Askey Computer DPW700 WLAN PCMCIA Card User Manual DPW700
Askey Computer Corp WLAN PCMCIA Card DPW700
User manual
Wireless LAN Card
User’s Manual
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2002 All rights reserved.
I
Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 1
Wireless LAN Basics ................................................................................................................................................... 2
Local Area Network (LAN)........................................................................................................................................................2
Ad Hoc Network ........................................................................................................................................................................2
Infrastructure Network..............................................................................................................................................................3
Roaming ....................................................................................................................................................................................3
Chapter 2 Installing the Wireless LAN Card ............................................................................................................. 4
System Requirements................................................................................................................................................. 5
Wireless LAN Card Status LEDs................................................................................................................................. 5
The Antenna on the Wireless LAN Card (Only for Wireless LAN USB Card)............................................................. 6
Installing the Wireless LAN Card Software ................................................................................................................. 6
Installing the Hardware and Driver............................................................................................................................ 12
Windows 98(SE)/Me/2000.......................................................................................................................................................12
Windows NT4.0 (For Wireless LAN PCMCIA Card Only) .....................................................................................................14
Windows XP ............................................................................................................................................................................18
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility ....................................................................................................... 21
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PART I. Wireless LAN Card Monitor Utility for Win98\98SE\Me\2000\NT.............................................................. 21
Wireless LAN Cards Monitor.................................................................................................................................... 21
Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility........................................................................................................................... 22
Status ........................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Connecting to Other Wireless LAN Cards (Ad-Hoc Mode) ....................................................................................................23
Connecting to Access Points (Infrastructure Mode) ...............................................................................................................25
Checking Link Quality (Infrastructure Mode Only) .................................................................................................... 27
Statistics .................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Site Survey ................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Connecting to Desired Site By Site Survey Utility...................................................................................................................30
Encryption ................................................................................................................................................................. 31
Advanced .................................................................................................................................................................. 33
Changing the Fragmentation/RTS Threshold..........................................................................................................................33
Version ...................................................................................................................................................................... 35
PART 2. Configuration Utility for Windows XP....................................................................................................... 36
Connecting to an Access Point or Wireless LAN Card ............................................................................................. 36
Viewing Wireless Connection Status ........................................................................................................................ 38
Configuring Your Wireless Properties....................................................................................................................... 39
General....................................................................................................................................................................................39
Wireless Networks...................................................................................................................................................................41
To Access Certain Wireless Network Only..............................................................................................................................43
Authentication .........................................................................................................................................................................44
Contents
III
Chapter 4 Uninstalling the Wireless LAN Card....................................................................................................... 47
Removing the Wireless LAN Card ............................................................................................................................ 47
Uninstalling the Wireless LAN Card Software........................................................................................................... 48
Chapter 5 Updating the Device Driver ..................................................................................................................... 51
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting....................................................................................................................................... 53
Radio Interference..................................................................................................................................................... 53
Card Not Detected..................................................................................................................................................... 54
Cannot Connect to Another Wireless LAN Card....................................................................................................... 54
Poor Link Quality ....................................................................................................................................................... 55
Cannot Connect to Access Point .............................................................................................................................. 55
Appendix A Limited Warranty .................................................................................................................................. 57
Wireless LAN Hardware............................................................................................................................................ 57
Wireless LAN Software ............................................................................................................................................. 58
Appendix B Regulatory Compliance ....................................................................................................................... 59
FCC Part 15 Declaration of Conformity (DoC).......................................................................................................... 59
FCC Rules and Regulations - Part 15....................................................................................................................... 60
FCC Radiation Exposure Statement ......................................................................................................................... 61
Appendix C Setting Up TCP/IP ................................................................................................................................. 63
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Appendix D Specification ......................................................................................................................................... 67
Software .................................................................................................................................................................... 67
Hardware................................................................................................................................................................... 69
Glossary....................................................................................................................................................................... 75
Contents
V
Table of Figures
Figure 3-1 Ad-Hoc Configuration ..........................................................................................................................24
Figure 3-2 Infrastructure Mode Configuration.......................................................................................................26
Figure 3-3 Indrastructure Mode Link Status..........................................................................................................27
Figure 3-4 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility – Statistics...................................................................................28
Figure 3-5 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility – Site Survey...............................................................................30
Figure 3-6 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility – Encryption ................................................................................32
Figure 3-7 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility – Advanced .................................................................................34
Figure 3-8 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility – Version .....................................................................................35
Figure 3-9 Windows XP Configuration Utility-Connect to Wireless Network ........................................................37
Figure 3-10 Windows XP- Connection Status.......................................................................................................39
Figure 3-11 Windows XP Connection Properties -General ..................................................................................40
Figure 3-12 Windows XP Connection Properties-Wireless Networks ..................................................................41
Figure 3-13 Windows XP-Add Preferred Networks ..............................................................................................42
Figure 3-14 Windows XP Configuration Utility-Set up Network to Aceess ...........................................................44
Figure 3-15 Windows XP Connection Properties -Authentication ........................................................................45
1
Chapter 1 Introduction
This Wireless LAN Card is an IEEE 802.11b Wireless LAN PCMCIA/USB adapter. It allows
your computer to connect to a wireless network and to share resources, such as files or printers
without being bound to the network wires. Operating in 2.4GHz Direct Sequence Spread
Spectrum (DSSS) radio transmission, the Wireless LAN Card transfers data at speeds up to
11Mbps. Both Ad-Hoc and Infrastructure mode are supported. For network security concern,
64/128-bit Wired Equivalent Protection (WEP) algorithm is used. In addition, its standard
compliance ensures that it can communicate with any 802.11b networks.
