CWP-905 Wireless-N PCI Adapter User Manual Version: 1.
Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ...........................................................................................3 1.1 About CWP-905......................................................................................3 1.2 Main Features.........................................................................................3 1.3 System Requirements..........................................................................4 1.4 Getting to Know CWP-905 .....................................
Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 About CWP-905 Thank you for purchasing this high-speed 802.11 b/g/n (Draft 2.0) wireless adapter. The Wireless-N PCI Adapter can be installed in most desktops and provides true flexibility by allowing the computer to be positioned almost anywhere in the building without the cost and hassle of running network cables. Using the wireless PCI adapter, you don't have to worry about drilling holes in your walls and climbing through the attic or cellar to get connected to the network.
1.3 System Requirements • An empty PCI slot • Windows 2000, XP, or Vista operating system • CD-ROM drive • At least 100MB of available disk space 1.4 Getting to Know CWP-905 1. PCI Interface 2. Antennas 3. ‘Link’ LED 4.
Chapter 2: Driver Installation and Configuration 2.1 Network Card Installation Please follow the following instructions to install your new wireless network card: 1. SWITCH THE COMPUTER OFF, remove the cover and insert the wireless network card into an empty PCI slot of your computer. 2. Install all three antennas on the wireless network card, and make sure the antennas are securely installed. To improve radio reception, please adjust antennas to the position shown in the picture.
3. Switch the computer on, the following message will appear on your computer, please click ‘Cancel’. 4. Insert the Auto-Install CD into your CD-ROM drive. Unless you have disabled the auto-run feature of Windows, the AutoPlay Menu should appear automatically. If not, you can manually access the installation by clicking the Start button and choosing Run. In the drop-down box type D:\ AUTORUN.EXE (where D: is the drive letter for your CD-ROM drive).
5. Please read the end user license agreement and click ‘Yes’ to accept license agreement. 6. You can choose the configuration tool used to configure the wireless network card here. It’s recommended to select ‘Ralink Configuration Tool’, which provides fully access to all function of this wireless network card. If you prefer to use the wireless configuration tool provided by Windows XP or Vista, please select ‘Microsoft Zero Configuration Tool’, then click ‘Next’.
7. There are two wireless performance mode you can select here: Optimize for WiFi mode or Optimize for performance mode If you want to enhance wireless performance, please select ‘Optimize for performance mode’. However, wireless compatibility is not guaranteed in this mode. If you want to use this mode, you may not be able to communicate with older wireless devices and wireless access point, such as 802.11b devices, but the data transfer rate will be enhanced in this mode.
8. Please click ‘Install’ to run the driver installation process. 9. When you see this message, please click ‘Finish’ to complete the driver installation process.
. A new icon will appear at lower-right corner of your computer desktop, you can put the mouse cursor on the icon, and the status of wireless card will be displayed as a popup balloon. HERE! 11. When you want to configure your wireless connection, please right click on this icon, and a popup menu will appear. You can click ‘Launch Config Utilities’ to start configuration program. If you want to close configuration utility, please click ‘Exit’.
2.2 Connect to Wireless Access Point There are two ways you can configure your wireless network card to connect to wireless access point: using the Ralink configuration utility which comes with wireless card driver, and using built-in windows zero configuration utility. 2-2-1 Using Ralink Utility Please follow the following instructions to use Ralink configuration utility to connect to wireless access point. 1.
Here are descriptions of every setup item: SSID: The Service Set IDentifier of wireless access point or other network device. You can think it as the name of access point of wireless device. BSSID: The MAC address of wireless access point or other network device. Unlike SSID, BSSID of every access point or network device is unique, and will not be the same with others. So you can identify a single access point or wireless device from others by BSSID, if they all have the same SSID.
uses. Encryption: Shows the encryption method that access point or wireless device uses. If the wireless access point does not enable encryption, you’ll see ‘None’ displayed here. Authentication: Shows the authentication mode that access point or wireless device uses. If the wireless access point does not require authentication, you’ll see ‘Unknown’ displayed here. Network Type: Shows the type of wireless connection.
