¤ Wireless Local Area Network Card WL-138g V2 / WL-138gE (For 802.11g & 802.
Copyright Information No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (“ASUS”).
Copyright Information ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. Company address: General (tel): Web site address: General (fax): General email: 15 Li-Te Road, Beitou, Taipei 11259 +886-2-2894-3447 www.asus.com.tw +886-2-2894-7798 info@asus.com.tw Technical support General support (tel):+886-2-2894-3447 Online support: http://support.asus.com ASUS COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL (America) Company address: General (fax): Web site address: 44370 Nobel Drive, Fremont, CA 94538, USA +1-510-608-4555 usa.asus.
Table of Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................. 7 Overview .............................................................................................. 7 System Requirements .......................................................................... 8 The Product Package ........................................................................... 8 2. Installation ...............................................................................
Table of Contents 4. Troubleshooting .................................................................... 42 5. Glossary ................................................................................. 44 6. Safety Information ................................................................. 52 Federal Communications Commission ............................................... 52 FCC Radio Frequency Interference Requirements ...................... 53 FCC RF Exposure Guidelines (Access Points) ...............
ASUS WLAN Card
Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 1 Introduction 1. Introduction Overview Thank you for purchasing the ASUS WLAN Card. The ASUS WLAN Card is designed to be fully compliant with both the IEEE 802.11g and 802.11b wireless local area network (Wireless LAN) standards. As a result of the completion of the standard, the interoperability of Wireless LAN products among multiple manufacturers will be guaranteed. The ASUS WLAN Card product provides high-speed, standards-based Wireless LAN solutions.
Chapter 2 - Installation System Requirements To begin using the ASUS WLAN Card, you must have the following minimum requirements: Chapter 2 Quick Start • • • • Windows XP/2000/ME/98SE Standard 32-bit PCI Slot 32MB system memory or larger 300MHz processor or higher The Product Package When you receive the ASUS WLAN Card package, it should contain the following items: • • • • ASUS WLAN PCI Card Dipole Antenna ASUS WLAN Card Quick Start Guide CD-ROM Disc (Drivers, Utilities, Documentation) Note: If any
Chapter 2 - Installation Installing the ASUS WLAN Card Utilities & Driver Chapter 2 Quick Start 1. Insert the ASUS WLAN Card support CD and an autorun menu will appear. If your autorun is disabled, double click SETUP.EXE in the root directory of the support CD. 2. From the autorun menu, select your language and click Install ASUS WLAN Card Utilities / Driver. 3. Click Next on the Welcome screen. 4. Click Next to use the default Destination Folder or click Browse for another folder. 5.
Chapter 2 - Installation Reading the ASUS WLAN Status Indicators The ASUS WLAN card consists of one AIR indicator that shows the status of the ASUS WLAN Card. Chapter 2 Quick Start OFF: No wireless activity. Blinking: Transmitting or receiving wireless data. Orientating the Antenna The ASUS WLAN Card has one external antenna. It is recommended that you adjust the external antenna straight up for maximum range and higher link quality.
Chapter 2 - Installation One Touch Wizard (new wireless LAN) Chapter 2 Quick Start Use the One Touch Wizard to setup your wireless connection. 1. Select Create a new... and click Next to use the simplest configuration or select another option first. 2. Enter the SSID name of the access point that you wish to connect to. Select Data encryption if secured connections are enabled. 3. Setup is complete. Click Finish to exit the wizard or click Next to continue with more advanced features. 4.
Chapter 2 - Installation One Touch Wizard (existing LAN) Use the One Touch Wizard to setup your wireless connection. Chapter 2 Quick Start 1. Select Connect to... and click Next to use the simplest configuration or select another option first. 2. Select an AP from the available networks. 3. Setup is complete. Click Finish to exit the wizard.
Chapter 2 - Installation Configuring the WLAN utility Chapter 2 Quick Start After installing the WLAN Card Utilities, you will need to make some settings before being able to use your wireless connection. Double-click the WLAN Control Center icon to start the utility. 1. Right-click the WLAN icon and select “Wireless Settings” 2. Set the Network Name (SSID) to the same name as the SSID set in your wireless access point. 3. Use “Site Survey” if you don’t know the name of your access point(s). 4.