This User’s Manual contains information on how to install and configure your Wireless LAN
Card. Your Wireless LAN Card will allow you to connect your computer to other Wireless
LAN Card equipped computers.
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2
Wireless LAN Basics
This section conations some Wireless LAN basics to help you better understand how the
product 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.
The Wireless LAN Card allows you to interact with other computers without having to run
cables normally associated with networks. This lets you move your computer around while
staying connected to your network.
There are two ways to use the Wireless LAN Card. One way is to connect directly to one or
more Wireless LAN Card equipped computers, forming an Ad Hoc wireless network. The
second way is to connect to an Access Point that gives you access to an existing wired LAN,
forming an Infrastructure wireless network.
Ad Hoc Network
The Ad Hoc network offers peer to peer connections between workstations, allowing
communication between computers within range that have an 802.11b DSSS compatible PC
Chapter 1 Introduction
3
card installed. A wireless Ad Hoc network can also access a wired LAN’s TCP/IP service
(such as e-mail and the Internet) by using a TCP/IP software router on an Ethernet equipped
PowerBook or notebook.
Infrastructure Network
The infrastructure network uses an access point (or several access points) as a gateway,
linking the wireless network to a wired LAN. As a result, portable workstations or desktops on
your wireless network have access to all of the features of your wired LAN including e-mail,
Internet access, network printers and files server.
Roaming
Multiple Access Points can be installed to extend the wireless service coverage area for
seamless wireless access. Within an extended service area, all Access Points and wireless
clients must have the same Service Set Identity (SSID). Roaming among different Access
Points is controlled automatically to maintain the wireless connectivity at all times.
4
Chapter 2 Installing the Wireless LAN Card
This chapter describes the system requirement and Wireless LAN Card status LEDs. In
addition, we will guide you through the Wireless LAN Card installation as outlined below:
For Windows 98(SE)/Me/2000/NT
1. Installing the software utility using the provided Software Utility CD.
2. Installing the hardware and then driver installation will be auto-processed.
For Windows NT4.0 (for PCMCIA card only)
1. Installing the software utility using the provided Software Utility CD.
2. Manually install the driver and the hardware.
For Windows XP
Installing the hardware and then manually install the driver upon hardware detection.
Note: When connecting the hardware, note that this Wireless LAN Card is for use with UL
listed I.T.E. computers.
Chapter 2 - Installing the Wireless LAN Card
5
After completing the steps above, if you need to set up the TCP/IP protocol to communicate
with your network, refer to “Appendix C Setting Up TCP/IP” on page 63 for details.
System Requirements
To use the Wireless LAN Card, your computer must meet the following minimum
requirements:
Windows 98(SE)/Me/2000/XP/NT4.0 (for Wireless LAN PCMCIA Card)
Windows 98(SE)/Me/2000/XP (for Wireless LAN USB Card)
32 MB of RAM, additional memory recommended
Standard PCMCIA slot/USB port
Wireless LAN Card Status LEDs
The two LEDs on the Wireless LAN Card indicate connection status and data transfer
operation status, as described below:
LED Color State Description
Power Red On The adapter is plugged into the PCMCIA slot/USB port of
your computer.
Activity Green Blinking Transmission mode. The faster the LED blinks, the higher
the data exchange rate.
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The Antenna on the Wireless LAN Card (Only for Wireless LAN USB Card)
The USB adapter comes with one powerful antenna. You can rotate the antenna from 0 to 180
degrees to adjust its range and the connection quality.
Note: Do not rotate the antenna more than 180 degrees, otherwise permanent damage may be
caused.
Installing the Wireless LAN Card Software
Note: If you are using Windows XP, the operation system is already equipped with Wireless
LAN Card Software, so you don’t have to install extra software but only need to install the
driver to activate the Wireless LAN Card. Please skip this step and go to next section
“Installing the Hardware”.
Caution: Do not connect the Wireless LAN Card device to your computer before installing its
software. If this happens, the Windows PnP function will detect the PCMCIA/USB device and
issue a dialog box requesting its driver. Click Cancel to quit the wizard.
Follow these steps to install the Wireless LAN Card software:
1. Close all Windows programs that are running.
Chapter 2 - Installing the Wireless LAN Card
7
2. Insert the provided Software Utility CD into your CD-ROM drive and select Install
Driver and Utility. Or, run Setup.exe from the D:\Utility folder of the Software Utility
CD where D is the drive letter. When the welcome screen pops up, click Next.
3. For quick installation, select One Click Installation and Click OK to jump to step 10.
For custom installation ( to select the parameters that you would like to use), select
Custom Installation and click OK to go to next step.
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4. Click Next to continue.
5. To install the software to the default destination folder, click Next. If you are to install to
a different folder, click Browse, select another folder, and then click Next.
Chapter 2 - Installing the Wireless LAN Card
9
6. Click Next to continue.
7. Select the Operating Mode (Ad Hoc or Infrastructure) in which your wireless client
will operate, and then click Next.
You can change your
Operating Mode later by the
Wireless LAN Cards
Monitor Utility. See
“Chapter 3 Wireless LAN
Cards Monitor Utility” on
p
a
g
e 23 for details.
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8. Depending on the Operating Mode you specified on Step 7, different ESSID Dialog box
appears. In the Specify ESSID box, enter the Service Set ID name. For Ad hoc mode
only, in Select Channel box, select a channel number as your operation radio channel.
Then click Next.
Ad Hoc Mode
Infrastructure Mode
You can change your settings
later by the Wireless LAN
Cards Monitor Utility. See
“Chapter 3 Wireless LAN
Cards Monitor Utility” on
page 23 for details.
