TwinMOS Technologies WBCII1 PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card User Manual

TwinMOS Technologies Inc. PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card Users Manual

Users Manual

TwinMOS PCMCIA802.11b PCMCIAWireless LAN CardUser’s ManualTwinMOS®
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 1ContentsPACKAGE CONTENTS……........................................................1INTRODUCTION..........................................................................2WIRELESS NETWORK OVERVIEW............................................3LAPUTA PCI WIRELESS NETWORK SCENARIOS………..6INSTALLATION FOR WINDOWS.............................................…..9CONFIGURATION UTILITY....................................................…..19TROUBLESHOOTING....................................................…..25TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.......................................…..26
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 2PACKAGE CONTENTSUnpack your Laputa PCMCIA kit and verify that all items are present.z Laputa PCMCIA Wireless LAN Adapterz Coaxial Cable of Antenna (Option)z External Antenna (Option)z User’s Manual (on CD)z Driver (on CD)If any of the items described appear to be damaged or missing, please contact your reseller.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 3INTRODUCTIONThe Laputa PCMCIA adapter is a wireless network client that complies with the IEEE 802.11b standardon wireless LANs. The IEEE 802.11b standards compliance means this adapter gives you the flexibilityto connect it to any 802.11b network. The IEEE802.11b Ethernet standard allows you to connectcomputers and devices at speeds up to 11Mbps, dependent upon the distance between wireless adapters,the configuration of your working environment, or the capabilities or limitations of your computersystems.This Laputa PCMCIA Adapter is：z Wi-Fi certified by the WECA. This means that your Laputa PCMCIA adapter is compatible withother supplier’s IEEE 802.11b compliant WLAN products.z Fully compatible with any other WLAN system base on Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum(DSSS) radio technology.This Laputa PCMCIA Adapter supports following WLAN features：z Automatic transmit data rate select mechanism in the transmit range of 1, 2, 5.5 and 11 Mbps.z Center frequency channel selection (2.4 GHz)z Roaming over multiple channels.z Power Management.z 128-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption.This Laputa PCMCIA comes with software drivers for the most popular Microsoft Windows operatingsystems and can be integrated into a larger network, running Windows XP, Windows 2000, WindowsME, or Windows 98 in either Peer-to-Peer mode or Infrastructure mode. This manual provides a quickintroduction to wireless technology and its application as it relates to networking. Take a moment to readthrough this manual and familiarize you with wireless technology. You should also give yourself sometime to become familiar with your new wireless network.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 4WIRELESS NETWORK OVERVIEWA wireless local area network (LAN) is a flexible data communications system implemented as anextension to, or as an alternative for, a wired LAN. Using radio frequency (RF) technology, wirelessLANs transmit and receive data over the air, minimizing the need for wired connections. Thus, wirelessLANs combine data connectivity with user mobility.A local area network that transmit and receive over the air typically in an unlicensed frequency such asthe 2.4GHz band. A wireless LAN does not require lining up devices for line of sight transmission likeIrDA. Wireless access points (base stations) are connected to an Ethernet hub or server and transmit aradio frequency over an area of several hundred to a thousand feet which can penetrate walls and othernonmetal barriers. Roaming users can be handed off from one access point to another like a cellularphone system. Laptops use wireless modems that plug into an existing Ethernet port or that are selfcontained on PC cards, while stand-alone desktops and servers use plug-in cards (ISA, PCI, etc.).Wireless LANs offer the following productivity, convenience, and cost advantages over traditional wirednetworks：Mobility - WLAN provide LAN users to access data in any location within the operating range of theWLAN. Ad-hoc management decisions based on real-time information can significantly improve workerefficiency.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 wire cannot go.Reduced Cost-of-Ownership - While the initial investment required for wireless LAN hardware canbe higher than the cost of wired LAN hardware, overall installation expenses and life-cycle costs can besignificantly lower. Long-term cost benefits are greatest in dynamic environments requiring frequentmoves and changes.Scalability - Wireless LAN systems can be configured in a variety of topologies to meet the needs ofspecific applications and installations. Configurations are easily changed and range from peer-to-peernetworks suitable for a small number of users to full infrastructure networks of thousands of users thatenable roaming over a broad area.Installation ConsiderationsDesigned to go up to 300 feet (100 meters) indoors and up to 900 feet (273 meters) outdoors, LaputaPCMCIA lets you access your network from virtually anywhere you want. Keep in mind, however, thatthe number and thickness of walls, ceilings or other objects that the wireless signals must pass thru maylimit range. Typical ranges vary depending on the types of materials and background RF noise in your
