Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PC Card Use this Guide to install: WPC54A User Guide
COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS Copyright © 2002 Linksys, All Rights Reserved. Instant Wireless™ is a registered trademark of Linksys. Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective proprietors.
Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PC Card Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction The Wireless PC Card Features Package Contents System Requirements 1 1 1 2 2 Appendix A: Troubleshooting Common Problems and Solutions Frequently Asked Questions 27 27 28 Appendix B: Glossary 31 Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology Roaming 3 3 3 Appendix C: Specifications Environmental 38 38 Appendix D: Warranty Information 38 Chapter 3: Installation of the Drivers and WLAN Monitor for Wi
Wireless PC Card Chapter 1: Introduction The Wireless PC Card Put the “mobile” back into mobile computing! Whether you’re at your desk or in the boardroom, the Wireless PC Card allows you to share printers, files, and other resources anywhere within your LAN infrastructure, increasing your productivity and keeping you “in touch.” The Wireless PC Card now has a new, higher-powered antenna that provides a greater range than ever.
Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PC Card Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network Network Topology A wireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each computer in the LAN uses a Wireless PC Card to connect to the network through a wireless connection. Computers in a wireless LAN must be configured to share the same radio channel. Figure 1-1 Package Contents • • • • One Wireless PC Card (IEEE 802.
Instant WirelessTM Series Chapter 3: Installation of the Drivers and WLAN Monitor for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 Wireless PC Card Note: If you stop the installation before it has finished, you will have to run the complete installation again before installation of your hardware. Note: If you need to abort or terminate the installation, press the Cancel button at any time during the installation. Otherwise the installation will continue automatically.
Instant WirelessTM Series 3. Figure 3-3 shows the License Agreement screen. Read the entire agreement by pressing the Page Down button on your keyboard or by using the onscreen scroll bar. Click on the Yes button if you agree and want to continue the installation, or No to terminate the installation. Wireless PC Card 5. When the screen shown in Figure 3-5 appears, the InstallShield Wizard will ask you to choose a wireless mode. Choose the mode that applies to your network.
Instant WirelessTM Series Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in which they may be set up: Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc. Choosing between these two modes depends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or peripherals with a wired network or not.
Instant WirelessTM Series 8. The screen shown in Figure 3-9 will appear next. The Wizard will ask you to review your settings before starting to copy files. Select Back to review or change any settings, or select Next if you are satisfied with your settings. Click the Cancel button if you need to stop the installation. Wireless PC Card 10. The screen in Figure 3-11 may appear. Click on the Yes button if you want to continue the installation. Click on the No button if you want to cancel the installation.
Instant WirelessTM Series Instant WirelessTM Series Chapter 4: Installation of the Wireless PC Card Important for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 users: You must install the Adapter’s software before installation of the hardware. Important for Windows XP users: You must install the Adapter’s hardware before installation of the software. 1. Locate an available Type II or Type III PCMCIA CardBus slot on your notebook computer. 2.
Wireless PC Card Wireless PC Card 2. .Click the radio button next to Search for the best driver in these locations. Select Include this location in the search:, and enter D:\Drivers in the location field (if “D” is the letter of your CD-ROM drive). Click the Next button. 4. Windows will tell you when it has finished installation of the new driver. Click the Finish button. Figure 5-2 Figure 5-4 3. Windows will notify you that the driver has not passed Windows Logo testing.
Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PC Card 3. If your Access Point has enabled WEP encryption, the screen in Figure 5-7 will appear. Enter the WEP key in the Network Key. Click the Connect button. Figure 5-5 2. The screen that appears will show any available Network. Network, then click on the Connect button.
Instant WirelessTM Series Chapter 6: Installation of Network Protocols Wireless PC Card 2. From the Configuration tab, select the WPC54A Wireless Network Adapter from the list, and click the Add button. Protocols are necessary for computers to be recognized on your network. Windows 2000 and XP users need to check their Windows User Guides for protocol installation. Installation of the Network Protocols for Windows 98SE and Me 1. From the Start Menu, select Settings and bring up the Control Panel.