Chapter 2 - Installing the Wireless LAN Card
11
9. If the settings listed are correct, click Next to begin copying files. Otherwise, click Back
to modify your settings.
10. After Windows OS copies the Setup files from the Wireless LAN Card Software Utility
CD, click Finish.
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Installing the Hardware and Driver
Windows 98(SE)/Me/2000
After installing the Wireless LAN Card Software, plug the Wireless LAN Card into your
computer’s PCMCIA slot/USB port. The Wireless LAN Card is powered on; no external
power is required.
Upon hardware detection, Windows OS will install the driver for the card automatically.
Note:
1. For Windows 2000: If you are prompted with the Digital Signature not Found alarm
message, just click Yes to ignore it and continue with the auto-installation.
2. For Windows 98(SE): If prompted, you need to insert your Windows 98(SE) installation
CD to complete the driver installation.
For Windows 2000, you will
not see Digital Signature
Not Found message with the
setting below:
Control Panel > System
>Hardware > Driver
Signing > Ignore- Install
the software anyway….
The red LED on the Wireless
LAN Card will light when
the Wireless LAN Card is
connected to your computer.
Chapter 2 - Installing the Wireless LAN Card
13
Note: If you need to set up the TCP/IP address or the subnet mask, refer to “Appendix C
Setting Up TCP/IP” on page 63 for details.
Now you are done with the installation procedure. Select Start > Programs > Wireless LAN
Card > Configuration & Monitor Utility. You should be able to see the Wireless LAN
Cards Monitor Utility icon appearing on the right side of the taskbar. Proceed to next chapter
to configure or fine-tune your Wireless LAN Card settings.
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Windows NT4.0 (For Wireless LAN PCMCIA Card Only)
After installing the Wireless LAN Card Software, you should manually install the driver for
the Wireless LAN PCMCIA Card first before you insert the PCMCIA card. Windows NT will
not install the drivers for the card automatically. Follow the steps below to install the driver
and then the hardware:
Note: You must install Windows NT Service Pack 5 or above before installing the Wireless
LAN PCMCIA Card driver.
1. On your desktop, right-click the Network Neighborhood icon and then click Properties
to open the network setting window.
Chapter 2 - Installing the Wireless LAN Card
15
2. Select the
Adapter tab, and click Add to install the Wireless LAN PCMCIA Card.
3. Click
Have Disk to continue.
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4. Type the directory in which the Wireless LAN PCMCIA Card driver is located.
5. When the Wireless LAN PCMCIA Card driver is found, it will show the type of the
Wireless LAN Card. Click OK to continue.
Chapter 2 - Installing the Wireless LAN Card
17
6. Then be sure to prevent the IRQ Level and I/O Port Address from colliding with other
hardware.
7. Finally, you must click the Bindings tab to bind network protocols to the Wireless LAN
PCMCIA Card . Click Close and Windows NT will ask you to restart the computer .
Insert the Wireless LAN PCMCIA Card into PCMCIA slot and then restart the computer.
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Windows XP
After installing the Wireless LAN Card Software, plug the Wireless LAN Card into your
computer’s PCMCIA slot/USB port. The Wireless LAN Card is powered; no external power
is required.
Note: Windows XP will not install the drivers for the card automatically, so users must follow
the steps to install the driver as below:
1. When you insert the Wireless LAN Card into PCMCIA slot/USB port, the system will
display an unknown hardware message. Select Install from a list or specific
location[Advanced] and click Next to continue.
The red LED on the Wireless
LAN Card will light when
the Wireless LAN Card is
connected to your computer.
Chapter 2 - Installing the Wireless LAN Card
19
2. Point the directory to the Software Utility CD, for example,
D:\Utility\drivers\PCMCIA(USB)\winXP. Click Next to continue.
3. The Windows now will copy the drivers form the Software Utility CD.
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4. After Windows XP copied the drivers from the Software Utility CD, click Finish.
21
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
PART I. Wireless LAN Card Monitor Utility for Win98\98SE\Me\2000\NT
Wireless LAN Cards Monitor
The Wireless LAN Card uses the Wireless LAN cards
Monitor Utility for both configuration and monitoring. The
utility is launched automatically with its icon located on the
right side of the taskbar. Right-clicking the icon displays the
context menu as shown opposite:
If the utility is not launched,
manually start the monitor by
selecting Start > Programs
> Wireless LAN Card, >
Configuration & Monitor
Utility.
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By the color of the monitor icon, you can determine the connection status as below:
Red Not Linked Computer is not connected to Access Point
Blue Linked Computer joined to an Access Point.
Note: In Ad-Hoc mode, the Wireless LAN Cards Monitor icon
is always in blue color no matter the wireless lan card(Ad-Hoc
mode) connects to other wireless lan card(Ad-Hoc mode) or not.
Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
To start the utility program, double-click the icon or select About… from its context menu.
The Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility screen pops up with six tabs: Status, Statistics,
Site Survey, Encryption, Advance and Version. Please see the appropriate section which
describes each tab item.
Status
Status function allows you to re-configure the Wireless LAN Card setting. Even though you
have configured the settings during driver and utility installation, it is possible that you want
to change your operating mode between Infrastructure or Ad-Hoc mode and fine-tune other
settings.
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
23
You can connect your computer to a network in one of the following two ways. Refer to
sequential sections for configuration:
Ad Hoc Connecting to other Wireless LAN Card equipped computers, forming a
wireless network.
Infrastructure Connecting to a wired/wireless network through an Access Point.
Connecting to Other Wireless LAN Cards (Ad-Hoc Mode)
1. In the taskbar, double-click the Wireless LAN Cards Monitor icon to display the
Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility dialog box.
