AirVast Technology WN113SH18 802.11b WLAN PCMCIA Card W/Detachable Antenna User Manual

AirVast Technology Inc. 802.11b WLAN PCMCIA Card W/Detachable Antenna

Contents

User Manual

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User Manual
Version 1.0
No part of this documentation may be reproduced in any form or by any means or used to make any
derivative work (such as translation, transformation, or adaptation) without written permission from
the copyright owner.
All the other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Statement of Conditions
We may make improvements or changes in the product described in this documentation at any time. The
information regarding to the product in this manual are subject to change without notice.
We assume no responsibility for errors contained herein or for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or
consequential damages with the furnishing, performance, or use of this manual or equipment supplied with it,
even if the suppliers have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Electronic Emission Notices
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference.
(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
FCC INFORMATION
The Federal Communication Commission Radio Frequency Interference Statement includes the following
paragraph:
The 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. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction, may cause harmful interference to
radio communicat ion. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to overcome the interference by one or more of
the following measures:
--Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
--Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
--Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
--Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
The equipment is for home or office use.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Following RF exposure info shall be supplied in end-users manual depends on the application.
For mobile configuration of RF Exposure Information:
To comply with FCC RF exposure compliance requirements, this grant is applicable to only Mobile
Configurations. The antennas used for this transmitter must be installed to provide a separation distance of at
least 20 cm from all persons and must not be co-located or operating in
conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter
For Laptop Configuration of RF Exposure information:
This device has been tested for compliance with FCC RF Exposure (SAR) limits in the typical laptop computer
configuration and this device can be used in desktop or laptop computers with side mounted PCMCIA slots.
This device cannot be used with handheld PDAs (personal digital assistants).
This device and its antenna must not be co-located or operated in conjunction with any other antenna or
transmitter.
Caution: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void
the user's authority to operate the equipment.
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R&TTE Compliance Statement
This equipment complies with all the requirements of the Directive 1999/5/EC of the European parliament and
the council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunication terminal Equipment and the mutual
recognition of their conformity(R&TTE).
The R&TTE Directive repeals and replaces in the directive 98/13/EEC. As of April 8, 2000.
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INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................1
1.1 FEAT URES ..................................................................................................................................1
1.2 PRODUCT PACKAGE..................................................................................................................1
1.3 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.........................................................................................................2
INSTALLATION ..................................................................................................................................3
2.1 INSTALLATION PROCEDURES..................................................................................................3
2.2 INSTALLATION NOTES- WINDOWS XP ....................................................................................6
2.3 VERIFYING A SUCCESSFUL INSTALLATION...........................................................................8
CONFIGURATION FOR WINDOWS XP .......................................................................................... 10
3.1 TO CONNECT AN AVAILABLE NETWORK VIA WIRELESS ZERO CONFIGURATION...........10
3.2 TO CONFIGURE THE WIRELESS NETWORKS PROPERTIES..................................................11
3.3 TO ACCESS TO CERTAIN WIRELESS NETWORK TYPE.........................................................14
WIRELESS 11M bps CONFIGURATION TOOL BASICS.................................................................16
4.1 TRAY ICON ...............................................................................................................................16
4.2 RIGHT-CLICK MENU OF THE TRAY ICON..............................................................................16
Wireless Radio On.......................................................................................... 17
Wireless Radio Off.......................................................................................... 17
Remove Status Icon....................................................................................... 17
Wireless Network Status ................................................................................. 17
Advanced Configuration .................................................................................. 18
WEP Encryption............................................................................................. 18
Version Information ....................................................................................... 18
4.3 THE CONFIGURATION TOOL FUNCTION...............................................................................18
The Status Tab.............................................................................................. 19
The Configuration Tab .................................................................................... 20
The Encryption Tab ........................................................................................ 22
The Site Survey Tab....................................................................................... 23
The About Tab............................................................................................... 24
