Planet WNL-U553 User Manual

802.11n wireless usb adapter
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802.11n Wireless USB Adapter
WNL-U553
User's Manual
Version: 1.00
Date: November 2007

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Summary of Contents for Planet WNL-U553

  • Page 1 802.11n Wireless USB Adapter WNL-U553 User’s Manual Version: 1.00 Date: November 2007...
  • Page 2: Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement

    Further, PLANET reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes from time to time in the contents hereof without obligation to notify any person of such revision or changes.
  • Page 3 equipment. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the Following two conditions: ( 1 ) This device may not cause harmful interference, and ( 2 ) this Device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Radiation Exposure Statement This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure set forth for an uncontrolled...
  • Page 4 WEEE separately. Revision User’s Manual for PLANET 802.11n Wireless USB Adapter Model: WNL-U553 Rev: 1.0 (November 2007) Part No. EM-WNLU553...
  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ................... 6 1-1 Features......................6 1-2 Safety Information ..................7 1-3 Specification ....................8 1-4 Package Contents ..................9 1-5 Hardware Info .....................10 Chapter 2: Installation..................11 Chapter 3: General Configuration ..............15 3-1 Connection Profile Management .............15 3-1-1 Make a profile for an access point or wireless device ....15 3-1-2 Using 802.1x –...
  • Page 6: Chapter 1: Introduction

    All these mentioned features are already certified by Wi-Fi Alliance, which proves the interoperability and secureness of WNL-U553. The WNL-U553 supports most popular operating systems, Windows 2000 / XP / Vista. With advanced features and high speed capability, the WNL-U553 gives users the greatest performance anytime anywhere.
  • Page 7: Safety Information

    1-2 Safety Information In order to keep the safety of users and your properties, please follow the following safety instructions: 1. This USB wireless network card is designed for indoor use only. DO NOT expose this network card to direct sun light, rain, or snow. 2.
  • Page 8: Specification

    1-3 Specification Interface USB 1.1 / 2.0, Type-A Standards Compliant with 802.11b / 802.11g / 802.11n (draft 2.0) Conformance IEEE 802.11b: 11/5.5/2/1M IEEE 802.11g: 54/48/36/24/18/12/9/6 Data Rate IEEE 802.11n: 300/270/243/240/216/180/162/120/108Mbps in 40Mhz mode 145/130/117/104/ 78Mbps in 20Mhz mode Operating Mode Infrastructure / Ad-Hoc Mode, Soft-AP Mode Security WEP 64/128bit, WPA, WPA2 , WPA-PSK , WPA2-PSK...
  • Page 9: Package Contents

    1-4 Package Contents Before you begin the installation, please check the items of your package. The package should include the following items: 1 x WNL-U553 1 x Driver and User's manual CD 1 x Quick Installation Guide 1 x USB Cable...
  • Page 10: Hardware Info

    1-5 Hardware Info USB Connector Connector Cap (To protect USB connector when not in use) Link/Activity LED Light Status Description Link/ Linked to a wireless access point / Transferring data Activity No wireless activity...
  • Page 11: Chapter 2: Installation

    Chapter 2: Installation Note 1: If you had ever installed the other Wireless Cards before, please uninstall the existed drivers and utilities first. Note 2: The installation below is performed in Windows XP system. The installations in Windows 2000 and Vista are similar. 1.
  • Page 12 4. Read the License Agreement carefully. Click “Yes” to accept it and continue. 5. It is suggested to use “PLANET Configuration Tool”, which provides fully access to all functions, to manage the WNL--U553. Click “Next” to continue. 6. There are two wireless performance mode you can select here:...
  • Page 13 this mode, you may not be able to communicate with older wireless devices and wireless access point, such as 802.11b devices, but the data transfer rate will be enhanced in this mode. You can select this mode when you only plan to communicate with 802.11 Draft-N devices.
  • Page 14 8. If the screen appears during installation, please click “Continue Anyway” to continue. 9. Please click “Finish” to finish the installation.
  • Page 15: Chapter 3: General Configuration

    Use Zero Configuration as Configuration Utility: use Windows XP built-in wireless configuration utility (Windows Zero Configuration) to configure the card. Switch to AP Mode: the WNL-U553 can act as an AP. Please refer to next chapter for details. Exit: close the Configuration Utility tool.
  • Page 16 Parameter Description Profiles List The profiles list display all the profiles and the relative settings of the profiles including Profile Name, SSID, Channel, etc. This sign indicates the activated profile is been connecting. This sign indicates the activated profile is not been connecting. Add/Delete/Edit Button Click these buttons to add/delete/edit the selected profiles.
  • Page 17 And you can set the parameter for this profile here:...
  • Page 18 Parameter Description Profile Name Define a recognizable profile name for you to identify the different networks. SSID The SSID (up to 32 printable ASCII characters) is the unique name identified in a WLAN. The ID prevents the unintentional merging of two co-located WLANs.
  • Page 19 station in the Wireless LAN network without through an Access Point or Router. Preamble The preamble defines the length of the CRC block for communication among wireless devices. This option is only active in the Ad Hoc network. There are two modes including Auto and Long Preamble. If “Auto“mode is selected, the card will auto switch the preamble mode depending on the wireless devices the card is connecting to.
  • Page 20 Authentication Type This setting has to be consistent with the wireless networks that the card intends to connect. Open – No authentication is needed among the wireless network. Shared – Only wireless devices using a shared key (WEP Key identified) are allowed to connecting each other.
  • Page 21 their access point or gateway, as well as in each wireless station in the network. WPA-PSK takes over automatically from that point, keeping unauthorized users that don't have the matching password from joining the network, while encrypting the data traveling between authorized devices. WPA2 –...
  • Page 22 Fill the text box by following the rules below. 64-bit – Input 10-digit Hex values (in the “A-F”, “a-f” and “0-9” range) or 5-digit ASCII characters (including “a-z” and “0-9”) as the encryption keys. For example: “0123456aef“ or “test1”. 128-bit – Input 26-digit Hex values (in the “A-F”, “a-f” and “0-9” range) or 13-digit ASCII characters (including “a-z”...
  • Page 23: Using 802.1X - Certification