2. Click the
Status tab.
3. In the
Operating Mode list, select Ad-Hoc.
4. In the Channel list, select the Channel Number which you want to use.
5. In the
SSID list, type the Service Set ID (SSID) of the Wireless LAN group. All wireless
clients must use the same SSID in order to communicate with each other.
6. Click
Submit.
7. Click
Exit if you wish to exit the utility.
Note: The MAC Address indicates the MAC address of your computer.
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Figure 3-1 Ad-Hoc Configuration
2. Click the Status tab.
7. Click Exit if you wish o exit
the utilit
y
.
6. Click Submit.
3. Select Ad-Hoc mode.
4. Select the Channel number.
5. Type the SSID name of
the Wireless LAN group
1. Open Wireless LAN Cards
Monitor Utility.
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
25
Connecting to Access Points (Infrastructure Mode)
1. In the taskbar, double-click the Wireless LAN Cards Monitor icon to display the
Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility dialog box.
2. Click the
Status tab.
3. In the
Operating Mode list, click Infrastructure.
4. In the
SSID list, type SSID name of the Access Point. The wireless client must use the
same SSID as the Access Point in order to communicate with other computers via the
Access Point.
5. Click
Submit. If the connection is successful, you should be able to find your computer
on the Network Neighborhood in Windows Explorer.
6. Click
Exit if you wish to exit the utility.
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Figure 3-2 Infrastructure Mode Configuration
2. Click the Status tab.
6. Click Exit if you wish o exit
the utilit
y
.
5. Click Submit.
3. Select Infrastucture mode.
4. Type the SSID name of
the Wireless LAN group
1. Open Wireless LAN Cards
Monitor Utility.
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
27
Checking Link Quality (Infrastructure Mode Only)
To check the link quality of the connection when in Infrastructure mode,, double-click the
Wireless LAN Cards Monitor icon on the taskbar to display the Wireless LAN Cards
Monitor Utility dialog box. Then click the Status tab. The status is displayed at the lower
part of the panel.
Status: Indicates the Access Point your Wireless LAN Card associated with. If no Access
Point is connected, current status, such as scanning, authenticating, is displayed.
Signal Strength: Displayed as percentages using active progress indicators that change as the
network radio signal fluctuates.
Link Quality: Link Quality categories are defined as follows:
Link Quality Range (%)
Poor 0-29
Fair 30-59
Good 60-89
Excellent 90-100
Figure 3-3 Indrastructure Mode Link Status
If you are in Ad-Hoc mode,
the Signal Strength and
Link Quality fields are
grayed-out.
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Statistics
Statistics feature allows you to view the available statistic information (Data packets). Tx
indicates data is being transmitted whereas Rx indicates data is being received. To renew or
update the statistics, click the Reset button.
Figure 3-4 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility – Statistics
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
29
Site Survey
Site Survey function scans the wireless network searching for available Access Points and
wireless stations (Ad-hoc mode) within the range of the card. Available stations are listed
with the following information:
BSSID: Basic Service Set ID. It is actually the MAC address of the Access Point/wireless
station (Ad-hoc mode). It can be used to identify the stations when they have the same SSID.
SSID: Service Set ID. Displays the current SSID of the Access Point/wireless station (Ad-hoc
mode).
Signal: Shows the signal strength ratio. The higher the ration is, the more powerful the signal
received by your Wireless LAN Card. It helps you identify the quality network operation.
Channel: The operating radio channel number.
Encryption: Displays if encryption is enabled or disabled on the Access Point/wireless station
(Ad-hoc mode).
BSS: Basic Service Set. Indicates whether the operating mode is Infrastructure ( Access Point)
or Ad-Hoc (wireless station).
Re-Scan: This button allows you to update the list.
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Connecting to Desired Site By Site Survey Utility
If you want to connect to any of the Access Point(s) and Ad-Hoc Station(s) listed, double-
click on your choice (on the BSSID field). The utility will take you back to the Status screen
showing the parameters of the connection newly established.
Figure 3-5 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility – Site Survey
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
31
Encryption
Encryption technology is used to enhance wireless media security. Your encryption settings
must match the those used by the Access Points or wireless stations (Ad-hoc mode) in your
network, or your computer will be unable to communicate with others of your network.
To enable encryption, do the following:
1. Select the
Encryption tab from the Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility.
2. Select your encryption type from 64 Bit or 128 Bit.
3. In the
Key #1-4 fields, enter the encryption keys. Note that the key must be in the form
of Hex format; only digits 0-9 and letters A-F are valid. The four keys, including the one
selected as Default Key, are used to decrypt the data you receive.
4. In the
Default Key box, select one of the four keys to encrypt the data you are going to
transmit.
5. Select encryption
Mode from Mandatory and Optional.
Mandatory: WEP encryption is required to establish connection with other wireless
stations. Both your computer and other stations need to use WEP encryption to establish
a communication. This requirement is in line with the IEEE 802.11b standard.
Optional: Your station can communicate with every other station regardless if WEP is
enabled or disabled in the other station.
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6. Select the
Authentication Type from Open System and Shared Key.
Your authentication type must be the same as those on the Access Point/wireless client
(Ad-Hoc mode) with which you want to associate.
7. To have the new settings take effect, click the Submit. Then click Exit to exit the utility.
Figure 3-6 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility – Encryption
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
33
Advanced
Advanced features allows you to change advanced configuration settings: Fragmentation
Threshold and RTS Threshold.
Fragmentation Threshold: The fragmentation threshold, which is specified in bytes,
determines whether packets will be fragmented and at what size. On an 802.11 wireless LAN,
packets exceed the fragmentation threshold are fragmented, i.e., split into, smaller units
suitable for the circuit size. Packets smaller than the specified fragmentation threshold value
are not fragmented.
