Cisco Linksys WMP11-V27 Instant Wireless PCI Card User Manual wmp11 user guide

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WMP11 V27 User Manual HTML Version

Manual

Instant WirelessTM Series

Wireless PCI Card

User Guide

Use this Guide to install the following:

WMP11

mark of Linksys. Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are registered trademarks

of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks and brand names are the property of their

respective proprietors.

LIMITED WARRANTY

Linksys guarantees that every Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card is free from physical

defects in material and workmanship for one year from the date of purchase, when used

within the limits set forth in the Specification section of this User Guide. If these products

prove defective during this warranty period, call Linksys Customer Support in order to

obtain a Return Authorization Number. BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PUR-

CHASE AND A BARCODE FROM THE PRODUCT'S PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN

CALLING. RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OF PUR-

CHASE. When returning a product, mark the Return Authorization Number clearly on the

outside of the package and include your original proof of purchase. All customers locat-

ed outside of the United States of America and Canada shall be held responsible for

shipping and handling charges.

IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS’ LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE PROD-

UCT FROM DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAM-

AGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT, ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFT-

WARE, OR ITS DOCUMENTATION. LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANY

PRODUCT. Linksys makes no warranty or representation, expressed, implied, or statuto-

ry, with respect to its products or the contents or use of this documentation and all

accompanying software, and specifically disclaims its quality, performance, mer-

chantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. Linksys reserves the right to revise or

update its products, software, or documentation without obligation to notify any individ-

ual or entity. Please direct all inquiries to:

Linksys P.O. Box 18558, Irvine, CA 92623.

FCC STATEMENT

This product have been tested and complies with the specifications for a Class B digital

device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide rea-

sonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equip-

ment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and

used according to the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communi-

cations. 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 is found by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to

try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

• Increase the separation between the equipment or device

• Connect the equipment to an outlet other than the receiver’s

• Consult a dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for assistance

FCC Caution: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by 

the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority 

to operate this equipment.

IMPORTANT NOTE: 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 20cm between the radiator & your 

body.

This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction 

with any other antenna or transmitter.

UG-WMP11-010821 NC KL

Introduction

Put the “mobile” back into mobile computing! Whether you’re at your desk or

in the boardroom, the Linksys Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card allows you

to share printers, files, and other resources anywhere within your LAN infra-

structure, increasing your productivity and keeping you “in touch.”

The Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card now has a high-powered antenna

that provides greater ranges than ever. Error correction in the chipset keeps you

operating at higher transmission rates for longer distances.

Ready to run in PCs running Windows 95, 98, Millennium, NT, and 2000, the

Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card from Linksys is truly a “must-have” for

all PC users.

• 11 Mbps High-Speed Data Transfer Rate

• Compatible with Virtually All Major Network Operating Systems

• Plug-and-Play Operation Provides Easy Setup

• Integrated Equalizer Recovers Weak Signals and Enhances Sensitivity

• Sturdy Metal Design with Integrated Antenna

• Works with All Standard Internet Applications

• Interoperable with IEEE 802.11b (DSSS) 2.4GHz-Compliant Equipment

• Clear Channel Assessment Increases Network Throughput

• Hardware Buffer Chaining Provides High Performance While Reading and

Writing Buffers

• Capable of up to 128-Bit WEP

• Free Technical Support—24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week for North America

Only

• 1-Year Limited Warranty

Features

The Instant WirelessTM Wireless PCI Card

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

The Instant WirelessTM Wireless PCI Card 1

Features 1

Package Contents 2

System Requirements 2

Planning Your Wireless Network 3

Network Topology 3

Roaming 3

Installing the Drivers and Configuration Utility for

Windows 95, 98, ME and 2000 4

Before You Start 4

Running the Auto Driver Installation 4

Ad-Hoc Versus Infrastructure Mode 8

Infrastructure Mode 9

Ad-Hoc Mode 11

Installing the Wireless PCI Card 14

Installing the Drivers and Configuration Utility for Windows NT 15

Overview 15

Installing the Drivers for Windows NT 15

Installing the Configuration Utility for Windows NT 29

Configuration Utility 30

Using the Configuration Utility 30

Installing Network Protocols 37

Troubleshooting 39

Common Problems and Solutions 39

Frequently Asked Questions 39

Glossary 43

Specifications 48

Environmental 48

Warranty Information 49

Contact Information 50

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

A wireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each computer in the

LAN uses an Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card to connect to the network

using no wires. Computers in a wireless LAN must be configured to share the

same radio channel.

The Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card provides LAN access for wireless

workstations. An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure

configuration. A group of Wireless PCI Card users and an Access Point com-

pose a Basic Service Set (BSS). Each PC equipped with an Wireless PCI Card

in a BSS can talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the Access

Point.

An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of an Wireless PCI

Card PC to a wired LAN, and doubles the effective wireless transmission range

for two Wireless PCI Card PCs. Since the Access Point is able to forward data

within its BSS, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure LAN is

doubled.

The use of a unique ID in a Basic Service Set is essential.

The Wireless LAN Infrastructure configuration is appropriate for enterprise-

scale wireless access to a central database, or as a wireless application for

mobile users.

Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. More

than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set (ESS). This con-

tinuous network allows users to roam freely within an ESS. All Wireless PCI

Card PCs within one Extende Service Set must be configured with the same

SSID.

Selecting a feasible radio channel and optimum Access Point position is rec-

ommended. Proper Access Point positioning combined with a clear radio sig-

nal will greatly enhance performance.