Chapter 2 - Installation Soft AP (Windows XP Only) Soft AP mode allows the WLAN card to act as a virtual access point. The computer needs to be connected to a wired network using an Ethernet connection in order to provide network access to WLAN clients. Chapter 2 Quick Start 1. Select Soft AP Mode 2. Drag and drop a wired network connection next to the globe icon. 3. Enable ICS* and Firewall if desired. Refer to Windows help for information on “Internet Connection Sharing”. 4.
Chapter 2 - Installation Soft AP (Windows XP Only) Cont. Soft AP mode allows for Access Control configuration. Chapter 2 Quick Start Access Control The AP provides facilities to limit the wireless clients that associate with it and the data packets that can forward through it. Filters provide network security or improve performance by eliminating broadcast/multicast packets from the radio network. The Access Control List (ACL) contains MAC addresses for wireless clients allowed to associate with the AP.
Chapter 2 - Installation Soft AP (Windows XP Only) Cont. Chapter 2 Quick Start Soft AP Mode will also provide two extra tabs on the Status pages - Association Table and Event Log. The Association Table shows clients that are currently connected to the Soft AP. The Event Log tracks messages associated with the Soft AP. IMPORTANT: If the end points of a chain are connected to each other a loop is created.
Chapter 3 - Reference 3. Software Reference Chapter Overview The WLAN Card software includes several utilities: • • WLAN Control Center – Makes it easy to launch applications and activate network location settings. Wireless Settings – Allows users to control the WLAN Card. Additional Reference Windows XP Wireless Properties - Brief overview of the wireless settings provided in Windows XP.
Chapter 3 - Reference WLAN Control Center Control Center is an application that makes it easy to launch applications and activate network location settings. Control Center starts automatically when the system boots. Whenever Control Center is running, you will see a Control Center icon displayed on the Windows taskbar. Starting the Control Center manually • Select WLAN Control Center in Windows Start menu. or • Double click the WLAN Control Center icon on the desktop.
Chapter 3 - Reference Wireless Status Icons (on the taskbar) Excellent link quality and connected to Internet (Infrastructure) Good link quality and connected to Internet (Infrastructure) Fair link quality and connected to Internet (Infrastructure) Poor link quality and connected to Internet (Infrastructure) Not linked but connected to Internet (Infrastructure) Excellent link quality but not connected to Internet (Infrastructure) Chapter 3 Control Center Good link quality but not connected to Internet (Inf
Chapter 3 - Reference Taskbar Icon - Right Menu Right-clicking the taskbar icon shows the following menu items: • • • • • • Chapter 3 Control Center • Wireless Settings – Launches Wireless Settings application. Activate Configuration – Allows you to set which profile to use. Mobile Manager – Launches Mobile Manager application. Site Monitor – Launches the Site Monitor application. Change Mode (Windows XP Only) - Configures your card in Station (STA) or Soft Access Point (Soft AP) mode.
Chapter 3 - Reference Wireless Settings Utility Wireless Settings is an application that allows you to control your WLAN Card. Use Wireless Settings to View or Modify the configuration settings and monitor the operational status of your PC Card. Once Wireless Settings is launched, you can see the tabbed property sheet. This property sheet is composed of tabbed “pages”, each with its own group of feature-specific settings.
Chapter 3 - Reference Association State Displays the connection status as follows: Connected - The station is now associated with one wireless LAN device. When operating in Infrastructure mode, this field shows the MAC address of the Access Point with which you are communicating. When operating in Ad Hoc* mode, this field shows the virtual MAC address used by computers participating in the Ad Hoc* network. Scanning...
Chapter 3 - Reference Radio State Shows the wireless radio ON or OFF. Radio On - When the wireless radio is turned ON, the following icon appears in the upper left of the Settings property page. Radio Off- When the wireless radio is turned OFF, the following icon appears in the upper left of the Settings property page. Rescan – Force the radio to rescan all available channels.
