2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11g PCI Super-G 108Mb Wireless Network Adapter User's Guide 1 Contents Package Contents ..........................................................................3 Introduction.....................................................................................4 Getting Started................................................................................8 Installation ....................................................................................13 Using the Configuration Utility for Windows 2000, 98, or ME.......24 Using the Configuration Utility for Windows XP ...........................30 Troubleshooting............................................................................38 Technical Specifications ...............................................................42 2 802.11g Wireless PCI Card Package Contents Contents of Package: · · 2.4 GHz Intellinet 802.11g Super-G Wireless PCI Network Adapter Manual and Drivers/Utility on CD Note: If any of the above items are missing, please contact your reseller. System Requirements: · · · · A computer with an available 32-bit PCI slot Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, or Windows 98SE At least 32 MB of memory and a 300 MHz processor or higher An 802.11g Access Point, or an 802.11g wireless adapter. 3 Introduction The 802.11g Intellinet Wireless PCI Card is an advanced IEEE 802.11b/g compatible, high performance, wireless card that supports data transfer speeds of up to 54 Mbps in 802.11g mode. The 802.11g Intellinet Wireless PCI Card comes with software drivers for the most popular Microsoft Windows operating systems and can be integrated into a larger network, running Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows 98SE, in Infrastructure mode (with an Access Point). This manual provides a quick introduction to wireless technology and its application as it relates to networking. Take a moment to read through this manual and get acquainted with wireless technology. Product Features · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Compatible with IEEE 802.11b standard to provide wireless Ethernet data rates of up to 11 Mbps data rate Compatible with IEEE 802.11g high rate standard to provide wireless 54 Mbps data rate Operation at 2.4 GHz frequency bands to meet worldwide regulations Dynamic date rate scaling at 1, 2, 5.5, and 11Mbps for IEEE 802.11b Dynamic date rate scaling at 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps for IEEE 802.11g Maximum reliability, throughput and connectivity with automatic data rate switching Supports wireless data encryption with 64/128/152-bit WEP for security Supports infrastructure networks via Access Point Provides an extended omni-directional antenna with 2 dBi Supports DFS/TPC for European operation Supports PCI Local Bus 2.2 standard User-friendly configuration and diagnostic utilities Driver support for Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, and XP 4 802.11g Wireless PCI Card LEDS LED stands for Light-Emitting Diode. 802.11g Intellinet Wireless PCI Card has two LEDs: POWER and ACTIVITY. LED Power Activity LED Activity A steady light indicates a connection to a power source A solid light indicates that the 802.11g Intellinet Wireless PCI Card is in a ready state 5 Wireless Basics Wireless products are based on industry standards to provide easy-to-use and compatible highspeed wireless connectivity within your home or business. Strictly adhering to the 802.11b and 802.11g standards, our wireless family of products will allow you to access the data you want, when and where you want it. No longer will you be limited to one location or forced to run new wiring through your home or office. You will be able to enjoy the freedom that wireless networking delivers. A Wireless LAN (WLAN) is a cellular computer network that transmits and receives data with radio signals instead of wires. Wireless LANs are used increasingly in both home and office environments. Innovative ways to utilize WLAN technology are helping people to work and communicate more efficiently. Increased mobility and the absence of cabling and other fixed infrastructure have proven to be beneficial for many users. Wireless users can use the same network applications they use on an Ethernet LAN. Wireless cards used on laptop and desktop systems, support the same protocols as Ethernet cards. For most users, there is no noticeable functional difference between a wired Ethernet desktop computer and a wireless computer equipped with a wireless card other than the added benefit of the ability to roam within the wireless-cell. Under many circumstances, it may be desirable for mobile network devices to link to a conventional Ethernet LAN in order to use servers, printers or an Internet connection supplied through the wired LAN. A Wireless Access Point (AP) is a device used to provide this link. Your new 802.11g Intellinet Wireless PCI Card can connect to an 802.11b/g AP, as well as other computers that have an 802.11b/g WLAN card installed. People use wireless LAN technology for many different purposes: Mobility - Productivity increases when people have access to data in any location within the operating range of the WLAN. Low Implementation Costs - WLANs are easy to set up, manage, change and relocate. Networks that frequently change, both physically and logically, can benefit from WLANs' ease of implementation. WLANs can operate in locations where installation of wiring may be impractical. Furthermore, IEEE standardization facilitates interoperability of all WLAN devices that conform to the 802.11b or 802.11g sets of standards. Installation Speed and Simplicity - Installing a wireless LAN system can be fast and easy and can eliminate 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 hardware might be higher than the cost of wired LAN hardware, overall installation expenses and life-cycle costs will be significantly lower. Long-term cost benefits are greatest in dynamic environments requiring frequent moves, adds, and changes. Scalability - Wireless LAN systems can be configured in a variety of topologies to meet the needs of specific applications and installations. Configurations are easily changed and range from peerto-peer networks suitable for a small number of users to full infrastructure networks of thousands of users that allow roaming over a broad area. Standards - Based Technology The IEEE 802.11g