User's Manual

Introduction
Congratulations on choosing an outstanding wireless networking product, and thank you for
taking the time to read this user’s guide.
About the NWH3050
Your NWH3050 802.11g+ MiniPCI Module has standards-based and enhanced features.
Standards-based features: The adapter conforms fully to Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) standards 802.11b and 802.11g. IEEE 802.11b-compliant products form the
heart of wireless local-area networks (WLANs) all over the world, including “hotspots” in many
public areas. Using your adapter, you can connect wirelessly wherever you have the permission
of the network operator to do so. It does not matter what brand or brands of wireless networking
equipment the network is built on. IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g are worldwide standards.
IEEE 802.11b allows communication speeds up to 11 megabits per second (Mbps), transmission
ranges (depending on electromagnetic conditions) up to tens of meters (yards) indoors and
hundreds of meters outdoors (or more, at lower communication speeds), and, for security, Wired
Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption using a digital “key” 64 or 128 bits long. IEEE 802.11g
allows communication speeds up to 54 Mpbs.
Enhanced features: Your adapter has several capabilities not present in IEEE 802.11b-only or
802.11g-only devices:
• 4X mode. This allows the packets exchanged between devices to be longer, reducing
overhead and increasing throughput.
• 256-bit WEP encryption. This greatly increases network security, as a longer key is
many times harder to “crack.”
These capabilities can be used on wireless links to products in the same family as your adapter.
The adapter can automatically detect when 4X mode can be used; you can also control its use
through the software included with the adapter.
About this Guide
This guide contains detailed instructions on installing and using your adapter and the software
included with it. Basic terms and concepts of wireless networking are also introduced. Follow the
instructions in this guide carefully to ensure that your adapter will give you many years of
trouble-free, high-performance operation.
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