PCMCIA Wireless LAN PC Card User’s Manual
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Contents Chapter 1 Introduction................................................................................................................. 1 Local Area Network (LAN) .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Ad Hoc Network .......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Infrastructure Network ....
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card Setting Power Save Mode......................................................................................................................................... 18 Checking Link Quality (Infrastructure Mode Only) .................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 4 Uninstalling the Wireless LAN Card........................................................................ 21 Removing the Wireless LAN Card .................
Contents Appendix C Setting Up TCP/IP.................................................................................................. 37 Glossary...................................................................................................................................... 39 Index............................................................................................................................................
Chapter 1 Introduction This User’s Manual contains information on how to install and configure your Wireless LAN Card. Your Wireless LAN Card will allow you to connect your computer to other Wireless LAN Card equipped computers. Local Area Network (LAN) Simply put, a LAN is a network that exists in a relatively limited area. A network is two or more computers connected together sharing files and peripheral devices such as printers.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card Ad Hoc Network The Ad Hoc network offers peer to peer connections between workstations, allowing communication between computers within range that have an 802.11 DSSS compatible PC card installed. A wireless Ad Hoc network can also access a wired LAN’s TCP/IP service (such as e-mail and the Internet) by using a TCP/IP software router on an Ethernet equipped PowerBook or notebook.
Chapter 2 Installing the Wireless LAN Card System Requirements To use the Wireless LAN Card, your computer must meet the following minimum requirements: Windows 98(SE)/Me /2000 16 MB of RAM, additional memory recommended Available (TypeII) PC card slot Installing the Hardware After installing the hardware, install the device driver and then install the Wireless LAN Card software. The Wireless LAN Card can be inserted into your computer’s PCMCIA slot when the computer power is either turned on or off.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card The red LED on the Wireless LAN Card will light when the Wireless LAN Card is inserted into the PCMCIA slot and the computer is turned on. Insert the end of the Wireless LAN Card into the PCMCIA slot of your computer with the printed label facing up, and slide it in until it is firmly seated.
Chapter 2 - Installing the Wireless LAN Card Installing the Device Driver Windows will automatically start the device driver installation when the Wireless LAN Card is installed or when Windows starts. For Windows 98(SE) Have your Windows 98(SE) /Me installation CD-ROM or disks available; Windows may prompt you for them. 1. 2. 3. If you need to set up the TCP/IP address or the Subnet Mask, refer to “Appendix C - Setting Up TCP/IP” on page 35. 4. 5. When the wizard appears, click Next.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card For Windows 2000 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 6 When the wizard appears, click Next. Select Search for a suitable driver… and click Next. Check Specify a location and click Next. Insert the Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. Click Browse to specify the path to D: \Driver\W2K where D is the drive letter and click OK. When the driver is found, click Next to continue. When the Digital Signature Not Found message appears, click Yes. Click Finish to complete the driver installation.
Chapter 2 - Installing the Wireless LAN Card Installing the Wireless LAN Card Software 1. 2. Close all Windows programs that are running. Run Setup.exe from the D:\Utility folder of the Wireless LAN Card Installation CDROM where D is the drive letter, and then click Next. 3. Click Yes to accept the Software Licensing Agreement.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card 4. In the SSID box, enter the Service Set ID name, and then click Next. 5. Write down the Service Set ID name exactly as you have entered it (for use in a later installation step), and then click OK. Click the network mode (AdHoc or Infrastructure) in which your wireless client will operate, and then click Next. 6. If you will be communicating in a wireless network only, choose AdHoc.
Chapter 2 - Installing the Wireless LAN Card 7. To install the software to the default destination folder, click Next. To install to a different folder, click Browse, select another folder, and then click Next. 8. Click Next to continue.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card 9. 10 After Windows copies the Setup files from the Wireless LAN Card CD-ROM, click Yes, I want to restart my computer now, and then click Finish.
Chapter 3 Configuring the Wireless LAN Card You can connect your computer to a network in one of two ways: Ad Hoc Connecting to other Wireless LAN Card equipped computers, forming a wireless network. Infrastructure Connecting to a wired network through an Access Point.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card Connecting to Other Computers with WLAN (Ad Hoc) To connect your computer to an Ad Hoc network, complete the following steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 12 In the taskbar, click the Wireless LAN Link Status icon to display the Wireless LAN Configuration Utility dialog box. Click the Configuration tab. In the Mode list, click AdHoc. In the SSID list, click the Service Set ID (SSID) name of the Wireless LAN group.