If the access point you selected does not enable encryption (The content of ‘Encryption’ field of the access point you selected is ‘None’, you’ll be connected to this wireless access point within one minute. Please jump to step 6. If the access point you selected enables encryption, please proceed to next step. 4. If the wireless access point does not have SSID, you’ll be prompted to input it here. Please ask the owner of wireless access point and input the exact SSID here, then click ‘OK’ when ready.
5. If the wireless access point uses encryption, you have to input WEP passphrase or WPA preshared key. Please ask the owner of the wireless access point you want to connect, and input the correct passphrase / preshared key here, then click ‘OK’. If the value you inputted here is wrong, you will not be able to connect to this wireless access point. Authentication type is selected automatically, please don’t change it.
wireless device you connected to) message displayed at lower-left corner of configuration utility, congratulations, you’re successfully connected to the access point or wireless device you selected! 7. You can put the mouse cursor over the Ralink configuration utility icon, and the brief information about link status and signal strength of current wireless connection will be shown as a popup balloon.
2-2-2 Using Windows Zero Configuration Windows XP and Vista has a built-in wireless network configuration utility, called as ‘Windows Zero Configuration’ (WZC). You can also use WZC to configure your wireless network parameter: 1. Right-click Ralink configuration utility icon and select ‘Use Zero Configuration as Configuration utility. 2.
4. Right-click ‘Wireless Network Connection’ (it may have a number as suffix if you have more than one wireless network card, please make sure you right-click the ‘Ralink 802.11n Wireless LAN Card), then select ‘View Available Wireless Networks’. 5. All wireless access points in proximity will be displayed here. If the access point you want to use is not displayed here, please try to move your computer closer to the access point, or you can click ‘Refresh network list’ to rescan access points.
6. If the access point is protected by encryption, you have to input its security key or passphrase here. It must match the encryption setting on the access point. If the access point you selected does not use encryption, you’ll not be prompted for security key or passphrase.
7. If you can see ‘Connected’ message, the connection between your computer and wireless access point is successfully established.
2.3 Connection Profile Management If you need to connect to different wireless access points at different time, like of access point of your home, office, cybercafe, or public wireless service, you can store the connection parameters (encryption, passphrase, security etc, etc.) as a profile for every access point, so you don’t have in input these parameters every time you want to connect to a specific wireless access point. 2-3-1 Make a profile for an access point or wireless device 1.
Or, you can add a connected wireless access point or wireless device to a profile by clicking ‘Site Survey’ tab, then click ‘Add to Profile’ button: 22
You can set the parameter for this connection here: 23
Here are descriptions of every setup items: Profile Name Please give this profile a name, up to 32 alphanumerical characters and symbols are allowed, but space is not allowed. SSID The SSID of the wireless access point or wireless device you selected will be displayed here. But if the SSID of access point or wireless device is not available, you have to input it here manually.
it is. Now click ‘Authentication and Security’ tab, and set the encryption and authentication settings. Here are descriptions of every setup items: Authentication Select the authentication type of the wireless access Type point or wireless device you wish to connect. If you’re adding a profile from an existing access point or wireless device, the value will be selected automatically, and please do not modify it. If you select ‘LEAP’, the following message will be displayed.
Encryption: Select the encryption type of the wireless access point or wireless device you wish to connect. If you’re adding a profile from an existing access point or wireless device, the value will be selected automatically, and please do not modify it. WPA Input WPA preshared key here. If encryption is not Preshared Key enabled, or you select ‘WEP’ as encryption type, this field will be disabled and grayed out. WEP Key You can select key type (Hex or ASCII) and input WEP key here.
Use 802.1x Enable 802.1x wireless authentication. Please click ‘802.1x Setting’ button to set 802.1x parameters. (See next section). After you finish all settings, click ‘OK’ to save settings and exit. The profile you just created will be displayed: Select the profile you wish to use, and click ‘Activate’ to use the profile you selected. You can only activate a profile a time, and the profile which is activated currently will have a green check ( ) before its name.
If you no longer need a profile, select the profile then click ‘Delete’.