TROUBLESHOOTING....................................................................................................................... 26
DISABLE THE 802.11b WIRELESS LAN P3 PCMCIA CARD ..........................................................26
UNINSTALL 802.11b WIRELESS LAN P3 PCMCIA CARD.............................................................26
THE 802.11b WLAN P3 PCMCIA CARD DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY........................................28
APPENDIX A: SPECIFICATIONS..................................................................................................... 29
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FIGURE 2.1-1: THE FOUND NEW HARDWARE WIZARD DIALOG BOX ......................................................................3
FIGURE 2.1-2: THE STARTUP WINDOW OF THE SUPPLIED CD-ROM .............................................................................4
FIGURE 2.1-3: THE WELCOME TO THE INSTALLSHIELD WIZARD DIALOG BOX ..............................................4
FIGURE 2.1-4: THE WA RNING MESSAGE BOX SENT BY WINDOWS XP SYSTEM .....................................................5
FIGURE 2.1-5: THE INSTALL FINISHED DIALOG BOX........................................................................................................5
FIGURE 2.1-6: THE MESSAGE BOX OF INSERT DISK IN WINDOWS 98 SYSTEM .....................................................6
FIGURE 2.2-1: THE WIRELESS 11MBPS CONFIGURATION TOOL TRAY ICON .......................................................6
FIGURE 2.2-2: THE PRISM WIRELESS SETTINGS DIALOG BOX ...................................................................................7
FIGURE 2.2-3: THE WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTION STATUS DIALOG BOX................................................7
FIGURE 2.2-4: THE WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTION PROPERTIES DIALOG BOX ....................................8
FIGURE 2.3-1: THE DEVICE MANAGER DIALOG BOX.......................................................................................................9
FIGURE 3-1: THE WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTION ICON ........................................................................................10
FIGURE 3.1-1: THE CONNECT TO WIRELESS NETWORK DIALOG BOX.................................................................10
FIGURE 3.2-1: THE CONNECT TO WIRELESS NETWORK DIALOG BOX.................................................................11
FIGURE 3.2-2: THE WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTION PROPERTIES DIALOG BOX ..................................11
FIGURE 3.2-3: THE WIRELESS NETWORK PROPERTIES DIALOG BOX..................................................................12
FIGURE 3.2-4: ENTERING WEP KEYS ........................................................................................................................................13
FIGURE 3.2-5: SETTING UP WIRELESS NETWORK CONFIGURATION.........................................................................14
FIGURE 3.3-1 THE ADVANCED DIALOG BOX: ......................................................................................................................14
FIGURE 4.2-1: RIGHT-CLICK MENU OF THE TRAY ICON ..................................................................................................17
FIGURE 4.2-2: THE REMOVE WIRELESS STATUS ICON DIALOG BOX ....................................................................17
FIGURE 4.3-1: THE PRISM WIRELESS SETTINGS DIALOG BOX .................................................................................18
FIGURE 4.3-2: THE STATUS TAB..................................................................................................................................................19
FIGURE 4.3-3: THE CONFIGURATION TAB............................................................................................................................20
FIGURE 4.3-4: THE ENCRYPTION TAB.....................................................................................................................................22
FIGURE 4.3-5: THE SITE SURVEY TAB.....................................................................................................................................24
FIGURE 4.3-6: THE ABOUT TAB..................................................................................................................................................24
FIGURE 5-1: THE PATH OF UNINSTALL 11MBPS WIRELESS LAN...............................................................................26
FIGURE 5-2: THE WELCOME WINDOW ..................................................................................................................................27
FIGURE 5-3: THE REMOVAL WARNING MESSAGE BOX ....................................................................................................27
FIGURE 5-4: THE MAINTENANCE COMPLETE SCREEN ................................................................................................28
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The 802.11b Wireless LAN P3 PCMCIA Card aims to let your computer quickly and seamlessly
communicate with 802.11b (at up to 11 Mbps) networks. It allows you to configure the Wireless LAN
as both independent networks known as peer-to-peer or ad-hoc network, and infrastructure
networks. The former is suitable for small or temporary peer-to-peer networking requirement, and
the later is offering fully distributed data connectivity via micro cells and roaming. In addition, the
detachable antenna design allows the Card to apply more applications.
To obtain most benefits your 802.11b Wireless LAN P3 PCMCIA Card brings, please read this
manual carefully before using it.
1.1 Features
This 802.11b WLAN P3 PCMCIA Card allows you to remove the antenna simply by pulling it back or
push it in as the picture below.
With 802.11b WLAN P3 PCMCIA Card, you can:
¨ establish a wireless connection without the hassles and cost of cabling
¨ operate Ad-Hoc or Infrastructure mode
¨ utilize up to 128-bit WEP and WPA encryption
¨ enjoy high-speed data transfer rate up to 11 Mbps
¨ employ automatic data rate switching which offers maximum reliability, throughput and
connectivity
¨ possess the network’s range up to 100 meters indoor and 300 meters outdoor (standard)
¨ monitor and configure the network via the supplied friendly-interfaced application –
Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool
1.2 Product Package
Before starting the installation, please make sure the package you purchased includes the following
items:
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1. One Wireless LAN P3 PCMCIA Card with Detachable Antenna.
