Sony PCWA-AR300 User Manual

Wireless broadband router, Troubleshooting guide, Preparations

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PCWA-AR300

Sony Corporation ©2003 Printed in Japan

4-674-609-11(1)

Wireless
Broadband Router

Troubleshooting Guide

This document provides solutions to common problems
encountered with the Wireless Broadband Router.

Please refer to this guide before contacting Sony
Customer Information Services.

The PCWA-AR300 consists of:

• Broadband Router Unit

PCWA-R1

• Wireless LAN Access Point

PCWA-A320

In this document, we refer to the Broadband Router Unit as the
Router Unit and to the Wireless LAN Access Point as the
Wireless Unit.

Preparations

Case 1

No communication between the computer and
Wireless Broadband Router

1

Was your computer properly configured for wireless
communication?

When using the Access Point functions under factory default settings, configure the computer as
follows.

The factory default settings of the Access Point function are:

• Network Name (SSID):

The 6-character identifier printed on the label inside the rear cover of the Wireless Unit

• Encryption (WEP):

Disabled

With the Windows Me and Windows 2000 operating systems, perform setup as described in the
documentation of the Wireless LAN PC Card.
With the Windows XP operating system, proceed as follows.

1

Click “Start”, and then click “Control Panel”.

2

In “Control Panel”, double-click “Network Connections”.

Note

If “Network Connections” does not appear, click “Switch to Classic View”.

3

In the “Network Connections” window, right-click the icon of the wireless network to
which you want to connect, and click “View Available Wireless Networks”.

4

In the “Connect to Wireless Network” dialog box, select the Access Point from
“Available Wireless Networks”, and click “Connect”. (When using the Access Point
functions under factory default settings, check the 6-character identifier printed on
the label inside the rear cover of the Wireless Unit.)

2

Are the Network Name (SSID) and Data Encryption (WEP)
settings configured correctly?

To connect to the Access Point, the Network Name (SSID) and Data Encryption (WEP) settings
must be the same at the computer and the Access Point.

z

Hint

When using the Access Point functions under factory default settings, use the settings listed in

1

above.

With the Windows Me and Windows 2000 operating systems, verify the Access Point Network
Name (SSID) and Data Encryption (WEP) settings of the Wireless LAN PC Card as described in
its documentation.
With the Windows XP operating system, proceed as follows to verify the settings.

1

Open the “Connect to Wireless Network” dialog box as described in

1

above.

2

Select the Network Name (SSID) of the Access Point from “Available Wireless
Networks”.

3

If data encryption is enabled for the Access Point, enter the correct Encryption Key
(Network Key) in the “Data Encryption (WEP)” field.

4

Click “Connect”.

If the connection is not established, reset the Access Point functions to the factory default
settings as described in “Miscellaneous”, “Case 1: Forgot settings”, and then set up the
Access Point functions again as described in the separate Quick Start Guide.

Continued on next page

3

Can the IP address of the computer be acquired?

With the computer setting “Obtain IP address automatically” enabled, perform the following
steps. For information on how to set the IP address of the computer, see Windows Help.

Windows Me operating system

1

Click “Start”, and click “Run”.

2

In the dialog box used to specify the file name, enter “winipcfg” (exclude the
quotation marks) and click “OK”.

3

From the list in the “IP Setup” dialog box, select the Wireless LAN interface that you
are using (PC card, computer internal wireless LAN, etc.).

4

Make sure that an IP address is shown in the “IP address” field.

5

If the IP address is “0.0.0.0” or an address starting with “169.254.” is displayed, click
“Release”, and then “Renew”.

Note

If an IP address starting with “169.254.” is displayed, a suitable IP address was not obtained with

“Obtain IP address automatically” and your Windows operating system assigned an address to the

Wireless LAN PC Card or Wireless LAN Converter. In this condition, correct network connection is not

possible. Perform the setup again as described in the separate Quick Start Guide.

Windows 2000 and Windows XP operating systems

1

Click “Start”, point to “Programs” (“All Programs” when using the Windows XP
operating system) and then “Accessories”, and click “Command Prompt”.

2

In the command prompt window, enter “ipconfig /all” (exclude the quotation marks)
and press the Enter key.