2-3-2 Using 802.1x – Certification After you click ‘802.1x Setting’, a new window will appear: Here are descriptions of every setup items: Authentication Please select an 802.1x authentication type here. Type The type you select here must be identical to the type of the 802.1x authentication type you’re using. Session You can enable or disable session resumption here. Resumption If you don’t know if you should enable session resumption or not, please ask your 802.1x authentication administrator.
Domain Name Please input the domain name of 802.1x authentication here. This field will be grayed out when authentication type is not ‘EAP-FAST’. Use Client If the authentication type you use is ‘PEAP’ or ‘TTLS’, you can use the certificate stored on your computer. If the authentication type you use is ‘TLS/Smart Card’, this box is always checked. More.. After you clicked this button, you’ll be prompted to select a certificate on your computer.
mode. This setting is hidden when the authentication type is not ‘EAP-FAST’. After you finish all settings, click ‘OK’ to save settings and exit.
2-3-3 Using 802.1x - CA Server If you want to use CA server, please click ‘CA Server’ tab. And the following message will be displayed: Here are descriptions of every setup items: Use certificate Check this box to enable the use of certificate chain. chain Certificate Please select the issuer of certificate from this Issuer dropdown menui. Allow Check this box if you wish to allow intermediate intermediate certificates. certificates Server name Input the server name of CA server here.
2.4 View Network Statistics and Link Status The configuration utility provides information about network statistics and link status. If you want to know how your wireless network card works, you can use these functions to get detailed information about the wireless connection you’re using. 2-4-1 Network Statistics Please follow the following instructions to check network statistics: 1.
the statistics of all items back to 0. Click ‘OK’ to close the window.
2-4-2 Link Status Please follow the following instructions to check network statistics: 1. Right-click the Ralink configuration utility icon located at lower-right corner of computer desktop, then click ‘Launch Config Utilities’. 2.
every item: Status Display the SSID and BSSID of connected wireless access point or wireless device (displayed as SSID <-> BSSID as shown in above picture. If there’s no active connection currently, ‘Disconnected’ will be displayed here. Extra Info Displays the link status (‘Link is up’ or Link is down’, and the radio transmitting power of your network card. Channel Displays the radio channel being used now.
2.5 Advance Settings This wireless network card provides several advanced settings for experienced wireless users. You can change these settings to increase data transfer performance, or change operation mode. Please follow the following instructions to set advanced wireless settings: 1. Right-click the Ralink configuration utility icon located at lower-right corner of computer desktop, then click ‘Launch Config Utilities’. 2.
Here are descriptions of every setup items: Wireless mode Select wireless operation mode, available options are 802.11 B/G mix, 802.11 B only, and 802.11 B/G/N mix. You can select 802.11 B/G/N mix to maximize wireless compatibility with wireless access points and other wireless devices. Anyway, you can set this setting to ‘802.11 B only’ when you’re going to communicate with old 802.11b wireless devices and you got problem using other two modes.
Select Your Select the country / region code of the place you’re Country Region living. Different country / region has different Code regulations on wireless devices, and it’s forbidden to use certain channel (radio frequency) in some countries or regions. Please select the country and region code according to the place you live.
2.6 QoS Settings This wireless network card provides QoS (Quality of Service) function, which can improve the performance of certain network applications, like audio / video streaming, network telephony (VoIP), and others. When you enable WMM (Wi-Fi MultiMedia) function of this network card, you can define the priority of different kinds of data, to give higher priority to applications which require instant responding. Therefore you can improve the performance of such network applications.
Here are descriptions of every setup items: WMM Enable Check this box to enable WMM function. Please click ‘Apply’ button on the right of this check box after you check or uncheck this box, so corresponding settings in this window will be activated or deactivated respectively. WMM - Power Enable WMM power saving mode to save energy Save Enable and lets your battery live longer. Setting... Click this button to select the WMM data type which will suppress the function of power saving.
Direct Link Enable or disable direct link setup (DLS) function. Setup Enable This function will greatly improve the data transfer rate between WMM-enabled wireless devices. Please click ‘Apply’ button on the right of this check box after you check or uncheck this box, so corresponding settings in this window will be activated or deactivated respectively.