    check ( ) before its name. If the wireless access point is not reachable, a red check ( will be displayed before its name. If you want to change the connection parameters of a specific profile, just select it and click ‘Edit’...
  • Page 24 TLS/Smart Card –TLS is the most secure of the EAP protocols but not easy to use. It requires that digital certificates be exchanged in the authentication phase. The server presents a certificate to the client. After validating the server’s certificate, the client presents a client certificate to the server for validation.
  • Page 25: Using 802.1X - Ca Server

    3-1-3 Using 802.1x - CA Server If you want to use CA server, please click ‘CA Server’ tab. And the following message will be displayed: Parameter Description Use Certificate Chain When the EAP authentication type such as TLS, TTLS or PEAP is selected and required a certification to tell the client what server credentials to accept from the authentication server in order to verify the server, you have to enable this function.
  • Page 26: Site Syrvey

    Server name must match exactly When selected, the server name must match exactly the server name found on the certificate. Domain name must end in When selected, the server name field identifies a domain. The specified name certificate must use a server name belonging to this domain or to one of its sub-domains (e.g.
  • Page 27 will automatically connect to the selected network. Rescan Button Click “Rescan” button to collect the new information of all the wireless networks nearby. Connect Button Click “Connect” to connect to the selected network. Add to Profile Button Add the selected network to Profiles list. 1.
  • Page 28 5. You’ll see ‘Connected <-> SSID’ (‘SSID’ is the SSID of the AP you connected to) message displayed at lower-left corner of configuration utility. Now, you’re successfully connected to the access point or wireless device you selected!
  • Page 29: View Network Link Status And Statistics

    3-3 View Network Link Status and Statistics The configuration utility provides information about network statistics and link status. 3-3-1 Link Status Parameter Description Status Display the SSID and MAC ID of the network the card is connecting to. Extra Info Display the link status.
  • Page 30: Statistics

    If you want to know the signal strength in the unit of dBm, select this check box. Signal Strength This bar shows the signal strength level. The higher percentage shown in the bar, the more radio signal been received by the card. This indicator helps to find the proper position of the wireless device for quality network operation.
  • Page 31: Advanced Settings

    3-4 Advanced Settings Parameter Description Wireless Mode 802.11 B/G/N mix – If you have a mix of 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n wireless stations in your network, It is to maximize wireless compatibility with wireless access points and other wireless devices. it is recommended to setting the card to this mode.
  • Page 32 Auto – Based on the status of the network and automatically disable/enable protection mode. On – Always enable the protection mode. Off – Always disable the protection mode. Tx BURST Tx Burst enables the card to deliver the better throughput in the same period and environment.
  • Page 33 Management (CCKM), an access point configured to provide Wireless Domain Services (WDS) takes the place of the RADIUS server and authenticates the client so quickly that there is no perceptible delay in voice or other time-sensitive applications. Enable Radio When this parameter is enabled, the Cisco AP can run the radio Measurement monitoring through the associated CCX-compliant clients to continuously monitor the WLAN radio environment and discover any new APs that are...
  • Page 34: Qos Setting

    3-5 QoS Setting This wireless network card provides QoS (Quality of Service) function, which can improve the performance of certain network applications, like audio / video streaming, network telephony (VoIP), and others. When you enable WMM (Wi-Fi MultiMedia) function of this network card, you can define the priority of different kinds of data, to give higher priority to applications which require instant responding.
  • Page 35: Wps Configuration

    - just three simple steps! The WNL-U553 is compatible with WPS. To use this function, the wireless access point you wish to connect to must support WPS function too. Now, please follow the following...
  • Page 36: Wps Setup - Pbc (Push-Button Configuration)

    3-6-1 WPS Setup - PBC (Push-Button Configuration) 1.Set ‘Config Mode’ to ‘Enrollee’, and then push the ‘WPS’ button on your wireless access point (the button used to activate WPS standby mode may have another name), or use other way to start WPS standby mode as the instruction given by your wireless access point’s user manual.
  • Page 37 2. Before you start to establish the wireless connection by using WPS, you can click ‘Rescan’ button to search for WPS-enabled access points near you, to make sure the WPS function of your access point is activated.
  • Page 38 (This may require several seconds to one minute to complete). When you see ‘WPS status is connected successfully’ message, it means the connection between your WNL-U553 and access point is successfully connected by WPS, and the information about access point you connected to will be displayed.
  • Page 39: Wps Setup - Pin