Chapter 3 - Reference Status - Connection You can view the current link statistics about the WLAN Card. These statistics are updated once per second and are valid only if the WLAN Card exists. Chapter 3 Windows Settings Frame Sent/Received Transmitted - The number of frames that were transmitted. Received - The number of frames that were received. Frame Error Transmitted - The number of frames that were not successfully transmitted. Received - The number of frames that were not successfully received.
Chapter 3 - Reference Status - IP Config IP Config tab shows all the current network configuration information for the WLAN Card. Use it to verify your network settings. Chapter 3 Windows Settings IP CONFIG will display all the current TCP/IP configuration values including the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway and Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) and DNS configuration.
Chapter 3 - Reference Config - Basic Lets you can change the WLAN Card configurations without rebooting your computer. Chapter 3 Windows Settings Network Type Infrastructure – Select the Infrastructure mode to establish a connection with an Access Point. Your computer is able to access wireless LAN and wired LAN (Ethernet), via an associated access point. The Channel field turns to “Auto” when “Infrastructure” is selected.
Chapter 3 - Reference Channel Use the Channel field to select the radio channel for WLAN Card. In an "infrastructure" network, your WLAN Card will automatically select the correct frequency channel required to communicate with an Access Point, this parameter will be fixed in "Auto" and cannot be changed. In an "Ad Hoc" network, you can decide the channel number for the WLAN Card. Any WLAN Card can communicate in the same network if they have the same frequency channel setting.
Chapter 3 - Reference Config - Encryption Lets you configure the Wireless LAN Card encryption settings. For data confidentiality in a wireless environment, IEEE 802.11 specifies a Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) algorithm to offer transmission privacy similar to wired network. The WEP uses keys to encrypt transmit data packets and decrypt received data packets. The encryption process can scramble frame bits to avoid disclosure to others.
Chapter 3 - Reference WPA-PSK - Specifies the use of a preshared key with infrastructure mode. Enables WPA Preshared key, which enables your client adapter to associate to Access Point using WPA-PSK. WPA-None - Specifies the use of a preshared key with Ad Hoc mode. WPA - The network is operating in IEEE 802.1x authentication mode. This mode is environments with a RADIUS (Remote Access Dial-in User Service) infrastructure.
Chapter 3 - Reference Key Format You can enter the WEP Key as a Hexadecimal digits (0~9, a~f, and A~F), or as ASCII characters, based on the state of the Key Format. Key Length For 64 bits encryption, each Key contains exactly 10 hex digits, or 5 ASCII characters. For 128 bits encryption, each Key contains exactly 26 hex digits, or 13 ASCII characters. Chapter 3 Windows Settings Two ways to assign WEP keys 1. Manual Assignment - When you click this button, the cursor appears in the field for Key 1.
Chapter 3 - Reference 64/128bits versus 40/104bits You may be confused about configuring WEP encryption, especially when using multiple wireless LAN products from different vendors. There are two levels of WEP Encryption: 64 bits and 128 bits. Firstly, 64 bit WEP and 40 bit WEP are the same encryption method and can interoperate in the wireless network.
Chapter 3 - Reference Status - Advanced This section allows you to set up additional parameters for the wireless router function. We recommend that you use the default values for all items in this window. Chapter 3 Windows Settings WL-138g V2 WL-138gE (includes Afterburner) RTS Threshold (0-2347) The RTS/CTS (Request to Send/Clear to Send) function is used to minimize collisions among wireless stations.
Chapter 3 - Reference 54g Mode 54g LRS (Limited Rate Support) - is used to communicate with older 11b clients that only support 4 rates. But 54g cards can still use all 12 rates. 54g Auto - support both 802.11b and 802.11g adapters. 54g Performance - will support ONLY high-performance 54g adapters. All of these modes only pertain to when the STA is creating their own IBSS network. 802.11b only - support both 802.11b adapters.
Chapter 3 - Reference Survey - Site Survey Use the Site Survey tab to view statistics on the wireless networks available to the WLAN Card. The Site Survey tab is read-only with no user configurable data fields. Use the Site Survey tab to view the following network parameters. • • • • Chapter 3 Windows Settings • SSID: View the SSID (service set identification) of the available networks. CH: View the direct-sequence channel used by each network.
