User manual SMC SMC2336W-AG

EZ-Stream Universal 2.4GHz/5GHz Wireless CardBus Adapter User Guide The easy way to make all your network connections 38 Tesla Irvine, CA 92618 Phone: (949) 679-8000 October 2003 Revision Number: US F1.0 Copyright Information furnished by SMC Networks, Inc. (SMC) is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed by SMC for its use, nor for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties which may result from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of SMC. SMC reserves the right to change specifications at any time without notice. Copyright © 2003 by SMC Networks, Inc. 38 Tesla Irvine, CA 92618 All rights reserved. Trademarks: SMC is a registered trademark; and EZ-Stream is trademark of SMC Networks, Inc. Other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. COMPLIANCES 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. 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 can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged 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 when connecting to computer or peripheral devices) any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. IMPORTANT NOTE: FCC Radiation Exposure Statement This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. Industry Canada - Class B This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the interference-causing equipment standard entitled "Digital Apparatus," ICES-003 of Industry Canada. Cet appareil numérique respecte les limites de bruits radioélectriques applicables aux appareils numériques de Classe B prescrites dans la norme sur le matérial brouilleur: "Appareils Numériques," NMB-003 édictée par l'Industrie. i COMPLIANCES EC Conformance Declaration - Class B SMC contact for these products in Europe is: SMC Networks Europe, Edificio Conata II, Calle Fructuós Gelabert 6-8, 2o, 4a, 08970 - Sant Joan Despí, Barcelona, Spain. This information technology equipment complies with the requirements of the Council Directive 89/336/EEC on the Approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to Electromagnetic Compatibility and 73/23/EEC for electrical equipment used within certain voltage limits and the Amendment Directive 93/68/ EEC. For the evaluation of the compliance with these Directives, the following standards were applied: RFI · Limit class B according to EN 55022:1998, IEC 60601-1-2 Emission: (EMC, medical) · Limit class B for harmonic current emission according to EN 61000-3-2/1995 · Limitation of voltage fluctuation and flicker in low-voltage supply system according to EN 61000-3-3/1995 Immunity: · Product family standard according to EN 55024:1998 · Electrostatic Discharge according to EN 61000-4-2:1995 (Contact Discharge: ±4 kV, Air Discharge: ±8 kV) · Radio-frequency electromagnetic field according to EN 61000-4-3:1996 (80 - 1000 MHz with 1 kHz AM 80% Modulation: 3 V/m) · Electrical fast transient/burst according to EN 61000-4-4:1995 (AC/DC power supply: ±1 kV, Data/Signal lines: ±0.5 kV) · Surge immunity test according to EN 61000-4-5:1995 (AC/DC Line to Line: ±1 kV, AC/DC Line to Earth: ±2 kV) · Immunity to conducted disturbances, Induced by radio-frequency fields: EN 61000-4-6:1996 (0.15 - 80 MHz with 1 kHz AM 80% Modulation: 3 V/m) · Power frequency magnetic field immunity test according to EN 61000-4-8:1993 (1 A/m at frequency 50 Hz) · Voltage dips, short interruptions and voltage variations immunity test according to EN 61000-4-11:1994 (>95% Reduction @10 ms, 30% Reduction @500 ms, >95% Reduction @5000 ms) LVD: · EN 60950 (A1/1992; A2/1993; A3/1993; A4/1995; A11/1997) MDD: · IEC 60601-1 ii COMPLIANCES Safety Compliance Wichtige Sicherheitshinweise (Germany) 1. Bitte lesen Sie diese Hinweise sorgfältig durch. 2. Heben Sie diese Anleitung für den späteren Gebrauch auf. 3. Vor jedem Reinigen ist das Gerät vom Stromnetz zu trennen. Verwenden Sie keine Flüssigoder Aerosolreiniger. Am besten eignet sich ein angefeuchtetes Tuch zur Reinigung. 4. Die Netzanschlu ßsteckdose soll nahe dem Gerät angebracht und leicht zugänglich sein. 5. Das Gerät ist vor Feuchtigkeit zu schützen. 6. Bei der Aufstellung des Gerätes ist auf sicheren Stand zu achten. Ein Kippen oder Fallen könnte Beschädigungen hervorrufen. 7. Die Belüftungsöffnungen dienen der Luftzirkulation, die das Gerät vor Überhitzung schützt. Sorgen Sie dafür, daß diese Öffnungen nicht abgedeckt werden. 8. Beachten Sie beim Anschluß an das Stromnetz die Anschlußwerte. 9. Verlegen Sie die Netzanschlußleitung so, daß niemand darüber fallen kann. Es sollte auch nichts auf der Leitung abgestellt werden. 