2.4GHz Wireless 802.11n (DRAFT 2.0) Express Card User's Guide Version 1.
Copyright This publication, including all photographs, illustrations and software, is protected under international copyright laws, with all rights reserved. Neither this manual, nor any of the material contained herein, may be reproduced without written consent of the author. Copyright 2006 Version 1.0 (June, 2006) Disclaimer The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
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 protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
CE Mark Warning This is a Class B product. In a domestic environment, this product may cause radio interference, in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures. This transmitter must not be co-located or operation in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
Table of Contents Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Interference statement CE Mark Warning 3 4 Chapter 1 – Wireless LAN Networking Transmission Rate Type of Wireless Networks Ad-Hoc (IBSS) Network Infrastructure (BSS) Network Wireless LAN Security Data Encryption with WEP 6 6 6 7 11 11 Chapter 2 - Getting Started About Your Card Package Content System Requirement LED Definition Wireless Utility and Card Hardware Installation Using the Utility to Configure Your Network Link Information Site Survey
Chapter 1- Wireless LAN Networking This section provides background information on wireless LAN networking technology. THE INFORMATION IN THIS SECTION IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE. CHANGING NETWORK SETTINGS AND PARTICULARLY SECURITY SETTTINGS SHOULD ONLY BE DONE BY AN AUTHORIZED ADMINISTRATOR. Transmission Rate (Transfer Rate) The card provides various transmission (data) rate options. Options include Fully Auto, 1 Mbps, 2 Mbps, 5.
When a number of wireless stations are connected using a single access point, you have a Basic Service Set (BSS).
In the ESS diagram below, communication is done through the access points, which relay data packets to other wireless stations or devices connected to the wired network. Wireless stations can then access resources, such as a printer, on the wired network.
In an ESS environment, users are able to move from one access point to another without losing the connection. In the diagram below, when the user moves from BSS (1) to BSS (2) the card automatically switches to the channel used in BSS (2).
W IRELESS LAN S ECURITY Because wireless networks are not as secure as wired networks, its vital that security settings are clearly understood and applied. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONFIGURE OR CHANGE SECURITY SETTTINGS FOR A NETWORK WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION AND WITHOUT CLEARLY UNDERSTANDING THE SETTINGS YOU ARE APPLING. WITH POOR SECURITY SETTINGS, SENSITIVE DATA YOU SEND CAN BE SEEN BY OTHERS. The list below shows the possible wireless security levels on your card starting with the most secure.
Chapter 2 - Getting Started This chapter introduces the Card and prepares you to use the Wireless Utility. 2.1 About Your Card With the Card, you can enjoy wireless mobility within almost any wireless networking environment. The following lists the main features of your Card. 9 Automatic rate selection. 9 Data transmission rates up to 300 Mbps 9 Offers 64-bit and 128-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) data encryption for network security. 9 Supports IEEE802.1x and WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access).
2.5 Wireless Utility & Card Hardware Installation IF YOU HAVE CONNECTED THE CARD TO YOUR COMPUTER, PLEASE REMOVE IT FIRST. NOTE Follow the instructions below to install the Card and Utility. STEP 1 Insert the Driver and Utility CD into CD drive STEP 2 If your CD Autorun is enabled, the installation procedures will be started. (Otherwise open your CD folder and double-click on the “setup.exe” file) STEP 3 The InstallShield Wizard prepares for installation.
STEP 5 In the destination Folder screen you are asked to confirm the Destination Folder for the application software. If you would like, you may change the destination folder to another location. Click Next STEP 6 The wizard is ready to begin installation. Click Install on it. STEP 7 At the Software Installation menu click Continue Anyway.
STEP 8 Click Finish to complete the client utility installation. STEP 9 At this moment please insert your Card to your Laptop, After the following window pop up, click Next on the Fund New Hardware Wizard STEP 10 Choose “Install the software automatically” , and click Next.
STEP 11 Click “Continue Anyway”. STEP 12 Click Finish to complete the installation.