Roaming

• One Instant WirelessTM Wireless PCI Card

• One Setup CD-ROM (Manual on CD)

• Quick Installation Guide and Registration Card (not shown)

• One Free PCI Slot

• Windows 95, 98, Millennium, NT or 2000

• 600 Kbytes of free disk space for utility and driver installation

Package Contents

System Requirements

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

2. The first tab across the top of the screen, labeled Install, should now be high-

lighted. Click on the Install button. The following screen should appear,

indicating that Windows is preparing the installation.

If, for whatever reason, you need to abort or terminate the installation, press

the Cancel button at any time during the installation. Otherwise the instal-

lation will continue automatically.

3. This screen will appear next, indicating that Windows is ready to continue

the installation. Click the Next button.

Note: If you stop the installation before it has finished, you will have to

run the installation completely again before installing your hardware.

Installing the Drivers and

Configuration Utility for Windows

95, 98, ME and 2000

Your new Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card comes with an automated soft-

ware installation procedure for Windows 95, 98, Millennium, and 2000.

Windows NT users should refer to the next section. This new procedure auto-

matically installs the drivers and Configuration Utility beforeyou install your

hardware, so there’s no searching for the location of drivers. Again, this step is

taken before installing your hardware.

1. Before installing your adapter, insert the Setup CD into your CD-ROM drive.

Unless you have deactivated the auto-run feature of Windows, the following

screen should appear automatically.

If this screen does not appear automatically, you can access the installation

by pressing the Start button and choosing Run. In the drop down box pro-

vided, type D:\setup.exe (where D: is the letter of your CD-ROM drive).

Alternately, double-click My Computer, and then double-click the CD-

ROM drive where the Setup CD is located. Then double-click the Setup.exe

icon that appears.

Before You Start

Running the Auto Driver Installation

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

6. When the following screen appears, choose either Infrastructure mode or

Ad-Hoc mode, depending on your needs. If you are unsure whether to

choose Infrastructure or Ad-Hoc, refer to the next section for more informa-

tion. Once you have made your choice, click the Next button.

4. The next screen that appears will be the Warranty Policy. Read the entire

policy by pressing the Page Down button on your keyboard. Click on the

Yes button if you agree, or No if you disagree. Clicking No will terminate

the installation. If you click Yes, the installation will continue.

5. The following window will appear next. To install the Configuration Utility

in the default directory (recommended), click the Next button. If you pre-

fer to install the Utility in another directory, click the Browse button, locate

the preferred directory then click the Next button.

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

1. If you have chosen Infrastructure mode, the following screen will appear.

If you have chosen Ad-Hoc mode, skip to the next section.

You will be prompted to enter an SSID value in the box provided. The

SSID may be up to 32 characters in length and may include any character

on the keyboard. All SSID values on your wireless network must match. If

you are unsure, use the default value of “linksys”. Then, click the Next but-

ton. Note: All characters are case-sensitive.

2. The next screen to appear will be the Review Settings screen. Verify that

all the settings are correct and click the Next button to continue.

Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in which

they may be set up: Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc. Choosing between these two

modes depends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or

peripherals with a wired network or not.

If the computers on the wireless network need to be accessible by a wired net-

work or need to share a peripheral, such as a printer, with the wired network

computers, the wireless network should be set up in the Infrastructure mode.

The basis of Infrastructure mode centers around an access point, which serves

as the main point of communications in a wireless network. Access points

transmit data to PCs equipped with wireless network card, which can roam

within a certain

radial range of

the access point.

Multiple access

points can be

arranged to work

in succession to

extend the roam-

ing range, and

can be set up to

communicate

with your Ethernet

hardware as well.

If the wireless network is relatively small and needs to share resources only

with the other computers on the wireless network, then the Ad-Hoc mode can

be used. Ad-Hoc mode allows computers equipped with wireless transmitters

and receivers to communicate directly with each other, eliminating the need for

an access point. The drawback of this mode is in the fact that, in Ad-Hoc mode,

wireless-equipped computers are not able to communicate with computers on

a wired network. And,

of course, communica-

tion between the wire-

less-equipped comput-

ers is limited by the dis-

tance and interference

directly between them.

Infrastructure Mode

Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

3. The following screen will appear, indicating that all of the appropriate files

are being copied onto your drive. Click the Cancel button if you need to

stop the installation for any reason.

4. Once Windows has finished copying the necessary files, the following

screen will appear. In order for the drivers to be installed properly, you

must restart your computer. If you choose to do it now, select Yes, I want

to restart my computer now. If you do not want to do it now, choose No,

I will restart my computer later. Once you have made your choice, click

the Finish button to continue.

1. If you have chosen Ad-Hoc mode, the following screen will appear. If you

have chosen Infrastructure mode, refer to the previous section.

You will be prompted to choose a Channel from the list provided. All

computers on your wireless network must be using the same channel in

order to communicate with each other. If you are unsure about which chan-

nel to use, select the default channel (Channel 6). Once you have chosen

your channel, click the Next button.

Ad-Hoc Mode

Note: Restart the computer and go to the section called Installing

the Wireless PCI Card for further instructions.

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

4. The following screen will appear, indicating that all of the appropriate files

are being copied onto your drive. Click the Cancel button if you need to

stop the installation for any reason.

5. Once Windows has finished copying the necessary files, the following

screen will appear. In order for the drivers to be installed properly, you

must restart your computer. If you choose to do it now, select Yes, I want

to restart my computer now. If you do not want to do it now, choose No,

I will restart my computer later. Once you have made your choice, click

the Finish button to continue.