10. Alle Hinweise und Warnungen, die sich am Gerät befinden, sind zu beachten. 11. Wird das Gerät über einen längeren Zeitraum nicht benutzt, sollten Sie es vom Stromnetz trennen. Somit wird im Falle einer Überspannung eine Beschädigung vermieden. 12. Durch die Lüftungsöffnungen dürfen niemals Gegenstände oder Flüssigkeiten in das Gerät gelangen. Dies könnte einen Brand bzw. elektrischen Schlag auslösen. 13. Öffnen sie niemals das Gerät. Das Gerät darf aus Gründen der elektrischen Sicherheit nur von authorisiertem Servicepersonal geöffnet werden. iii COMPLIANCES 14. Wenn folgende Situationen auftreten ist das Gerät vom Stromnetz zu trennen und von einer qualifizierten Servicestelle zu überprüfen: a. Netzkabel oder Netzstecker sind beschädigt. b. Flüssigkeit ist in das Gerät eingedrungen. c. Das Gerät war Feuchtigkeit ausgesetzt. d. Wenn das Gerät nicht der Bedienungsanleitung entsprechend funktioniert oder Sie mit Hilfe dieser Anleitung keine Verbesserung erzielen. e. Das Gerät ist gefallen und/oder das Gehäuse ist beschädigt. f. Wenn das Gerät deutliche Anzeichen eines Defektes aufweist. 15. Stellen Sie sicher, daß die Stromversorgung dieses Gerätes nach der EN 60950 geprüft ist. Ausgangswerte der Stromversorgung sollten die Werte von AC 7,5-8V, 50-60Hz nicht über oder unterschreiten sowie den minimalen Strom von 1A nicht unterschreiten. Der arbeitsplatzbezogene Schalldruckpegel nach DIN 45 635 Teil 1000 beträgt 70dB(A) oder weniger. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS EZ-StreamTM Universal 2.4GHz/5GHz Wireless CardBus Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Hardware Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Hardware Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Driver and Utility Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 For Windows 98SE/Me/2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 For Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Wireless Card Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Link information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 IP Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Site Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Version Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Network Configuration and Planning . . . . . . . . . 32 Network Topologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Ad Hoc Wireless LAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Infrastructure Wireless LANs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Setting the Communication Domain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Stationary Wireless PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Roaming Wireless PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 v TABLE OF CONTENTS Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Adapter Installation Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Network Connection Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 SMC Networks EZ-Stream Wireless CardBus Adapter Maximum Distance Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 General Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Data Rate and Output Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Typical Range and Receiver Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 vi EZ-StreamTM Universal 2.4GHz/5GHz Wireless CardBus Adapter SMC's EZ-Stream Universal 2.4GHz/5GHz Wireless CardBus Adapter (SMC2336W-AG) is a triple-band wireless network adapter that supports up to 108 Mbps data rate, and seamlessly integrates with existing Ethernet networks to support applications such as mobile users or temporary conferences. This solution offers a high data rate and reliable wireless connectivity with considerable cost savings over wired LANs (which include long-term maintenance overhead for cabling). Just install enough wireless access points to cover your network area, plug wireless cards into your notebooks or computers, and start networking. Using this card in conjunction with any SMC 802.11a, 11b, or 11g wireless access points, you can create an instant network that integrates seamlessly with your existing LANs. Moreover, moving or expanding your network is as easy as moving or installing additional access points ­ no wires! Features · · · · · Up to 108 Mbps data rate connection Backward compatible with the existing 802.11b WLAN infrastructure Greater flexibility to locate or move networked PCs Easy installation and user-friendly configuration Integrates with or replaces wired LANs at dramatically lower