GemTek Technology WL280 11 Mbps Wireless LAN USB Terminal Device User Manual WL280 1 0FCC1

Gemtek Technology Co., Ltd. 11 Mbps Wireless LAN USB Terminal Device WL280 1 0FCC1

users manual

User ManualWL-280USB Card Version 1.0 – Sep 2000
Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protectionagainst harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and canradiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, maycause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interferencewill not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio ortelevision reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user isencouraged to try to correct the interference by one of the following measures: -Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. -Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. -Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. -Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. FCC Caution: To assure continued compliance, (example - use only shielded interface cables whenconnecting to computer or peripheral devices). Any changes or modifications not expressly approvedby the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.Responsible Party: Synnex Co;LTD. 3797 Spinnaker Ct. Fremont,CA 9453 Jim Nguyen Fax No: 510-668-3602Telephone No: 510-656-3333 Email Address : jimn@synnex.com
FCC Radiation Exposure StatementThis equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment.This equipment should be installed and operated with the minimum distance between your body andthe antenna as shown in the table below:Integrated USB Antenna 20cm (7 inches)
1. Contents1Contents ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 32Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………… 43Wireless LAN Basics………………………………………………………………………………….64. Installation for Windows 95 (OSR2)/98………………….………………………………………….7 4.1 Installation Overview……………………………….……………………………………………8 4.2. Installation Procedure of WL-280 USB WLANCard…………………………………………….……..95. Configuration Utilit …………………………………..………………………………………………116. Troubleshooting …….……………………………………………………………….………………187. Technical specifications of WL-280..………………………………………….……………………19
2. IntroductionThank you for purchasing your Wireless LAN, WL-280 USB WLAN Card. This manual will assist youwith the installation procedure.The package you have received should contain the following items:• WL-280 USB WLAN Card• User manual• Diskette containing Wireless LAN Management utility and driversNote: if anything is missing, please contact your vendorThe diskette contains the drivers and the program Gtutil that is used for managing the WL-280 USBCard and establishing the wireless connection with your Local Area Network.
3. Wireless LAN BasicsWireless LAN (Local Area Networks) systems offer a great number of advantages over a traditional,wired system. Wireless LANs (WLANs) are more flexible, easier to setup and manage and often morecost effective than their wired equivalence.Using radio frequency (RF) technology, WLANs transmit and receive data over the air, minimizing theneed for wired connections. Thus, WLANs combine data connectivity with user mobility, and, throughsimplified configuration, enable movable LANs.With wireless LANs, users can access shared information without looking for a place to plug in andnetwork managers can set up or augment networks without installing or moving wires. Wireless LANsoffer the following productivity, convenience and cost advantages over traditional wired networks:• Mobility - Wireless LAN systems can provide LAN users with access to real-time informationanywhere in their organization. This mobility supports productivity and service opportunities notpossible with wired networks. • Installation Speed and Simplicity - Installing a wireless LAN system can be fast and easy and caneliminate the need to pull cable through walls and ceilings. • Installation Flexibility - Wireless technology allows the network to go where wires cannot go. • Reduced Cost-of-Ownership - While the initial investment required for wireless LAN hardwaremight be higher than the cost of wired LAN hardware, overall installation expenses and life-cyclecosts will be significantly lower. Long-term cost benefits are greatest in dynamic environmentsrequiring frequent moves, adds, and changes. • Scalability - Wireless LAN systems can be configured in a variety of topologies to meet the needsof specific applications and installations. Configurations are easily changed and range from peer-to-peer networks suitable for a small number of users to full infrastructure networks of thousandsof users that allows roaming over a broad area.
AP-1100WINNT SERVERWIN 2000NT WorkstationWIN98 NotebookFor PC CardHub AP-550WinCEWX-1150Access Point
4. Installation for Windows 98/2000The following section will assist you to in installing wireless LAN Adapter successfully. You will firstinstall software (driver) and then insert the WL-280 wireless LAN card, and finally set the networkproperties to accommodate resource sharing and select the type of wireless network that you wish toinstall. The WL-280 can easily be installed and used, without bothering to connect cables for keepingyour computer to use network resources, as in case of wired LAN.