2. The following screen should appear. You will be prompted to enter an SSID

value in the box provided. All SSID values on your wireless network must

match. If you are unsure, use the default value of “linksys”. Then, click the

Next button.

3. The next screen to appear will be the Review Settings screen. Verify that

all the settings are correct and click the Next button to continue.

1312

Note: Restart the computer and go to the section called

Installing the Wireless PCI Card for further instructions.

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

Installing the Drivers and

Configuration Utility for Windows NT

The installation of the Wireless PCI Card is different for users of Windows NT

because it is not a Plug-and-Play(PnP) system, which means it will not auto-

matically detect the presence of the Wireless PCI Card when it is inserted.

Consequently, the order of the installation is different. The steps involved in

the installation are different, as well. If you are using any other operating sys-

tem than Windows NT, stop here and refer to the section called Installing the

Drivers and Configuration Utility for Windows 95, 98, ME, and 2000.

Windows NT will setup the Wireless PCI Card differently depending upon

whether you’ve previously installed network hardware or not. Please follow the

instructions appropriate for you.

If You Have Never Installed Network Hardware:

1. Windows NT is not a Plug-and-Play Operating System and will not auto-

matically identify the Wireless PCI Card. To begin setup, insert the Setup

Utility CD into your CD-ROM drive. If the Setup Utility CD attempts to

autorun, exit out of the utility to the desktop. Then select Settings from the

Start Menu and bring up the

Control Panel. Then, double-

click on the Network icon.

Overview

Installing the Wireless PCI Card

1. Turn off your desktop PC.

2. Open your PC case and locate an available PCI slot on the motherboard.

Check with your computer manufacturer for instructions.

3. Slide the Wireless PCI Card into the PCI slot. Make sure that all of its

pins are touching the slot's contacts. You may have to apply a bit of pressure

to slide the card all the way in. After the card is firmly in place, secure its

fastening tab to your PC's chassis with a mounting screw. Then, close your

PC.

4. Attach the external antenna to the card’s antenna port.

5. Power on your desktop PC.

The Hardware Installation is complete. Your Wireless PCI Card is set up

and ready for use. You may continue reading to learn about the card’s

Configuration Utility in the Configuration Utility section.

Installing the Wireless PCI Card In Your Desktop PC

1514

Installing the Drivers for Windows NT

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

4. The next screen will not show any Network Adapters installed on your sys-

tem, which signifies that no network hardware has been previously installed.

Click the Select from list button to continue.

5.A list of adapters

will appear on the

next screen. You

will not want to

select one of these,

however, as your

installation disk

(Setup Utility CD)

has all of the appro-

priate drivers. Click

the Have Disk but-

ton to continue.

6. When the Insert

Disk screen appears,

type “D:\WINNT”

in the field provided.

Then, click the OK

button to continue.

2. Windows will notify you that Networking is not installed. Click the Yes but-

ton to continue. (If Networking is already installed, proceed to “If You Have

Installed Network Hardware Before”.)

3. Installation will begin and you will reach the screen shown below. You will

want to select the box that reads Wired to the network since you are adding

network hardware. Then, click the Next button to continue.

1716

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

9.The next screen will show a list of network protocols. While the TCP/IP

Protocol is already selected by default, you should check with your network

administrator before installing any additional network protocols. Click the

Next button to continue.

10. On the screen showing Network Services, the selections are automatically

made. Click the Next button to continue.

7.The Select OEM Option screen will display all available adapters. Make

sure that Instant Wireless PCI Card is highlighted and click the OK

button to continue.

8. On the next screen, make sure there is a check mark in the box beside

Instant Wireless PCI Card. Then click the Next button to continue.

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

13. You will now reach the screen shown here. This is called the Resources &

Properties screen. Your System Administrator if you have one, will give

you all the information you need concerning these settings. Adjust the set-

tings as are appropriate and click the OK button.

14. After setting the Resource and Properties fields, Windows NT will begin

installing the network components you previously selected. You may be

asked if you would like to configure the protocols with a DHCP server on

your network. If this screen comes up, check with your Network

Administrator before clicking the Yes or No button to continue. This set-

ting may also be changed at a later time.

11. At this point, Windows NT will be ready to start installing Networking

Components. After verifying your selections, click the Next button to con-

tinue. Or, click the Back button to make any necessary corrections.

12. Windows NT may

request further files

at this point. Type

“D:\WINNT” in

the field provided

and click the

Continue button.

If files are still

requested, insert

your Windows NT

CD into your CD-

ROM drive and

type “D:\i386”

(where “D” repre-

sents your CD-

ROM drive). Then,

click the Continue

button.

2120

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

17. On this screen, you will enter your Computer Name, which is how your

computer will be identified on the network. You will also assign the com-

puter to either a Workgroup or Domain, whichever is appropriate. The

Computer Name must be different than any other on the Workgroup or

Domain. Click the Next button.

18. Once the drivers have been installed, the following screen may appear.

15. Now, the network components will finish installing. If a screen similar to

that shown here appears, be sure to check with your network administrator

before making ANY changes and then click the Next button to continue.

16. At this point, Windows NT will let you know that it is ready to start the

network. If you’d like to stop the procedure, click the Back button. To con-

tinue, click the Next button.

2322

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

2. To add the Wireless PCI Card,

you will want to click the

Adapters tab and then click

the Add button to continue.