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 5home or business. The key to maximizing range is to follow these basic principles:
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 6Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the access point and your receiving device to a minimum- Each wall or ceiling can reduce your TwinMOS Laputa Wireless product’s range from 3-90 feet (1-30meters.) For some businesses or for a large residential home deployment, it may be more beneficial tohave more than one access point with overlapping coverage.1. Be aware of the direct line between Access Points, Residential Gateways, and Computers - A wallthat is 1.5 feet thick (.5 meters), at a 45-degree angle appears to be almost 3 feet (1 meter) thick. Ata 2-degree angle it looks over 42 feet (14 meters) thick! Try to make sure that the Access Pointsand Adapters are positioned so that the signal will travel straight through a wall or ceiling for betterreception.2. Building Materials make a difference - A solid metal door or aluminum studs may have a negativeeffect on range. Try to position Access Points, Residential Gateways, and Computers so that thesignal passes through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.3. Make sure that the antenna is positioned for best reception by using the software signal strengthtools included with your product.4. Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet or 1-2 meters) from electrical devices that generate RFnoise, like microwaves, monitors, electric motors, etc.For the average residence, range should not be a problem. If you experience low or no signal strength inareas of your home that you wish to access, consider positioning the Access Point in a location directlybetween the Residential Gateways and/or Computers that will be connected. Additional Access Pointscan be connected to provide better coverage in rooms where the signal does not appear as strong asdesired.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.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 7Laputa PCI WIRELESS NETWORK SCENARIOSThe Laputa PCMCIA enables you to:z Connect your computer to a Peer-to-Peer workgroup of wireless computing devices (see Figure 1-1 onpage 7).z Connect your computer to a Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) network that includes a ResidentialGateway (RG) access point (see Figure 1-2 on page 8).z Connect your computer to a Local Area Network (LAN) Infrastructure that includes Access Points, orother IEEE 802.11 compliant LAN systems (see Figure 1-3 and Figure 1-4).z Expand the capabilities of your Access Points, to support wireless devices that have been equippedwith Laputa PCMCIA.Peer-to-Peer WorkgroupThe Peer-to-Peer workgroup configuration enables you to quickly set up a small wireless workgroup,where the workgroup participants can exchange files using features like “Files and Printer Sharing” assupported by Microsoft Networking.Figure 1-1 Peer-to-Peer Wireless WorkgroupYou can use this option to setup a temporary or ad-hoc network in environments where no access pointsare available (for example in Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) environments). As long as the stations
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 8are within range of one another, this is the easiest and least expensive way to set up a wireless network.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 9Home NetworkingWith the TwinMOS Laputa PCMCIA, wireless access to the Internet or other computers is at yourfingertips. All you need to do is connect the wireless computers to an external cable, an xDSL or a ISDNmodem and you are ready to：z Share files and printers, andz Access the InternetFigure 1-2 Connect to a Residential Gateway (RG)Enterprise NetworkingWith the 11 Mbps Wireless LAN access point you can connect to a corporate Local Area Network (LAN)infrastructure to have wireless access to all network facilities. LAN Infrastructures may either be:z Stand-alone wireless LANs (Figure 1-3).z Wireless network infrastructures connected to an existing Ethernet network (Figure 1-4).Figure 1-3 Stand Alone Wireless LANxDSL
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 10Figure 1-4 LAN InfrastructureIt’s EasyThe Laputa PCMCIA functions like any standard wired Ethernet card, but Laputa PCI does not needany wires!Where an Ethernet card requires a cable connection to a hub and/or patch panel, the cable physically tiesyou down to the location of the wired connection.Laputa PCMCIA allows you to connect your computer to a Local Area Network (LAN) system fromanywhere within the wireless coverage area. Expanding or re-designing your network is easy: Add orrelocate access point, power-up your (new) wireless computers, and you’re done!Unlike Ethernet, TwinMOS Laputa PCMCIA will enable you to roam throughout the network whileremaining connected to the LAN.Note：The Laputa PCMCIA wireless adapter is a radio product. Refer to the flyer ”Information to theUser” for regulatory information that may apply in your country.