54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual
Introduction Congratulations for purchasing of the 54Mbps Wireless PC Card! 1 Your Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card provides a single PC Card solution for connecting to Wireless-B (802.11b) and WIreless-G (802.11-g) networks. Whichever standard you encounter, your Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card is ready to connect. Just insert it into a CardBus slot and run the included Setup Wizard.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual • Low power consumption. Package Contents Before you begin the installation of your Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card, make sure you have the following items: • Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card. • An installation CD-ROM containing drivers. • This User Manual. • Program License Agreement. As you examine these items, look for any physical damage.
2 Installation This chapter describes how to install the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card. Please refer to the appropriate section: • Microsoft Windows XP users: refer to “Windows XP Installation Instructions,” below. • Microsoft Windows 2000 users: refer to “Windows 2000 Installation Instructions” on page 7. • Microsoft Windows ME users: refer to “Windows ME Installation Instructions” on page 12.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual 3. Slide the 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card completely into the PCMCIA CardBus slot. When it is properly inserted, a sound should be heard, the Found New Hardware Wizard starts, and the following screen appears. 4. Make sure that “Install the software automatically (Recommended)” is selected. 5. In your computer’s CD-ROM drive, insert the drivers CD supplied with your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card. 6. Click the Next button.
Chapter 2 Installation 8. Click the Finish button. A pop-up message tells you that your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card is now ready to use. This completes the installation instructions for computers running Windows XP. Windows 2000 Installation Instructions To install the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card on a computer running Microsoft WIndows 2000, use the following procedure: 1. Locate an available Type II or Type III PCMCIA CardBus slot on your computer. 2.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual 3. Slide the 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card completely into the PCMCIA CardBus slot. When it is properly inserted, a beep should be heard, the Found New Hardware Wizard starts, and the following screen appears. 4. Click the Next button. The following screen appears.
Chapter 2 Installation 5. Make sure that “Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended)” is selected. 6. In your computer’s CD-ROM drive, insert the drivers CD supplied with your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card. 7. Click the Next button. The following screen asks where you want Windows to search for driver files.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual 8. Uncheck Floppy disk drives. Only CD-ROM drives should be checked. 9. Click the Next button. Windows finds the driver for your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card and displays the following screen. 10. Click the Next button.
Chapter 2 Installation not passed Windows Logo testing. If this screen does not appear, then go to Step 12. 11. Click Yes to continue. The wizard installs the software, a beep sounds, and the following message appears. 12. Click the Finish button. This completes the installation instructions for computers running Windows 2000.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual Windows ME Installation Instructions To install the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card on a computer running Microsoft WIndows ME, use the following procedure: 1. Locate an available Type II or Type III PCMCIA CardBus slot on your computer. 2. Hold the 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card so its 68-pin connector is facing your computer’s PCMCIA CardBus slot and its label is facing up. 3. Slide the 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card completely into the PCMCIA CardBus slot.
Chapter 2 Installation 4. Make sure that “Automatic search for better driver (Recommended)” is selected. 5. In your computer’s CD-ROM drive, insert the drivers CD supplied with your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card. 6. Click the Next button. A screen tells you that Windows has found the driver for the device, then Windows ME installs the driver files and displays the following screen. 7. Click the Finish button. The following screen asks whether you want to restart your computer at this time. 8.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual Windows 98 and 98SE Installation Instructions To install the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card on a computer running Microsoft WIndows 98 or Windows 98SE, use the following procedure: 1. Locate an available Type II or Type III PCMCIA CardBus slot on your computer. 2. Hold the 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card so its 68-pin connector is facing your computer’s PCMCIA CardBus slot and its label is facing up. 3.
Chapter 2 Installation 4. Click the Next button. The following screen appears. 5. Make sure that “Search for the best driver for your device (Recommended)” is selected. 6. In your computer’s CD-ROM drive, insert the drivers CD supplied with your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual 7. Click the Next button. The following screen asks where you want Windows to search for driver files. 8. Uncheck every selection except CD-ROM drive. 9. Click the Next button. Windows finds the driver for your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card and displays the following screen.
Chapter 2 Installation 10. Click the Next button. Windows will install the software. During this step, WIndows may prompt you for the WIndows 98 CD-ROM. If it does, replace the drivers CD with your Windows 98 CD. After the files are copied, a beep sounds, and the following message appears. 11. Click the Finish button. The following screen asks whether you want to restart your computer at this time. 12. Remove the CD-ROM from your computer’s CD-ROM drive and click Yes to restart your computer.
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Configuration This chapter describes how to configure your Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card. 3 Overview After you install your Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card, you are ready to configure it using the Actiontec configuration utility program. This program was automatically installed on your personal computer when you installed your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual If you hold your mouse pointer over the icon, the transmit and receive rates appear, along with the name of the current configuration profile. You can also To configure your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card, you select the appropriate parameters in the Actiontec Configuration Utility screen. The next section described how to access this screen.
