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2003 All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written permission of the seller. Disclaimer Information in this document is subject to change without notice. The material contained herein is supplied without representation or warranty of any kind.
Contents Chapter 1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 7 Wireless LAN Basics................................................................................................................................................... 8 Local Area Network (LAN).......................................................................................................................................
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual Chapter 6 Uninstalling the Wireless LAN Card ...................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 7 Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................................... 41 Appendix A Setting Up TCP/IP ..............................................................................................................................
Contents List of Figures Figure 1-1 Figure 1-2 Figure 1-3 Figure 3-1 Figure 3-2 Figure 3-3 Figure 3-4 Figure 3-5 Figure 3-6 Figure 4-1 Figure 4-2 Figure 4-3 Figure 4-4 Figure 4-5 Ad Hoc Network.....................................................................................................................................9 Infrastructure Network ...........................................................................................................................
About This User’s Manual This manual was written for Mini PCI Wireless LAN Card. For brevity, throughout this manual Wireless LAN Card is used to indicate 802.11g WLAN Card Mini PCI. Also, the following terms/abbreviations are used interchangeably: • • • Access Point-AP Wireless LAN-WLAN Ethernet network-LAN-network This User’s Manual contains information on how to install and configure your Wireless LAN Card.
Chapter 1 Introduction The Wireless LAN Card design is based on Atheros WLAN chipset. It supports 802.11g standards to provide maximum data rates of 54 Mbps.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual Wireless LAN Basics This section contains some Wireless LAN basics to help you better understand how the products work together to create a wireless network. 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.
Chapter 1 Introduction Wireless Network Topologies The 802.11 standard defines two wireless modes: Infrastructure mode and Ad Hoc mode. Ad Hoc Network An Ad Hoc network offers peer to peer connections between wireless stations that are in range of each other. The stations communicate directly with each other without using an Access Point or any connection to a wired network.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual Roaming Between Multiple Access Points For large environments, multiple Access Points can be implemented to extend the wireless service coverage area for seamless wireless access. It allows wireless clients to roam from one AP to another while maintaining the wireless connectivity at all times. A wireless client wandering across multiple APs will automatically change the operating radio frequency as required.
Chapter 2 Installing the Driver and Utility Software This chapter describes the first-time installation of the driver and software for the Wireless LAN Card. Proper driver installation is to allow the device to operate on your host computer while the utility software, a Windows program, is to help you configure and monitor your Wireless LAN Card. Note: This Mini PCI model is an integrated Wireless LAN Card solution, your laptop computer is probably shipped with its driver and software properly installed.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual System Requirements To use the Wireless LAN Card, your computer must meet the following minimum requirements: Windows 98/Me/2000/XP 32 MB of RAM or greater 300 MHz processor or higher UL listed I.T.E. computers Installing the driver and software If your operation system has not been installed with the Wireless LAN Card driver, the Windows Plug-and-Play capability will automatically detect the new device (e.g.
Chapter 2 Installing the Driver and Utility Software 4. Click Yes to accept the license agreement. 5. For first-time installation, select the first option as shown below then click Next. 6. Let Enable icon in system tray check box selected. Click Next. 7. Read the following instructions about the utility (ACU or ZERO) you want to use to control your Wireless LAN Card. Click Next to continue.
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Chapter 2 Installing the Driver and Utility Software 8. Select the preferred utility then click Next. 9. Click Finish to complete the installation and reboot your computer. Depending on your operating system, following situation may occur during the installation: • For Windows XP: When Found New Hardware Wizard appears, have Install the software automatically selected and follow the on-screen instructions to proceed. If digital signature message appears, just click Continue Anyway.
Chapter 3 Utility Configuration The configuration of the Wireless LAN Card is done through the Atheros Client Utility (ACU). The user-mode utility also includes a number of tools to display current statistics and status information pertaining to your Wireless LAN Card. The Atheros Client Utility screen pops up with three available tabs: Current Status, Profile Management, and Diagnostics. This chapter will focus on the Station Configuration tab to guide you through the configuration tasks.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual If you want to disable the Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration Utility and have your device managed only by the Atheros Client Utility, proceed as follows: 1. Double-click the Windows XP wireless tray icon and then click Advanced (or Properties) > Wireless Networks. Windows XP wireless icon 2. Atheros wireless icon On the Wireless Networks tab, uncheck the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings box and click OK.
Chapter 3 Utility Configuration Figure 3-1 General tab under the Profile Management Security Tab The Atheros Client Utility provides four types of encryption: Pre-Shared Keys, LEAP, Externally Managed 802.1x Keys and Disabled. Each wireless device within a WLAN must use the same security settings to allow communication.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual Note: All encryption key fields are displayed only when initially entered. On subsequent entry into the security property page, the field are masked. Select the default encryption keys to be used (either Per-User Key or Shared Key). You are only allowed to select one Per-User Key, or one Shared Key 1, Shared Key 2, Shared Key 3, or Shared Key 4 whose corresponding field has been completed.
Chapter 3 Utility Configuration Externally Managed 802.1x Keys Windows XP provides native support for 802.1x standard. Its Wireless Zero Configuration Utility allows to set up 802.1x related parameters. However, to use 802.1x function, your wireless station also needs some essential components, such as a certificate from the certificate authority. Please consult with the network administrator for the configuring procedures.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual 802.11b Preamble: The preamble is part of the IEEE 802.11b physical layer specification. All 802.11b devices are mandatory to support the long preamble format, but may optionally support the short preamble. This Wireless LAN Card supports the short preamble. The default Short & Long option allows communication with other 802.11b devices which support short preamble to boost the throughput. If your device is having trouble to communicate with other 802.