2. One Quick Installation Guide
3. One Setup Wizard CD-ROM with User Manual
In order to let the device function properly, please use only the accessories attached with the device
package. If any of these accessories were missing or damaged, please contact your distributor.
1.3 System Requirements
To properly operate your Card, your computer should meet the following minimum requirements:
¨ Microsoft Windows 98/98 Second Edition/Me/2000 or Windows XP
¨ Minimum 5 Mbytes free disk space for installing the driver and the utility program
¨ 32 MB RAM or above
¨ A CD-ROM drive
¨ 300 MHz processor or higher
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This chapter describes the steps to install the required drivers and the Wireless 11Mbps
Configuration Tool for properly operating the 802.11b Wireless LAN P3 PCMCIA Card on your
computer. Please follow the steps listed below carefully to assure a successful installation.
2.1 Installation Procedures
a) Insert the 802.11b Wireless LAN P3 PCMCIA Card to your computer’s PCMCIA slot.
b) The Found New Hardware message box will appear once the system detected the insertion
of the Card. Click Cancel to ignore it.
Figure 2.1-1: The Found New Hardware Wizard Dialog Box
c) Put the supplied CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive, and the startup window will appear
automatically. If it does not, double click the Autorun.exe icon in the CD’s directory to awake
the Setup Wizard manually.
d) In the startup window, click Install Driver to start the installation.
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Figure 2.1-2: The Startup Window of the Supplied CD-ROM
e) Click Next in the Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard dialog box to continue. And the
system will start to copy the drivers found.
Figure 2.1-3: The Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard dialog box
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f) Windows system may send out a warning message box as the picture below. Because the
device has been tested to work with Windows system without problem, click Continue
Anyway to ignore it.
Figure 2.1-4: The Warning Message Box Sent by Windows XP System
g) On the Install Finished screen, click Finish to complete the installation. Note that when you
are running Win98/98SE/ME, the computer will be restarted automatically after you click the
Finish button.
Figure 2.1-5: The Install Finished Dialog Box
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Note: For Win 98 users, the system will ask for Windows 98 CD-ROM after rebooting. Please replace the
supplied CD with the required one and click OK to proceed.
Figure 2.1-6: The Message Box of Insert Disk in Windows 98 System
h) Then, you shall see the status icon of the Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool appeared in
the system tray, and the installation is entirely finished at the moment.
To set configurations for the network connection, double-click the Wireless 11Mbps Configuration
Tool icon, which should be displayed on your desktop already. For more details about the
application program, please refer to the Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool Basics chapter in
this manual.
2.2 Installation Notes- Windows XP
If your current system is running Windows XP, you shall find that two tabs are contained in the PRISM
Wireless Settings dialog box after you’ve followed the instructions above and successfully installed
the drivers. However, normally, the dialog box should be consisted of five tabs. This is because
Windows XP has its built-in configuration tool – Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration Service
to assist you in networking activities. It is recommended to utilize the attached Wireless 11Mbps
Configuration Tool to enjoy more benefits it will bring. Thus, to employ your Wireless 11Mbps
Configuration Tool under Windows XP, please proceed to the next steps to change the default
settings of Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration Service to Wireless 11Mbps Configuration
Tool.
Figure 2.2-1: The Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool Tray Icon
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Figure 2.2-2: The PRISM Wireless Settings Dialog Box
a) Right-click the Network Connections icon at the task bar to open the Wireless Network
Connection Status dialog box, and then select Properties.
Figure 2.2-3: The Wireless Network Connection Status Dialog Box
b) Choose the Wireless Networks tab in the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog
box, and remove the tick from the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings
checkbox.
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Figure 2.2-4: The Wireless Network Connection Properties Dialog Box
c) Click OK. Now, you have successfully disabled the Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration
Service.
To monitor and configure the network via Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool, double-click its
tray icon, and you shall find five tabs contained in the popped up PRISM Wireless Settings dialog
box this time. For more information on Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool, please refer to
Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool Basics below.
Note: If you wish to use Windows XP’s built-in configuration tool – Windows XP Wireless Zero
Configuration Service, please refer to the next chapter for basic configuration through Wireless Zero
Configuration Service.