cost than wired alternatives 1 EZ-StreamTM Universal 2.4GHz/5GHz Wireless CardBus Adapter · · · · Seamless connectivity to wired Ethernet LANs augments existing networks quickly and easily Supports Complementary Code Keying (CCK) for 802.11b backward compatibilty Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology provides robust, high speed connection Wireless data encryption for enhanced network security Applications EZ-Stream wireless products offer fast, reliable, cost-effective network access for wireless clients in applications such as: · · Remote access to corporate network information E-mail, file transfer, and terminal emulation Difficult-to-wire environments Historic or old buildings, asbestos installations, and open areas where wiring is difficult to employ Frequently changing environments Retailers, manufacturers, and banks who frequently rearrange the workplace and change location Temporary LANs for special projects or peak times Trade shows, exhibitions, and construction sites that need to setup for a short time period. Retailers, airline, and shipping companies who need additional workstations for peak periods. Auditors who require workgroups at customer sites · · 2 System Requirements · Access to databases for mobile workers Doctors, nurses, retailers, office workers who need access to databases while being mobile in a hospital, retail store, office, campus etc SOHO (Small Office Home Office) users SOHO users who need quick and easy installation of a small mobile computer network Wireless Multimedia Systems Provides OFDM high-bandwidth for wireless multimedia applications for users such as video communication systems · · System Requirements Before you install the EZ-Stream Universal Wireless CardBus Adapter, check your system for the following requirements: · · · · · Available 32-bit CardBus PCMCIA type II or type III slot Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP Minimum of 32 MB RAM and 300 MHz CPU Minimum of 10MB of free hard disk space for driver and utility installation Another IEEE 802.11a, 11b, or 11g compliant device installed in your network, such as the SMC2304WBR-AG Baricade Wireless Cable/DSL Broadband Router, or another machine with a wireless adapter, such as the SMC2662W EZ Connect 2.4 GHz 11 Mbps Wireless USB adapter 3 EZ-StreamTM Universal 2.4GHz/5GHz Wireless CardBus Adapter Package Contents The EZ-Stream Universal Wireless CardBus Adapter package includes: · · · 1 Wireless CardBus Adapter (SMC2336W-AG) 1 EZ Installation Wizard and Documentation CD 1 Quick Installation Guide Please register this product and upgrade the product warranty at www.smc.com Please inform your dealer if there are any incorrect, missing or damaged parts. If possible, retain the carton and the original packing materials, in case there is a need to return the product. 4 Hardware Description The SMC2336W-AG Adapter provides 54 Mbps connections. It is fully compliant with the specification of the IEEE 802.11a,b,g standards. It can be installed in any notebook running Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP, with a CardBus type II or type III slot. LEDs The two status LED indicators of the SMC2336W-AG are described in the following figure and table. LINK ACT LED Status Description Link On (Green) Flashing Indicates a valid connection. Indicates the Adapter is scanning for available networks. Indicates that the Adapter is transmitting or receiving data. Activity (ACT) Flashing 5 Hardware Installation Warning: Network cards are sensitive to static electricity. To protect the card, avoid touching its electrical components, and touch the ground often to equalize the static charges, before handling the card. 1. Find an available type II or type III CardBus slot in your laptop. 2. With the Adapter's 68-pin connector facing the CardBus slot, and the "EZ-Stream" label facing up, slide the card completely into the slot as shown below. Note: The SMC2336W-AG Wireless CardBus Adapter allows you to "hot swap" the card any time, even when your notebook is powered on. 3. For Windows 98/Me/2000, CardBus specification is required. Please check the documents for your CardBus adapter driver before installing the driver and utility software for the SMC2336W-AG adapter. 