3

Verify the IP address setting information of the Wireless LAN interface that you are
using (PC card, computer internal wireless LAN, etc.).

z

Hint

The “Description” field shows the name of the Wireless LAN interface.

4

If the IP address is “0.0.0.0” or an address starting with “169.254.” is displayed,
enter “ipconfig /renew” (exclude the quotation marks) and press the Enter key.

A new IP address is assigned.

Note

If an IP address starting with “169.254.” is displayed, a suitable IP address was not obtained with

“Obtain IP address automatically” and your Windows operating system assigned an address to the

Wireless LAN PC Card or Wireless LAN Converter. In this condition, correct network connection is not

possible. Perform the setup again as described in the separate Quick Start Guide.

Connections

Case 1

Cannot display the Setup Page (error message
appears)

If entering “http://192.168.11.1” in the address field of the Web browser does not open the Setup Page,
check the following.

1

Can the IP address of the computer be acquired?

See “Preparations”, “Case 1: No communication between the computer and Wireless Broadband
Router”, item 3.

2

Are the Access Point and Router Unit power connections
correct?

When powered properly, the Status indicator of the Router Unit is lit and the Status indicator of
the Access Point is flashing slowly.

3

Is the AC adapter power switch on?

Make sure that the AC adapter is properly connected and verify that the power switch is on.

z

Hint

When the AC adapter power switch is on, the LED on the adapter is lit.

4

Is the Ethernet cable correctly connected?

Make sure that an end of the Ethernet cable is connected to a LAN connector of the Router Unit.
Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to your computer.

z

Hint

The Ethernet port of your computer is on its back panel.

5

Is the Windows XP “Internet Connection Firewall” function
enabled?

If the “Internet Connection Firewall” function is enabled, communication may not be possible.
Follow the procedure below to check or change the settings.

1

Click “Start”, and then click “Control Panel”.

2

In “Control Panel”, double-click “Network Connections”.

Note

If “Network Connections” does not appear, click “Switch to Classic View”.

3

In the “Network Connections” window, right-click the icon of the wireless network
that you want to use, and click “Properties”.

4

Click the “Advanced” tab and (if selected) clear the “Protect my computer and
network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet” check
box.

5

Click “OK”.

z

Hint

Refer to Windows XP Help for details about the “Internet Connection Firewall” function.

Note

Make sure that you take appropriate security measures when the “Internet Connection Firewall” function

is disabled. Except when configuring the Access Point, it is strongly recommended that you enable the

“Internet Connection Firewall” function at all times.

Power switch

a

: Off

?

: On

Cable modem or DSL modem

LED

Printed on 100% recycled paper using VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)-free vegetable oil
based ink.

• Sony, VAIO,

,

, and the Eco Info logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

• Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other

countries.

• In this manual, Microsoft

®

Windows

®

Millennium Edition is referred to as Windows Me, Microsoft

®

Windows

®

2000 Professional is referred to as Windows 2000, Microsoft

®

Windows

®

XP Home Edition and Microsoft

®

Windows

®

XP Professional are referred to as Windows XP.

• Netscape is a registered trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation.
• All other names of systems, products and services are trademarks of their respective owners. In the manual, the ™

or ® marks are not specified.

Contents

Preparations

• No communication between the computer and

Wireless Broadband Router ........................................................................

Case 1

Connections

• Cannot display the Setup Page (error message appears) ..........................

Case 1

Router Functions

• The Internet Gateway is shown as a network connection.

What does this mean? ................................................................................

Case 1

• Cannot connect to the Internet ....................................................................

Case 2

• I changed the LAN settings of the Router Unit, but I can no longer

connect to the Router Unit or network ........................................................

Case 3

Access Point Functions

• Clicked the “Refresh” button under “Access Point List”, but nothing

appears in the list ........................................................................................

Case 1

• Several Access Points are listed, but I do not know which one to select ....

Case 2

• Unable to connect after Access Point functions settings are made ............

Case 3

• If “Easy Setup” is used after “Advanced Setup”,

what about items not included in “Easy Setup”? .........................................

Case 4

Miscellaneous

• Forgot settings ............................................................................................

Case 1

• The power cord is plugged to the AC outlet, but the indicators

do not light ..................................................................................................

Case 2

• After pressing the Quick Setup switch, the Status indicator

starts flashing red ........................................................................................

Case 3

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