2.3 Verifying a Successful Installation
To confirm that your 802.11b WLAN P3 PCMCIA Card is properly installed, please go along with the
procedures below.
1. Right-click the My Computer desktop icon and choose Properties from the opened
menu.
2. In the System Properties dialog box, choose Device Manager if you are under Windows
98/98SE/ME. If you are operating Windows 2000/XP, click the Hardware tab, and then
choose the Device Manager button.
3. In the opened window, expand Network adapters to find the input device – WLAN
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IEEE802.11b PRISM3 PCMCIA Card. Right-click over the item and choose Properties.
4. From the opened dialog box, on the General tab, find the descriptions under the Device
Status pane to check if the card is working properly. However, if there’s an error message
shown, please choose Uninstall from the opened menu while right-clicking over the USB
Adapter item, to which a red or yellow icon is attached beside, in the Device Manager
dialog box. Then restart your system and go through the installation procedures again.
The following picture indicates a successful installation of the 802.11b Wireless LAN P3 PCMCIA
Card.
Figure 2.3-1: The Device Manager Dialog Box
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As known from previous chapter, Windows XP has its built-in configuration tool – Windows XP
Wireless Zero Configuration Service, to assist you in some basic configurations of wireless
network connection. It activate automatically right after the completion of the installation of 802.11b
Wireless LAN P3 PCMCIA Card, and you will find the Wireless Network Connection icon appears
in your system tray as the picture below.
Figure 3-1: The Wireless Network Connection Icon
Please refer to the desired topics here to know more details about how to operate your 802.11b
Wireless LAN P3 PCMCIA Card via Wireless Zero Configuration Service.
3.1 To Connect an Available Network via Wireless Zero Configuration
1. Double-click the Wireless Network Connection icon.
2. In the opened Connect to Wireless Network dialog box, the currently available networks
are listed in the Available networks field. From the list, choose an item that you intend to
make an association.
3. If the chosen entry requires a WEP encryption key and also automatically provides it,
leave the Network Key field blank and then choose the Connect button to build the
connection. Otherwise, you will need to manually enter the identical key in the Network
Key field before clicking Connect.
Figure 3.1-1: The Connect to Wireless Network Dialog Box
4. If the connection is established, there will be a pop-up message shown beside the
Wireless Network Connection icon on the system tray. You could obtain the information
on the status of connection from the message.
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3.2 To Configure the Wireless Networks Properties
If you cannot establish a connection with the chosen entry or you wish to configure further wireless
network connection settings, choose the Advanced button in the Connect to Wireless Network
dialogue box.
Figure 3.2-1: The Connect to Wireless Network Dialog Box
After clicking Advanced, you will enter into the Wireless Networks tab of the Wireless Network
Connection Properties dialog box, in which three other tabs are found, including General,
Authentication, and Advanced. The Wireless Networks tab includes the most main settings for
the networking connection. Thus, please check the descriptions below to learn more about the tab.
Figure 3.2-2: The Wireless Network Connection Properties Dialog Box
Note: For more detailed information about each tab, please refer to the Windows XP Online-Help.
The Wireless Networks tab is chiefly consisted of two sections: Available networks and Preferred
networks.
¨ Under the Available networks area, all the available access points or Wireless LAN PC Card
equipped computers are displayed. You may wish to click Refresh to update the list. If you
choose any listed item in the field and then click Configure, the Wireless Network Properties
dialog box will appear as Figure 3-5 shows. Check the description below the figure to obtain
more information about the dialog box.
¨ In the Preferred networks area, you could add any displayed networks to the list by clicking
over the intended item from Available networks and then selecting the Add button. After
clicking Add, the Wireless Network Properties dialog box will appear as Figure 3-5 displays.
Note that to delete any item under the Preferred networks area, simply click on it and then
select the Remove button. Additionally, you may adjust the items in the list by clicking the
desired item and then choosing the Move up or Move down button. It is, however, important to
realize that Windows XP will always choose the first one in the list to establish the networking
connection.
Figure 3.2-3: The Wireless Network Properties Dialog Box
Note: Once you choose an item from the Preferred networks list and then click Properties, the Wireless
Network Properties will also be provoked.
¨ In the opened Wireless Network Properties dialog box, edit texts in the Network Name
(SSID) field to identify the chosen network entry in the wireless LAN.