3. A list of adapters

will appear on the

next screen. You will

not want to select

one of these, howev-

er, as your installa-

tion disk (Setup

Utility CD) has all

of the appropriate

drivers. Click the

Have Disk button to

continue.

Make sure that the Instant Wireless™ Wireless PCI Card appears in the

Adapter window. Then, unless you need to assign a static IP address, select

Obtain an IP address from a DHCP server and click the OK button. If

you need to assign a static IP address, select Specify and IP Address, and

enter the appropriate values under IP Address, Gateway Mask, and Default

Gateway. When you have made your choice, click the OK button.

Windows NT has now completed installing the network. Remove the Setup

CD from the CD-ROM drive and click the Finish button to continue. Then

restart your computer.

The Driver Installation is complete. Continue now to the section called

Installing the Configuration Utility for Windows NT.

If You Have Installed Network Hardware Before:

1. Windows NT is not a Plug-and-Play Operating System and will not auto-

matically identify the Wireless PCI Card. To begin setup, insert the Setup

Utility CD into your CD-ROM drive and then select Settings from the Start

Menu and bring up the Control Panel. Then, double-click on the Network

icon.

NOTE: After you have installed the Wireless PCI Card, reapply

the Windows NT service pack.

2524

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

7. The Wireless PCI Card has

now been installed. You will

see it added onto this screen.

Click the Close button to

continue and then restart

your computer.

Once the installation has com-

pleted, the following screen

may appear, depending on the

configuration of your comput-

er.

NOTE: After you

have installed the

Wireless PCI Card,

reapply the Windows

NT service pack.

4. On the Insert Disk screen, type “D:\WINNT” in the field provided. Then,

click the OK button to continue.

5. The Select OEM Option screen will display all available adapters. Make

sure that Instant Wireless PCI Card is highlighted and click the OK

button to continue.

6. You will now reach the screen

shown below. This is called

the Resources & Properties

screen. Your System

Administrator will give you

all the information you need

concerning these settings. If

you are the System

Administrator, or just need

more information concern-

ing these settings, refer to the

section called Configuring

the Wireless PCI Card for

Windows NT. Adjust the

settings as are appropriate

and click the OK button.

Instant WirelessTM Series

Wireless PCI Card

Instant WirelessTM Series

Once you have restarted your computer, the drivers for the Card should load

successfully. Now it is necessary to install the Configuration Utility. Insert

the Setup CD in the CD-ROM drive. Unless you have deactivated the auto-

run feature of Windows, the following screen should appear automatically.

If this screen does not appear automatically, you can access the installation by

pressing the Start button and choosing Run. In the drop down box provided,

type D:\setup.exe (where D: is the letter of your CD-ROM drive).

Alternately, double-click My Computer, and then double-click the CD-ROM

drive where the Setup CD is located. Then double-click the Setup.exe icon

that appears. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen. If you have

any questions or difficulty, refer to the section called Installing the Drivers

and Configuration Utility for Windows 95, 98, ME and 2000.

If the window does appear, make sure that the Instant Wireless™ Wireless

PCI Card appears in the Adapter window. Then, unless you need to assign a

static IP address, select Obtain an IP address from a DHCP server and

click the OK button. If you need to assign a static IP address, select Specify

and IP Address, and enter the appropriate values under IP Address,

Gateway Mask, and Default Gateway. When you have made your choice,

click the OK button.

Windows NT has now completed installing the drivers. Remove the Setup CD

from the CD-ROM drive and click the Finish button to continue. Then restart

your computer.

The Driver Installation is complete. Continue now to the section called

Installing the Configuration Utility for Windows NT.

Installing the Configuration Utility for Windows NT

2928

Wireless PCI Card

LINK INFO

The Link Info screen provides information about the current link between the

Wireless PCI Card and the wireless Access Point.

The Current Channel field shows to what channel the Wireless PCI Card is set.

The Current Transmit Rate field shows the transfer rate in megabits per second.

The Throughput fields show the rate at which data is transferred and received in

Bytes per second.

The Link Quality field will display a bar indicating the percentage, between 0 and

100 percent, of the quality of the link. The higher the percentage, the better the

link.

The Signal Strength field will display a bar indicating the percentage, between 0

and 100 percent, of the strength of the signal. The higher the percentage, the

stronger the signal. (This is to be used as a guide only and not an indicator true

signal strength or quality.)

Note: When in

Ad-Hoc mode,

Link Quality and

Signal Strength

indicators will

not be available.

Configuration Utility

The Configuration Utility is provided to allow you further customization of

the Wireless PCI Card and your wireless network.

Once the Configuration Utility has been installed, an icon will be placed in the

system tray (next to the clock) when the Wireless PCI Card is inserted.

This icon (which looks like a

small computer) serves two pur-

poses. Double-clicking on the

icon will open the Configuration

Utility. The other function of the icon is to indicate the status of your wireless

connection. The icon does this by changing color. The different colors each

indicate a different quality of wireless connection. The chart below details

what the colors are and what each one means.

You can also start the Configuration Utility by pressing the Start button and

selecting Wireless PCI Card. Then choose Configuration Utility. You will see

the Wireless LAN Configuration Utility screen. This utility is divided into four

parts: Link Info, Configuration, Site Survey, Encryption, Advanced, and

About. It is recommended that you change all configuration settings for your

Wireless PCI Card using this utility and not under the Network Properties sec-

tion in your Control Panel.