RTS Threshold:. When set (in bytes), it specifies the packet size beyond which the Wireless
LAN Card invokes its RTS/CTS mechanism. Packets that exceed the specified RTS threshold
trigger the RTS/CTS mechanism. The NIC transmits smaller packets without using RTS/CTS.
Changing the Fragmentation/RTS Threshold
By default, the Fragmentation and RTS Threshold are disabled. To change the
Fragmentation/RTS Threshold parameters, move the slide bar with your mouse and then
use the right and left arrow keys of your keyboard to select an exact number in bytes.
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Figure 3-7 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility – Advanced
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
35
Version
Version tab displays the basic information about the device, including the Driver, Firmware
and Application Version. Use the Exit button if you wish to exit the application.
Figure 3-8 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility – Version
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PART 2. Configuration Utility for Windows XP
Under Windows XP, the Wireless LAN Card uses the Wireless Network Connection utility
for both configuration and monitoring. The utility can be quickly accessed via the network
connection icon on the system tray. If your computer is not connected to any Access Point/Wireless
LAN Card yet, the icon should appear as below:
Connecting to an Access Point or Wireless LAN Card
To connect to an existing Access Point/Wireless LAN Card (Ad-Hoc mode), do the following:
1. Double-click the network connection icon on the system tray.
2. When the
Connect to Wireless Network window pops up, you will see all the Access
Points or Wireless LAN Cards (Ad-Hoc mode) that are available in the air. Select the
wireless network you want to connect to .
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
37
Figure 3-9 Windows XP Configuration Utility-Connect to Wireless Network
3. If the target Access Point/Wireless LAN Card (Ad-Hoc mode) has been set with WEP
key, you must enter the same WEP key in the Network key field. Otherwise, leave it
blank.
4. Click
Connect, then you will join the target network and this dialog window will
disappear. When your wireless connection is established, the connection icon appears as
below:
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Note: If the wireless connection can’t be established, double-click the connection icon and
then click Properties. Go to Authentication tab first to make sure that you use the correct
authentication type for the Wireless LAN Card. For more information, refer to
“Authentication” on page 44.
Viewing Wireless Connection Status
After you successfully connect to the Access Point or Wireless LAN Card (Ad-Hoc mode),
double-click the icon in the system tray again. This will open the Wireless Network
Connection Status window where you can see the general data of the Wireless LAN Card,
such as Status, Duration, Speed, Signal Strength, etc.
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
39
Figure 3-10 Windows XP- Connection Status
Configuring Your Wireless Properties
To configure your wireless properties, open the Wireless Network Connection Status
window as described above, and then click the Properties button. This will open the Wireless
Network Connection Properties window which allows you to configure more detailed items
of the Wireless LAN Card. The following describes each tab of the properties window to help
you do more settings of the Wireless LAN Card.
General
This tab allows you to specify the network methods to be used with your Wireless LAN
PCMCIA/USB Card. The network policy depends on your wireless network. For TCP/IP
protocol, you should configure its properties as instructed by your network administrator. For
more information on TCP/IP setting, please refer to “Appendix C Setting Up TCP/IP” on
page 63.
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Figure 3-11 Windows XP Connection Properties -General
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
41
Wireless Networks
This tab contains two sections: Available networks and Preferred networks described as
below.
Under Available networks section, you can also see all the Access Points and Wireless LAN
Cards (Ad-Hoc mode) available in the air. Clicking Refresh will update the list of Access
Points and Wireless LAN Cards (Ad-Hoc mode).
Figure 3-12 Windows XP Connection Properties-Wireless Networks
11Mbps Wireless LAN Card User's Manual
42
Under Preferred networks section, you can add any wireless networks that you wish to
connect to. To do this, just click Add to add more Access Points or Wireless LAN Cards (Ad-
Hoc mode) to the list.
After you click the Add button, the Wireless Network Properties window pops up. Type
your network name (SSID) and, if needed, the wireless network WEP settings. Once the
Access Point or Wireless LAN Card (Ad-Hoc mode) that you want to connect to has been set
with WEP key, you must type the same WEP key as the Access Point’s or Wireless LAN
Card’s.
Figure 3-13 Windows XP-Add Preferred Networks
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
43
After you add several profiles into Preferred networks, you can change the order in which
connection attempts to preferred networks are made. Just select the target wireless network
and click Move up or Move down to move it to a desired position.
To Access Certain Wireless Network Only
If you just want to access certain wireless network type, click the Advanced button on the
Wireless Networks tab (Figure 3-12) to open the Advanced window. You can choose to
connect to the following networks:
• Any available network ( access point preferred)
• Access point (infrastructure)
• Computer-to-computer (ad hoc)
The default network type is Any available network ( access point preferred). In this
network type, your device will connect to any Access Points or Wireless LAN Cards (Ad-Hoc
mode) available in the air but Access Point always demands higher connection attempt
priority.
Once you finish the advanced setting, your wireless station will then connect to your desired
network and the connected network will be listed under Available networks.
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Figure 3-14 Windows XP Configuration Utility-Set up Network to Aceess
Authentication
This tab allows you to configure the authentication settings of your Wireless LAN Card. The
most important setting for the Wireless LAN Card is to disable Enable network access
control using IEEE802.1X to ensure successful connection between the Wireless LAN Cards
and Access Points or other Wireless LAN Card (Ad-Hoc mode). You must disable this
function for any reason. Otherwise, there may be some problems happening during connection.
For other settings, we recommend you keep the default settings to minimize the problems
during connection.
Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Cards Monitor Utility
45
Figure 3-15 Windows XP Connection Properties -Authentication
Make sure to clear the Enable
network access control using
IEEE802.1X check box to ensure
successful connection.
47
Chapter 4 Uninstalling the Wireless LAN Card
Should you need to uninstall the Wireless LAN Card and application software for any reason,,
you should remove the hardware from your computer and then uninstall the associated
software. Please proceed as follows.
Removing the Wireless LAN Card
The Wireless LAN Card complies with the PCMCIA/USB standard that allows devices to be
inserted into and removed from the computer’s PCMCIA slot/USB port when the computer is
power on. For USB Wireless LAN Card, just remove the card from your PC’s USB port. For
PCMCIA device, it is recommended that you follow the standard Windows procedure for
disconnecting a PCMCIA device from your computer.
1. On the system tray, click the PCMCIA icon, and then click Adjust PC Card Properties.
2. Select the Wireless LAN Card which you want to remove, click Stop and then click OK.
3. When the message appears that tells you it is safe to remove device, click OK and
remove the Wireless LAN Card from the computer.
11Mbps Wireless LAN Card User's Manual
48
Uninstalling the Wireless LAN Card Software
Make sure that you have removed the hardware before you proceed.
1. Close all programs that are currently running.
2. Click the Windows Start button, point to Programs, Wireless LAN Card and then
click Uninstall Configuration & Monitor Utility.
Chapter 4 Uninstalling the Wireless LAN Card
49
3. Click
OK to proceed with the software removal procedure.
4. Click
Finish to exit the wizard.
11Mbps Wireless LAN Card User's Manual
50
5. When prompted, click OK to restart your computer to complete the uninstallation.
51
Chapter 5 Updating the Device Driver
Periodically, you may need to upgrade the Wireless LAN Card’s driver when a newer version
is available. Check our website for information about the latest driver upgrades. When you
have finished the download procedure, please follow as below to update the device driver.
1. Uninstall the Wireless LAN Card as described in Chapter 4. Follow the steps to remove
the Wireless LAN Card and then uninstall the software.
2. Install the new driver you have downloaded. Refer to Chapter 2 for detailed instructions.
Once you finish installing the new driver, the updating is complete.
53
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting
Radio Interference
You may be able to eliminate any interference by trying the following:
• Reseat the Wireless LAN Card.
• 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.
• Keep the computer with the Wireless LAN Card away from the microwave oven and
large metal objects.
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Card Not Detected
If the Wireless LAN Card is not detected by Windows, try the following:
• Make sure the Wireless LAN Card is properly inserted in the PCMCIA slot/USB port.
• Make sure the PCMCIA slot/USB port in your computer is working.
• Contact your dealer for additional testing if there is a hardware problem with the
Wireless LAN Card.
Cannot Connect to Another Wireless LAN Card
If you cannot make a connection to another Wireless LAN Card from your computer, it could
be due to one of the following reasons:
• Incorrect SSID. Make sure the SSID is the same for all computers that have a Wireless
LAN Card.
• Changes are not being recognized by your computer. Restart your computer.
• If in Ad Hoc mode, make sure the Log on to Windows NT domain check box is not
selected in the Client for Microsoft Networks Properties dialog box in the Network
Configuration tab.
• Incorrect IP Address or Subnet Mask. Check these settings in the TCP/IP Properties
dialog box in the Network Configuration tab.
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting
55
Poor Link Quality
If the Link Quality display stays in the Poor range, it could be due to one of the following
reasons:
• Radio interference.
• Distance between Wireless LAN Card and Access Point is too far. Decrease the
distance between the Wireless LAN Card and Access Point (or another card).
Cannot Connect to Access Point
If you cannot make a connection to the Access Point, it could be due to one of the following
reasons:
• Make sure the Wireless LAN Card and Access Point have no physical connection
problems.
• Make sure the SSID for the Wireless LAN Card is set to “null” or is the same as the
Access Point.
• Make sure the privacy type is the same as that of Access Point. Also, make sure the
Default Key is the same for both computers.
57
Appendix A Limited Warranty
Wireless LAN Hardware
The seller warrants to the end user (“Customer”) that this hardware product will be free from
defects in workmanship and materials, under normal use and service, for 1 year from the date
of purchase from the seller or its authorized reseller. The seller’s sole obligation under this
express warranty shall be, at the seller’s option and expense, to repair the defective product or
part, deliver to Customer an equivalent product or part to replace the defective item, or if
neither of the two foregoing options is reasonably available, The seller may, in its sole
discretion, refund to the Customer the purchase price paid for the defective product. All
products that are replaced will become the property of the seller. Replacement products may
be new or reconditioned.
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Wireless LAN Software
The seller warrants to Customer that each software program licensed from it , except as noted
below, will perform in substantial conformance to its program specifications, for a period of 1
year from the date of purchase from the seller or its authorized reseller. The seller warrants the
media containing software against failure during the warranty period. No updates are provided.
The seller’s sole obligation under this express warranty shall be, at the seller’s option and
expense, to refund the purchase price paid by Customer for any defective software product, or
to replace any defective media with software which substantially conforms to applicable seller
published specifications. Customer assumes responsibility for the selection of the appropriate
application programs and associated reference materials. The seller makes no warranty or
representation that its software products will meet Customer’s requirements or work in
combination with any hardware or software applications products provided by third parties,
that the operation of the software products will be uninterrupted or error free, or that all
defects in the software products will be corrected. For any third party products listed in the
seller software product documentation or specifications as being compatible, the seller will
make reasonable efforts to provide compatibility, except where the non-compatibility is
caused by a defect in the third party’s product or from use of the software product not in
accordance with the seller’s published specifications or user manual.