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 11INSTALLATION FOR WINDOWSThe following section will assist you to install Laputa PCMCIA WLAN adapter successfully. You willinstall driver firstly and then plug in the Laputa PCMCIA WLAN adapter, and finally set the networkproperties to accommodate resource sharing and select the type of wireless network that you want toinstall.In order to establish your wireless network connection, make sure some steps below will be performed.■ Install the Access Point (AP) at first if you use Infrastructure network mode.■ Install the driver using the Installation CD.■ Plug in the Laputa PCMCIA wireless LAN adapter.■ Install the network protocol(s) required to communicate on your network. Most likely you willneed the TCP/IP protocol.The PRISM WLAN Configuration Utility is installed simultaneously with the driver by executing thePRISM_ForWindows(2-0-9).exe file. Note also that some versions of Microsoft Windows operatingsystems require administrator to install software. If this is the case for your operating system, be surethat you have such privileges before executing the PRISM_ForWindows(2-0-9).exe file. To upgrade anexisting driver, it is not necessary to remove your PRISM driver from your computer. Simply run thePRISM_ForWindows(2-0-9).exe file to replace the existing driver with the latest version. After the newdriver is installed, maybe you must restart the operating system (depend on the Windows’ OS).Please follow the following steps one by one in order to install the Laputa PCMCIA adaptersuccessfully.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 12For Windows XPInsert the given Installation CD in the CD-ROM.1. Select CD-ROM drives to locate driver files.2. Run the program〝PRISM_ForWindows(2-0-9).exe〞file to set up configuration utility and driver.Follow the instruction and click Continue then Next.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 133. Accept the license agreement.4. Takes a few seconds for copying the utility files and driver to your computer.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 145. Finished.6. Connecting to the wireless networkTo connect to your wireless network, please do the following:◎Double-click on the icon in the task bar. The window on the next page will appear showingthe current status of your connected network.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 15◎The “Connect to Wireless Network” window will contain a list of all the available WirelessNetworks. Select the proper network for your needs. In this example, “shortESS” networkwas selected as shown.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 16
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 17For Windows 2000Insert the given Installation CD in the CD-ROM.1. Select CD-ROM drives to locate driver files.2. Run the program〝PRISM_ForWindows(2-0-9).exe〞file to set up configuration utility and driver.Follow the instruction and click Continue then Next.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 183. Accept the license agreement.4. Takes a few seconds for copying the utility files and driver to your computer.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 195. Finished.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 20For Windows 98/98SE/MEInsert the given Installation CD in the CD-ROM.1. Select CD-ROM drives to locate driver files.2. Run the program〝PRISM_ForWindows(2-0-9).exe〞file to set up configuration utility and driver.Follow the instruction and click Continue then Next.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 213. Accept the license agreement.4. Takes a few seconds for copying the utility files and driver to your computer.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 225. Finished.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 236. Restart the computer.7. Plug in the PCI card into the computer, the system will detect new hardware and auto install thedriver.8. Once installation is complete, the utility will be pops up.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 24
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 25CONFIGURATION UTILITYTwinMOS Laputa PCMCIA uses the Configuration Utility as the management software. The utilityprovides the user an easy interface to change any settings related to the wireless adapter. When thecomputer is started, the Configuration Utility starts automatically and the system tray icon is loaded inthe toolbar (see illustration below.) Clicking on the utility icon will start the Configuration Utility.If the icon is in red, it means that the Laputa PCMCIA wireless adapter configuration is invalid orincomplete. A “red” icon may indicate that the adapter is set to an incorrect channel or thecommunication mode is set incorrectly. Verify the settings for the Laputa PCMCIA and make sure thatthe computer is within wireless range.Double-click on the icon shown above. The screen below will be displayed.