¨ If there’s a need, go to the Wireless network key (WEP) area below to set the keys as the
associated access point or Wireless LAN PC Card equipped computer requests. To set WEP,
select Data encryption (WEP enabled) and Network Authentication. Then enter the
encryption keys for the network you intend to connect in the Network Key field. Meanwhile, the
Key format and Key length options change the settings according to Network Key string you
just typed. Click OK when you are finished, and you will return to the Wireless Network
Connection Properties dialog box.
Figure 3.2-4: Entering WEP Keys
Note: For more details of this tab, you may click the link: setting up wireless network configuration at the
bottom of the Wireless networks tab to launch the Windows XP Online-Help.
Figure 3.2-5: Setting up Wireless Network Configuration
3.3 To Access to Certain Wireless Network Type
The default network type of Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration Service is any available
access points (Access Point mode) or WLAN Card equipped computers (Ad-Hoc mode) within the
range at the given time. However, you may wish to connect to a certain network type sometimes. To
change the default settings, click Advanced button in the Wireless Networks tab of the Wireless
Network Connection Properties dialog box.
Figure 3.3-1 The Advanced Dialog Box:
The Advanced dialog box provides three options, Any available network, Access point networks
only, and Computer-to-computer networks only. Choose one of them according to your need
and click Close to finish. Then you will find under the Available networks area in the Wireless
Network Connection Properties dialog box, only the specified networks are displayed.
Note: If you wish to use the attached application – Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool of the WLAN
IEEE802.11b PRISM3 PCMCIA Card instead of Windows XP’s Wireless Zero Configuration, please refer to
2.2 Installation Notes –Windows XP in this manual to change the settings.
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Once you insert the card, it will operate with the factory default settings. However, you may
configure the desired settings by double-clicking the Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool icon, ,
on the system tray. Then in the opened PRISM Wireless Settings dialog box, in which five tabs are
contained, including Status, Configuration, Encryption, Site Survey, and About. Each of them
proffers different functions to assist you in configuring the networking.
In this chapter, three topics are offered: Tray Icon, Right-Click Menu of the Tray Icon, and The
Configuration Tool Function. Please refer to the preferred topic to obtain more information and enjoy
vast advantages Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool brings.
4.1 Tray Icon
As long as you finish installing Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool on your computer system,
you will see the Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool icon, , shown at the right bottom corner of
your screen. When you move the mouse cursor over it, the information on the current link quality is
provided in the tips.
Furthermore, the color of the icon varies with the current state of your network connection. Check
the list below to learn the definition of each color.
Icon Quality
Excellent Link Quality
Data Frame Errors – Check WEP Settings
Fair Link Quality
Poor Link Quality or Not Linked
Radio Off
Note: The blue icon indicates that you might have entered incorrect WEP keys. To solve the problems,
choose the Configuration tab in the PRISM Wireless Settings dialog box to correct the keys for encryption.
4.2 Right-Click Menu of the Tray Icon
Right-clicking the Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool icon, , in the system tray will open a
menu as the following picture:
Figure 4.2-1: Right -Click Menu of the Tray Icon
Check the descriptions below to obtain detailed information about each command in the menu.
Wireless Radio On
Choose the Wireless Radio On command to receive the radio frequency signal.
Wireless Radio Off
Choosing the Wireless Radio Off command will stop receiving the radio frequency signal.
Remove Status Icon
If you do not wish to have the Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool icon displayed in the system
tray, choose this command to open the Remove Wireless Status Icon dialog box, and then choose
Yes to have the icon disappeared. The icon will reappear next time when you restart the computer. If
you intend to remove it permanently, put a tick in the checkbox next to the Remove Status Icon
Permanently option. To launch the utility hereafter, click Start on the taskbar, choose Program from
the menu, and then point to Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool from the submenu of 11Mbps
Wireless LAN. Clicking No will undo the removal.
Figure 4.2-2: The Remove Wireless Status Icon Dialog Box
Wireless Network Status
Choose this command to launch the Status tab of the PRISM Wireless Settings dialog box. For
more details about the tab, please refer to The Status Tab in The Utility Function section below.
Advanced Configuration
Choose this command to launch the Configuration tab of the PRISM Wireless Settings dialog box.
Please refer to The Configuration Tab in The Utility Function section below to gain more
information about the tab.
WEP Encryption
Choose this command to launch the Encryption tab of the PRISM Wireless Settings dialog box.
