3com WN3301F User Manual

Wireless LAN PCMCIA Adapter

USER MANUAL

Version 0.9.2, August 16, 2001

Federal Communications Commission Statement

This device complies with FCC Rules Part 15. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: This device may not cause harmful interference. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired

operation. 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. If this equipment is not installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, it 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 during the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

§ Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

§ Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

§ Connect the equipment to 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.

The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the graphics card is required to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.

Manufacturer's Disclaimer Statement The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not

represent a commitment on the part of the vendor. No warranty or representation, either expressed or implied, is made with respect to the quality, accuracy or fitness for any particular purpose of this document. The manufacturer reserves the right to make changes to the content of this document and/or the products associated with it at any time without obligation to notify any person or organization of such changes. In no event will the manufacturer be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use this product or documentation, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. This document contains materials protected by copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means or for any purpose without expressed written consent of its authors. Product names appearing in this document are mentioned for identification purchases only. All trademarks, product names or brand names appearing in this document are registered property of their respective owners.

This device requires a radio license, unless it (including antenna) is installed totally inside a building. (User must obtain this license from Industry Canada).

Printed in Taiwan

Contents

Chapter 1 About the WN3301F PCMCIA Card....................................................... 4

1-1 Features.................................................................................................................................................4

1-2 Applications............................................................................................................................................4

1-3 Product Kit..............................................................................................................................................5

Chapter 2 Network Configuration and Planning................................................... 6

2-1 Network Topology..................................................................................................................................6

2-2 Roaming.................................................................................................................................................8

Chapter 3 Adapter Installation and Configuration – Windows® 98........................ 9

3-1 System Requirements............................................................................................................................9

3-2 Inserting the Adapter..............................................................................................................................9

3-3 WN3301F Driver Installation -Windows® 98........................................................................................10

3-4 Adapter Configuration – Windows® 98.................................................................................................13

3-5 Protocol Installation – Windows® 98....................................................................................................19

3-6 WN3301F Setup for Windows NT 4.0..................................................................................................24

Chapter 4 Installing and Navigating the PRISM Configuration Utility.................28

4-1 PRISM Configuration Utility - Installation.............................................................................................28

4-2 PRISM Configuration Utility- Navigation..............................................................................................31

Appendix A Troubleshooting .............................................................................36

Appendix B Glossary.........................................................................................38

Chapter 1 About the WN3301F PCMCIA Card

The WN3301 IEEE 802.11 PCMCIA PC Card is compatible with any standard, notebook computer Type II or Type III PCMCIA slot. As a Plug-and-Play device, Windows 95/98 will automatically recognize the WN3301 PCMCIA card and initiate the installation process. Upon successful installation, the WN3301 PCMCIA card will communicate seamlessly with other WN3301 wireless home and office networking products.

1-1 FEATURES

1. Supports up to 11 Mbps data rate: T-1 line alternative/replacement that dramatically cuts costs.

2. Working range up to 800 ft. in an open environment enhances mobility.

3. Supports point-to-point and point-to-multipoint access provides increased flexibility.

4. Seamless connectivity to wired Ethernet and PC network LAN’s offers quick, trouble-free integration with existing networks.

5. Robust Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) technology provides secure, interference-resistant wireless connection.

6. Wireless connections eliminate the hassle and cost of cabling.

7. Supports a wide range of LAN (Local Area Network) Network Operating Systems (NOS) including Windows ® 98 and Windows NT™

8. Easy Plug and Play installation

9. Omni - directional antenna included

10. Greater flexibility to locate or move networked PC’s

1-2 A PPLICATIONS

WN3301F products offer a fast, reliable, cost-effective solution for wireless client access to the network the following applications and environments:

§ Remote access to corporate network information

§ E-mail, file transfer and terminal emulation

§ Difficult-to-wire environments

§ Historic or older buildings

§ Buildings with asbestos insulation

§ Open areas where wiring is difficult to employ

§ Frequently changing environments

§ Retailers, manufacturers or other organizations that frequently rearrange the workplace or

relocate

§ Temporary LANs for special projects or peak time usage

§ Trade shows, exhibitions and construction sites that employ temporary networks. Retailers, airline and shipping companies that need additional workstations for a peak period and Auditors that require workgroups at customer sites.

§ Access to database for mobile workers

§ Medical, Technical and Retail specialists that require roaming access to a database or

other network resources.

§ SOHO (Small Office and Home Office) users

§ Perfect for users that need a small, easy-to-install network that deploys rapidly.

§ Inter-building connection

§ Wireless building-to-building networks are quickly and easily installed, require no monthly

lease fees, and provide the flexibility to reconfigure easily.

1-3 PRODUCT KIT

The WN3301F product kit includes the following items. Ensure that the items in the following list have been included. If any of the listed items are missing, please contact your local dealer.

§ 1 X WN3301F PCMCIA Type II Adapter

§ 1 X Driver

§ 1 X User Manual & Utility CD pack

Chapter 2 Network Configuration and Planning

The WN3301F supports legacy Ethernet LAN network configuration options as defined by the IEEE 802 standards committee.

The WN3301F can be configured as:

§ Ad-Hoc for departmental or SOHO LANs

§ Infrastructure for enterprise LANs

§ LAN-Interconnection for point-to-point link as a campus backbone

2-1 N ETWORK TOPOLOGY

Fig. 1 - Ad-Hoc Wireless LAN

An Ad-Hoc wireless LAN is a group of computers, each equipped with one WN3301F adapter, connected as an independent wireless LAN. Computers in a specific Ad-Hoc wireless LAN must be configured to share the same radio channel.

Ad-Hoc wireless LAN configurations are appropriate for branch level departments or SOHO operations.

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