6 Driver and Utility Installation The EZ Installation Wizard and Documentation CD that comes with the package contains all the software drivers for the SMC2336W-AG Adapter. Any new or updated drivers can be downloaded from the SMC web site at www.smc.com. Also, check the SMC web site for additional online support. For Windows 98SE/Me/2000 You may find that the screen shots here do not exactly match your version of Windows. This is because these steps and screen shots were created from Windows 2000. Steps for Windows 98SE and Windows Millennium Edition, are similar, but not identical, to Windows 2000. For driver and utility installation for Windows XP, see instructions on page 13. Note:For Windows 98SE users, installation processes may require the use of your original copy of Windows OS. Please have the Windows OS CD available BEFORE proceeding with the installation. 7 Driver and Utility Installation 1. Insert the EZ Installation Wizard CD into your CD-ROM drive and click Install Driver/Utility. Then the Choose Setup Language window will appear. Select the desired language from the drop-down menu and click OK. 2. The InstallShield Wizard window then appears. There are 2 ways to install the driver and utility software. Click Easy to continue with the Easy installation. · · If you select the Easy option, proceed directly to step 5. If you choose the Advanced option, proceed to step 3. 8 For Windows 98SE/Me/2000 3. Select the operation mode for your adapter, and click Next. Note: Infrastructure mode is a network connection involving one or more access points. AdHoc mode is for connections between different adapters, without any access points. See "Network Configuration and Planning" on page 32 for details. 9 Driver and Utility Installation 4. Enter the SSID and Channel of the network that your adapter is connecting to, and click Next. Note: See "Wireless Card Manager" on page 18 for more information. 5. When this message appears, insert your SMC2336W-AG adapter into your laptop. 10 For Windows 98SE/Me/2000 6. After the software utility has been installed, click Finish to continue the driver installation. 7. Windows OS will automatically detect the new hardware. 11 Driver and Utility Installation 8. The Installation Wizard starts installing drivers into your hard drive. You will see a screen as shown below. Though the driver software is fully compatible with Windows 2000, it has not yet been digitally signed by Microsoft. Click Yes to continue the installation. When the installation is completed, the quick-launch icon will appear on the desktop. 12 For Windows XP For Windows XP 1. Insert the EZ Installation Wizard CD into your CD-ROM drive and click Install Driver/Utility. Then the Choose Setup Language window will appear. Select the desired language from the drop-down menu and click OK. 2. The InstallShield Wizard window then appears. There are 2 ways to install the driver and utility software. Click Next to continue with the Easy installation. · · If you select the Easy option, proceed directly to step 5. If you choose the Advanced option, proceed to step 3. 13 Driver and Utility Installation 3. Select the operation mode for your adapter, and click Next. Note: Infrastructure mode is a network connection involving one or more access points. AdHoc mode is for connections between different adapters, without any access points. See "Network Configuration and Planning" on page 32 for details. 14 For Windows XP 4. Enter the SSID and Channel of the network that your adapter is connecting to, and click Next. Note: See "Wireless Card Manager" on page 18 for more information. 5. When this message appears, insert your SMC2336W-AG adapter into your laptop. 6. Windows OS will automatically detect the new hardware. 15 Driver and Utility Installation 7. The Installation Wizard starts installing drivers into your hard drive. You will see a screen as shown below. Though the driver software is fully compatible with Windows XP, it has not yet been Logo tested by Microsoft. Click Continue Anyway to proceed with the installation. 16 For Windows XP 8. After the software driver and utility have been installed, click Finish to complete the installation. When the installation is completed, the SMC Wireless Card Manager will start up for configuration. The quick-launch icon will also appear on the desktop. 