point.
Note: Each wireless client must have the same ESSID as the access point or they will
not be allowed access to the wireless network.
3.5.1 Connecting with an Access Point
The driver supports changing the ESSID on-the-fly. You can associate to a
different access point by changing the ESSID. The re-association occurs
immediately and does not require a reboot. The user can associate the AeroPad
with an access point by using either the pull-down menu or naming the AP in the
ESSID field.
Operation Mode
The pull-down menu can set the AeroPad in Infrastructure or Ad-hoc mode. Most
often the AeroPad will be set to Infrastructure to work with a wireless network.
ESSID
If you know the ESSID of the access point to which you want to connect you can
manually enter it into the ESSID field. Some access points have been configured
to not broadcast the ESSID for security reasons. You must enter the ESSID
exactly as it is named and must be case sensitive.
1. Open the AeroPad control panel.
2. Type the access point ESSID into the ESSID field exactly as it is named.
3. Click Apply to save the changes.
The pull-down menu will show all available access points within range. Selecting
“ANY” will choose that access point with the strongest signal.
1. Open the AeroPad control panel.
2. Click the pull-down menu and select the access point ESSID from the
available list.
3. Click Apply to save the changes.

Channel
The channel for the AeroPad can be set manually. The AP commands what
channel it is broadcasting and 802.11b adapters usually handle this dynamically.
AppleTalk
Click this button to open the AppleTalk control panel.
TCP/IP
Click this button to open the TCP/IP control panel.
Apply
This will save your configuration settings and connect you to the Access point
chosen.
Default
This will reset the AeroPad back to the factory settings.
Cancel
This will undo any settings that have been configured that haven’t been applied
yet.
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3.5.2 Connecting with Peer-to-Peer
In an Ad-hoc network, each wireless workstation communicates with one
another without the existence of an Access Point. To create an ad-hoc network,
all computers must share the same ESSID. AppleTalk must be active and
AeroPad is chosen in the AppleTalk control panel as well as the FileSharing
control panel turned “On”.
To enable Ad-hoc:
1. Choose 802.11b AdHoc under the Operation Mode menu.
2. Input the proper ESSID (case sensitive).
3. Click Apply to save settings.
3.5.3 Encryption
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
A data privacy encryption method based on a 40-bit shared key algorithm.
Note: With WEP encryption, 64-bit encryption is basically 40-bit key auto-translated
to 64-bit before being transmitted.
To enable encryption:
1. Choose either 64 Bits or 128 Bits from the Encryption (WEP) menu.
2. Choose one of the four available keys. The Key slot must correspond to the
same Key slot for the access point. If the access point is using Key slot 1
then you must enter the Hex digit into Key slot 1.
3. Enter a 10 Hex digit for 64-bit encryption and a 26 Hex digit for 128-bit
encryption.
4. Click Apply to save the settings.
Note: A Hexidecimal digit can be any number 0 through 9 and/or letter A through F.
For example, AB843E72DF would be a 10 digit Hex value for 64-bit encryption.

This HEX key must be identical on all wireless devices to allow for proper
communication and placed in the same Key slot 1 – 4 as the access point.
3.5.4 Information
The Information panel displays all available information on the AeroPad including
the ESSID, Mode, encryption setting, channel, Transfer Rate and Signal
Strength.
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The information panel can help show all settings for the AeroPad in one easy-to-
find place. This helps to troubleshoot any problems that may arise in a wireless
network environment. The Media Access Control (MAC) Hardware address is
also listed here along with the driver version. The latest driver for the WUA-400
AeroPad will be available on our website at www.macsense.com.
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5.0 TROUBLESHOOTING
This chapter provides solutions to problems that may occur during the installation
and operation of the AeroPad. Check the following symptoms and their possible
causes before contacting Macsense Tech Support. Read the description below to
solve your problems. If you can’t find an answer here, check the
Macsense/Xsense website at www.macsense.com.
5.1 Common Problems and Solutions
My PowerBook can’t see other computers in AppleShare.
•Verify that AppleTalk is “active” and the AeroPad is chosen and that File
Sharing is configured properly.
•Double-check the other computer as well and make sure that both
computers are using the exact settings for ESSID and Encryption.
My computer doesn’t recognize the AeroPad.
•Verify that the AeroPad is firmly inserted into the USB port.
•Verify whether the AeroPad shows in either TCP/IP or AppleTalk.
•Check to see if the drivers are loaded properly.
•Re-install the drivers and reconnect the AeroPad.
While in Infrastructure Mode, I cannot communicate with the other
computers connected via Ethernet.
•Verify that the Mac with the AeroPad is turned on.
•Verify that your AeroPad is communicating over the same channel and with
the same WEP security settings as the other computers in the Infrastructure.
I suspect the AeroPad is disrupted by interference.
You may be able to eliminate any interference by trying the following:
•Reconnect AeroPad.
•Increase the distance between the wireless computers and the device
causing the radio interference.
•Plug the computer equipped with the AeroPad into an outlet on a different
branch circuit from that used by the affecting device.
•Keep the computer with the AeroPad away from the microwave oven, power
supplies and large metal objects.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio technician for
help.

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5.2 Frequently Asked Questions
Can applications be run from a remote computer over the wireless
network?
The application itself must support running over the network.
Can I play computer games with other members of the wireless network?
The game must support multiple players over a LAN (local area network).
What is IEEE 802.11 standard?
The IEEE 802.11 WLAN standards subcommittee is developing this standard for
the industry. The objective is to enable WLAN hardware from different
manufacturers to communicate. The 802.11 and 802.11b specifications apply to
wireless Ethernet LANs, and operate at frequencies in the 2.4-GHz region of the
radio spectrum.
What IEEE 802.11 features are supported?
The product supports the following IEEE 802.11 functions:
• CSMA/CA plus Acknowledge protocol
• Automatic Rate Selection
• Multi-Channel Roaming
• Power Management
• RTS/CTS feature
• Fragmentation
Can Wireless products support printer sharing?
Wireless products perform the same function as LAN products. Therefore,
Wireless products can support printer or file sharing.
What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences?
Frequency-Hopping Spread-Spectrum (FHSS) uses a narrowband carrier that
changes frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver, but
not an unintended receiver. Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum (DSSS)
generates a redundant bit pattern for each bit to be transmitted. Even if one or
more bits in the chip are damaged during transmission, statistical techniques
embedded in the radio can recover the original data without -the need for
retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appears as low power
wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowband receivers.
Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air?
WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, as with
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology, it has the inherent security
feature of scrambling. On the software side, WLAN series offer the encryption
function (WEP) to enhance security and Access Control. Users can set it up
depending upon their needs.