Chapter 3 Utility Configuration Connecting to an Existing Network To check for existing networks near your computer, open the Profile Management tab and click Available Networks… button, the following screen will pop-up. Figure 3-6 Available Networks All available networks will be shown in the above list box. Highlight the network name (SSID) you wish to join in and click the Activate button. If no configuration profile exists for the selected network, the General tab under Profile Management will pop.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual Another way to switch the profile is to right-clicking the ACU tray icon and select Configuration Profile … from the context menu. Another menu will appear, click on the profile you wish to connect to.
Modifying a Configuration Profile To modify a configuration profile, highlight the profile name from the Profile list box and click the Modify button. Removing a Configuration Profile To remove a configuration profile: 1. Highlight the profile to remove from the Profile list on the Station Configuration tab. 2. Click the Remove button.
Chapter 4 Checking Status or Statistics The Atheros Client Utility includes a number of options to display statistics and status information. These tools can be accessed via the corresponding tabs of the Atheros Client Utility. Status Monitor Tray Icon The Atheros Client Utility tray icon allows you to easily and quickly monitor your wireless connection status. The tray icon shows the signal strength using colors and the received signal strength indication (RSSI). The number (2.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual Current Status Tab The Current Status tab of the Atheros Client Utility contains general information about the program and its operations. The following table describes the items found in the Current Status tab. Screen Item Description Profile Name The name of the current configuration. Network Type Displays if the adapter is connected to an Access Point or Ad Hoc network.
Chapter 4 Checking Status or Statistics Figure 4-1 Current Status Tab 29
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual Advanced Status You can view advanced information about the program and its operation by clicking the Advanced button on the Current Status tab. The following table describes the items found on the Advanced Status screen. Screen Item Description Country The regulatory domain of the network. Transmit Power Level Displays the transmit power level. Network Name (SSID) The wireless network name. Power Save Mode The power management options.
Chapter 4 Checking Status or Statistics • • • Broadcast frames transmitted and received Unicast frames transmitted and received Total bytes transmitted and received Figure 4-3 Diagnostics Tab Advanced Statistics Advanced Statistics also show receive and transmit statistical information for the following receive and transmit diagnostics for frames received by or transmitted to the wireless network adapter.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual Figure 4-4 Advanced Statistics Driver Information The Driver Information contains general information about the network interface card (NIC) and the network driver interface specification (NDIS). The following table describes the items found on the Driver Information tab. 32 Screen Item Description Card Name The name of the NIC. MAC Address The station's MAC address. It is configured at the factory. Driver The location of the NDIS driver.
Chapter 4 Checking Status or Statistics Figure 4-5 Driver Information 33
Chapter 5 ACU Toolbar There are three menus Action, Options, Help in the ACU toolbar, check the appropriate section for more information. Action Menu You can enable/disable radio frequency or ACU icon in the system tray. Click Exit to shutdown the utilitity. The Country Select… allows users to switch to different country codes. The Wireless LAN Card has EEPROM locations allocated to store country code information.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual Options Menu There is only one option under this menu. You can view or change the current display settings. To change the display settings, click on Display Settings…. The display settings dialog box contains tools to set these parameters: Signal Strength Display Units: Sets the units used when displaying signal strength: percentage or decibels. Refresh Interval (seconds): Sets the display refresh interval in seconds.
Chapter 5 ACU Toolbar 37
Chapter 6 Uninstalling the Wireless LAN Card Should you need to uninstall the Wireless LAN Card and its application software for any reason, please proceed as follows. The uninstallation procedures are basically the same under Windows 98, Me, 2000 and XP. The graphics here assume a Windows XP environment. 1. Close all programs that are currently running. 2. Right-click on the Atheros Client Utility (ACU) icon in the system tray. Click Exit to shut down the utility. 3.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual 40 4. Highlight AR5001 Wireless Network Adapter and Client Utility then click Change/Remove. 5. Select Delete the previous installation and click Next.
Chapter 7 Troubleshooting 6. When confirm message appears, click OK. 7. Click Finish. Chapter 7 Troubleshooting My station cannot associate in Ad Hoc mode. Make sure all the stations in the Ad Hoc network are set with the same SSID. You can set up one station to start the Ad Hoc network and wait briefly before setting other stations.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual Radio Interference You may be able to eliminate any interference by trying the following: • • • • 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. For 802.
Chapter 7 Troubleshooting • Make sure the security setting is the same as that of the Access Point. Also, make sure the default key is the same for both the Wireless LAN Card and the Access Point.
Appendix A Setting Up TCP/IP This section contains instructions for configuring the TCP/IP protocol of the Wireless LAN Card. The IP address policy depends on your network. You should configure your TCP/IP protocol as instructed by your network administrator. For Windows 2000/XP 1. Double-click Network Dial-up Connections (Windows 2000) or Network Connections (Windows XP) on Control Panel. 2. Right-click the Local Area Connection icon corresponding to your wireless adapter and click Properties. 3.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual Federal Communication Commission Interference 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.
Appendix A Setting Up TCP/IP IMPORTANT NOTE: FCC Radiation Exposure Statement: This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator & your body. This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
802.11g Mini PCI WLAN Card User’s Manual Manual Information That Must be Included The OEM integrator has to be aware not to provide information to the end user regarding how to install or remove this RF module in the users manual of the end product which integrate this module.