This tab offers you various options to maintain the secure management in a wireless LAN
environment. See the explanations in The Encryption Tab of The Utility Function section below
for more details.
Version Information
Choosing this command will launch the About tab of the PRISM Wireless Settings dialog box. The
About tab reveals general information on your 802.11b WLAN P3 PCMCIA Card, including the
release version of driver and the Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool and the card’s MAC
Address.
4.3 The Configuration Tool Function
When you double-click the Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool tray icon, the PRISM Wireless
Settings dialog box will be prompted as the picture shown below. The application is a
window-based program, which is consisted of five tabs, including Status, Configuration,
Encryption, Site Survey, and About.
Figure 4.3-1: The PRISM Wireless Settings Dialog Box
Check the desired items below to obtain more details about these tabs.
The Status Tab
In the PRISM Wireless Settings dialog box, click the Status tab, and you will see the following
display. Here presents the status of your current connection. To close the window, click OK.
Note: Choosing the Wireless Network Status command from the right-click menu of Wireless 11Mbps
Configuration Tool tray icon will launch this tab too.
Figure 4.3-2: The Status Tab
Note: The texts before ”PRISM Wireless Settings” in the caption bar of the dialog box is the profile name of
the current connection. Thus, the caption contexts vary according to the connectivity at the given time. From
the above picture, the associated profile is named “Default”.
From the window, the general information on the status of currently connected entry is presented.
You may want to click the Rescan button to reinitiate the scanning process and update the status.
Later the result of scanning will be renewed and displayed in the window. If you wish to stop the
networking connection, click the Disable Radio button to stop scanning. However, if you are already
in the disabled radio mode, you will find the Enable Radio button here instead. Click Enable Radio
to regain the link then.
State
Here displays the MAC Address of the current associated entry, which could be a connected
access point in the Infrastructure mode or computers joining in the Ad-Hoc network.
Current Tx Rate
This feature indicates the transmission rate of the current connection.
Current Channel
Here reveals the current channel operated in the wireless network. Note that the channel number
differs as the radio scans any available channels in the Infrastructure mode.
Throughput (bytes/sec)
This feature indicates the rates of transmitting (Tx) and receiving (Rx) data package of your
WLAN P3 PCMCIA Card within a short period of time; thus, the values vary on a time basis.
Link Quality
Link Quality is based on the percentage of successfully transmitted or received signal of the
associated access point beacon within a limited period. The higher the percentage, the better the
link quality. The bar graph beside also provides a visual interpretation of the current link quality. It
is noted that the Link Quality and Signal Strength features only apply to the Infrastructure mode.
They are inapplicable in the Ad-Hoc mode since data will be transferred from many different
computers.
Signal Strength
You may learn the received signal strength of the baseband processor of the beacon signal from
the Signal Strength bar beside, and it’s also presented in terms of percentage. As the signal gets
stronger, the signal percentage rate gets higher. It is noted that the Signal Strength and Link
Quality features only apply to the Infrastructure mode. They are inapplicable in the Ad-Hoc mode
since data will be transferred from many different computers.
The Configuration Tab
Click this tab to edit different profiles for different network configurations. When finish changing the
settings, please click Apply to perform the new configuration at last.
Note: Choosing the Advanced Configuration command from the right-click menu of Wireless 11Mbps
Configuration Tool tray icon will launch this tab too.
Figure 4.3-3: The Configuration Tab
Profile Name
Enter texts in the Profile Name field to identify a new profile. After defining the configurations
below, click the Apply button to establish the profile. To switch between any existing profiles,
simply click the arrow button at the right of the Profile Name field to open the pull-down menu and
then select the intended one from it.
Note: You will have at least one profile named ANY, which allows a link with an Access Point or a Wireless
LAN PC Card equipped computer at the given time. When you click the Defaults button under the tab, a
profile of the current connection is created.
Network Name
Network Name, also known as SSID (Service Set Identifier), must be unique to distinguish itself
as a particular wireless network, while all wireless points in this network area share the same
SSID. Type the identical SSID in the Network Name field to associate with access points or
stations within the specified wireless LAN. To change the Network Name , highlight the name in
the box, edit a new SSID, and then click Apply to save the changes.
Network Type
Two network types are offered here: Access Point and Peer-to-Peer. Choose the intended type
from the two options. The Access Point mode, which is also known as the Infrastructure mode,
allows you to communicate with a wired network via an access point. If you attempt to operate this
mode, you must indicate the identical Network Name to make a communication with the intended
access point. On the other hand, the Peer-to-Peer mode provides you with the so-called Ad-Hoc
communication, which means each wireless-equipped computers within a group is able to
connect with each other as an independent wireless LAN without the use of an access point. Each
station within this Ad-Hoc network has to define the same Network Name .