17 Wireless Card Manager To communicate with other wireless 802.11a, 11b, or 11g devices, you need to configure the SMC2336W-AG Adapter first. Double-click the icon on the desktop to launch the Wireless Card Manager, or you can access it from the right bottom corner of the Start menu. Note that the screen shots were taken from Windows XP and will not look exactly the same in all operating systems. The Card Manager includes the following 5 tabs: Configuration ­ Allows you to monitor network status and configure wireless adapter parameters. Link Information ­ Allows you to view network status. IP Information ­ Displays TCP/IP data. Site Survey ­ Scans/Shows all wireless devices within the adapter's signal range. Version Information ­ Shows the driver and utility version information. At the bottom of the screen, there are three boxes that can be selected: · · Radio On/Radio Off ­ This allows you to turn on/off the transmission/reception of the adapter. Exit ­ This closes the Card Manager dialogue box. 18 Wireless Card Manager Configuration Go to Configuration tab to set parameters for the SMC2336W-AG adapter. Select Profile ­ You can specify a profile name for a specific configuration of parameters. New ­ To set up a new profile, click New. Save ­ To save a new profile after configuring the settings, click Save. Delete ­ To delete a profile, select the profile from the drop down menu in the Select Profile field, then click Delete. 19 Wireless Card Manager Common SSID ­ Input an SSID for the wireless network to which you want to connect. To roam among multiple access points with different BSSIDs, set the SSID to ANY to allow connection to any access point. (Default: ANY) Operating Mode ­ Set the adapter's operating mode to 802.11 AdHoc for a network enviroment that does not have an access point, or to Infrastructure for connections with an access point. Transmit Rate ­ Indicates the data transmission rate. Select an appropriate transmission speed. Lower speeds will give better range. Channel ­ If you are setting up an ad hoc wireless network (see "Network Topologies" on page 32), set the channel number to the same radio channel as that used by the other wireless clients in your group. However, if you are connecting to a network via an access point, then the channel is automatically set by the access point to the channel that it uses. You only need to manually set the channel when the Operating Mode is 802.11 AdHoc. 20 Wireless Card Manager Note: The available channel settings are limited by local regulations which determine the number of channels that are available. · FCC: 11 channels · MKK: 14 channels Power Save ­ allows you to enable the power saving mode for reducing power loading. Supported Wireless Type ­ Click on the checkbox for using availabe operation types on your network. Security Clicking on Security icon to enable the wireless security function of the SMC2336W-AG. (Default: Security Off) Authentication Type ­ To start using the encryption security on the wireless network, choose Open or Shared from the list. (Default: Open) Set the Key Length to 152-bit, 128-bit or 64-bit for encryption keys. (Default: 64 bit) 21 Wireless Card Manager The WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) mechanism implemented in the SMC2336W-AG Adapter is based on the RC4 encryption algorithm. The encryption keys are provided to ensure data confidentiality. WEP security protects your wireless LAN against eavesdropping and unauthorized access by intruders. If WEP is in use, all clients on the same network must use the same WEP key settings in order to communicate with each other. Use Passphrase ­ Check this box to auto-generate keys for encryption. First, check this box, then enter a string of characters into the space. Encryption keys will be generated automatically. When Encryption is set to 128-bit, only one key will be generated. If Encryption is set to 64-bit, 4 keys will be generated. Note that you must use the same passphrase and Default key on all the other clients in your network. Note: A passphrase string can contain up to 32 alphanumeric characters. Key Type ­ Select ASCII or Hex. Default Key ­ Choose the Key for encryption. How to set up WEP · 128-bit or 64-bit WEP To set up the WEP function, take the following steps: 1. Select 128-bit or 64-bit in the Encryption field. 2. To automatically generate keys, check the Passphrase box, and type in a string of characters in this field. 3. In the Default Key field, select one key as the default key that you want to use for encryption. 4. Click Apply changes to allow the settings to take effect. 22 Wireless Card Manager Or 1. Select 128-bit or 64-bit in the Encryption field. 2. In the Key type field, select ASCII or Hex. 3. In the Default Key field, select one key as the default key that you want to use for encryption. 4. Manually type in a string of characters in the corresponding Key number field that you selected in step 3. 