2.7 WPS Configuration Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is the latest wireless network technology which makes wireless network setup become very simple. If you have WPS-enabled wireless access point, and you want to establish a secure connection to it, you don’t have to configure the wireless access point and setup data encryption.
2-7-1 WPS Setup - PBC (Push-Button Configuration) 1. Right-click the Ralink configuration utility icon located at lower-right corner of computer desktop, then click ‘Launch Config Utilities’. 2.
3. Push the ‘WPS’ button on your wireless access point (the button used to activate WPS standby mode may have another name), or use other way to start WPS standby mode as the instruction given by your wireless access point’s user manual. 4. Before you start to establish the wireless connection by using WPS, you can click ‘Rescan’ button to search for WPS-enabled access points near you, to make sure the WPS function of your access point is activated. All access points found will be displayed.
network card and access point is successfully connected by WPS, and the information about access point you connected to will be displayed. Sometime WPS may fail, and you can click ‘PBC’ button few more times to try again.
desktop, then click ‘Launch Config Utilities’. 2. Click ‘WPS Configuration’ tab, and the following settings will appear: The PIN number of your wireless network card is an eight-digit number located at the upper-right position of configuration utility. Remember it, and input the number to your wireless access point as the WPS PIN code (Please refer to the user manual of your wireless access point for instructions about how to do this).
3. Click ‘PIN’ button now, and wait for few seconds to one minute. If a wireless access point with correct PIN code is found, you’ll be connected to that access point: You may have to click ‘PIN’ for few more times to try again. If you still can not connect to access point by this way, please make sure the PIN code you provided to access point is correct.
2.8 About The ‘About’ tab provides you the information about version numbers of configuration utility, firmware, and other important information about your wireless network card. Please follow the following instructions to see these information: 1. Right-click the Ralink configuration utility icon located at lower-right corner of computer desktop, then click ‘Launch Config Utilities’. 2.
The About screen shows release dates as well as driver/utility versions and the MAC/IP address of the card. Please click ‘OK’ to close configuration utility.
Chapter 3: Soft-AP Function Excepting become a wireless client of other wireless access points, this wireless card can act as a wireless service provider also! You can switch this wireless card’s operating mode to ‘AP’ mode to simulate the function of a real wireless access point by software, and all other computers and wireless devices can connect to your computer wirelessly, even share the internet connection you have! Please follow the instructions in following chapters to use the AP function of your wir
Config Utilities’ after you right-click the Ralink configuration utility, which asks you to assign an existing network card with internet connection: If your computer has another network card which is connected to Internet, please select it from ‘Name’ dropdown menu, and click ‘Enable ICS’; if your computer does not have another network card with Internet connection, please click ‘Not enable ICS’.
Here are descriptions of every setup items: SSID Please input the SSID (the name used to identify this wireless access point) here. Up to 32 numerical characters can be accepted here, excepting space. TX Rate Please select the data transfer rate here. The maximum TX rate you can select here depends on the wireless mode you’re using. It’s safe to select ‘Auto’ to let wireless card select a proper TX rate according to the strength and quality of radio signal. When the wireless mode is set to ‘802.
channels available here will vary depends on the setting of ‘Country Region Code’. Wireless Mode Please select the wireless operating mode. You can limit the type of wireless client to 802.11b or 802.11g only, or allow 802.11b/g, and 802.11b/g/n clients. It’s safe to select ‘802.11 B/G/N mix’ to allow all kinds of wireless client to connect to your computer, unless you want to limit the type of wireless client allowed to connect to your computer.
know what will be affected. TX Power You can select the wireless output power here. Please select a proper output power setting according to your actual needs. You may not need 100% of output power if other wireless clients are not far from you. Idle Time Select the idle time of your wireless network card. Default value is 300. Do not modify this value unless you know what will be affected.
