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Wireless-G Notebook Adapter

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 net-

work). Refer to the game’s user guide for more information.

What is the IEEE 802.11b standard?

It is one of the IEEE standards for wireless networks. The 802.11b standard

allows wireless networking hardware from different manufacturers to commu-

nicate, provided that the hardware complies with the 802.11b standard. The

802.11b standard states a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an oper-

ating frequency of 2.4GHz.

What IEEE 802.11b features are supported?

The product supports the following IEEE 802.11b functions:

• CSMA/CA plus Acknowledge protocol

• Multi-Channel Roaming

• Automatic Rate Selection

• RTS/CTS feature

• Fragmentation

• Power Management

What is ad-hoc mode?

When a wireless network is set to ad-hoc mode, the wireless-equipped com-

puters are configured to communicate directly with each other. The ad-hoc

wireless network will not communicate with any wired network.

What is infrastructure mode?

When a wireless network is set to infrastructure mode, the wireless network is

configured to communicate with a wired network through a wireless access

point.

What is roaming?

Roaming is the ability of a portable computer user to communicate continu-

ously while moving freely throughout an area greater than that covered by a sin-

gle access point. Before using the roaming function, the workstation must make

sure that it is the same channel number with the access point of dedicated cov-

erage area.

Instant Wireless

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Appendix A: Troubleshooting

This chapter provides solutions to problems that may occur during the installa-

tion and operation of the Wireless-G PCI Adapter. Read the descriptions below

to solve your problems. If you can’t find an answer here, check the Linksys

website at www.linksys.com.

1. The Wireless-G PCI Adapter does not work properly.

• Reinsert the Wireless-G PCI Adapter into your PC’s PCI slot.

• Right click on My Computer and select Properties. Select the device

manager and click on the Network Adapter. You will find the Wireless-G

PCI Adapter if it is installed successfully. If you see the yellow exclama-

tion mark, the resources are conflicting. You will see the status of the

Wireless-G PCI Adapter. If there is a yellow question mark, please check

the following:

• Make sure that your PC has a free IRQ (Interrupt ReQuest, a hardware

interrupt on a PC.)

• Make sure that you have inserted the right adapter and installed the prop-

er driver.

If the Wireless-G PCI Adapter does not function after attempting the above

steps, remove the adapter and do the following:

• Uninstall the driver software from your PC.

• Restart your PC and repeat the hardware and software installation as

specified in this User Guide.

2. I cannot communicate with the other computers linked via Ethernet in the

Infrastructure configuration.

• Make sure that the PC to which the Wireless-G PCI Adapter is associated

is powered on.

• Make sure that your Wireless-G PCI Adapter is configured on the same

channel and with the same security options as with the other computers in

the Infrastructure configuration.

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 oper-

ation over a network.

Common Problems and Solutions

Frequently Asked Questions

Wireless-G Notebook Adapter

Instant Wireless

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an unintended receiver, FHSS appears to be short-duration impulse noise.

Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum (DSSS) generates a redundant bit pattern

for each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chipping

code). The longer the chip, the greater the probability that the original data can

be recovered. Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during trans-

mission, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the original

data without the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS

appears as low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most nar-

rowband receivers.

Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air?

WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, as with

Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology, it has the inherent security fea-

ture of scrambling. On the software side, WLAN offers the encryption function

(WEP) to enhance security and access control.

What is WEP?

WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a 64-bit

or 128-bit shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11 standard.

To achieve true seamless connectivity, the wireless LAN must incorporate a

number of different functions. Each node and access point, for example, must

always acknowledge receipt of each message. Each node must maintain contact

with the wireless network even when not actually transmitting data. Achieving

these functions simultaneously requires a dynamic RF networking technology

that links access points and nodes. In such a system, the user’s end node under-

takes a search for the best possible access to the system. First, it evaluates such

factors as signal strength and quality, as well as the message load currently

being carried by each access point and the distance of each access point to the

wired backbone. Based on that information, the node next selects the right

access point and registers its address. Communications between end node and

host computer can then be transmitted up and down the backbone.

As the user moves on, the end node’s RF transmitter regularly checks the sys-

tem to determine whether it is in touch with the original access point or whether

it should seek a new one. When a node no longer receives acknowledgment

from its original access point, it undertakes a new search. Upon finding a new

access point, it then re-registers, and the communication process continues.

What is ISM band?

The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U.S. have set aside bandwidth

for unlicensed use in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band.

Spectrum in the vicinity of 2.4 GHz, in particular, is being made available

worldwide. This presents a truly revolutionary opportunity to place convenient

high-speed wireless capabilities in the hands of users around the globe.

What is Spread Spectrum?

Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique devel-

oped by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communica-

tions systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability,

integrity, and security. In other words, more bandwidth is consumed than in the

case of narrowband transmission, but the trade-off produces a signal that is, in

effect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the receiver knows the

parameters of the spread-spectrum signal being broadcast. If a receiver is not

tuned to the right frequency, a spread-spectrum signal looks like background

noise. There are two main alternatives, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum

(DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).

What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences?

Frequency-Hopping Spread-Spectrum (FHSS) uses a narrowband carrier that

changes frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver.

Properly synchronized, the net effect is to maintain a single logical channel. To