The Fast-VNET USB (A) adapter based on Wireless Media Access
Controller is a network card with a rate of 1, 2, 5.5, and 11 Mbps operating in the ISM
band using Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) transmission implementing the
IEEE 802.11b standard. For this card c urrently provides Device Drivers for MS
Windows
and firmware upgrade of the cards. These tools, as well as the installation procedure for
the MS Windows 98/2000, and Windows Me operating systems are described in this
document.
To install the adapter and operate under an operating system two pieces of software are
needed. The first one is the driver, which prov ides the necessar y mechanisms to the
operating system in order to use the adapter as any other networking adapter. The
driver communicates with the firmware using exchange of commands (Set MIB, Get
MIB, Scan, Sync, etc.). The other piece of software needed is the code written on the
MAC chip, which is responsible for the interface with the driver, and for the implementation of the IEEE 802.11b functions.
®
98/2000, and Windows® Me. also provides tools for the configuration
1.1 Package
Contents
1.2 System
Requirements
1.3 AT76C503A
Features
Please make sure that your received the following with your AT76C503A-Evaluation Kit:
•Two (2) Fast-VNET USB (A) cards
•Two USB Cables
•Two antennas
•User Guide
•Firmware, Drivers, and Software Tools CD
•Operating System: MS Windows 98/2000, Windows Me with Service Pack 4 or later
•Desktop PC or notebook PC with CD-ROM drive
AT76C503A based Fast-VNET adapters offer c ompli anc e with the IEEE 802.11b specification. This feature allows them to communicate with wireless devices fr om other
manufacturers that support the standard. Among the features of the AT76C503A WLAN
MAC controller are the following:
–Wireless interface following the IEEE 802.11b standard supporting DSSS 2.4 GHz
wireless PHY
–Wireless LAN MAC Unit with ARM7TDMI RISC processor
–Integrated 128-byte transmit and 128-byte receive FIFOs, for wireless MAC layer
functions
1-1
Rev. A-4/20/01
Introduction
–16-bit PCMCIA bus interface
–Glueless SRAM interface for all MAC operations, supporting up to 16 MB of external
memory
–Integrated 6Kx32 bit internal SRAM, used for fast program code execution and
temporary storage of data
–Glueless Flash memory interface, supporting up to 16 MB on non volatile memory
for permanent storage of program code
–Enciphering/deciphering of wireless data by the implementation of the WEP
algorithm
–Supports 11, 5.5, 2, and 1 Mbps rates
1.4 Firmware
Features
1.5 Driver Features
The IEEE 802.11b firmware implementation for the AT76C503A-EK supports:
–Distributed Coordination Function
CSMA/CA
Backoff Procedure
NAV Management
ACK Procedure
–Roaming
–Preferred AP
–Dynamic configuration
–Site Survey
–Preamble Type detection
–Firmware Upgrade
–Authentication Algorithm (Open System, Shared Key)
1-2
Section 2
Installation Overview
This is a quick step by step guide on how to install your Fast-VNET USB (A) adapter.
Please follow the steps described below and refer to the appropriate sections for further
details:
•Power on the computer (laptop).
•Please make sure that you don’t insert your USB (A) adapter yet.
•Install the drivers and application:
Insert
the given Installation CD into y our CD-Rom dri ve. Selec t the Utilities & Dr iv-
ers folder.
Locate
Follow
“Next” button.
Choose
tion & PCMCIA Drivers, Application & USB Drivers or Application & PCMCIA & USB
Drivers).
Give
of your choice select Browse and then Next.
Choose
In Ad-Hoc Mode
choose the channel of operation.
In Insfrastucture Mode
which you will be associated with.
Confirm
Next.
Finish
•Plug your USB (A) card.
•The “Add New Hardware Wizard” automatically loads the Drivers.