4.1. Installation OverviewHere are some steps you will perform in establishing your wireless network connection:l Install the Access Point at first. AP is needed in case of Infrastructure network mode.l Install the software using the Installation Diskette.l Install the Wireless LAN Card (WL-280).l Install the network protocol(s) required to communicate on your network. Most likely you will needthe TCP/IP protocol.
4.2. Installation Procedure of WL-280 USB WLAN CardPlease follow the following steps one by one in order to install the USB card successfully.1. Power on your computer and allow Windows 98/2000 to load fully.2. Insert the given Installation Diskette and then click on the A:\disk1\ setup.exe.3. Accept the license agreement.4. Give the path of the destination folder. To set the path of your choice click on Browse and then clickNext.5. It takes a few seconds for copying the utility files and then click on Finish to complete the installation.6. Insert the WL-280 USB Card into USB slot , windows will then prompt the required driver7. Locate the driver path Ex. A:\ and install the driver8. Restart the PC and Click on the Control Panel9. Check for the GEMTEK 11Mbps Wireless USB LAN Card by right clicking on My Computer using the mouse. Select the Device manager and then Network Adapters. If you find the Yellow (?) sign on the adapter, it shows the installation is not successful. Select the adapter and click on Remove. Restart your computer after uninstalling the driver to make the changes effective. And refer to manual.10. Right click on the Network Neighborhood using the mouse.11. Select Properties from the pop up menu. The network box appears and you see three main tables:Configuration, Identification, and Access Control.12. Click on the Configuration tab and then click on the Add button. Select Network Component Typebox appears. Click on the Protocol the click the Add button.13. Select Network Protocols box appears. From the list of manufactures, click on Microsoft. From thelist of network protocols list, select NetBEUI, then click OK.14. The NetBEUI protocol is now installed. After clicking on OK return back to Network ComponentType box.15. Repeat the step 15 and 16 to add IPX/SPX protocol.16. Repeat the step 15 and 16 to add TCP/IP protocol.17. Click on the TCP/IP option for setting the IP address for your computer. You can select either Staticor DHCP setting. If you use the static IP setup then enter the IP value, Subnet masking , DNS,Domain/ Workgroup name, and Gateway Address values. After setting these parameterappropriately, click OK to return to Network Component Type and you can select the File andPrinter Sharing options as well as the Access to your computer bu other users connected to thatnetwork by setting the computer sharing options. Click on OK.
18. Screen message do want to restart your Computer will pop up. Select Yes. It will shut down yourcomputer and will restart.Proceed to chapter 5 for the explanation of the Configuration Utility.Important: Restart your computer to make the changes effective before you reinstall thedriver.
5. Configuration Utility GemTek Inc USB Card Wireless LAN adapter (GemTek NIC) uses his own management software. Allfunctions controlled by user are provided by this application. Usually this application startsautomatically, Use Start, Programs, GemTek Wireless LAN to start the Manager application. A new icon - should appear in your Icon tray. If the icon is marked with a red “X”, it means thatGemTek NIC configuration is invalid or incomplete. Sometimes icon can be colored in red. This canhappen when driver is in Pseudo BSS mode, and the radio channel, which is used for communicationis defined incorrectly. Figure 1 Icon tray with a new icon Figure 2: Error Icon Double clicking on that icon will show you the screen as shown below. Figure 3 Management window with “Status” tab open User can navigate through “sheets”, by clicking or tapping them with a stylus. “OK” button will minimizewindow, and “Exit” (or X button) will close application. Here we explain the use and meanings of thevarious screen messages.