59
Appendix B Regulatory Compliance
FCC Part 15 Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
The following equipment:
Product Name: Wireless LAN Card
is herewith confirmed to comply with the requirements of FCC Part 15 rules. The operation is
subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
11Mbps Wireless LAN Card User's Manual
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FCC Rules and Regulations - Part 15
Warning: This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device
pursuant to Part 15 of the Federal Communications Commissions Rules and Regulation. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated
in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference
to radio communications.
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 and correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
• Relocate your WLAN equipped laptop computer.
• Increase the separation between the WLAN equipped laptop computer and other electronics.
• Connect the WLAN equipped laptop computer into an outlet on a circuit different from that of
other electronics.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Appendix B Regulatory Compliance
61
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 of
2.5cm between the radiator & your body.
63
Appendix C Setting Up TCP/IP
This section contains instructions for configuring the TCP/IP protocol of the Wireless LAN
PCMCIA/USB Card. The IP address policy depends on your wireless network. You should
configure your TCP/IP protocol as instructed by your network administrator.
1. On the taskbar, select Start > Settings > Control Panel, double-click the Network icon.
2. Click the
Configuration tab of the Network dialog box.
3. In the network components list, select the TCP/IP protocol of your Wireless LAN Card,
e.g., TCP/IP ->IEEE 802.11b Wireless LAN PC Card, and then click Properties.
11Mbps Wireless LAN Card User's Manual
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4. On the
IP Address tab, choose one of the methods as required:
Option A: Click Specify an IP address.
In the IP Address box, enter a valid four-component IP address, either a public or
private one as required. If private IP address is used, the following three blocks of IP
addresses are available for private networks:
10. 0 . 0. 0 — 10.255.255.255
172. 16. 0. 0 — 172. 31.255.255
192.168. 0. 0 — 192.168.255.255
In the Subnet Mask box, enter a valid four-component IP address.
For correct IP address
information for your
wireless LAN installation,
contact your network
administrator.
For more information on IP
addresses, see the Network
Working Group
Specification RFC 1918 on
the Internet.
Appendix C Setting Up TCP/IP
65
Option B: Select Obtain an IP address automatically.
An IP address will be automatically assigned to your computer.
5. Click
OK to return to Network dialog box and click OK again to finish configuration. If
your TCP/IP properties have been modified, you will be prompted to restart your
computer. Click Yes to have new settings take effect.
67
Appendix D Specification
* Specifications are subject to change with notice.
Software
Standards Compliance • IEEE 802.11 / 802.11b Standard
• PCMCIA v2.1 Standard (WLAN PCMCIA Card)
• USB 1.1 Compliant (WLAN USB Card)
Operation Modes • Ad-hoc mode
• Infrastructure mode
Security Features • Support SSID network identification for security
• Support 64-bit and 128-bit WEP Data Encryption and
Decryption
• Support Authentication: Open System, Shared Key
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Monitor and Configuration • Reliable and robust monitor and configuration utilities
• Dynamic configuration
• Network traffic statistics gathering
• Clear LED Indicators for real time monitor current network
status
Device Driver and
Configuration Utility
• A PCMCIA NDIS 5.0 mini-port driver running on Windows
98(SE)/ME/2000/XP/NT4.0 platforms(WLAN PCMCIA
Card)
• A USB NDIS 5.0 mini-port driver running on Windows
98(SE)/ME/2000/XP platforms(WLAN USB Card)
• A monitor and configuration utility running on Windows
98(SE)/ME/2000/NT4.0 platforms
PS: Under Windows XP, use XP built-in monitor and
configuration utility.
Appendix D Specification
69
Hardware
Interface • One 2.4GHz RF interface for Wireless LAN connection
• Interface:
WLAN PCMCIA Card: One PCMCIA interface
WLAN USB Card: One USB connector
Radio Characteristics • Frequency Band: 2.400 ~ 2.4835 GHz ISM Band (subject to
local regulations)
• Spreading: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
• Modulation
CCK: 11Mbps and 5.5Mbps
DQPSK: 2Mbps
DBPSK: 1Mbps
• Number of Channels
11 Channels (US, Canada)
13 Channels (Europe)
14 Channels (Japan)
• Channel Spacing: 5MHz
• Data Rate: 11Mbps / 5.5Mbps / 2Mbps / 1Mbps
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Radio Characteristics • Antenna:
Two Internal Antennas (WLAN PCMCIA Card)
One external antenna (WLAN USB Card)
• Transmit Power:
17dBm (typical) (WLAN PCMCIA Card)
17dBm (typical) (WLAN USB Card (R))
12dBm (typical) (WLAN USB Card (I))
• Receiver Sensitivity:
-82dBm @ FER < 8% (WLAN PCMCIA Card)
-80dBm @ FER < 8% (WLAN USB Card (R))
-80dBm @ FER < 8% (WLAN USB Card (I))
Appendix D Specification
71
Power Requirement and
Operation Environment
Requirement
• Temperature
WLAN PCMCIA Card
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 55°C (32°F to 131°F)
Storage Temperature: -10°C to 65°C
WLAN USB Card (R)
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 55°C (32°F to 131°F)
Storage Temperature: -10°C to 80°C
WLAN USB Card (I)
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 55°C (32°F to 131°F)
Storage Temperature: -20°C to 80°C
• Humidity:
5% to 80% (non-condensing) (WLAN PCMCIA Card)
5% to 80% (non-condensing) (WLAN USB Card (R))
5% to 95% (non-condensing) (WLAN USB Card (I))
• Power Consumption
WLAN PCMCIA Card
Receive mode: 220mA
Transmit mode:440 mA
Doze mode: TBD
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WLAN USB Card (R)
Receive mode: 250mA
Transmit mode:420 mA
Doze mode: TBD
WLAN USB Card (I)
Receive mode: 322mA
Transmit mode:382 mA
Standby mode: TBD
Sleep mode: TBD
LED Indicators (from left to
right in front panel)
• Activity (Green)
• Power (Red)
PCMCIA Specification
-WLAN PCMCIA Card
• PCMCIA v2.1 Standard
• Plug and Play
• Hot Swapping
Appendix D Specification
73
USB Specification
-WLAN USB Card
• USB 1.1 Compliant
• USB Slave
• Plug and Play
• Hot Swapping
Physical
-WLAN PCMCIA Card
• Form Factor: PCMCIA (16-bit) Type II PC Card
• PCB Dimensions: 118.20mm (L)×54.00mm (W)×0.76mm (H)
• PCB Weight: 46g
Physical
-WLAN USB Card (R)
-WLAN USB Card (I)
• Dimensions: 79.52mm (L)×48.00mm (W)×0.80mm (H)
Safety and Regulatory
Approvals
• FCC
• VCCI
• CE
• TELEC & JATE
75
Glossary
10BaseT An IEEE standard (802.3) for operating 10 Mbps Ethernet networks (LANs) with twisted pair
cabling and a wiring hub.