Peer-to-Peer Channel
This command is only available while you are operating the Peer-to-Peer mode, the so-called
Ad-Hoc mode. Specify the operating radio frequency channel from the pull-down menu if you are
the creator of the wireless network. If you are the joiner, just configure the SSID and click Apply.
Note that the available channels differ from country to country, and the channel number must be
the same between the entries/stations within the range, so that each can communicate with each
other. While in the Access Point mode, the channel number would be the same as the
associated access point. Thus, there’s no need to manually set up the value.
Transmit Rate
This command allows you to indicate the rate of transferring the data packet from the associated
access point or any nodes within the range. There are four options for you: Auto 1 or 2 Mb, 5.5
Mb, 11 Mb, and Fully Automatic. Specify the rate from the provided options according to the
speed of your wireless network, or you may simply choose Fully Automatic to set the best
available rate according to the received signal quality and the capabilities of the associated
access point or station.
The Encryption Tab
Click the Encryption tab to define the encryption settings for a specific profile. It offers you various
options concerning the so-called WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) to maintain the secure
management in a wireless LAN environment. See the explanations below for more details, and
before making an activation of any new settings, click Apply. To leave the window, click OK. To
undo the new settings, select the Cancel button.
Note: Choosing the WEP Encryption command from the right-click menu of Wireless 11Mbps Configuration
Tool tray icon will launch this tab too.
Figure 4.3-4: The Encryption Tab
Note: The 802.11b Wireless LAN P3 PCMCIA Card has been built to support the WPA (Wi-Fi Protected
Access) encryption standard.
Encryption (WEP security)
If you choose Disabled from the pull-down list, you will have the wireless LAN PCMCIA card
communicated with all stations within the same networking community without any data
encryption. Otherwise, two key lengths are offered: 64 bit and 128 bit. Specify a preferred one
from the two, so that you may use the identical WEP key to make a communication with the
chosen access point.
Create Keys Manually
Once you set the Encryption type as 64 bit or 128 bit, you may choose to edit WEP keys
manually or create them via the passphrase of your wireless network. If you choose the Create
Key Manually option, you may directly enter up to 4 WEP keys for use in WEP encryption. To
generate the WEP keys, please define the key entry method as Alphanumeric or Hexadecimal
(for hexadecimal characters, only digits 0-9 and letters A-F are valid). Then edit the texts in the
blank fields below, from Key 1 to Key 4, as the encryption codes. Note that these codes/keys
shall be identical between the wireless nodes within the range and the access point only. Check
the table below to find valid key length of each encryption type:
64 bit 128 bit
Alphanumeric
5 characters 13 characters
Hexadecimal
10 digits 26 digits
Use WEP Key
Indicate which WEP key you intend to apply to activate the WEP encryption from the pull-down
menu. Make sure that the intended access point on the wireless network shares the same keys.
By default, Key 1 will be used.
Create Keys with Passphrase
Choose this command when the associated wireless network uses a passphrase to create WEP
keys. Enter the passphrase string in the Passphrase filed to generate four encryption keys in the
Key fields above. Note that only letters A-F are valid for the Passphrase feature.
After finish configuring the Encryption features, remember to click the Apply button to initiate the
new settings.
The Site Survey Tab
Choose this tab to learn the general information on the status of current scan lines, including BSSID,
SSID, signal strength, the channel number, WEP type, and network type. You may want to select the
Rescan button to reinitiate the scanning process and update the list. Later the result of scanning will
be renewed and displayed afterwards.
In addition, if you double-click any of the displayed entries, you may directly make an association
with it, and you will be led to the Status tab then.
Figure 4.3-5: The Site Survey Tab
The About Tab
This tab reveals general information on your 802.11b WLAN P3 PCMCIA Card, including the
following items:
Figure 4.3-6: The About Tab
Network Driver
Displays the current version and released date of the 802.11b WLAN P3 PCMCIA Card’s driver.
Configuration Utility
Displays the current version and released date of the PRISM Configuration Utility application.
NIC Firmware
Displays the current NIC card firmware version and the MAC (Media Access Control) address of
your wireless card. It is consisted of 12-digit hexadecimal numbers (48 bits in length) to identify
your computer's physical address on the local area network.