standard designates that devices operate at an optimal data rate of 54 Megabits per second. This means you will be able to transfer large files quickly or even watch a movie in MPEG format over your network without noticeable delays. This technology works by transmitting high-speed digital data over a radio wave utilizing OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) technology. OFDM works by splitting the radio signal into multiple smaller 6 802.11g Wireless PCI Card sub-signals that are then transmitted simultaneously at different frequencies to the receiver. OFDM reduces the amount of crosstalk (interference) in signal transmissions. Our products will automatically sense the best possible connection speed to ensure the greatest speed and range possible with the technology. Installation Considerations Designed to traverse distances up to 900 feet (~300 meters), 802.11g Intellinet Wireless PCI Card lets you access your network from your computer virtually anywhere you want. Keep in mind, however, that the number and thickness of walls, ceilings or other objects that the wireless signals must pass thru may limit range. Typical ranges vary depending on the types of materials and background RF noise in your home or business. The key to maximizing the transmission range is to follow these basic principles: 1. Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the Access Point and your receiving device to a minimum - Each wall or ceiling can reduce your Wireless product's range from 3-90 feet (130 meters.) For some businesses or for a large residential home deployment, it may be beneficial to have more than one access point with overlapping coverage. 2. Be aware of the direct line between Access Points and computers with wireless cards - A wall that is 1.5 feet thick (.5 meters), at a 45-degree angle appears to be almost 3 feet (1 meter) thick. At a 2-degree angle it looks as if it were over 42 feet (14 meters) thick! Try to make sure that the Access Points and Cards are positioned so that the signal will travel in as straight a line through a wall or ceiling as possible for better reception. 3. Building Materials make a difference - A solid metal door or aluminum studs can have a negative effect on range. Try to position Access Points and computers with wireless cards so that the signal passes through drywall or open doorways and not other materials. 4. Make sure that the antenna is positioned for best reception by using the software signal strength tools included with your 802.11g Wireless PCI Card. 5. Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet or 1-2 meters) from electrical devices or appliances that generate RF noise. For the average residence, range should not be a problem. If you experience low or no signal strength in areas of your home that you wish to access, consider positioning the Access Point in a location directly between the computers with wireless cards that will be connected. Additional Access Points can be connected to provide better coverage in rooms where the signal does not appear as strongly as desired. 7 Getting Started To begin, select the type of wireless network you will be building. We will discuss the following types of networks in this section: 1. A Home Internet Network with A Residential Gateway/Router 2. A Home Internet Network with Multiple IP Addresses 3. An Ad Hoc Network 4. An Ad Hoc Network with Internet Sharing Please select, from the four types of networks listed above, the type of network that is appropriate for your needs. Please follow the instructions in the corresponding section that follows: 8 802.11g Wireless PCI Card 1. A Home Internet Network with A Residential Gateway/Router (Network administrators with Dynamic IPs can also follow these instructions.) If you have two or more computers (laptops or desktops) and want to share files, printers, and Internet access using a DHCP-capable Residential Gateway/Router ­ or - if you want to connect to an Ethernet network that uses Dynamic (DHCP) IP addresses, then follow the instructions on the next page. After completion, your network may look similar to this: DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It is a protocol for assigning dynamic IP addresses "automatically." With a DHCP-capable gateway, there is no need to manually assign an IP address. (Requirements: A Residential Gateway/Router connected with an Ethernet (CAT5) cable to an 802.11a/b Access Point or an 802.11a/g Access Point or another computer with an 802.11b/g WLAN card installed). This type of installation requires that you provide a dynamic IP address for each computer on your network. You will need a DHCP-capable Residential Gateway/Router for your network. To complete the installation, please follow these steps: 1. Connect the Router/Gateway to a Broadband connection, (e.g., a Cable modem or a DSL modem.) 2. Connect the WLAN Access Point to the router. 3. Install the 802.11g Intellinet Wireless PCI Card into a computer on your wireless network. 4. Check the Device Manager to confirm that the wireless card is installed correctly. 5. By default, the wireless card is set to obtain a Dynamic IP Address. If you are having difficulty connecting, check to make sure that the IP Address of the wireless card is within the IP address range of your network. 9 2. A Home Internet Network with Multiple IP Addresses (Network administrators with Static IPs can also follow these instructions.) If you have two or more computers (laptops or desktops) and want to share files, printers, and Internet access using multiple IP addresses that you have purchased from your Internet Service Provider -or- you want to connect to an Ethernet network that uses Static IP Addresses, then follow the instructions on the next page. When you have completed your network, it should look similar to this: Please note that this type of installation requires that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) provides you a static IP address for each computer and the Access Point on your network. Please refer to the manual that came with your Access Point to determine its configuration. Please follow these steps to complete the installation: 1. Connect the Wireless Access Point to a Broadband connection. 2. Install the 802.11g Intellinet Wireless PCI Card into the computer(s) on your wireless network. 3. Check the Device Manager to confirm that the wireless card is installed correctly. 4. Set the Static ...