Access Point An internetworking device that seamlessly connects wired and wireless networks. Access Points
combined with a distributed system support the creation of multiple radio cells that enable
roaming throughout a facility.
Ad Hoc A network composed solely of stations within mutual communication range of each other (no
Access Point connected).
BSS Basic Service Set. A set of stations controlled by a single coordination function.
Channel A medium used to pass protocol data units that can be used simultaneously in the same volume
of space by other channels of the same physical layer, with an acceptably low frame error ratio
due to mutual interference.
Encapsulated An Ethernet address mode that treats the entire Ethernet packet as a whole and places it inside
an 802.11 frame along with a new header.
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ESS Extended Service Set. A set of one or more interconnected Basic Service Sets (BSSs) and
integrated Local Area Networks (LANs) can be configured as an Extended Service Set.
Ethernet The most widely used medium access method, which is defined by the IEEE 802.3 standard.
Ethernet is normally a shared media LAN; i.e., all the devices on the network segment share
total bandwidth. Ethernet networks operate at 10Mbps using CSMA/CD to run over 10BaseT
cables.
Gateway A network component that acts as an entrance to another network.
IEEE 802.11 The IEEE 802.xx is a set of specifications for LANs from the Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineers (IEEE). Most wired networks conform to 802.3, the specification for
CSMA/CD-based Ethernet networks or 802.5, the specification for token ring networks. 802.11
defines the standard for wireless LANs encompassing three incompatible (non-interoperable)
technologies: Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
(DSSS), and Infrared. IEEE standards ensure interoperability between systems of the same type.
Infrastructure A wireless network centered about an Access Point. In this environment, the Access Point not
only provides communication with the wired network but also mediates wireless network traffic
in the immediate neighborhood.
IP Internet Protocol. The standard protocol within TCP/IP that defines the basic unit of
information passed across an Internet connection by breaking down data messages into packets,
routing and transporting the packets over network connections, then reassembling the packets at
their destination. IP corresponds to the network layer in the ISO/OSI model.
IP Address An IP address is a 32-bit number that identifies each sender or receiver of information sent
across the Internet. An IP address has two parts: the identifier of a particular network on the
Glossary
77
Internet and an identifier of the particular device (which can be a server or a workstation) within
that network.
ISP Internet Service Provider. An organization that provides access to the Internet. Small ISPs
provide service via modem and ISDN while the larger ones also offer private line hookups (T1,
fractional T1, etc.).
LAN Local Area Network. A communications network that serves users within a defined
geographical area. The benefits include the sharing of Internet access, files, and equipment, such
as printers and storage devices. Special network cabling (10BaseT) is often used to connect the
PCs together.
NAT Network Address Translation. The translation of an Internet Protocol address (IP address) used
within one network to a different IP address known within another network. One network is
designated the internal network and the other is the external. The internal network then appears
as one entity to the outside world.
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Radio
Frequency
RF, Terms: GHz, MHz, Hz —The international unit for measuring frequency is Hertz (Hz),
equivalent to the older unit of cycles per second. One megahertz (MHz) is one Million-Hertz.
One giga hertz (GHz) is one Billion-Hertz. The standard U.S. electrical power frequency is 60
Hz, the AM broadcast radio frequency band is 0.55–1.6 MHz, the FM broadcast radio frequency
band is 88–108 MHz, and wireless 802.11 LANs operate at 2.4GHz.
SSID Service Set ID. A group name shared by every member of a wireless network. Only client PCs
with the same SSID are allowed to establish a connection.
Subnet Mask A value that defines whether your computer communicates only within your LAN or
communicates outside of your LAN, where it is routed out to the rest of the Internet. A Subnet
Mask that has the same first three components (for example, 255.255.255.0) is the routing
pattern for a Class C address.
TCP Transmission Control Protocol. The standard transport level protocol that provides the full
duplex, stream service on which many applications’ protocols depend. TCP allows a process on
one machine to send a stream of data to a process on another. Software implementing TCP
usually resides in the operating system and uses the IP to transmit information across the
network.
WEP Wired Equivalent Privacy. The optional cryptographic confidentiality algorithm specified by
802.11. The algorithm is being used to provide data confidentiality that is subjectively
equivalent to the confidentiality of a wired LAN medium that does not employ cryptographic
techniques to enhance privacy..