Chapter 3 - Reference Ping The Ping tab allows you to verify the connection of your computer with another computer in a network. To ping a connection: Chapter 3 Windows Settings 1. Type the IP address of the connection you want to verify in the IP Address field. 2. Configure the ping session by assigning the size and count of packet to send, and the time limit for a ping session to continue (in milliseconds). 3. Click the Ping button. During the ping session, the Ping button toggles into a Stop button.
Chapter 3 - Reference About - Version Info Tab Uses the Version Info tab to view program and WLAN Card version information. The program version information field includes the Copyright and utility version. The version information includes the NDIS version, driver name, and driver version. Chapter 3 Windows Settings This screen is an example only. Your version numbers will be different from what are shown here.
Chapter 3 - Reference Link State WLAN Card “Link State” icon appears on the left side of the WLAN Card Settings. Use the icon to view the current signal status. Excellent Link Quality (Infrastructure) Good Link Quality (Infrastructure) Fair Link Quality (Infrastructure) Chapter 3 Windows Settings Poor Link Quality (Infrastructure) Not linked (Infrastructure) Exit Wireless Settings To exit Wireless Settings, you can click OK or Cancel. This utility may be closed at any time and from any tab.
Chapter 3 - Reference Ad Hoc The Wireless LAN card when set to Ad Hoc mode can connect to other wireless device(s) in a wireless network called an Ad Hoc network. To connect the Wireless LAN card to another wireless device: Chapter 3 Software Reference 1. Launch the Wireless Settings utility by double-clicking the Control Center icon in the Windows® taskbar. 2. Click the Survey button to scan available wireless device(s) within the Wireless LAN card’s range.
Chapter 3 - Reference 6. Click the Connection tab to display the connection strength and link quality between the Wireless LAN card and the wireless device. ASUS WLAN Card Chapter 3 Software Reference 5. Click the Status button to verify if the Wireless LAN card is connected to the device.
Chapter 3 - Reference Windows XP Wireless Properties 2. Double-click WLAN ... 3. The “General” page will show status, duration, speed, and signal strength. Signal strength is represented by green bars with 5 bars meaning excellent signal and 1 bar meaning poor signal. 4. The “Wireless Networks” page will show Available networks and Preferred networks. Use the Add button to add the “SSID” of available networks and set the connection preference order with the Move up and Move down buttons.
Chapter 3 - Reference 5. The “Authentication” page allows you to add security settings. Read Windows help for more information. Chapter 3 Wireless Properties Windows XP Wireless Properties (Cont.) 6. The “Advanced” page allows you to set firewall and sharing. Read Windows help for more information.
Chapter 4 - Troubleshooting 4. Troubleshooting The following troubleshooting guides provide answers to some of the more common problems, which you may encounter while installing or using WLAN Card products. If you encounter difficulties that are not mentioned in this section, please contact Wireless LAN Technical Support. Verify if the WLAN Card is installed correctly. When the WLAN Card setup is complete, you can verify if the driver has been setup properly.
Chapter 4 - Troubleshooting Cannot connect to a Station (WLAN Card) Follow the procedure below to configure your WLAN Card. a. Verify that the “Network Type” is in “Ad Hoc” mode. b. Verify that the “SSID” of your WLAN Card is set to the same “SSID” of the other station (or another WLAN Card). c. Verify that the “channel” of the WLAN Card is “Auto” or set to the same “channel” of the other station (or another WLAN Card). d.
Chapter 5 - Glossary 5. Glossary Access Point (AP) An networking device that seamlessly connects wired and wireless networks. Access Points combined with a distributed system support the creation of multiple radio cells that enable roaming throughout a facility. Ad Hoc A wireless network composed solely of stations within mutual communication range of each other (no Access Point). Basic Rate Set This option allows you to specify the data transmission rate.