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 26Configuration TabSelect the Configuration Tab to access the Configuration menu, as shown below. You can makechanges to any of the fields shown below, without the need to restart your computer.ProfileA profile is a named set of operating parameters for your Laputa PCMCIA WLAN adapter. The Profilefield lets you set values for all parameters by selecting a previously defined profile. Click the downarrow at the right of the Profile field to display the available profiles for your Laputa PCMCIA WLANadapter.ModeThe Laputa PCMCIA WLAN adapter can operate in one of two modes, which are specified in the Modefield of the Configuration menu. Clicking the down arrow at the right of the Mode field displays theavailable modes.z 802.11b Ad Hoc - This is the 802.11b peer-to-peer mode of operation. In “Ad Hoc” mode, onlyone wireless “cell” is supported for each different SSID. All communication is done from clientto client without the use of an Access Point. “802.11b Ad Hoc” networking uses the same SSIDfor the wireless adapters in establishing the network connection. When “Ad Hoc” mode isselected, the utility will provide a selection for setting the channel.z Infrastructure - This mode of operation requires the presence of an 802.11b Access Point. Allcommunication is done through the Access Point, which relays packets to other wireless clientsas well as to nodes on a wired Ethernet network.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 27SSIDThe SSID is the Service Set IDentifier used by Access Points and stations to identify a wireless LAN.The SSID is essentially a name that identifies your wireless network. All Access Points and all devicesattempting to connect to a specific Wireless network must use the same SSID.Transmit RateThe Transmit Rate field specifies the rate at which the radio in your Laputa PCMCIA WLAN adaptertransmits and receives data. You can set this to the following fixed rates: 1 Mbps; 2Mbps; 5.5 Mbps or11 Mbps.Power Save ModePower Saving mode allows your computer to use reduced power during idle time by going into “sleep”mode, saving energy costs.Ad Hoc ChannelWhen communicating in AdHoc or Pseudo AdHoc mode, you must specify a channel on whichcommunications will take place. This field is grayed in infrastructure mode because the Access Pointautomatically selects the channel.Encryption TabThe Encryption menu lets you enable encryption and set the encryption keys. To see the availableencryption methods, click the down arrow at the right of the Encryption (WEP) field.There are two encryption methods available. The IEEE 802.11 specification defines Wired EquivalentPrivacy (WEP) using a 64-bit key. This capability was extended by the industry to allow a 128-bit key.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 28Disabling EncryptionTo disable encryption, click the down arrow at the right of the Encryption field, select Disabled, andclick the Apply button.Disabling EncryptionTo enable encryption, click the down arrow at the right of the Encryption field, select either 64 bit or 128bit, and click the Apply button. After enabling an encryption method, you must then specify encryptionkeys, as described in the following sections.If you specify an encryption method, you will only be able to communicate with Access Points andstations that use the same encryption method and keys.Creating Encryption Keys Using a PassphraseTo create encryption keys using a passphrase, click the radio button next to Create Key with Passphraseand type a character string in the Passphrase field. As you type, the Configuration Utility uses analgorithm to generate four keys used for encryption.When you finish typing your character string and click the Apply button, the Configuration Utility usesasterisks to mask both your passphrase and the keys it generates.Using a passphrase to generate the four keys makes it easy to set the same keys for all members of yourwireless LAN. Please make a record of your passphrase, so that you do not forget it. If you do forgetyour passphrase, then disable encryption and create new passphrases.Creating Encryption Keys ManuallyIf you wish, you can create encryption keys manually by selecting the Encryption tab. Click on thebutton next to Manual Entry.When you click this button, the cursor appears in the field for Key 1. For 64-bit encryption, you musttype exactly 10 hexadecimal digits in each of the four key fields; for 128-bit encryption, you must typeexactly 26 hexadecimal digits. You then click the Apply button to create your encryption keys. After youclick the Apply button, the Configuration Utility uses asterisks to mask your keys. Remember to make anote of your hexadecimal string for each key. If you do forget your digits for a key, disable encryptionand create a new key.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 29Link TabThe Link Info Tab displays the current state of your wireless adapter.The fields in this menu provide the following information:StateShows the association state of your computer with the wireless LAN. When operating in Infrastructuremode, this field shows the MAC address of the Access Point with which you are communicating. Whenoperating in AdHoc mode, this field shows the virtual MAC address used by computers participating inthe AdHoc network. In both cases, the MAC address will be shown in hex format (BSSID.) If the wordscanning appears in this field, it indicates that networking has not been achieved. The adapter issearching for an available Access Point, within range. (Note: If there is a problem with the driverinstallation, this field will display an error message.)Current ChannelShows the channel on which the connection is made. In Infrastructure mode, this number changes as theradio scans the available channels.Current TX RateShows the highest transmit rate of the current association.ThroughputShows the short term transmit and receive throughput in bytes/second, and is continuously updated.Link QualityIs based on the quality of the received signal of the Access Point beacon.Signal StrengthIs active only when in Infrastructure Mode. The graph displays normalized signal strength averaged over
