User's Manual

The Gigaset PC Card 108

The Gigaset PC Card 108 is a WLAN network adapter that is connected to your PC or

Notebook via a PCMCIA slot. You can use Gigaset data products to set up a wireless local

network (WLAN = Wireless Local Area Network) without having to lay cables.

Your Gigaset PC Card 108 can be used to connect your PC to other PCs equipped with

wireless network adapters (ad-hoc mode).

You can also connect your PC to a wireless router, e. g. to the Gigaset SE551 WLAN dsl/

cable, for Internet access (infrastructure mode).

Since the PCs communicate with each other via radio, it does not matter where they are

located, as long as they are within range of the wireless network. Mobile PCs, such as

Notebooks, can connect to the WLAN even after changing location. This enables you to

use all the files and printers on the network. The Gigaset PC Card 108 works according

to the IEEE 802.11g transmission standard and is backwards compatible with the older

standard IEEE 802.11b. The Gigaset PC Card 108 also supports Super G technology. By

using channel bundling, this can increase the transmission rate to up to 108 Mbps on

the network. For network security, wireless transmission can be encrypted using the

WPA standard or 64-/128-bit WEP.

These operating instructions contain important information on how to set up a WLAN

and to configure your Gigaset PC Card 108.

Wireless LAN Basics

This section provides basic information on wireless LANs to show the role of the

Gigaset PC Card 108 in setting up a wireless network

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a network that exists in a limited area. A network is two or more computers

which are connected together in order to share files as well as peripheral devices,

e. g. a printer.

Using the Gigaset PC Card 108 you can communicate with other PCs without having to

route network cable. Thus you can take your computer to another place and still remain

connected to the network.

You can use the Gigaset PC Card 108 in two different ways. On the one hand, you can

establish a connection to one or more PCs equipped with wireless network adapters.

This is an ad-hoc network. On the other hand, you can establish a connection to an

Access Point, which is used to obtain access to an already existing wired LAN (infrastruc-

ture network).