The first three fields show your wireless network card state. Link status – indicates link accessibility. There are several values, that can be shown in this part ofthe window: Connected - BSSID=… – normal flow of operation in Infrastructure mode. The PC is connected to access point. BSSID is shown in the form of hex digits. Networking is available. No status… - the manager is retrieving information from the driver. If this text box value stays more than several seconds, it means that there are no access points or other workstations (if communicating in AdHoc mode), or that the GemTek NIC card is plugged out of PC. Scanning for access point – driver scans wireless network searching for available access point in Infrastructure mode. Disabled or disconnected - . If this text box value stays more than several seconds, it means that there are no access points or other workstations (if communicating in Pseudo BSS mode), or that the GemTek NIC card is plugged out of PC. Undefined– means critical driver error. This error is usually caused by hardware misconfiguration (for example the card with similar chipset inserted in USB Card bay, but not fully compatible with GemTek NIC). Input bytes/sec – shows the incoming (received) data speed, the progress bar below, means receiverload.Output bytes/sec – shows the outgoing (sent) data speed, the progress bar below, shows transmitterload.Signal strength : bar shows signal strength level. The higher blue bar is, the more powerful is radiosignal received by Gemtek USB Card. This indicator helps to find the most comfortableantenna/workstation position for quality network operation.Link quality: The measured signal level gives the overall Link Quality and Connection Status.
“CONFIGURATION” tabYou can change the configuration by clicking on the Change Configuration. When you click on theChange Configuration, you see the screen given below. Figure 4 Management window with "CONFIGURATION" tab open Five changeable fields in this field show desired GemTek NIC configuration.The fields are following: Station ESS ID Extended Service Set Identifier (Wireless Network Identifier) is the group name thatwill be shared by every member of your wireless network. You will only be able to connect with anAccess Point, which has the same ESS ID. Network mode shows one of these network modes:• Pseudo BSS -this is the 802.11 peer-to-peer mode of operation. In Ad Hoc only one wireless"cell" is supported for each different ESS ID. All communication is done from Client to Clientwithout the use of an Access Point.• Infrastructure This mode of operation requires the presence of an 802.11 Access Point. Allcommunication is done via the Access Point, which relays packets to other wireless Clients inthe BSS (Basic Service Set) as well as to nodes on a wired network such as Ethernet.
Encapsulation shows one of two different network packet forming modes• None or Encapsulated This setting takes the entire Ethernet frame, including the EthernetHeader, and puts it into an 802.11 frame. This setting is here for compatibility with some older802.11 implementations and should not normally be used.• RFC1042 where the DIX Ethernet frames are converted using SNAP header based onRFC1042. This mode will also convert any RFC1042 SNAP header frames to DIX Ethernetframes before transmission to the Ethernet interface.• 802.1h where the DIX Ethernet frames are tunneled using a full selective translation table. Thismode does not convert RFC1042 SNAP header frames to DIX Ethernet before transmission tothe Ethernet interfaceIt is required to select encapsulation mode corresponding to the one your access point or otherworkstations use. If the encapsulation mode is incorrect, the PC will join to access point or willbe seen by other workstations, but network operation will not work.Channel – shows radio channel number used for networking. Only Access Points and Ad Hoc nodescan create a BSS therefore this parameters is not active if Mode is Infrastructure. Infrastructure Clientnodes will always go the same channel as their AP. Please see the table for the requirements ofdifferent countries and the channel frequency.TX Rate: The transmission rate at which the data packets are transmitted by the client or AP. You canset this to Auto select I or 2Mbps, Fixed 1 Mbps, Fixed 2 Mbps, Fixed 5.5 Mbps, Fixed 11 or Full Auto(I to 11 Mbps).Important: You must know the TX Rate that your AP can support. Failure to which maycause the undesired results.
“ENCRYPTION” tabFigure 5 Management window with “Encryption” tab openYou may desire an additional measure of security on your wireless network, which can beachieved by using WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption. WEP encrypts each frametransmitted from the radio using one of the Keys entered from this panel.When an encrypted frame is received it will only be accepted if it decrypts correctly. This will onlyhappen if the receiver has the WEP Key used by the transmitter.This panel allows the entry of four keys, which can then be written to the driver and registry. Eachkey must consist of hex digits, it means that only digit 0-9 and letters A-F are valid entries. Ifentered incorrectly program will not write keys to a driver.Key 1 – Key 4: These four fields must be used to enter the keys.Write : This button updates the driver with the four keys displayed in Key1 through Key4. The keysare also written to the registry for permanent storage.Clear : This button clears all the bytes in the four keys, useful when entering and you wish to startover.