Instant WirelessTM Series

Using the Configuration Utility

Note: In Ad-Hoc mode, the icon will always appear green. When in

this mode, the icon color does not apply to the Link Quality and Signal

Strength of the wireless connection.

Wireless PCI Card

3332

The Channel setting specifies the channel used in wireless communication and

should be set to the same channel as the other points in the wireless network.

This setting can only be adjusted in Ad-Hoc mode.

ENCRYPTION

The 64-bit or 128-bit WEP keys can be generated from a user-defined

passphrase or entered manually.

An acronym for Wired Equivalent Privacy, WEP is an encryption scheme used

to protect your wireless data communications. WEP uses a combination of 64-

bit or 128-bit keys to provide access control to your network and encryption

security for every data transmission. To decode a data transmission, each point

in a network must use an identical 64-bit or 128-bit key. Higher encryption

levels mean higher levels of security, but, due to the complexity of the encryp-

tion, they may mean decreased network performance.

Encryption (WEP) can be Disabled, or set to 64-bit or 128-bit encryption as

a hexadecimal number for each key that you wish to encrypt. Make sure that

the values entered in these fields for WEP is identical to the encryption keys

used on the other wireless devices on the network.

CONFIGURATION

The Configuration screen allows you to customize the settings for the Wireless

PCI Card and your wireless network. Once these are set, you can save these

configuration settings with the Profile function. Click Create to save your con-

figuration settings and Activate to use these settings. To delete settings you

have saved, use the Remove button.

The Wireless Mode setting determines the architecture of your wireless net-

work. Select Ad-Hoc or Infrastructure Mode depending on your network

type. The Ad-Hoc mode is used for a simple peer-to-peer network and allows

the sharing of local resources only between Wireless PCI Cards without need-

ing a wireless Access Point. The Infrastructure mode allows a wireless net-

work to be integrated into an existed, wired network through an Access Point.

Infrastructure networks permit roaming between Access Points while main-

taining a connection to all network resources.

An acronym for Service Set Identifier, SSID is the unique name shared among

all points in a wireless network. The SSID must be identical for all points in the

network. It is case sensitive and must not exceed 32 characters.

The Transfer Rate field shows the current transfer rate for the Wireless PCI

Card. To optimize

performance and

range, the TX Rate

should be set to

Fully Automatic,

which will automati-

cally adjust the

transfer speed for

best performance

and longest range.

Power Saving Mode,

or PS Mode,

enables or disables

the power saving

features of your

Wireless PCI Card.

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

The Default Key can then be set by selecting any of the four keys that have been

entered in the Manual Entry fields. That key will then be the one used auto-

matically by the Wireless PCI Card.

Once you have chosen your key encryption method and entered either the

Passphrase or manual key, click the Apply Changes button Then click the OK

button and the encryption portion of the setup is complete. To undo these

changes, click the Undo Changes button.

You can also restore the card’s default settings by clicking the Restore Defaults

button.

ENCRYPTION

The Site Survey tab will show you that available Access Points and their fea-

tures. Click on the desired Access Point, then click Connect to connect or

Search to search for more Access Points. Click OK when you are finished.

Instant WirelessTM Series

Note: Make sure that the values entered in these fields for WEP are identical

to the encryption keys used on the other wireless devices on the network.

ADVANCED

The Advanced tab allows you to set the Fragmentation Threshold, the

RTS/CTS Threshold, and the Preamble Type. The Fragmentation Threshold

Value indicates how much of the network resources are devoted to recovering

packet errors. The value should remain at its default setting of 2,436. If you

experience high packet error rates, you can decrease this value, but it will like-

ly decrease overall network performance. Only minor modifications of this

value are recommended.

The RTS Threshold Value should remain at its default setting of 2,437. A pre-

amble is a signal used to synchronize the transmission timing between two or

more systems. A series of transmission pulses is sent before the data to indi-

cate that "someone is about to transmit data". This ensures that systems receiv-

ing the information correctly interpret when the data transmission starts.

Security is used for WEP only. By selecting Deny Unencrypted Data

Frames, all unencrypted data will not be seen. For Authentication Type, you

may choose between Open System or Shared Key.

Wireless PCI Card

Installing Network Protocols

Protocols are necessary for computers to communicate on your network.

1. From the Start Menu, select Settings and bring up the Control Panel. From

the Control Panel, double-click on the Network icon.

2. Select the Wireless PCI Card from the list and click the Add button.

Shared Key is when both the sender and recipient share a secret key. Both units

use this key for an extended length of time, sometimes indefinitely. Any eaves-

dropper that discovers the key may decipher all packets until the key is

changed.

Open System, the default setting, is when the sender and the recipient do not

share a secret key. Each party generates its own key-pair and asks the receiver

to accept the (usually randomly) generated key. Once accepted, this key is used

for a short time only, then a new key is generated and agreed upon. Even if the

secret key is discovered, only a small amount of data may be decrypted.

The Preamble Mode should be set to Long (if in a “noisy” network environ-

ment), Short (if the environment is clear), or click OK to complete the con-

figuration

ABOUT

The About screen shows the release information for the Driver Version,

Configuration Utility Version, and Firmware Version. You can also connect

directly to the Linksys web site with your active internet connection by click-

ing the button showing the internet address at the bottom of the screen.

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

3. Highlight Protocol and click

the Add button.

4. Select Microsoft

from the list of

“Manufacturers”

and TCP/IP from

the list of “Network

Protocols” and

click the OK but-

ton.

5. Repeat steps two through four to install other protocols such as NetBEUI or

IPX/SPX.