2.6 Using the Utility to Configure Your Network The following are explanations on how to configure and use the Utility program. After completing the installation procedure, a new icon as shown below will automatically appear in the lower right tray bar. Hold your mouse pointer over the icon, and double click the left mouse button to open the Wireless Client Utility. The Wireless Client Utility window as shown below will appear.
The following table describes the items found on the Link Information screen. Wireless Network Status Profile Name The name of the current selected configuration profile. Set up the configuration name on the Profile tab. SSID Displays the wireless network name. Link Status Shows whether the station is associated to the wireless network. Network Type The type of network the station is connected to. The options include: Infrastructure (access point) Ad Hoc Wireless Mode Displays the wireless mode. 802.
Security Status Security Shows the security type – Disable, WEP, WPA/WPA2, WAP-PSK/WAP2-PSK or 802.1X Authentication Displays the authentication mode. TCP/IP Status IP Address Displays the computer's IP address. Subnet Mask Displays subnet mask Gateway Displays gateway address DNS Server Display DNS server address 2.6.2 Site Survey Click the Site Survey tab to see available infrastructure and ad hoc networks. On this screen, click Refresh to refresh the list at any time.
Click the Connect button to connect the available network. If no configuration profile exists for that network, the Profile Settings window opens to ask to create a profile for the network. Follow the procedures to create profile for that network. 2.6.3 Profile To add a new configuration profile, click Add on the Profile tab. To modify a configuration profile, select the configuration from the Profile list and click the Edit button.
Scan Available Networks Click the Browse button on the Profile Settings screen to scan for available infrastructure and ad hoc networks. On this list, click Refresh to refresh the list at any time. To configure a profile for Ad-Hoc or Infrastructure mode, select the Network Type field on the Profile Settings.
Click Next to continue the profile setting. To define the security mode, select the security button of the desired security mode. And then click Next to continue. Please see following table for details of security modes. WEP This card support two modes of WEP, include: 64 Bits 128 Bits Both 64-Bit & 128-Bit modes support Passphrase. WPA/WPA2 Enables the use of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). Choosing WPA/WPA2 opens the WPA/WPA2 Security Settings screen.
Fill in the WPA/WPA2 Passphrase on Security Settings screen. 802.1x Enables 802.1x security. This option requires IT administration. Choosing 802.1x opens the 802.1x Security Settings screen. The options include: TLS PEAP TTLS LEAP Advanced Settings After Security Settings finished, the Advanced Settings screen will be shown as following. The following table describes the items found on the Advanced Settings screen. Power Save Mode Shows the power save mode. Power management is disabled in ad hoc mode.
z Auto RTS Threshold Value from 0 ~ 2347 FRAG Threshold Value from 256 ~ 2346 Wireless Mode Enable or disable 802.11n mode. After advance settings are finished, the following screen showed as below. You can activate the profile now or later.
Chapter 3 – Maintenance This chapter describes how to uninstall or upgrade the Wireless Utility. 3.1 Uninstall the Driver Follow the steps below to remove (or uninstall) the Card driver from your computer. Step 1. To remove the driver from the OS, go to Start -> Control Panel Step 2. Double-click System Step 3. Under Hardware tab, click Device Manager. Step 4. Double-click Network Card Step 5. Right-click mouse button on “802.11n Wireless LAN Card”, and choose Uninstall Step 6.
Glossary For unfamiliar terms used below, look for entries elsewhere in the glossary. AD-HOC (IBSS) Ad-hoc mode does not require an AP or a wired network. A network that transmits wireless from computer to computer without the use of a base station (access point). Two or more wireless stations communicate directly to each other. An ad-hoc network may sometimes be referred to as an Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS). CHANNEL A radio frequency used by a wireless device is called a channel.
ROAMING In an infrastructure network, wireless stations are able to switch from one BSS to another as they move between the coverage areas. During this period, the wireless stations maintain uninterrupted connection to the network. This is roaming. As the wireless station moves from place to place, it is responsible for choosing the most appropriate AP depending on the signal strength, network utilization among other factors.