3.2 Security Settings This wireless card supports wireless encryption in AP mode, which will encrypt the data being transferred over the air to enhance data security level. It’s recommended to enable data encryption unless you wish to open your computer (and its internet connection) to the public.
be encrypted and people with some networking knowledge will be able to read the data you transfer with proper tool. NOTE: WPA encryption is safer than WEP, however, some older wireless clients don’t support WPA encryption. WPA Pre-shared Please input the WPA pre-shared key here. Only Key clients with the same pre-shared key you inputted here will be able to connect to your computer. This setting is only available when you select one of WPA encryptions.
3.3 Access Control If you’re not going to open your computer and wireless resources to the public, you can use MAC address filtering function to enforce your access control policy, so only wireless clients with MAC address you defined by this function can be connected to your software access point. Please follow the following instructions to set access control based on MAC address: 1. Right-Click Ralink configuration utility icon, and select ‘Launch Config Utilities’ 2.
Here are descriptions of every setup items: Access Policy Select the policy type of your access rule: Disable: Allow any wireless client with proper authentication settings to connect to this access point. Allow All: Only allow wireless clients with MAC address listed here to connect to this access point. Reject All: Reject wireless clients with MAC address listed here to be connected to this access point.
you wish to allow or reject here. No colon (:) or hyphen (-) required. Add Add the MAC address you inputted in ‘MAC address’ field to the list. Delete Please select a MAC address from the list, then click ‘Delete’ button to remove it. Remove All Delete all MAC addresses in the list. Apply Save and apply changes you made.
3.4 Connection table If you want to see the list of all wireless clients connected to this access point, please follow the following instructions: 1. Right-Click Ralink configuration utility icon, and select ‘Launch Config Utilities’ 2.
Here are descriptions of every fields: MAC Address Displays the MAC address of this wireless client. AID The serial number of this wireless connection. Power Saving Displays the capability of power-saving function of Mode this wireless client. Status Displays additional information of this wireless Connection, like current wireless operating mode and data transfer rate.
3.5 Event Log This software access point will log all wireless-related activities as a log. You can follow the following instructions to view the content of the event log: 1. Right-Click Ralink configuration utility icon, and select ‘Launch Config Utilities’ 2. Click ‘Event Log’ tab, and the event log will be displayed: You can click ‘Clear’ to remove all entries in the log.
3.6 Statistics If you want to know detailed information about how your software access point works, you can follow the following instructions to view the statistics of the access point: 1. Right-Click Ralink configuration utility icon, and select ‘Launch Config Utilities’ 2. Click ‘Statistics’ tab, and the event log will be displayed: You can click ‘RESET COUNTERS’ button to reset all counters to zero.
Chapter 4: APPENDIX 4.1 Troubleshooting If you encounter any problem when you’re using this wireless network card, don’t panic! Before you call your dealer of purchase for help, please check this troubleshooting table, the solution of your problem could be very simple, and you can solve the problem by yourself! Scenario Solution I can’t find any wireless access 1. Click ‘Rescan’ for few more times and see if you can point / wireless device in ‘Site Survey’ function.
3. You have to input correct passphrase / security key to connect an access point with encryption. Please contact the owner of access point to ask for correct passphrase / security key. 4. The access point you wish to connect only allows network cards with specific MAC address to establish connection.
4.2 Glossary 1. What is the IEEE 802.11g standard? 802.11g is the new IEEE standard for high-speed wireless LAN communications that provides for up to 54 Mbps data rate in the 2.4 GHz band. 802.11g is quickly becoming the next mainstream wireless LAN technology for the home, office and public networks. 802.11g defines the use of the same OFDM modulation technique specified in IEEE 802.11a for the 5 GHz frequency band and applies it in the same 2.4 GHz frequency band as IEEE 802.11b. The 802.
6. What is BSS ID? A specific Ad hoc LAN is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). Computers in a BSS must be configured with the same BSS ID. 7. What is WEP? WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a 40 bit shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802 .11 standard. 8. What is TKIP? TKIP is a quick-fix method to quickly overcome the inherent weaknesses in WEP security, especially the reuse of encryption keys. TKIP is involved in the IEEE 802.
(ignored) by most narrowband receivers. 13. What is Spread Spectrum? Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communication systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability, integrity, and security.