From the screen in step two,

you can also press the

Properties button. From this

screen, you can verify that

the drivers are working under

Enhanced Mode on the

Driver Type tab or reconfig-

ure the card on the Advanced

tab.

At this point, you must

restart your computer.

Installation is complete.

Troubleshooting

This chapter provides solutions to problems usually occurring during the instal-

lation and operation of the Wireless PCI Card. Read the description below to

solve your problems. If you can’t find an answer here, check the Linksys web-

site at www.linksys.com.

1.The Wireless PCI Card does not work properly.

• Reinsert the Wireless PCI Card into your PC’s PCI slot.

• Right click on My Computer and select Properties. Select the device man-

ager and click on the Network Adapter. You will find the Wireless PCI Card

if it is installed successfully. If you see the yellow exclamation mark, the

resources are conflicting. You will see the status of the Wireless PCI Card. If

there is a yellow question mark, please check the following:

• Make sure your PC has a free IRQ.

• Make sure you have inserted the right card and installed the proper

driver.

If the Wireless PCI Card does not function after attempting the above steps,

remove the card and do the following:

• Uninstall the driver software from your PC.

• Restart your PC and repeat the hardware and software installation as

specified in this User Guide.

3.I cannot communicate with the other computers linked via Ethernet in

the Infrastructure configuration.

• Make sure that the notebook PC to which the Wireless PCI Card is associat-

ed is powered on.

• Make sure that your Wireless PCI Card is configured on the same channel

and with the same security options as with the other computers in the

Infrastructure configuration.

Can I run an application from a remote computer over the wireless net-

work?

This will depend on whether or not the application is designed to be used over

a network. Consult the application's user guide to determine if it supports oper-

ation over a network.

Common Problems and Solutions

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

Frequently Asked Questions

factors as signal strength and quality, as well as the message load currently

being carried by each Access Point and the distance of each Access Point to the

wired backbone. Based on that information, the node next selects the right

Access Point and registers its address. Communications between end node and

host computer can then be transmitted up and down the backbone.

As the user moves on, the end nodes RF transmitter regularly checks the sys-

tem to determine whether it is in touch with the original Access Point or

whether it should seek a new one. When a node no longer receives acknowl-

edgment from its original Access Point, it undertakes a new search. Upon find-

ing a new Access Point, it then reregisters, and the communication process con-

tinues.

What is BSS ID?

A specific Ad hoc LAN is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). Computers in a

BSS must be configured with the same BSS ID.

What is ESS ID?

An Infrastructure configuration could also support roaming capability for

mobile workers. More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service

Set (ESS). Users within an ESS could Roam freely between BSSs while served

as a continuous connection to the network wireless stations and Access Points

within an ESS must be configured with the same ESS ID and the same radio

channel.

What is ISM band?

The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U.S. have set aside bandwidth

for unlicensed use in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band.

Spectrum in the vicinity of 2.4 GHz, in particular, is being made available

worldwide. This presents a truly revolutionary opportunity to place convenient

high-speed wireless capabilities in the hands of users around the globe.

What is Spread Spectrum?

Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique devel-

oped by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communica-

tions systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability,

integrity, and security. In other words, more bandwidth is consumed than in the

case of narrowband transmission, but the trade off produces a signal that is, in

effect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the receiver knows the

parameters of the spread-spectrum signal being broadcast. If a receiver is not

tuned to the right frequency, a spread-spectrum signal looks like background

noise. There are two main alternatives, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum

(DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).

Can I play multiplayer games with other members of the wireless network?

Yes, as long as the game supports multiple players over a LAN (local area net-

work). Refer to the game's user guide for more information.

What is IEEE 802.11b standard?

The IEEE 802.11b Wireless LAN standards subcommittee, which is formulat-

ing a standard for the industry. The objective is to enable wireless LAN hard-

ware from different manufacturers to communicate.

What IEEE 802.11b features are supported?

The product supports the following IEEE 802.11b functions:

• CSMA/CA plus Acknowledge protocol

• Multi-Channel Roaming

• Automatic Rate Selection

• RTS/CTS feature

• Fragmentation

• Power Management

What is Ad-Hoc?

An Ad-Hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers, each with a WLAN adapter,

connected as an independent wireless LAN. Ad hoc wireless LAN is applica-

ble at a departmental scale for a branch or SOHO operation.

What is Infrastructure?

An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure configura-

tion. Infrastructure is applicable to enterprise scale for wireless access to cen-

tral database, or wireless application for mobile workers.

What is Roaming?

Roaming is the ability of a portable computer user to communicate continu-

ously while moving freely throughout an area greater than that covered by a sin-

gle Access Point. Before using the roaming function, the workstation must

make sure that it is the same channel number with the Access Point of dedicat-

ed coverage area.

To achieve true seamless connectivity, the wireless LAN must incorporate a

number of different functions. Each node and Access Point, for example, must

always acknowledge receipt of each message. Each node must maintain contact

with the wireless network even when not actually transmitting data. Achieving

these functions simultaneously requires a dynamic RF networking technology

that links Access Points and nodes. In such a system, the user’s end node under-

takes a search for the best possible access to the system. First, it evaluates such

Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PCI Card

Glossary

Ad-hoc Network - An ad-hoc network is a wireless network or other small net-

work in which some of the network devices are part of the network only for the

duration of a communications session while in some close proximity to the rest

of the network.