Chapter 5 - Glossary Each subchannel in the COFDM implementation is about 300 KHz wide. At the low end of the speed gradient, BPSK (binary phase shift keying) is used to encode 125 Kbps of data per channel, resulting in a 6,000-Kbps, or 6 Mbps, data rate. Using quadrature phase shift keying, you can double the amount of data encoded to 250 Kbps per channel, yielding a 12-Mbps data rate. And by using 16-level quadrature amplitude modulation encoding 4 bits per hertz, you can achieve a data rate of 24 Mbps.
Chapter 5 - Glossary Wireless mobile clients receiving a direct-sequence transmission use the spreading code to map the chips within the chipping sequence back into bits to recreate the original data transmitted by the wireless device. Intercepting and decoding a direct-sequence transmission requires a predefined algorithm to associate the spreading code used by the transmitting wireless device to the receiving wireless mobile client. This algorithm is established by IEEE 802.11b specifications.
Chapter 5 - Glossary Firewall A firewall determines which information passes in and out of a network. NAT can create a natural firewall by hiding a local network’s IP addresses from the Internet. A Firewall prevents anyone outside of your network from accessing your computer and possibly damaging or viewing your files. Gateway A network point that manages all the data traffic of your network, as well as to the Internet and connects one network to another.
Chapter 5 - Glossary The 802.11a standard gains some of its performance from the higher frequencies at which it operates. The laws of information theory tie frequency, radiated power and distance together in an inverse relationship. Thus, moving up to the 5-GHz spectrum from 2.4 GHz will lead to shorter distances, given the same radiated power and encoding scheme. Compared with 802.11g: 802.11a is a standard for access points and radio NICs that is ahead of 802.11g in the market by about six months. 802.
Chapter 5 - Glossary IP Address An IP address is a 32-bit number that identifies each sender or receiver of information that is sent across the Internet. An IP address has two parts: the identifier of a particular network on the Internet and an identifier of the particular device (which can be a server or a workstation) within that network. ISM Bands (Industrial, Scientific, and Medicine Bands) Radio frequency bands that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorized for wireless LANs.
Chapter 5 - Glossary PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA), develops standards for PC cards, formerly known as PCMCIA cards. These cards are available in three types, and are about the same length and width as credit cards. However, the different width of the cards ranges in thickness from 3.3 mm (Type I) to 5.0 mm (Type II) to 10.5 mm (Type III).
Chapter 5 - Glossary TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) The standard transport level protocol that provides the full duplex, stream service on which many application protocols depend. TCP allows a process or one machine to send a stream of data to a process on another. Software implementing TCP usually resides in the operating system and uses the IP to transmit information across the network. WAN (Wide Area Network) A system of LANs, connected together.
Chapter 6 - Appendix 6. Safety Information Federal Communications Commission This device complies with FCC Rules Part 15. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: • • This device may not cause harmful interference, and This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Chapter 6 - Appendix FCC Radio Frequency Interference Requirements MPE Statement: Your device contains a low power transmitter. When device is transmitted it sends out Radio Frequency (RF) signal. This device is restricted to INDOOR USE due to its operation in the 5.15 to 5.25GHz frequency range. FCC requires this product to be used indoors for the frequency range 5.15 to 5.25GHz to reduce the potential for harmful interference to co-channel of the Mobile Satellite Systems.
Chapter 6 - Appendix FCC RF Exposure Guidelines (Wireless Cards) This device has been tested for compliance with FCC RF Exposure (SAR) limits in typical portable configurations. In order to comply with SAR limits established in the ANSI C95.1 standards, it is recommended when using a WLAN Card adapter that the integrated antenna is positioned more than [2.5cm] from your body or nearby persons during extended periods of operation. If the antenna is positioned less than [2.
Chapter 6 - Appendix France Restricted Frequency Band Some areas of France have a restricted frequency band. The worst case maximum authorized power indoors is: • • 10mW for the entire 2.4 GHz band (2400 MHz–2483.5 MHz) 100mW for frequencies between 2446.5 MHz and 2483.5 MHz NOTE: Channels 10 through 13 inclusive operate in the band 2446.6 MHz to 2483.5 MHz.