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This section provides solutions to problems that you might encounter during the installation and
operation of your 802.11b WLAN P3 PCMCIA Card. Please refer to the desired topics below and
read the descriptions to solve your problems.
Disable the 802.11b Wireless LAN P3 PCMCIA Card
Supposed you do not need the 802.11b WLAN P3 PCMCIA Card to establish the wireless
connectivity for any reason, you can directly unplug and remove your 802.11b Wireless LAN P3
PCMCIA Card from the PCMCIA slot on your computer, or click Disable Radio on the Status tab of
the PRISM Wireless Settings dialog box. Once the device is removed, the connection to the
network stops. Thus, be sure that you have closed all the network applications before processing
the removal.
Uninstall 802.11b Wireless LAN P3 PCMCIA Card
Prior to starting uninstalling, please make sure that the utility is closed, and then go along with the
procedures below to entirely uninstall Wireless 11Mbps Configuration Tool and the card’s driver.
1. Click Start on the taskbar and then select Programs.
2. From the Programs menu, find 11Mbps Wireless LAN, and then choose Wireless LAN
11Mbps Uninstall from the submenu.
Figure 5-1: The Path of Wireless LAN 11Mbps Uninstall
3. Choose Remove in the Welcome window and click Next to proceed.
Figure 5-2: The Welcome Window
4. Click Yes to confirm the removal.
Figure 5-3: The Removal Warning Message Box
5. In the Maintenance Complete screen, click Finish to complete the task.
Figure 5-4: The Maintenance Complete screen
The 802.11b WLAN P3 PCMCIA Card Does Not Work Properly
If this happens, follow the guidelines below.
¨ Unplug and replug the 802.11b WLAN P3 PCMCIA Card into your PC’s PCMCIA slot.
¨ Right-click the My Computer desktop icon and choose Properties to open the System
Properties dialog box. If you are under Windows 98/Me, choose the Device Manager tab,
or if your system is Windows 2000/XP, click the Hardware tab, and then choose the
Device Manager button. In the opened window, find your PCMCIA Card to see if the
installation is successful. If you see a yellow exclamation mark beside the item, please go
along with the steps below to reinstall the drivers:
1. Uninstall the software and hardware drivers from your PC. (Please refer to the previous topic for
details)
2. Restart your computer and repeat the installation procedures as indicated in Chapter 2:
Installation.
3. When finished, open the Device Manager window again to verify if the installation is approved.
The yellow exclamation mark shall be disappeared this time.
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Product Name 802.11b WLAN P3 Detachable Antenna PCMCIA Card
Host Interface PCMCIA PC Card PRISM 3.0
Dimensions 111.3 x 54 x 5 mm
Weight 36g
Frequency Band 2.400 ~ 2.4835GHz (subject to local regulations)
Number of Channel 11 channels (US, Canada); 13 channels (ETSI); 4 channels (France);
channels (Japan)
Operating Voltage 3.3V ± 5%
Current Consumption Normal Model: Typ. 260mA, Max. 350mA
High Power Model: Typ. 280mA, Max. 350mA
Spreading DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum)
Data Rate 11Mbps, 5.5Mbps, 2Mbps, 1Mbps
Transmit Power Normal Model: 18±1 dBm @ Nominal Temp Range
Receive Sensitivity Nominal Temp Range: 11 Mbps @ -84 dBm, Typical
Modulation 11Mbps and 5.5Mbps CCK; 2Mbps: DQPSK;1Mbps: DBPSK;
Security 64 bit WEP Encryption (Optional: 128 bit)
Antenna Support External Antenna (MMCX Conn. is optional)
Supplied Driver Windows 95/98/98SE/2K/ME/NT4.0/XP, Linux.
Standards IEEE 802.11b, Wi-Fi compliant
Media Access Protocol
CSMA/CA with ACK
Warranty 1 year
Temperature Range 0~55°C (Operating), -20~70°C (Storage)
Humidity Max. 95% Non -condensing
Operating Range Open Space: 100 – 300m; Indoor: 30m – 100m
The transmission speed varies in the surrounding environment.
Roaming Full mobility and seamless roaming from cell to cell and across access
points
Network Protocol TCP/IP, IPX, NetBEUI
Management Utility Link Configuration for network join and diagnos tics
EMC Certification FCC 、CE
Packaging Customer Define
CIS Customer Define

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