Default Gateway - The router used to forward all traffic that is not addressed

to a station within the local subnet.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - A protocol that lets network

administrators manage centrally and automate the assignment of Internet

Protocol (IP) addresses in an organization's network. Using the Internet's set of

protocol (TCP/IP), each machine that can connect to the Internet needs a

unique IP address. When an organization sets up its computer users with a con-

nection to the Internet, an IP address must be assigned to each machine.

Without DHCP, the IP address must be entered manually at each computer and,

if computers move to another location in another part of the network, a new IP

address must be entered. DHCP lets a network administrator supervise and dis-

tribute IP addresses from a central point and automatically sends a new IP

address when a computer is plugged into a different place in the network.

DHCP uses the concept of a "lease" or amount of time that a given IP address

will be valid for a computer. The lease time can vary depending on how long a

user is likely to require the Internet connection at a particular location. It's espe-

cially useful in education and other environments where users change fre-

quently. Using very short leases, DHCP can dynamically reconfigure networks

in which there are more computers than there are available IP addresses.

DHCP supports static addresses for computers containing Web servers that

need a permanent IP address.

DNS - The domain name system (DNS) is the way that Internet domain name

are located and translated into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. A domain name

is a meaningful and easy-to-remember "handle" for an Internet address.

Wireless PCI Card

What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences?

Frequency-Hopping Spread-Spectrum (FHSS) uses a narrowband carrier that

changes frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver.

Properly synchronized, the net effect is to maintain a single logical channel. To

an unintended receiver, FHSS appears to be short-duration impulse noise.

Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum (DSSS) generates a redundant bit pattern

for each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chipping

code). The longer the chip, the greater the probability that the original data can

be recovered. Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during trans-

mission, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the original

data without -the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS

appears as low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most nar-

rowband receivers.

Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air?

WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, as with

Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology, it has the inherent security fea-

ture of scrambling. On the software side, WLAN series offer the encryption

function (WEP) to enhance security and Access Control. Users can set it up

depending upon their needs.

Can Instant WirelessTM products support printer sharing?

Instant WirelessTM products perform the same function as LAN products.

Therefore, Instant Wireless™ products can work with NetWare, Windows

2000, or other LAN operating systems to support printer or file sharing.

What is WEP?

WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a 40 bit

shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11b standard.

Instant WirelessTM Series

IP Address - In the most widely installed level of the Internet Protocol (IP)

today, an IP address is a 32-binary digit number that identifies each sender or

receiver of information that is sent in packet across the Internet. When you

request an HTML page or send e-mail, the Internet Protocol part of TCP/IP

includes your IP address in the message (actually, in each of the packets if more

than one is required) and sends it to the IP address that is obtained by looking

up the domain name in the Uniform Resource Locator you requested or in the

e-mail address you're sending a note to. At the other end, the recipient can see

the IP address of the Web page requestor or the e-mail sender and can respond

by sending another message using the IP address it received.

IPCONIFG - A utility that provides for querying, defining and managing IP

addresses within a network. A commonly used utility, under Windows NT and

2000, for configuring networks with static IP addresses.

ISP - An ISP (Internet service provider) is a company that provides individuals

and companies access to the Internet and other related services such as Web site

building and virtual hosting.

LAN - A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated

devices that share a common communications line and typically share the

resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for

example, within an office building).

MAC Address - The MAC (Media Access Control) address is your computer's

unique hardware number.

mIRC - mIRC runs under Windows and provides a graphical interface for log-

ging onto IRC servers and listing, joining and leaving channels.

Network Mask - also known as the “Subnet Mask”.

PCMCIA - The PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International

Association) is an industry group organized in 1989 to promote standards for a

credit card-size memory or I/O device that would fit into a personal computer,

usually a notebook or laptop computer.

Ping - (Packet INternet Groper) An Internet utility used to determine whether

a particular IP address is online. It is used to test and debug a network by send-

ing out a packet and waiting for a response.

Wireless PCI Card

DSSS - Also known as “Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum”, this is a variety of

radio transmission methods that continuously change frequencies or signal pat-

terns. Direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS), which is used in CDMA, mul-

tiplies the data bits by a very fast pseudo-random bit pattern (PN sequence) that

"spreads" the data into a large coded stream that takes the full bandwidth of the

channel

Dynamic IP Address - An IP address that is automatically assigned to a client

station in a TCP/IP network, typically by a DHCP server. Network devices that

serve multiple users, such as servers and printers, are usually assigned static IP

addresses.

ESS - More than one BSS in a network.

FHSS - Also known as “Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum”. Frequency

hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) continuously changes the center frequency of

a conventional carrier several times per second according to a pseudo-random

set of channels, while chirp spread spectrum changes the carrier frequency.

Because a fixed frequency is not used, illegal monitoring of spread spectrum

signals is extremely difficult, if not downright impossible depending on the

particular method.

Firmware - Programming that is inserted into programmable read-only mem-

ory (programmable read-only memory), thus becoming a permanent part of a

computing device.

IEEE - The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The IEEE

describes itself as "the world's largest technical professional society -- promot-

ing the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences

for the benefit of humanity, the advancement of the profession, and the well-

being of our members."

The IEEE fosters the development of standards that often become national and

international standards. The organization publishes a number of journals, has

many local chapters, and several large societies in special areas, such as the

IEEE Computer Society.

Infrastructure - An infrastructure network is a wireless network or other small

network in which the wireless network devices are made a part of the network

through the Access Point which connects them to the rest of the network.