5. Click Apply changes to allow the settings to take effect. Note: When setting up WEP without using the Passphrase function, if the Key Type is set to Hex, only Hexadecimal characters (range: 0~9 and A~F) can be used. When encryption is set to 64-bit, a maximum of 10 Hex characters can be entered in the Key field. When encryption is set to 128-bit, a maximum of 26 Hex characters can be used. If the Key Type is set to ASCII, and encryption is set to 64-bit, then 5 ASCII characters can be used in the Key field. For 128-bit encryption, 13 ASCII characters can be used. · 152-bit WEP If the 152 bit WEP is used, select the ASCII key type and choose the Default Key number. Then enter the key characters. 16 ASCII characters can be used. 23 Wireless Card Manager · ASCII Per-User Key 1. Choose the Key Length. 2. Select the ASCII as the Key Type and the Per-User key as the Default Key. 3. Type in a string of characters in the Per-User field. 4. Click Apply changes to allow the settings to take effect. 24 Wireless Card Manager Advance RTS Threshold ­ Set the RTS (Request to Send) frame length. If the packet size is smaller than the preset RTS threshold size, the RTS/CTS mechanism will NOT be enabled. (Default: disabled) Fragmentation Threshold ­ The Fragmentation Threshold can be set between 256 and 2,346. If the packet size is smaller than the preset Fragment size, the packet will not be segmented. (Default: disabled) Site Scan Type ­ Use this option for automatically scanning valid access points on the network. (Default: Active) Preamble type ­ The access points and client card drivers have a radio setting for RF Preamble. Enabling it can boost your throughput. If you are not sure whether all the clients and access point radios in your wireless network support the Short RF preamble, then leave this setting to the default (Long). QoS (Quality of Service) ­ Use QoS to specify a guaranteed throughput level. (Default: disable) Tx Power ­ Move the slider up and down to increase or decrease the transmission power. 25 Wireless Card Manager Link information The Link information screen displays information on the current wireless network that you are connected to. SSID ­ The service set identification for the wireless network that the adapter is connected to. Asssociated BSS ID ­ The MAC address of the access point to which the adapter is connected in an infrastructure network. In an ad hoc network, the BSS ID is a random number generated by the first adapter that communicates with other clients in the network. The BSS ID of the other clients will then be set to the same value. Channel ­ The channel used to connect with the wireless device. Current Tx Rate ­ The data transmission rate. 26 Wireless Card Manager Current Rx Rate ­ The data receiving rate. Encryption ­ Shows the security status of the connection. Wireless Type ­ Shows the connection type. Throughput Rx Fragments ­ The number of received fragments. Tx Fragments ­ The number of transmitted fragments. Signal Strength ­ Shows the strength of the connection between the adapter and the access point. 27 Wireless Card Manager IP Information This screen displays IP information for your notebook. Now that you have configured your adapter to connect to a wireless network, your adapter needs to obtain new network settings. By releasing old IP settings and renewing them with settings from the access point, you will also verify that you have configured your adapter correctly. To release network settings click on Release button, then click on Renew to get a new IP settings. IP Address ­ Internet address of the notebook. IP Netmask ­ A mask used to determine what subnet an IP address belongs to. Gateway ­ The IP address of the network gateway. Host Name ­ The notebook's name on the network. 28 Wireless Card Manager incoming/outgoing ­ Shows the traffic activity of the wireless connection. Site Survey Site Survey scans and displays all wireless devices within range. You can choose one of them to connect to by double-clicking on an entry. Network Type ­ This shows the operating mode of the listed wireless devices. SSID ­ Service Set ID. See "Configuration" on page 19 for details. Type ­ Shows the wireless network is operating in 802.11a, 11b, or 11g. WEP ­ The key icon indicates that WEP has been enabled. 29 Wireless Card Manager Signal ­ This shows the signal strength from the adapter to the listed access points. Channel ­ The radio channel on which the access point operates. See "Link information" on page 26 for details. Scroll right to see more information of the Site browse screen. BSSID ­ Basic Service Set ID. See "Link information" on page 26 for details. 