Wireless LAN Card - Wireless PC Card (CardBus) - Wireless Mini PCI Module - Wireless PCI Adapter IEEE 802.11b/g User Manual Rev. 1.
FCC Information to User Model: Wireless PC Card FCC ID: RC6AWP-914W Model: Wireless Mini PCI Adapter FCC ID: RC6AWI-922W Model: Wireless PCI Adapter FCC ID: RC6AWI-926W FCC Caution To assure continued compliance, any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna • Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver • Connect the equipment into an electrical outlet on a circuit different from that which the radio receiver is connected • Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Modifications made to the product could void the user's right to operate the equipment. Europe - EU Declaration of Conformity This device is a 2.
France. Please check ART's web site for latest requirements for use of the 2.4GHz band in France: http://www.art-telecom.fr/eng/index.htm. When operating in the following metropolitan regions (départements) in France, this device may be operated under the following conditions: • Indoors using any channel in the 2.4-2.4835 GHz band (Channels 1-13) • Outdoors using channels in the 2.4-2.
Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Preface ............................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Key Features ...................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Kit Contents.............................................................................................
Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Activate the Software AP Function ......................................................................... 31 6.1 Introduction....................................................................................................... 31 6.2 Bridge Connections .......................................................................................... 31 Software Utility - WLAN SoftAP Configuration Utility .............................................. 33 7.1 Overview .......................
Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Preface The Wireless LAN Card frees you from traditional Ethernet wiring and helps you connect to an existing wireless network for sharing your broadband cable or DSL Internet access. It is designed for computers running Microsoft® Windows® 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP operating systems.
1.6 Two Basic Operating Modes This card can be operated in the following two basic modes: 1. Infrastructure Mode: An 802.11 networking framework in which devices and computers communicate with each other by first going through an Access Point (AP). For example, this mode is used when computers in a house connect to an AP that is attached to a router that lets multiple computers share a single Cable or DSL broadband Internet connection. 2. Ad Hoc Mode: An 802.
Chapter 2 Basic Installation 2.1 Install the Wireless LAN Card 1. 2. Make sure this card is firmly installed in your PC. Turn on your PC and log in the operating system. 2.2 Install the Driver and Software Utility 1. Click “Cancel” to close the Find New Hardware diagram. Insert the packaged CD into your CD-ROM drive. The CD will automatically start to install the driver and utility into your PC. 2. Click “Yes” to proceed the WLAN Utility installation.
3. Click “Finish” and the utility shortcut will appear on your desktop after a little while. Double click this shortcut. 4. For Windows XP users, you will be asked to select the software utility installed or the Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration. This manual instructs the former. (For better usage, please make sure that your Windows XP operating system has been installed Windows XP Service Pack 1a and Windows XP Support Patch for Wi-Fi Protected Access.
5. You will see this card’s system tray icon on the lower right portion of the Windows task bar. 2.3 Uninstall the Driver and Software Utility 1. Open Control Panel.
2. Double click Add or Remove Programs. 3. Select the Wireless LAN Card from the list.
4. Click the Change/Remove button. 5. Select Yes, I want to restart my computer now., and then click Finish.
Chapter 3 Quick Start to Join in a Wireless Network 1. Double click the card’s system tray icon to open the WLAN Configuration Utility. 2. Click the Site Survey tab.
3. This card will auto-select the best wireless network to connect. You can also select one network with strongest signal and no security, and click the Connect button. A Connected icon will appear when the card is linked to the selected network. 4. Refer to Chapter 5 Configuration for more configuration details.
Chapter 4 Software Utility - WLAN Configuration Utility 4.1 Overview • • • • • • Profiles: A set of preset system parameters, or “snapshots”, of the available APs within a wireless network. You can record these “snapshots”. After this card is connected to an AP, you can save the system parameters as these specific profiles. It significantly minimizes access time to the same wireless network while this card is initializing.