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 30all frames that over 100 bytes long that are received by the Access Point.About TabThe About menu provides information on the version of the Network Driver, the Configuration Utility,and the firmware in the PRISM WLAN Interface card. In addition, this menu also provides the MACaddress of the PRISM card, as shown in the following illustration.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 31TROUBLESHOOTINGIf you encounter some problems while installing the Laputa PCMCIA WLAN adapter or you want toconfirm whether your adapter is installed properly or not, we have listed the procedure for checking thevarious components after you have installed the adapter. In first part of Troubleshooting, we havesuggested the users to check the various properties of the card to check the proper installation. In secondsection, we have listed the various problems that you may encounter during the installation and havealso listed the possible solution. Check the first part to guess the probable reason of unsuccessfulinstallation.Please check the followings if you encounter some problem while installing the Laputa PCMCIA oryours Laputa PCMCIA are non-functional.In Windows 98:To check that the Laputa PCMCIA is installed properly, please do the following:Go to START>RUN>SETTINGS>CONTROL PANEL>NETWORK. Choose the Configuration Tab. Ifyou find the Wireless LAN Card, it means the card is installed properly. If you see the Yellow Question-mark (?), the resources are conflicting. If your resources are conflicting, please check the following.a. Check that you have installed the Laputa PCMCIA into the PCI port and check that you haveinstalled the proper driver.b. Check to see if your computer has a free IRQ. If not, make an IRQ free by assigning the same IRQto some devices, for example COM 1,COM 2 can be assigned the same IRQ values.In Windows 2000:To check that the Laputa PCMCIA is installed properly, please do the following:1. Check the Windows 2000 Diagnostics. See if there is any conflict in the Resource allocation or theI/O Address, IRQ allocations. If you find that the IRQ or I/O Addresses are already assigned to someother devices, you must change that value.2. Go to the Control Panel. Double click on the Network Adapter, you will see Laputa PCMCIAWireless Adapter. Double clicking on that will show you the status of the Laputa PCMCIA networkadapter. If there are no error signs, the adapter has been installed properly.In Windows XP:To check that the Laputa PCMCIA is installed properly, please do the following:
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 321. Go to START>CONTROL PANEL. Double-click on Network Connections. Right-click on LAN.Click Properties.2. The Laputa PCMCIA network adapter will appear, indicating proper installation.
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 33TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSPhysical SpecificationDimensions 59.75 x 50.95 x 4.7 mm (wxhxt)Weight 13 gCable Length OptionHost Interface PCI Type IIIATemperature & HumidityOperation 0℃ to 55℃ maximum humidity 95%Transit -20℃ to 65℃ humidity 15% to 95%Storage -20℃ to 65℃ humidity 10% to 95%Power CharacteristicsOperating Voltage 3.3V±5%Current Consumption Nominal 240mA , Max. 300mANetworking CharacteristicsCompatibility z IEEE 802.11 Standard for WLAN (DSSS)z Wi-Fi certified by the WECAHost OS Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XPMedia Access Protocol CSMA/CA with ACKNetwork Protocol TCP/IP, IPX, NetBEUIRF CharacteristicsFrequency Range 2.400-2.4835 GHz, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)Operating Channelsz 1-11 United States (FCC)z 1-11 Canada (DOC)z 1-14 Japan (MKK)z 1-13 Europe (Except Spain and France) (ETSI)Modulation Techniquez 11 Mbps: CCKz 5.5 Mbps: CCKz 2 Mbps: DQPSKz 1 Mbps: DBPSKSpreading 11-chip Barker SequenceTransmit Power 14 dBm @ Nominal Temp RangeReceive Sensitivity Nominal Temp Range: 11 Mbps 10-5 BER @ -85 dBm, minimumEncryption 64-bit WEP, 128-bit WEPAntenna Build-in inside hostOperating Range Open Space: 100 ~ 300m; Indoor: 30m ~ 100mThe transmission speed varies in the surrounding environment.EMC Certification FCC part 15B, 15C; R&TTE; TELEC/JATE
TwinMOS Laputa PCITwinMOS Page 34FCC Caution1. The device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject tothe following two conditions:(1)This device may not cause harmful interference.(2)This device must accept any interference received,including interference that may cause undesired operation.2. FCC RF Radiation Exposure Statement: The equipment complies with FCC RF radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with a minimum distance of 20 centimeters between the radiator and your body.3. This Transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.4. Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user authority to operate the equipment.

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