Page 2
Specifications are subject to change without notice. is a registered trademark of TP-LINK TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. No part of the specifications may be reproduced in any form or by any means or used to make any derivative such as translation, transformation, or adaptation without permission from TP-LINK TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
FCC STATEMENT This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
CE Mark Warning This is a class B product. In a domestic environment, this product may cause radio interference, in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures. National Restrictions This device is intended for home and office use in all EU countries (and other countries following the EU directive 1999/5/EC) without any limitation except for the countries mentioned below: Country...
Page 5
Industry Canada Statement: This device complies with RSS-210 of the Industry Canada 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.
TP-LINK TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY For the following equipment: Product Description: 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter Model No.: TL-WN781ND Trademark: TP-LINK We declare under our own responsibility that the above products satisfy all the technical regulations applicable to the product within the scope of Council Directives:...
Make sure that the above items are contained in the package. If any of the above items is damaged or missing, please contact your distributor. Note: The ‘adapter’ mentioned in this User Guide stands for TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter without any explanation.
The adapter is easy to install and manage with the Quick Setup Wizard guiding you step-by-step through the installation process and the TP-LINK Wireless Configuration Utility instructing you to quickly set up a wireless connection. With unmatched wireless performance, reception, and security protection, the TL-WN781ND is the best choice for easily adding or upgrading wireless connectivity to your desktop.
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide 1.3 Hardware Overview LED status: Status Working Status The driver has not been installed; The adapter's radio has been disabled. The driver has been installed but no data is being transmitted or Flashing Slowly received.
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Chapter 2 Installation Please install the PCI Express adapter into your computer before installing the driver and utility software from the Resource CD. 2.1 Hardware Installation Turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the computer.
Windows 7 for example. Insert the Resource CD into your CD-ROM drive and then select model TL-WN781ND on the window that pops up (as shown in the below Figure 2-3). There will be a menu including: Install Driver&Utility and User Guide.
Page 13
The InstallShield Wizard window will appear. Click Next to continue. Figure 2-4 Choose a setup type. It is recommended to select Install TP-LINK Wireless Configuration Utility and Driver. Selecting Install Driver Only can only install driver. Click Next to continue.
Page 14
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Click Change to specify the destination location for the software or you can leave it default. Click Next in the screen below to continue. Figure 2-6 Click Install to continue the setup.
Page 15
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide The utility and drivers will install. It may take 1~2 minutes. Figure 2-8 Note: During this process, if prompted a window as shown in Figure 2-9, please select Install this driver software anyway to continue.
Page 16
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 2-10 After installation, the utility configuration page will automatically pop up as shown in the following figure and the icon will appear in your system tray. To connect to a network,...
Method One: To connect using TWCU TL-WN781ND uses the TP-LINK Wireless Configuration Utility as the management software. The utility provides you an easy interface to connect to a network and to change any settings related to the wireless adapter.
Page 18
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 3-2 You will be prompted different windows when you choose wireless network of different security types. Wireless network of WPA/WPA2-Personal If you selected a wireless network of the security type WPA/WPA2-Personal, you will be prompted to enter the password in the security key field, as shown in Figure 3-3.
Page 19
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Certificate as your authentication, you need to select one specific certificate from the drop-down list, as shown in Figure 3-4. With Password as your authentication, you should enter the right user name and password in the corresponding field, as shown in Figure 3-5.
Page 20
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Please wait a few minutes for the connection process. Figure 3-6 You have now successfully connected to your network. Click Close to enjoy the Internet. Figure 3-7 To view more information about the network currently connected, click Status in the tools...
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 3-8 3.2 To connect using WPS WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) function allows you to add a new wireless device to an existing network quickly. If your wireless Router supports WPS or QSS (Quick Security Setup), you can establish a wireless connection between wireless card and Router using either Push Button Configuration (PBC) method or PIN method.
Page 22
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 3-9 The adapter will be connecting to the target network. Figure 3-10 When the following window appears, you have successfully connected to the network.
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 3-11 3.2.2 PIN method There are two ways to configure the WPS by PIN method: Enter the PIN from your Router or AP device. Enter a PIN into your Router or AP device.
Page 24
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide The adapter will be connecting to the target network. Figure 3-13 When Figure 3-11 appears, you have successfully connected to the network. 3.2.2.2. Enter a PIN into your AP device Note: This method is only available in Windows XP and Windows Vista.