• • Encryption: The encryption type adopted by each AP or Ad Hoc station. Network Type: Infrastructure mode or Ad Hoc mode. 4.2.2 Buttons • Add: Define a new profile. Refer to 4.8 Profile. • Delete: Delete a profile. • Edit: Alter an existing profile. • Activate: Connect the card to the selected network. 4.2.3 Icon • Connected: Connection built with this specified network. • Disconnected: Fail to build connection with this specified network. 4.
• dBm format. Noise Level: Current interference level where 0% equals the best connection quality. 4.4 Site Survey Tab 4.4.1 Site Section • SSID: The name of each AP or Ad Hoc station. • • • • • • BSSID: The MAC address of SSID. Signal: Indicate each associated network’s link quality measured in percentage. Channel: Current channel adopted by this network. Encryption: The encryption type adopted by each AP or Ad Hoc station. Authentication: The authentication type adopted by each AP or Ad Hoc station.
4.5 Statistics Tab 4.5.1 Transmit Statistics Section • Frames Transmitted Successfully: The number of successfully transmitted frames. • • • • • Frames Transmitted Successfully without Retry: The number of successfully transmitted frames without any retry. Frames Transmitted Successfully after Retry: The number of successfully transmitted frames with one or more retries. Frames Fail to Receive ACK After all Retries: The number of unsuccessfully transmitted frame with many retries.
4.6 Advance Tab 4.6.1 Drop Menu Section • Wireless mode: Choose 802.11b only mode or 802.11b/g mix mode. • • • Ad Hoc mode: When starting Ad Hoc network, you can specify 802.11b only mode or 802.11b/g mix mode. 802.11b/g Protection: 802.11b uses CCK modulation and 802.11g uses CCK–compatible OFDM modulation. Enable this to prevent the data collision in the concurrent 802.11b/g network. Auto (auto-detect) selection is recommended. Tx Rate: The selected link rate. 4.6.
4.7 About Tab • • • • Utility Version: Version and released date of this card’s utility. Driver Version: Version and released date of this card’s driver. EEPROM Version: Version of this card’s firmware. MAC Address: MAC address of this card.
4.8 Add Profile 4.8.1 Configuration Tab • Profile Name: Specify a name for this profile. • • • • • • • SSID: Specify a network name identified in the wireless network. Power Saving Mode: Select one power save scheme from CAM (Constantly Awake Mode) (No power save option adopted by the card.) and Power Saving Mode (Power Save option adopted by the card). Check Use Constantly Awake Mode when AC Power is used as long as your PC uses external power supply.
4.8.2 Authentication & Security Tab • • • Authentication Type: Select the Authentication type adopted by the network. These types include None, Shared, WPA and WPA-PSK. Disable 802.1X: When the above authentication type is None or Shared, the 802.1X choice is optional. When the above authentication type is WPA, the 802.1X is compulsory. When the above authentication type is WPA-PSK, the 802.1X is not supported. 802.1X Setting: This button is enabled when you choose Open/Shared/WPA authentication types.
23 User Manual for the Wireless LAN Card
• • • Encryption: Select the Encryption type adopted by the network. These types include None, WEP, TKIP and AES. WPA Pre-Shared Key: Input the key when using WPA-PSK authentication.
- ASCII、40bits:5 ASCII letters ASCII、104bits:16 ASCII letters 25 User Manual for the Wireless LAN Card
Chapter 5 Configuration 5.1 Connect to an Access Point in Infrastructure Mode 1. 2. Refer to Chapter 3 Quick Start to Join in a Wireless Network to proceed step 1 ~ 2. Select an AP that is in Infrastructure Mode and click the Connect button. 3. You may need to input security key when the selected AP is adopting wireless security algorithm such as WEP, WPA, etc.
4. If the security key matches, a Connected icon will appear. 5.2 Connect to an Ad Hoc Station 1. 2. Refer to Chapter 3 Quick Start to Join in an Open Wireless Network to proceed step 1 ~ 2. Select a station that is in Ad Hoc mode and click the Connect button.
3. You will need to input the security key when the selected station is adopting wireless security algorithm such as WEP, WPA-PSK, etc. 4. If the security key matches, a Connected icon will appear.
