Owner's Manual

• High-speed (broadband) Internet service provided either by a cable TV provider (which requires the use of a cable
modem) or a telephone company (which requires the use of a DSL modem)
• A wireless router
• A wireless network adapter (your DW WLAN Card, for example) for each computer that you want to use to wirelessly
connect to the network
What is DW WLAN Card Utility?
DW WLAN Card Utility is a software tool on your computer that you can use to manage your wireless networks and perform
network tasks (see
Performing Network Tasks Using DW WLAN Card Utility). Components of the utility include a wizard for
creating basic network connection profiles as well as a more sophisticated tool for creating advanced network connection
profiles.
In addition to DW WLAN Card Utility, your computer ships with Wireless Zero Configuration service, which is the native
Windows tool for connecting to a wireless network. By default, DW WLAN Card Utility is set as the tool in control of managing
your wireless connections. This tool is easier to use and takes advantage of the latest DW WLAN Card features.
You can use either tool to manage your wireless networks, but keep in mind that after you create your wireless network
connection settings (profiles) using one tool, you must use the same tool thereafter whenever you connect to the wireless
network. If you later inadvertently switch to a different tool, you will experience problems connecting to the network. For
instructions about how to set DW WLAN Card Utility as your management tool, see
Utility Wireless Networks Tab.
What is an SSID?
An SSID, which is an acronym for service set identifier, is the name of a specific wireless network. The wireless network name
(SSID) is set on the wireless router/AP. The wireless router/AP can be set up either to broadcast the assigned SSID or not.
When the wireless router/AP is set up to broadcast the SSID, the wireless network is a broadcasting network. If the wireless
router/AP is not set up to broadcast the SSID, the wireless network is a nonbroadcasting network.
Your computer can detect and display the SSID of all available (within range) wireless routers/APs on a broadcasting network.
This capability is useful when you are looking for available wireless networks to which to connect. Your computer can detect
Wireless routers/APs on a nonbroadcasting network, but cannot display the SSIDs. To be able to connect to a
nonbroadcasting network, you must know the SSID for that network.
What is a network connection profile?
A network connection profile is the group of saved settings used to connect to a wireless network. The settings include the
network name (SSID) and any security settings. To connect to a wireless network, you must create a connection profile for
that network. The connection profile that you create is automatically saved when you connect to the wireless network.
Because these wireless settings are saved, your computer automatically connects to the network whenever the computer is
turned on and is within range of a
wireless router/AP on the network.
A network connection profile for a basic network can be created using a wizard (see
Connecting to a Basic Network or
Creating an Ad Hoc Network Using Wireless Network Wizard), whereas a connection profile for an advanced network must be
created using a more sophisticated tool (see
Connecting to an Advanced Network or Creating an Ad Hoc Network Using DW
WLAN Card Utility).
What is the difference between a secure network and an open network and how do I
connect to each type?
The owner or administrator of a wireless network can control who can connect to the network by requiring anyone wanting to
connect to use a network key, a password, a smart card, or a certificate. Such controls provide various levels of wireless
network security, and a wireless network that has such controls is referred to as a secure network. Therefore, if the wireless
network to which you want to connect is a secure network, you must obtain the network key or password from the network
owner or administrator, have an authorized smart card, or know how obtain a certificate, as appropriate for your network. A
wireless network that does not require the use of such controls is referred to as an open network. For instructions about how
to connect to either type of network, see
Connecting to a Basic Network or Creating an Ad Hoc Network Using Wireless
Network Wizard.