Instant WirelessTM Series 4. Select Microsoft from the list of “Manufacturers” and TCP/IP from the list of “Network Protocols.” Click the OK button to close the Network window. Repeat steps 2 through 4 to install other protocols, such as NetBEUI or IPX/SPX. Wireless PC Card Chapter 7: Configuration of the Wireless PC Card After installation of the Wireless PC Card, Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, and XP will automatically identify the Wireless PC Card.
Instant WirelessTM Series 2. The screen in Figure 7-3 shows you any available wireless device for network connection. Select the wireless device, and click the Connect button to connect or the Refresh button to search for more wireless devices. Attempt Auto-Connect to ANY network in range will connect you to the closest network within range. Click the X (Close) button in the upper right corner to close the WLAN Monitor or click the P r o f i l e Setting button to continue. Wireless PC Card 4.
Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PC Card 5. If you click on the Advanced button, the Advanced page will appear. Under the WEP drop-down box, you can choose to have WEP encryption Disabled, 64, 128, or 152 Bits. If you choose 64 Bits, the screen in Figure 7-6 will appear. If you choose 128 Bits, the screen in Figure 7-7 will appear. If you choose 152 Bits, the screen in Figure 7-8 will appear.
Instant WirelessTM Series 6. The About tab, as shown in Figure 7-9, shows you copyright and version information about the driver, the application, and the firmware. The version number of the driver may vary from this screen, depending on which version was shipped with your Adapter. You can always visit www.linksys.com for the latest version of the driver. Click the X (Close) button in the upper right corner to complete the WLAN Monitor.
Instant WirelessTM Series Wireless PC Card Frequently Asked Questions Can I run an application from a remote computer over the wireless network? This will depend on whether or not the application is designed to be used over a network. Consult the application's user guide to determine if it supports operation over a network. Can I play computer games with other members of the wireless network? Yes, as long as the game supports multiple players over a LAN (local area network).
Instant WirelessTM Series What is Spread Spectrum? Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communications systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability, integrity, and security.
Instant WirelessTM Series Database - A database is a collection of data that is organized so that its contents can easily be accessed, managed, and updated. Default Gateway - The routing device used to forward all traffic that is not addressed to a station within the local subnet. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - A protocol that lets network administrators manage centrally and automate the assignment of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in an organization's network.
Instant WirelessTM Series Hop - The link between two network nodes. IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) - The IEEE describes itself as "the world's largest technical professional society, promoting the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences for the benefit of humanity, the advancement of the profession, and the well-being of our members." The IEEE fosters the development of standards that often become national and international standards.
Instant WirelessTM Series OFDM - OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Muliplexing) works by breaking one high-speed data stream into a number of lower-speed data streams, which are then transmitted in parallel. Each lower speed stream is used to modulate a subcarrier. Essentially, this creates a multi-carrier transmission by dividing a wide frequency band or channel into a number of narrower frequency bands or sub-channels. Packet - A unit of data routed between an origin and a destination in a network.
Instant WirelessTM Series Appendix C: Specifications Standards: IEEE 802.11a PCMCIA Cardbus Channels: 8 Channels (US, Canada) Operating Range: Indoors: Up to 328 ft. (100M)* Outdoors: Up to 1148 ft. (350M)* Environmental 38 Dimensions: 4.4" x 2.13" x 0.4" (110 mm x 54 mm x 10 mm) Unit Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g) Power: 275mA Tx, 225mA Rx Certifications: FCC Class B Operating Temp.: 0ºC to 45ºC (32ºF to 113ºF) Storage Temp.
Instant WirelessTM Series Appendix E: Contact Information For help with the installation or operation of this product, contact Linksys Technical Support at one of the phone numbers or Internet addresses below. Sales Information Technical Support RMA Issues Fax Email Web FTP Site 800-546-5797 (LINKSYS) 866-242-8558 949-261-1288 949-261-8868 support@linksys.com http://www.linksys.com ftp.linksys.com http://www.linksys.com © Copyright 2002 Linksys, All Rights Reserved.