5.3 Start a New Ad Hoc Wireless Network 1. Refer to 4.8 Profile to define a new profile. 2. Assign a Profile Name and its SSID and select Ad Hoc network type.
3. You can use WEP security algorithm and to do so, you will need to define at least a set of 40/104bits security key. 4. Select this profile and click Activate. A new Ad Hoc wireless network starts now.
Chapter 6 Activate the Software AP Function 6.1 Introduction These wireless card and adapter also support Software AP functions. In most cases, wireless PCI Adapter is best suited for this application. It can either be used as a wireless client, or activates the AP function to turn desktop PC into an AP. Additional WLAN SoftAP Configuration Utility facilitates the AP configuration as well as switches the card easily between a Client station and an AP.
3. A new Network Bridge will appear after a while.
Chapter 7 Software Utility - WLAN SoftAP Configuration Utility 7.1 Overview • • • • • • • Config: Configure operation parameters and display extra options. Note that some options are not supported currently. Access Control: Control Client stations’ access rights to this card. WDS: Enable to wirelessly connect other APs to extend current wireless network. MAC Table: Show the MAC address of each connected station. Event Log: Record the card’s current traffic information.
7.2 Config Tab 7.2.1 Config Tab • Wireless Mode: Select 802.11b mode or 802.11b/g mix mode. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • TX Rate: Specify the data transfer rate. In 802.11b mode, the rate varies from 1 - 11Mbps; in 802.11b/g mix mode, the rate varies from 1 - 54Mbps. Channel: Specify the channel. SSID: The specific name of this card in the wireless network. Use MAC Address: Click to use the MAC address of this card to be the SSID. Security: Specify the security settings. Refer to 7.2.2 Security Button.
• • • • • clients. Hide SSID: Click to hide the SSID from broadcasting in a wireless network. Use Short Slot Time when applicable: Click to enhance the maximum transmit power. Auto Channel Selection at next boot: Click to select the best channel at next boot. Default: Reset all settings. Apply: Apply to new settings. 7.2.2 Security Button • • • • Authentication Type: Define an authentication type of a new wireless network. Encryption Type: Define an encryption type of a new wireless network.
7.3 Access Control Tab • • • Wireless Client Access Control Policy: Manage wireless client’s access to this network. MAC Address: Input the MAC address of the wireless client. Apply: After finishing your control policy, remember to click this button to apply to your new settings.
7.4 WDS Tab • • • • WDS control policy: Enable to wirelessly connect other APs to extend a wireless network that results in a so-called WDS (Wireless Distribution System). WDS Key: A key used to communicate among all APs in the WDS. MAC Address: Input the MAC address of other AP. Apply: After finishing your control policy, remember to click this button to apply to your new settings.
7.5 MAC Table Tab • • • MAC ADDRESS: The MAC address of each associated client. AID: The identified code issued to each associated client. POWER SAVING: The power saving status of each associated client. 7.6 Event Log Tab • • Event Time: The recorded time of every event. MESSAGE: The message of every event.
7.7 Statistics Tab 7.7.1 Transmit Statistics Section • Frames Transmitted Successfully: The number of successfully transmitted frames. • Frames Transmitted Successfully without Retry: The number of successfully transmitted frames without any retry. • Frames Transmitted Successfully after Retry: The number of successfully transmitted frames with one or more retries. • Frames Fail to Receive ACK After all Retries: The number of unsuccessfully transmitted frame with many retries.
7.8 About Tab • • • WLAN SoftAP Configuration Utility: Version and released date of the SoftAP utility. NIC Driver: Version and released date of this card’s driver. MAC Address: MAC address of the card.
Chapter 8 Troubleshooting 1. Question: The product literature says this Wireless LAN Card can operate at 54 Mbps. Why do I see no more than 11 Mbps speed on my WLAN Configuration Utility status? Answer: While you are connecting to an 802.11b network, the maximum 802.11b speed is 11Mbps. Moreover, the wireless connection quality between this card and other stations will be limited to the space layout and thus the connection speed can’t reach to 54Mbps. 2.