30 Wireless Card Manager Version Information This screen shows information on the current version of the driver and Card Manager. You can download the latest firmware from the SMC web site at www.smc.com. 31 Network Configuration and Planning SMC's EZ-Stream Wireless Solution supports a stand-alone wireless network configuration, as well as an integrated configuration with 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LANs. The SMC2336W-AG can be configured as: · · Ad hoc - for small groups that only communicate with each other, without access points Infrastructure - for wireless LANs Network Topologies Ad Hoc Wireless LAN An ad hoc wireless LAN Ad Hoc Wireless LAN consists of a group of computers, each equipped Notebook with Wireless USB Adapter with one wireless adapter, connected via radio signals as an independent wireless LAN. Computers in a specific Notebook with Wireless PC Card ad hoc wireless LAN must therefore be configured to PC with Wireless the same radio channel. An PCI Adapter ad hoc wireless LAN can be used in a SOHO or temporary environment. 32 Network Topologies Infrastructure Wireless LANs The SMC (802.11a/11b/11g) access points can also provide wireless workstations with access to a wired LAN. An integrated wired and wireless LAN is called an infrastructure configuration. A Basic Service Set (BSS) consists of a group of wireless PC users, and an access point that is directly connected to the wired LAN. Each wireless PC in this BSS can talk to any computer in its wireless group via a radio link, or access other computers or network resources in the wired LAN infrastructure via the access point. The infrastructure configuration not only extends the accessibility of wireless PCs to the wired LAN, but also extends the effective wireless transmission range for wireless PCs by passing their signal through one or more access points. A wireless infrastructure can be used for access to a central database, or for connection between mobile workers, as shown in the following figure. Wired LAN Extension to Wireless Adapters File Server Desktop PC Switch Notebook with Wireless PC Card Adapter Access Point PC with Wireless PC I Adapter 33 Network Configuration and Planning Setting the Communication Domain Stationary Wireless PCs The Basic Service Set (BSS) is the communication domain for each access point. For wireless PCs that do not need to support roaming, set the domain identifier (SSID) for the wireless card to the SSID of the access point you want to connect to. Check with your administrator for the SSID of the access point you should connect to. Roaming Wireless PCs A wireless infrastructure can also support roaming for mobile workers. More than one access point can be configured to create an Extended Service Set (ESS). By placing the access points so that a continuous coverage area is created, wireless users within this ESS can roam freely. All wireless adapters and access points within a specific ESS must be configured with the same SS ID and to the same radio channel. File Server Desktop PC Wireless Cell Coverage Area Switch Notebook with Wireless PC Card Adapter PC with Wireless PCI Adapter Access Point Access Point PC with Wireless PC I Adapter Notebooks with Wireless PC Card Adapters Seamless Roaming 34 Setting the Communication Domain Before setting up an ESS for roaming, you need to choose a clear radio channel and a suitable location for the access points for optimum performance. (Refer to "Troubleshooting" on page 36 for detailed information on installation and usage) 35 Troubleshooting Check the following troubleshooting items before contacting SMC technical support. Adapter Installation Problems If your notebook cannot find the SMC2336W-AG Adapter or the driver software does not install correctly, check the following: · Make sure the adapter is securely seated in the CardBus slot. When you insert the wireless adapter into the notebook's slot, your notebook should make a beeping sound, if the adapter is properly inserted. Check for any hardware problems, such as physical damage to the card's connector. Try the card in another CardBus slot. If this also fails, test your notebook with another wireless adapter that is known to operate correctly. Make sure your notebook is using the latest BIOS. If there are other network adapters in the notebook, they may be causing conflicts. Remove all other adapters from the notebook and test the wireless adapter separately. If it still does not work, take out the wireless adapter. Go to "Control Panel" and delete the adapter from your network configuration menu. Restart your laptop and reinstall