Chapter 3 Configuration Card’s encryption security feature. See page 27. • IBSS lets you select an IBSS channel. See page 29. • Domain lets you select IEEE 802.11d support and a country or domain. See page 31. • About shows version information for the network driver, configuration utility, and 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card firmware.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual main screen) • View and change advanced configuration parameters (displays the Configuration tab in the main screen) • Enables or disables WEP encryption (displays the Encryption tab in the main screen) • View and change IBSS channel parameters (displays the IBSS tab in the main screen) • View and change country and domain parameters (displays the Domain tab in the main screen) • View version information about the utility (displays the About tab in the main sc
Chapter 3 Configuration State In the Status tab, the State field shows the state of your computer with the wireless network. Possible values for this field are: • AdHoc: Your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card is operating in peer-topeer mode. This field also shows the virtual MAC address used by computers participating in an AdHoc network. • Associated: Your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card is operating in Infrastructure mode. This field also shows the MAC address of the Access Point with which you are communicating.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual • Not Associated: Your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card has not found any network with which to associate. Current Tx Rate This field shows the current transmit rate of the current association. Current Channel This field shows the channel on which the connection is made. In Infrastructure mode, this number changes as the radio scans the available channels.
Chapter 3 Configuration Rescan Button Click the Rescan button to force your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card’s radio to rescan all available channels. If the PC Card’s link quality or signal strength is poor, rescanning can be used to push the radio off a weak Access Point and search for a better link with another Access Point. Viewing and Changing Configuration Information (Configuration Tab) The Configuration tab lets you select a profile name, network name, and network type (Access Point or peer-to-peer).
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual ters, you can save them in the profile named in this field by clicking the Apply button. You can also create additional profiles by typing a name in the Profile Name field. When you change the name in this field and click the Apply button, the configuration utility uses the current parameters for your adapter to create a separate profile.
Chapter 3 Configuration Your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card operates in one of two types of networks, specified in the Network Type field of the Configuration tab: Peer-to-Peer and Access Point. Clicking the down arrow at the right of this field displays the available types. Peer-to-Peer Mode Peer-to-Peer IEEE 802.11 defines two modes to handle two separate needs. The first, called AdHoc (or IBSS) mode, is used when two or more wirelessly enabled PCs exchange data directly, without an Access Point.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual To enable encryption, click the down arrow at the right of the Encryption field, select either 64 bit or 128 bit and click the Apply button. After enabling an encryption method, specify encryption keys, as described in the following sections.
Chapter 3 Configuration alphanumeric or hexadecimal characters. When you click one of these buttons, the cursor appears next to Key 1. • For 64-bit encryption, type exactly 5 alphanumeric or 10 hexadecimal characters in each of the four key fields. • For 128-bit encryption, type exactly 13 alphanumeric or 26 hexadecimal characters. Then click the Apply button to create your encryption keys. After you click Apply, the configuration utility uses asterisks to mask your keys.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual cate. If you specified Access Point as the network type in the Configuration tab, selecting a channel in this tab has no effect until you change the Network Type to Peer-to-Peer. Selecting a Domain (Domain Tab) “Domain” refers to a territory where radio frequency transmissions must conform to the standards set by a single regulatory agency.
Chapter 3 Configuration 802.11d Support The Domain tab lets you specify one of three levels of 802.11d support. If you specify None, you must choose the county in the Countries/Domains field that corresponds to your location. Your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card operates according to the standards set by the appropriate regulatory agency. Note: If you specify Peer-to-Peer as the network type, you must specify None.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual that provides information on the channels, frequencies, and power levels permitted in your location. If it finds such an Access Point, the adapter conforms its operations to these standards. If it does not find an Access Point that provides this information, it establishes communications with any Access Point it finds.
Configuring File and Printer Sharing 4 This chapter describes how to establish a network that will allow you to share files and printers. This is an easy method to set up a network in your home or small office. Windows XP 1. Right-click the My Computer icon and click Properties. The System Properties dialog box appears. 2. Select the Computer Name tab. 3. Click the Change button.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual 4. Under Computer Name, enter a new computer name. 5. Under Workgroup, enter a workgroup name. 6. When you finish, click OK. 7. Restart your computer. Windows 2000 1. After you install and configure your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card, Windows 2000 automatically enables file sharing. The only item that needs to be altered is your workgroup settings. All the computers on your network must have the same workgroup name but different computer names.