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 3-15 When Connect successfully appears on the screen (as shown in Figure 3-16), the WPS configuration is complete. Or you can view the adapter’s utility page to see whether the connection has been successful (as shown in Figure 3-17).
Page 26
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Left-click the wireless icon in your system tray (lower-right corner). The utility will display any available wireless networks in your area. Highlight the wireless network (displayed using the SSID) to be connected and then click Connect.
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide You have now successfully connected to the network. Figure 3-20 3.3.2 In Windows Vista Windows Vista users may use the built-in wireless utility. Follow the steps below. Open the wireless utility by right-clicking on the wireless computer icon in your system tray as shown in the figure below.
Page 28
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 3-22 If the network you would like to connect is security-enabled, enter the same security key or passphrase that is on your Router. If the network to be connected is not secure, the connection will be built without entering a key.
Windows XP users may use the built-in wireless utility. Follow the steps below. Right-click on the utility icon in your system tray (lower-right corner). Select Switch to TP-LINK Wireless configuration Utility. Figure 3-25 Or double-click the utility icon to load the utility configuration page. Click Advanced in the tools section and then select Use Windows wireless configuration tool in the figure shown below.
Page 30
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 3-26 Figure 3-27 Right-click on the wireless computer icon in your system tray (lower-right corner). Select View Available Wireless Networks. Figure 3-28 The utility will display any available wireless networks in your area. Click on a network...
Page 31
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 3-29 If the network is security-enabled, you will be prompted to enter the key as shown below. If not, you will connect to the network directly without entering a key.
150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Chapter 4 Management This section will show you how to configure your TL-WN781ND adapter using the TP-LINK Wireless Configuration Utility (TWCU). The TL-WN781ND adapter uses the TP-LINK Wireless Configuration Utility as the management software.
Page 33
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 4-2 Figure 4-3 The following items can be found on the screen. Profile Name: Enter a name for your profile (e.g. Home, Office, Coffee Shop). The same name is not allowed. Please also note that no space is allowed between words.
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Note: You will see Figure 4-2 if you selected the security type WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK; while, if you selected the security type WPA/WPA2 (-Enterprise), Figure 4-3 will be displayed. Encryption Type: From the drop-down menu, select the encryption type that is the same as on your Router or access point.
The following configurations can be made on the Advanced page: To select wireless configuration tool. Here you can decide which tool to use, either the TP-LINK Configuration Utility or the Windows wireless configuration tool. (This option is available only in Windows XP.)
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide To change the power save mode. Figure 4-7 4.3 About The About screen gives you some information about the Driver and Utility versions of the adapter. Right-click the icon in your system tray and select About from the list.
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Chapter 5 AP Mode (For Windows 7 only) In Soft AP mode, the adapter will work as an AP. This function is available only in Windows7. Suppose that only one computer in your house can access the Internet for various reasons like only one WLAN port is available on your wired broadband Router, however, other wireless-capable devices also want to share the Internet.
Page 38
SSID: Enter the name for your soft AP (for example, Jone) so that others can know which AP is yours when trying to connect to it. The default name (SSID) is “tp-link”. Security Type: The security type here is set to be WPA2-PSK which is based on 802.11i and uses Advanced Encryption Standard instead of TKIP.
150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Chapter 6 Uninstall Software 6.1 Uninstall the utility software from your PC On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, click All programs TP-LINK, and then click Uninstall-TP-LINK Wireless Configuration Utility. Figure 6-1 Uninstall Utility Click Yes to start uninstalling the utility software from your PC.
150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 6-3 Click Finish when the figure below appears. Figure 6-4 6.2 Uninstall the driver software from your PC On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, click All programs TP-LINK, and then click Uninstall-TL-WN781ND Driver.
Page 41
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 6-5 Uninstall Driver Click Yes to start uninstalling the driver software from your PC. Figure 6-6 It may take a few minutes to undergo the whole un-installation process.
Page 42
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Figure 6-7 Click Finish when the figure below appears. Figure 6-8...
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Appendix A: Specifications Normal Interface 32 bit PCI Express Interface Standards IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.1x, IEEE 802.11e, IEEE 802.11i Operating System Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7...
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Appendix B: Glossary 802.11b - The 802.11b standard specifies a wireless product networking at 11 Mbps using direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS) technology and operating in the unlicensed radio spectrum at 2.4GHz, and WEP encryption for security. 802.11b networks are also referred to as Wi-Fi networks.
Page 45
TL-WN781ND 150Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter User Guide Spread Spectrum - Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communications systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability, integrity, and security. In other...