    If you want to delete a found access point from the list, select it and click ‘Delete’ button. 3-6-2 WPS Setup - PIN The PIN number of your WNL-U553 is an eight-digit number located at the upper-right position of configuration utility. Remember it, and input the number to your wireless access point as the WPS PIN code (Please refer to the user manual of your wireless access point for instructions about how to do this).
  • Page 40 Click ‘PIN’ button now, and wait for few seconds to one minute. If a wireless access point with correct PIN code is found, you’ll be connected to that access point:...
  • Page 41 You may have to click ‘PIN’ for few more times to try again. If you still can not connect to access point by this way, please make sure the PIN code you provided to access point is correct.
  • Page 42: About

    3-7 About By choosing this option, you can click the hyperlink to connect the PLANET website. You can also obtain basic information about the WNL-U553 such as the Driver, Utility and EEPROM Version. The MAC Address of the card is displayed in the screen as well.
  • Page 43: Chapter 4: Soft-Ap Function

    Chapter 4: Soft-AP Function Except becoming a wireless client of other wireless access points, the WNL-U553 can act as a wireless service provider also! You can switch the WNL-U553’s operating mode to ‘AP’ mode to simulate the function of a real wireless access point by software, and all other computers...
  • Page 44 If your computer has another network card which is connected to Internet, please select it from ‘Name’ dropdown menu, and click ‘Enable ICS’; if your computer does not have another network card with Internet connection, please click ‘Not enable ICS’. After you click ‘Enable ICS’...
  • Page 45 Parameter Description SSID Please input the SSID (the name used to identify this wireless access point) here. Up to 32 numerical characters can be accepted here, excepting space. Channel Please select the wireless channel you wish to use. The number of channels available here will vary depends on the setting of ‘Country Region Code’.
  • Page 46 Use MAC Address Click this button to use the MAC address of the wireless card as SSID. A prefix of ‘AP’ will be added. Security Setting Set the security options (wireless data encryption). Country Region Code Available options are 0-7, which will affect the available wireless channels you can use: 0: FCC (US, Canada, and other countries uses FCC radio communication standards)
  • Page 47: Security Settings

    It’s recommended to enable data encryption unless you wish to open your computer (and its internet connection) to the public. When you click ‘Security Setting’ in WNL-U553 configuration utility, the following window will appear:...
  • Page 48: Access Control

    Encryption Type Please select an encryption mode. The available options in this setting item will vary depending on the authentication type you select. If you select ‘Not Use’, data will not be encrypted and people with some networking knowledge will be able to read the data you transfer with proper tool.
  • Page 49 Click ‘Access Control’ tab, and the following messages will appear: Parameter Description Access Policy Select the policy type of your access rule: Disable: Allow any wireless client with proper authentication settings to connect to this access point. Allow All: Only allow wireless clients with MAC address listed here to connect to this access point.
  • Page 50: Connection Table

    Add the MAC address you inputted in ‘MAC address’ field to the list. Delete Please select a MAC address from the list, then click ‘Delete’ button to remove it. Remove all Delete all MAC addresses in the list. Apply Save and apply changes you made. 4-4 Connection table If you want to see the list of all wireless clients connected to this access point, please follow the following instructions:...
  • Page 51 Parameter Description MAC address Displays the MAC address of this wireless client The serial number of this wireless connection. Power Saving Mode Displays the capability of power-saving function of this wireless client. Status Displays additional information of this wireless Connection, like current wireless operating mode and data transfer rate.
  • Page 52: Event Log

    4-5 Event Log This software access point will log all wireless-related activities as a log. You can follow the following instructions to view the content of the event log: Click ‘Event Log’ tab, and the event log will be displayed: You can click ‘Clear’...
  • Page 53: Statistics

    4-6 Statistics If you want to know detailed information about how your software access point works, you can follow the following instructions to view the statistics of the access point: Click ‘Statistics’ tab, and the event log will be displayed: You can click ‘RESET COUNTERS’...
  • Page 54: Chapter 5: Appendix

    This chapter provides solutions to problems usually encountered during the installation and operation of the adapter. Q. The PLANET WNL-U553 does not work properly. 1. Right click on My Computer and select Properties. Select the device manager and click on the Network Adapter.
  • Page 55 1. Please make sure the wireless network card is firmly inserted into your computer’s USB port. If the Planet configuration utility’s icon is black, the network card is not detected by your computer. Switch the computer off and insert the adapter again. If this doesn’t work, contact the dealer of purchase for help.
  • Page 56: Glossary

    then present this value to the owner of access point so he / she can add the MAC address of your network card to his / her access point’s list. Q. The network is slow / having problem when transferring large files 1.
  • Page 57 copies of data by multiple antenna, to improve data transfer performance. By using multiple antennas, not only data transfer rate is improved, but also the wireless stability.

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