Chapter 3 – Configuring the Wireless LAN Card 1. Click the Configuration tab. 2. Click AdHoc. 3. Click SSID name of the Wireless LAN group. Default: Fully Automatic. 4. Click Channel Number. 5. Click Apply Changes. 6. Click OK.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card Connecting to Access Points (Infrastructure) To connect your computer to an Infrastructure network, complete the following steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 14 In the taskbar, click the Wireless LAN Link Status icon to display the Wireless LAN Configuration Utility dialog box. Click the Configuration tab. In the Mode list, click Infrastructure. In the SSID list, click SSID name of the Access Point. All wireless clients must use the same SSID in order to communicate with each other.
Chapter 3 – Configuring the Wireless LAN Card 1. Click the Configuration tab. 2. Click Infrastructure. 3. Click SSID name of the Access Point. 4. Click Apply Changes. 5. Click OK to exit the utility.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card Setting Security Your encryption settings must match those of your network, or your computer will be unable to communicate. To establish a secure wireless network, complete the following steps: The Passphrase of each computer must be the same before a connection can be made between the computers. 16 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In the taskbar, click the Wireless LAN Link Status icon to display the Wireless LAN Configuration Utility dialog box. Click the Encryption tab.
Chapter 3 – Configuring the Wireless LAN Card 1. Click the Encryption tab. 2. Click the proper WEP setting. 3. Enter the password or phrase, or click the Manual Entry. 4. Click Apply. 5. Click OK to exit the utility.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card Setting Power Save Mode You may need to minimize all other Windows programs that are currently running. Power Save Mode is recommended for devices where power consumption is a major concern, such as battery-powered devices. While in Power Save Mode the Access Point stores incoming messages in a memory buffer. The Wireless LAN Card wakes up periodically from Power Save Mode and checks for any messages that might be waiting at the Access Point.
Chapter 3 – Configuring the Wireless LAN Card 1. Click the Configuration tab. 2. In the PS Mode (Power Save) list, click Enabled. 3. Click Apply Changes. 4. Click OK to exit the utility.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card Checking Link Quality (Infrastructure Mode Only) To check the quality of your computer’s wireless link to an Access Point, complete the following steps: 1. 2. Click the Link Info tab. The State box shows the MAC address for the Access Point. Link Quality and Signal Strength are displayed as percentages using active progress indicators that change as the network radio signal fluctuates. Link Quality categories are defined as follows: 3. Click OK to exit the utility.
Chapter 4 Uninstalling the Wireless LAN Card Removing the Wireless LAN Card You should use the PC Card icon on the taskbar to stop PC Card before removing them. Removing card without warning the system can cause unexpected problems. The Wireless LAN Card complies with the PCMCIA standard that allows devices to be inserted into and removed from the computer’s PCMCIA socket when the computer is on.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card Uninstalling the Wireless LAN Card Software If you need to uninstall the Wireless LAN Card and application software for any reason, complete the following steps: 1. 2. 3. 22 Close all programs that are currently running. Remove the Wireless LAN Card from the computer. Click the Windows Start button, point to Programs, PRISM 802.11 and then click Uninstaller.
Chapter 4 – Uninstalling the Wireless LAN Card 4. Click Yes to proceed with the software procedure. 5. When the uninstallation is completed, click OK.
Chapter 5 Updating the Device Driver To update the device driver, you have to remove the old driver first and then install a new one. For the latest driver, please visit our web site for more information. When you have finished the download procedure, please follow as below to update the device driver. 1. Uninstall the Wireless LAN Card as described in Chapter 4. Follow the steps to remove the Wireless LAN Card and then uninstall the software. 2. Install the new driver you have downloaded.
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting Radio Interference You may be able to eliminate any interference by trying the following: • • • • • Reseat the Wireless LAN Card. Increase the distance between the wireless computers and the device causing the radio interference. Plug the computer equipped with the Wireless LAN Card into an outlet on a different branch circuit from that used by the affecting device. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio technician for help.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card Card Not Detected If the Wireless LAN Card is not detected by Windows, try the following: • • • Make sure the Wireless LAN Card is properly inserted in the PCMCIA slot. Make sure the PCMCIA slot in your computer is working. Contact your dealer for additional testing if there is a hardware problem with the Wireless LAN Card.
Chapter 6 – Troubleshooting Poor Link Quality If the Link Quality display stays in the Poor range, it could be due to one of the following reasons: • • Radio interference. Distance between Wireless LAN Card and Access Point is too far. Decrease the distance between the Wireless LAN Card and Access Point (or another card).
Appendix A Limited Warranty Wireless LAN Hardware The seller 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 1 year from the date of purchase from the seller or its authorized reseller.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card Wireless LAN Software The seller warrants to Customer that each software program licensed from it , except as noted below, will perform in substantial conformance to its program specifications, for a period of 1 year from the date of purchase from the seller or its authorized reseller. The seller warrants the media containing software against failure during the warranty period. No updates are provided.
