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VZ4050
User Manual
Wireless G USB
Network Adapter
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Table of Contents 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Benefits of a Home Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Advantages of a Wireless Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 P P Pllla a ac c ce e em m me e en n nt t t o o of f f y y yo o ou u ur r r W W Wiiir r re e ellle e es s ss s s N N Ne e et t tw w wo o or r rk k kiiin n ng g g H H Ha a ar r rd d dw w wa a ar r r
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section Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Wireless G USB Network Adapter (the 1 Adapter) from Verizon. Now you can take advantage of this great new technology and gain the freedom to network your home and 2 office computers wirelessly. This Adapter allows you to connect a desktop or notebook computer to your network. The easy installation and setup will have you networking wirelessly in minutes. Please 3 be sure to read through this User Manual completely, and pay special attentio
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IIn nttrro od du uc cttiio on n Placement of your Wireless Networking Hardware for Optimal Performance Your wireless connection will be stronger the closer your computer is to your wireless router (or access point). 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 (or access point) and connected devices increases. This may or may
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section IIn nttrro od du uc cttiio on n Introduction 1 2. Avoid Obstacles and Interference Avoid placing your wireless router (or access point) near devices that 2 may emit radio “noise”, such as microwave ovens. Other objects that can inhibit wireless communication can include: 3 • Refrigerators • Washers and/or dryers • Metal cabinets 4 • Large aquariums • Metallic-based, UV-tinted windows 5 If your wireless signal seems weak in some spots, make sure that 6 objects such as these are n
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Introduction 4. Choose the “Quietest” Channel for your Wireless Network In locations where homes or offices are close together, such as apartment buildings or office complexes, there may be wireless networks nearby that can conflict with yours. Use the Site Survey capabilities of your Wireless Networking Utility to locate any other wireless networks, and move your wireless router (or access point) and computers to a channel as far away from other networks as possible. Experiment with more
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section Introduction Overview Product Features 1 The Adapter complies with the IEEE 802.11g standard in order to communicate with other 802.11g-compliant wireless devices at 2 54Mbps. The Adapter is compatible with all 802.11g devices as well as other 802.11b products at 11Mbps. 802.11g products operate on ® the same 2.4GHz frequency band as 802.11b Wi-Fi products. 3 • 2.4GHz ISM (Industrial, Science, and Medical) band operation • Integrated easy-to-use Wireless Networking Utility 4 • USB 2.
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Overview Applications and Advantages • Wireless roaming with a laptop around the home or office Offers the freedom of networking—without cables • Connection rates of up to 54Mbps Provides immediate wireless connectivity at home, work, and hotspot locations without compromising the use of existing 802.11b and 802.11g products • Compatibility with 802.11b products 802.11g wireless LAN solutions are backward-compatible with existing Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) products and with other products that dis
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section Overview ( (b b) ) Activity LED 1 (a) Protective Cap 2 3 (c) USB Adapter 4 5 (d) D esktop Adapter Base (((O O Op p ptttiiio o on n na a alll U Us s se e e))) 6 (a) Protective Cap The cap can be stored on the The cap snaps over the USB opposite end of the USB connector. connector for protection. (b) Activity LED Lights up and flashes when the Adapter is active Blinking Green: Active Off: Not connected to network On: Connected to network (c) USB Adapter Fits securely into your compute
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Installing and Setting up the Adapter Step Step 1 1 Install Install Important Note: Install the software before inserting the Card. 1.1 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive. 1.2 T he Wireless Networking Utility (WNU) from Verizon setup screen will automatically appear (may take 15–20 seconds to appear). Note: If the WNU setup screen does not appear within 20 seconds, access your CD-ROM, double-click on the “My Computer” icon, and then double-click on the CD-ROM
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section Installing and Setting up the Adapter 1 Step Step 2 2 Connect Connect Plug the Adapter into an Available USB Slot on your Notebook Computer 2 2.1 During the install process, you will be prompted to insert 3 your Adapter. Plug the Adapter into an available USB port on your computer and follow the 4 on-screen instructions. Note: If your system did not 5 prompt you to insert your Adapter after the installation is completed, please do so now. 6 2.2 WNU installation is now c
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IIn ns stta alllliin ng g a an nd d S Se ettttiin ng g u up p tth he e A Ad da ap ptte err Step Step 3 3 Configur Configure e Use the Wireless Networking Utility from Verizon 3.1 After successfully installing the Adapter, double-click the Wireless Networking Utility (WNU) icon located on the desktop screen. 3.2 The WNU screen will appear. Select a network to connect to by selecting a network from the “Available Networks” list. Then, click “Connect”. Note: In order to see y
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section Installing and Setting up the Adapter 1 Note: Double-clicking on the WNU icon on the system tray will bring 2 up the “Utility” screen. Installation is now complete. 3 4 5 6 11
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Using the Wireless Networking Utility from Verizon After successfully installing the Wireless Networking Utility (WNU) from Verizon, configurations for wireless connection and security are just a few easy clicks away. Accessing the WNU from the Windows System Tray To access the WNU, simply place your mouse pointer and right-click over the WNU icon on the Windows system tray on the lower right-hand corner of your computer’s desktop. If the icon is not present, click on “Start > Programs > Veri
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section Using the Wireless Networking Utility from Verizon 1 2 3 4 5 6 The WNU’s default screen is the “Current Status” tab. The “Current Status” tab displays the current network status and available networks. Network Status This window 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” window to determine the source (e.g., computer, router, or Internet/modem).
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U Us siin ng g tth he e W Wiirre elle es ss s N Ne ettw wo orrk kiin ng g U Uttiilliitty y ffrro om m V Ve erriiz zo on n Connection Failure Other options will appear during attempts to reconnect. To stop connecting, click “Stop” and to reattempt connection, click “Retry”. Network Status and Solution Tips To further understand the current Network Status, click “Open Wireless Utility”. The default screen will be the “Current Status” tab and the “Network Status” section determines which
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section Using the Wireless Networking Utility from Verizon 1 The WNU also features a “Solution Tips” section that provides troubleshooting guidelines. 2 Setting Wireless Network Profiles The “My Connections” tab on the WNU allows you to add, edit, and delete 3 connection profiles. It also displays signal strength, security, and network type. 4 5 6 ® Securing your Wi-Fi Network If you choose to connect to a secure network, determine the type of security (WPA or WEP*) and use the appropriate f
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U Us siin ng g tth he e W Wiirre elle es ss s N Ne ettw wo orrk kiin ng g U Uttiilliitty y ffrro om m V Ve erriiz zo on n 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). 16
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section Using the Wireless Networking Utility from Verizon 1 Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a less secure, but more widely adopted wireless security protocol. Depending on the security 2 level (64- or 128-bit), the user will be asked to input a 10- or 26-character hex key. A hex key is a combination of letters, a–f, and numbers, 0–9. 3 Wireless Protected Access (WPA) is the new standard in the wireless security. However, not all wireless cards and adapters 4 support this technology. Pl
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U Us siin ng g tth he e W Wiirre elle es ss s N Ne ettw wo orrk kiin ng g U Uttiilliitty y ffrro om m V Ve erriiz zo on n 64-Bit WEP 64-bit WEP was first introduced with 64-bit encryption, which includes a key length of 40 bits plus 24 additional bits of system-generated data (64 bits total). Some hardware manufacturers refer to 64-bit as 40-bit encryption. Shortly after the technology was introduced, researchers found that 64-bit encryption was too easy to decode. 128-Bit WEP As a re