the card and the driver and utility. · · · · 36 Network Connection Problems Network Connection Problems If the Link LED on the SMC2336W-AG Adapter does not light, or if you cannot access any network resources from the notebook, check the following: · · · · Make sure the correct software driver is installed for your operating system. If necessary, try reinstalling the driver. Make sure the notebook and other network devices are receiving power. The access point you want to connect to may be defective. Try using another access point. If you cannot access a Windows or NetWare service on the network, check that you have enabled and configured the service correctly. If you cannot connect to a particular server, be sure that you have access rights and a valid ID and password. If you cannot access the Internet, be sure you have configured your system for TCP/IP. · If your wireless station cannot communicate with a computer in the Ethernet LAN when configured for Infrastructure mode, check the following: · · · Make sure the access point that the station is associated with is powered on. If the connection still fails, change the access point and all the clients within the BSS to another radio channel. For a station with roaming disabled, make sure the SSID is the same as that used by the access point, or the same as that used by the access points in the extended service set (ESS). 37 Troubleshooting SMC Networks EZ-Stream Wireless CardBus Adapter Maximum Distance Table Important Notice Maximum distances posted below are actual tested distance thresholds. However, there are many variables such as barrier composition and construction, as well as local environmental interference that may impact your actual distances and cause you to experience distance thresholds far lower than those posted below. If you have any questions or comments regarding the features or performance of this product, or if you would like information regarding our full line of wireless products, you can visit us at www.smc.com, or you can call us toll-free at 800.SMC.4YOU. SMC Networks stands behind every product sold with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and a limited-lifetime warranty. 802.11a Wireless Distance Table Speed and Distance Ranges Environmental 108 72 54 48 36 24 18 12 9 6 Mbps Mbps Mbps Mbps Mbps Mbps Mbps Mbps Mbps Mbps Condition1 Outdoors2 25 m 40 m 85 m 250 m 310 m 400 m 445 m 455 m 465 m 510 m ( 82 ft) (131 ft) (279 ft) (820 ft) (1016 ft) (1311 ft) (1459 ft) (1492 ft) (1525 ft) (1672 ft) Indoors3 8 m 20 m 25 m 35 m 40 m 45 m 50 m 55 m 66 m 70 m (26 ft) (66 ft) (82 ft) (115 ft) (131 ft) (148 ft) (164 ft) (180 ft) (216 ft) (230 ft) 38 Network Connection Problems 802.11b Wireless Distance Table Speed and Distance Ranges Environmental Condition Outdoors2 Indoors3 1 11 Mbps 300 m (984ft) 60 m (197 ft) 5.5 Mbps 465 m (1525 ft) 70 m (230 ft) 2 Mbps 500 m (1639 ft) 83 m (272 ft) 1 Mbps 515 m (1689 ft) 85 m (279 ft) 802.11g Wireless Distance Table Speed and Distance Ranges Environmental Condition1 Outdoors2 Indoors3 54 Mbps 48 Mbps 36 Mbps 24 Mbps 18 Mbps 12 Mbps 9 Mbps 6 Mbps 82 m 100 m 300 m 300 m 350 m 450 m 485 m 495 m (269 ft) (328 ft) (984 ft) (1082 ft) (1148 ft) (1475 ft) (1590 ft) (1623 ft) 20 m (66 ft) 25 m (82 ft) 35 m 43 m 50 m 57 m 71 m 80 m (115 ft) (141 ft) (164 ft) (187 ft) (233 ft) (262 ft) Notes: 1. The application of the 72Mbps turbo mode is subjected to in-country regulations. 2. Outdoor Environment: A line-of-sight environment with no interference or obstruction between the access point and clients. 3. Indoor Environment: A typical office or home environment with floor to ceiling obstructions between the access point and clients. 39 Specifications General Specifications Functional Criteria Data Rate 802.11a: Normal Mode: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps per channel Turbo Mode: 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72, 108 Mbps per channel 802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps 802.11g: 1, 2, 5.5, 11, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps Operating Range 802.11a: Up to 510m (1672 ft) 802.11b/g: Up to 515m (1689 ft) Radio Signal Signal Type Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) Modulation Techniques 802.11a,g (OFDM): BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM 802.11b (DSSS): DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK Channel Support FCC: 1-11, ETSI: 1-13, TELEC: 1-14 RF Output Power 16 dBm Physical Characteristics Power Consumption Transmission mode: 480mA Receive mode: 380 mA 40