Appendix B Regulatory Compliance FCC Part 15 Declaration of Conformity (DoC) The following equipment: Product Name: Wireless PC LAN Card is herewith confirmed to comply with the requirements of FCC Part 15 rules. The operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. 2. This device may not cause harmful interference, and This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card FCC Rules and Regulations - Part 15 Warning: ● This equipment must be install and operated in accordance with provided instructions and minimum 20 cm spacing must be provided between computer mounted antenna and person’s body (excluding extremities of hands , wrist and feet ) during wireless modes of operation . ● This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules .
Chapter 6 – Troubleshooting turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try and correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: • • • Relocate your WLAN equipped laptop computer. • Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Increase the separation between the WLAN equipped laptop computer and other electronics. Connect the WLAN equipped laptop computer into an outlet on a circuit different from that of other electronics.
Appendix C Setting Up TCP/IP 1. 2. 3. On the taskbar, click the Start -> Settings -> Control Panel, double click the Network icon. Click the Configuration tab of the Network dialog box. In the network components list, click TCP/IP ->PRISM2 IEEE 802.11 PC CARD Adapter, and then click Properties.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card For correct IP address information for your wireless LAN installation, contact your network administrator. For more information on IP addresses, see the Network Working Group Specification RFC 1918 on the Internet. The subnet mask is a value that defines whether your computer communicates only within your LAN (for example, 255.255.255.0) or communicates outside of your LAN. 4. On the IP Address tab, click Specify an IP address.
Glossary 10BaseT Access Point Ad Hoc BSS Channel Encapsulated ESS An IEEE standard (802.3) for operating 10 Mbps Ethernet networks (LANs) with twisted pair cabling and a wiring hub. An internetworking device that seamlessly connects wired and wireless networks. Access Points combined with a distributed system support the creation of multiple radio cells that enable roaming throughout a facility.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card 40 Ethernet The most widely used medium access method, which is defined by the IEEE 802.3 standard. Ethernet is normally a shared media LAN; i.e., all the devices on the network segment share total bandwidth. Ethernet networks operate at 10Mbps using CSMA/CD to run over 10BaseT cables. Gateway A network component that acts as an entrance to another network. IEEE 802.11 The IEEE 802.
Glossary ISP Internet Service Provider. An organization that provides access to the Internet. Small ISPs provide service via modem and ISDN while the larger ones also offer private line hookups (T1, fractional T1, etc.). LAN Local Area Network. A communications network that serves users within a defined geographical area. The benefits include the sharing of Internet access, files, and equipment, such as printers and storage devices.
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card Radio Frequency 42 RF, Terms: GHz, MHz, Hz —The international unit for measuring frequency is Hertz (Hz), equivalent to the older unit of cycles per second. One megahertz (MHz) is one Million-Hertz. One giga hertz (GHz) is one Billion-Hertz. The standard U.S. electrical power frequency is 60 Hz, the AM broadcast radio frequency band is 0.55–1.6 MHz, the FM broadcast radio frequency band is 88–108 MHz, and wireless 802.11 LANs operate at 2.4GHz. SSID Service Set ID.
Index 1 10BaseT, 37 A Access Point, 1, 2, 4, 11, 14, 18, 20, 29, 37, 38 Ad Hoc, 1, 2, 4, 11, 12, 28, 37 AdHoc, 8, 12 B battery-powered devices, 18 BSS, 37 C Cannot connect to Access Point troubleshooting, 29 Cannot connect to another Wireless LAN Card troubleshooting, 28 Card not detected Troubleshooting, 28 Channel, 12, 28, 37 Checking link quality, 20 Computer power, 3 Connecting to other Wireless LAN Card, 11 D Default destination folder, 9 Device driver updating, 25 Driver installing, 5 E ESS, 37
PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card H Hardware, 31, 32 installing, 3 problem, 28 I Icons status, 11 IEEE, 35, 37, 38 Infrastructure, 1, 2, 4, 8, 11, 14, 20, 38 Installing hardware, 3 Wireless LAN Card, 3 IP Address, 28, 36, 38 ISP, 39 L LAN, i, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 22, 25, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 37, 38, 39, 40 LED, 4 Link Quality checking, 20 N NAT, 39 44 Network, 1, 2, 4, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 20, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 P PCMCIA, 3, 4, 21, 28, 39 card slot, 3 Poor Link Quality Troubleshooti
Index Power Save Mode, 18 security, 16 Setting Up TCP/IP, 35 Setup.