Default Key : This pop-up field defines one of the four keys which will be used by the driver toencrypt frames it will be transmitting. This field does not affect decryption, as the driver candecrypt any frame that it receives which was encrypted with one of the four keys.Enable : This checkbox enables or disables encryption operation. When it is checked, encryptionis enabled, and when unchecked – encryption is disabled. The corresponding action is written to adriver immediately.
“ABOUT” tab Figure 6 Management window with "ABOUT" tab openAbout tab shows a software version. Users must use this version number when reporting theirproblems to tech support.
6. TroubleshootingTo make the installation of Wireless LAN Card more users friendly, we have suggested following theinstallation steps one by one as listed in the section 4 and section 5. Still you encounter someproblems while installing the WLAN Card or you want to confirm whether your card is installed properlyor not, we have listed the procedure for checking the various components after you have installed thecard. In first part of Troubleshooting, we have suggested the users to check the various properties ofthe card to check the proper installation. In second section, we have listed the various problems thatyou may encounter during the installation and have also listed the possible solution. Check the firstpart to guess the probable reason of unsuccessful installation.
7. Technical specifications of WL-280Hardware compatibility− IBM-compatible computer with a USB portDriver supportNDIS 4.0− Windows 98− Windows 2000Standards supported− IEEE 802.11 standard for Wireless LAN− All major networking standards (including TCP/IP, IPX)EnvironmentalOperating temperature (ambient):− -10°C to 50°C (Operating),-20 to 70°C (Storing)− Max . Humidity:95% Non-condensingPower specificationsOperating voltage:− +5 V ,+3.3V DC ±5%− Nominal Temp Range: 17 dBm− Extended Temp Range: 14 dBm min.− Transmit Power, 2.7v to 3v: 14 dBm min.Radio specificationsRange:− per cell indoors approx. 35-100 meters or more− per cell outdoors up to 100-300 metersFrequency range:− 2.4-2.4835 GHz, direct sequence spread spectrumNumber of Channels:− Europe: 13 (3 non-overlapping)− US: 11 (3 non-overlapping)− France: 4 (1 non-overlapping)Antenna system:− Internal patch antenna supporting diversity.Mobility:− Seamless roaming across cell boundaries with handoverSpecific features
Supported bit rates:− 11 Mbps− 5.5 Mbps− 1 Mbps− 2 MbpsData encryption:− 40 bit WEP Encryption, 128-bit key length optionalUtility Software:− Link Config™ User setup & diagnostics toolKey Management:− Automatic Dynamic Key Allocation (ADKA) through public keyPhysical Dimensions− USB Card 102 x 72 x 20 mm− Weight 750g
EC-Conformity DeclarationFor the following equipment: USB WIRELESS LAN CARD (Product Name) WL-280 (Model Designation)is herewith confirmed to comply with the requirements set out in the Council Directiveon the Approximation of the Laws of the Member States relating to ElectromagneticCompatibility (89/336/EEC), Low-voltage Directive (72/23/EEC) and the AmendmentDirective (93/68/EEC). For the evaluation regarding the electromagnetic compatibility,the following standards were applied: ETS 300 328 : Nov. 1996 ETS 300 328 A1: July 1997 ETS 300 826 : Nov. 1997 EN 60950:1992 +A1:1993+A2:1993+A3:1995+A4:1996+A11:1997 The following importer/manufacturer is responsible for this declaration: (Company Name, Importer) (Company Address, Importer)Contact Person for this declaration Person responsible for this declaration: T.C. Lin (Name, Surname, Importer) (Name, Surname, Manufacturer) Director/ Engineering Division (Position/Title) (Position/Title) (Legal Signature) (Legal Signature) Taiwan 09/07/2000 (Place) (Date) (Place) (Date)

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