Instant WirelessTM Series

UTP - Unshielded twisted pair is the most common kind of copper telephone

wiring. Twisted pair is the ordinary copper wire that connects home and many

business computers to the telephone company. To reduce crosstalk or electro-

magnetic induction between pairs of wires, two insulated copper wires are

twisted around each other. Each signal on twisted pair requires both wires.

Since some telephone sets or desktop locations require multiple connections,

twisted pair is sometimes installed in two or more pairs, all within a single

cable.

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) - A data privacy mechanism based on a 64-

bit shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11 standard.

WINIPCFG - Configuration utility based on the Win32 API for querying,

defining and managing IP addresses within a network. A commonly used util-

ity, under Windows 95, 98, and Millennium, for configuring networks with

static IP addresses.

Wireless PCI Card

RJ-45 - A connector similar to a telephone connector that holds up to eight

wires, used for connecting Ethernet devices.

Roaming - The ability to use a wireless device and be able to move from one

access point’s range to another without losing the connection.

Static IP Address - A permanent IP address that is assigned to a node in a

TCP/IP network.

Subnet Mask - The method used for splitting IP networks into a series of sub-

groups, or subnets. The mask is a binary pattern that is matched up with the IP

address to turn part of the host ID address field into a field for subnets.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - A method (protocol) used along with

the Internet Protocol (Internet Protocol) to send data in the form of message

units between computers over the Internet. While IP takes care of handling the

actual delivery of the data, TCP takes care of keeping track of the individual

units of data (called packet) that a message is divided into for efficient routing

through the Internet.

TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the

basic communication language or protocol of the Internet. It can also be used

as a communications protocol in a private network (either an intranet or an

extranet). When you are set up with direct access to the Internet, your comput-

er is provided with a copy of the TCP/IP program just as every other computer

that you may send messages to or get information from also has a copy of

TCP/IP.

UDP (User Datagram Protocol) - A communications method (protocol) that

offers a limited amount of service when messages are exchanged between com-

puters in a network that uses the Internet Protocol (IP). UDP is an alternative

to the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and, together with IP, is sometimes

referred to as UDP/IP. Like the Transmission Control Protocol, UDP uses the

Internet Protocol to actually get a data unit (called a datagram) from one com-

puter to another. Unlike TCP, however, UDP does not provide the service of

dividing a message into packets (datagrams) and reassembling it at the other

end. Specifically, UDP doesn't provide sequencing of the packets that the data

arrives in. This means that the application program that uses UDP must be able

to make sure that the entire message has arrived and is in the right order.

Network applications that want to save processing time because they have very

small data units to exchange (and therefore very little message reassembling to

do) may prefer UDP to TCP.

Instant WirelessTM Series

Specifications

Standards: IEEE 802.11b

Channels: 11 Channels (US, Canada)

13 Channels (Europe)

14 Channels (Japan)

Operating Range:

Indoors: up to 30M (100 ft.) @ up to 11 Mbps

up to 50M (165 ft.) @ up to 5.5 Mbps

up to 70M (230 ft.) @ up to 2 Mbps

up to 91M (300 ft.) @ up to 1 Mpbs

Outdoors: up to 152M (500 ft.) @ up to 11 Mbps

up to 270M (885 ft.) @ up to 5.5 Mbps

up to 396M (1300 ft.) @ up to 2 Mbps

up to 457M (1500 ft.) @ up to 1 Mbps

Data Rate (Mbps): up to 11Mbps (with automatic scale back)

LEDs: Link, Power

Dimensions: 4.5” x 2” x .3” (115mm x 54mm x 8mm)

Unit Weight: 1.65 oz. (47g)

Power: 3.3V or 5V DC, 275mA Tx, 225mA Rx,

200mA Standby

Certifications: FCC Class B, CE Mark Commercial

Operating Temp.: 32ºF to 131ºF (0ºC to 55ºC)

Storage Temp.: -4ºF to 158ºF (-20ºC to 70ºC)

Operating Hum.: 0% to 90% Non-Condensing

Storage Hum.: 0% to 95% Non-Condensing

Warranty Information

BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODE

FROM THE PRODUCT'S PACKAGING ON HAND WHEN CALLING.

RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT PROOF OF

PURCHASE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS’ LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAID

FOR THE PRODUCT FROM DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDEN-

TAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE

OF THE PRODUCT, ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFTWARE, OR ITS DOCU-

MENTATION. LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANY PROD-

UCT.

LINKSYS OFFERS CROSS SHIPMENTS, A FASTER PROCESS FOR PRO-

CESSING AND RECEIVING YOUR REPLACEMENT. LINKSYS PAYS

FOR UPS GROUND ONLY. ALL CUSTOMERS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA SHALL BE HELD

RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES. PLEASE

CALL LINKSYS FOR MORE DETAILS.

Wireless PCI Card

Environmental

Instant WirelessTM Series

Contact Information

For help with the installation or operation of this product, contact Linksys

Customer Support at one of the phone numbers or Internet addresses below.

Sales Information 800-546-5797 (LINKSYS)

Tech Support 866-242-8558

RMA Issues 949-261-1288

Fax 949-261-8868

Email support@linksys.com

Web http://www.linksys.com

FTP Site ftp.linksys.com

Instant WirelessTM Series

http://www.linksys.com

Cisco Linksys WMP11-V27 Instant Wireless PCI Card User Manual wmp11 user guide

Cisco-Linksys, LLC Instant Wireless PCI Card wmp11 user guide

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