Chapter 4 Configuring File and Printer Sharing 2. In the System Properties window, click the Network Identification tab. The System Properties dialog box appears.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual 3. If the Workgroup name is already the same as all the other computers on your network, you do not need to change it and you can click OK. If it is not the same, click Properties. The Identification Changes dialog box appears. 4. In the Computer Name field, type a name that is different than the other PCs on your network. Then, in the Workgroup field, type the name you are using to identify your network.
Chapter 4 Configuring File and Printer Sharing 3. In the Configuration tab, click the Add button. The Select Network Component Type dialog box appears. 4. Click Service, then click the Add button. The Select Network Service dialog box appears.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual 5. Select File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks and click OK. 6. In the File and Print Sharing dialog box, be sure both the selections have a check mark beside them. If not, click on the box next to each statement. 7. Click OK. The Network dialog box reappears. 8. Click the Identification tab. Then complete it as follows: • Computer Name: Enter any name you want. (for example, My Computer, John, CPU654).
Chapter 4 Configuring File and Printer Sharing • Computer Description: Enter any description you like. Traditionally, the location name or main user’s name is entered. 9. Click the Configuration tab to redisplay the Configuration dialog box. 10. In the Primary Network Logon box above the File and Print Sharing button, be sure Client for Microsoft Networks is selected. If not, click the down arrow and select it from the given list. 11. Click OK. A screen asks you to restart your computer. 12.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual and password. Enter whatever user name and password you would like, but write them on a sheet of paper, as they will enable you to access your network. 14. Using Windows Explorer, find a file or drive you want to share. When you find it, right-click it and select Sharing from the pop-up menu. The Properties dialog box appears. 15. Click the Sharing tab.
Chapter 4 Configuring File and Printer Sharing 16. Click Shared As. This allows other users on your network to see the file or drive you selected. 17. Select the Access Type: Read Only: This selection lets other users on your network view and read the file or drive you selected. They will not be able to modify it in any way. You can further restrict their privileges by entering a password in the appropriate field.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual A Properties dialog box appears for the printer you selected. 21. In the Share tab, enable the sharing by selecting Shared As. This automatically inserts a default name for the share name. You can set a password for the printer at this time if you want to restrict who on the network can use this resource. You can also set the default printer settings by modifying information on the other tabs of this window.
5 LED Your Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card has one light-emitting diode (LED) indicator. This indicator shows the link status. • When your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card is associated with a client, the LED remains ON. • If your 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card is not associated with a client and is scanning, the LED blinks 5 second on and 200 milliseconds off.
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Troubleshooting 6 In the unlikely event you encounter a problem using your Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card, refer to the troubleshooting procedures in this chapter to resolve your problem. 1. My computer does not recognize my 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card. Be sure the 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card is properly inserted into a 32bit CardBus slot. If Windows does not detect the hardware when you insert the Card, your computer could have a driver for a previous PC Card installed.
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7 Uninstalling If you no longer wish to use your Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card, you can uninstall it. Refer to the appropriate section: Windows XP Instructions To uninstall the Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card on a computer running Microsoft WIndows XP or 2000, use the following procedure: 1. From the computer desktop, right-click My Computer and select Manage . 2. Select Device Manager from the list on the left. 3. Expand the Network Adapters item on the right side of the dialog box. 4.
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Notices Regulatory Compliance Notices Class B Equipment 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.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual 1. This device may not cause harmful interference; 2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause unwanted operation. To comply with FCC RF exposure compliance + Note: requirements, the antenna used for this transmitter must be installed to provide a separation distance of at least 20 cm from all persons and must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
Limited Warranty Hardware: Actiontec Electronics, Inc., warrants to the end user (“Customer”) that this hardware product will be free from defects in workmanship and materials, under normal use and service, for twelve (12) months from the date of purchase from Actiontec Electronics or its authorized reseller.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual non-compatibility is caused by a “bug” or defect in the third party’s product or from use of the software product not in accordance with Actiontec Electronics published specifications or user guide. THIS ACTIONTEC ELECTRONICS PRODUCT MAY INCLUDE OR BE BUNDLED WITH THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE, THE USE OF WHICH IS GOVERNED BY A SEPARATE END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT. THIS ACTIONTEC ELECTRONICS WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY TO SUCH THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE.
Limited Warranty ICS’ OPTION. TO THE FULL EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, THE FOREGOING WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, TERMS OR CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, EITHER IN FACT OR BY OPERATION OF LAW, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WARRANTIES, TERMS OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, CORRESPONDENCE WITH DESCRIPTION, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, ALL OF WHICH ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED.
Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card User Manual tion of liability for personal injury, so the above limitations and exclusions may be limited in their application to you. When the implied warranties are not allowed to be excluded in their entirety, they will be limited to the duration of the applicable written warranty. This warranty gives you specific legal rights which may vary depending on local law.