•Refer to sections 3 for more details on the installation and configuration under
Windows 98/2000 and Windows Me. Section 4 gives detailed instructions on how to
use the Configuration Utility while section 5 given detailed instructions on how to use
the Firmware Upgrade Utility.
the executable file “setup.exe” and double click it.
the installation instructions from the installSheild Wizard by pressing the
the type of installation you ar e going to per form (Appl ic ation Only, Appl ic a-
the destination path of where the application will be installed. To set the path
the Mode of Operation (Ad-Hoc or Infrastucture):
, set the ESSID of all station participating to be the same and
, set the ESSID to be the same with the ESSID of the AP to
the current settings of ESSID, Network Mode and Utility directory and click
the installation.
2-1
Installation Overview
Upgrading your Wireless LAN Software when a new setup is released:
For Windows 98/Me
•Power on the computer (laptop).
•Uninstall the application by running the uninstall program.
•When prompted for reboot select “YES”.
•After rebooting run the new setup.exe.
•When the setup of the application (see instructions above) is completed, you can then
plug your USB (A) card.
Note:
For Windows 2000
•Power on the computer (laptop).
•Uninstall the application by running the uninstall program.
•When prompted for reboot select “YES”.
•Run the new setup.exe.
•When the setup of the drivers and application (see instructions above) is completed,
If you select the ”Application Only ” Installation option the installation procedure
will only install the Utility while selecting any other option it will also install the
latest drivers for your wireless card without prompting you.
you can then plug your USB (A) card.
2-2
Section 3
Installation and Configuration
Procedures Under Windows
98/Me/2000
Use the procedures described in this chapter to install and configure the Fast-VNET
USB (A) card under MS Windows 98/Me/2000.
3.1 What You Need
to Know About
Windows
98/Me/2000
3.2 What You Will
Need
3.3 Installing the
Application and
Drivers Under
Windows
98/Me/2000
Although similar in appearance, Windows 98/Me/2000 have different philosophies when
installing a new hardware.
Throughout this section it is assumed that you hav e a basic working knowl edge of Windows 98/Me/2000 and of how to install new network cards on them. However, in this
paragraph, some specific features of Windows 98/Me/2000 are briefly explained.
Windows 98/Me/2000 operating system supports the “Pl ug & Play ” feature. T hat means
that once you plug the Fast-VNET card for the very first time, the operating system will
detect the card and automatically i nstall the driv erassuming that you have already
installed the application utility.
Another feature is the “Hot Swapping”. With this feature, you can unplug and plug again
the card whenever you want.
During the installation, you may be prompted to load operating system files from the
Windows installation disk. Please have this disk handy.
You will need the Firmware and Software Tools CD provided with your Evaluation Kit.
Note:
Note:
1.Insert the Firmware and Software Tools CD into your CD-ROM drive and locate
2.Follow the installation instructions from the InstallShield Wizard by pressing the
In order to be able to install the Fast-VNET card on to your PC running under
Windows 2000, you will need to log on as “Administrator”.
Please do not plug your USB (A) card until the Application setup has been
completed. The setup procedure described below installs the drivers, the
Configuration & Monitor Utility and the Firmware Upgrade Utility.
the executable file “setup.exe”.
“Next” button.
3-1
Installation and Configuration Procedures Under Windows 98/Me/2000
3.During the setup process, the window of Figure 3-1 will appear prompting you to
select the adapter type you are going to install. If you plan to install an
USB (A) card only, then you must choose the “Application & USB Drivers” option.
However, if you plan to install an PCMCIA card in the futureI, select the
“Application, PCMCIA & USB Drivers” option.
Figure 3-1.
Selection of adapter type
Application & PCMCIA Drivers
•By selecting this installation option, you will install the Applications (Configuration &
Monitor Utility and Firmware Upagrade Utility) and the latest PCMCIA drivers. If the
PCMCIA drivers have been previously installed and they have not been uninstalled
prior to the new installation the new drivers will ovewrite the old ones without
prompting you.
Application & USB Drivers
•By selecting this installation option, you will install the Applications (Configuration &
Monitor Utility and Firmware Upagrade Utility) and the latest USB (A) drivers. If the
USB (A) drivers have been previously installed and they have not been uninstalled
prior to the new installation the new drivers will ovewrite the old ones without
prompting you.
Application, PCMCIA & USB Drivers
•By selecting this installation option, you will install the Applications (Configuration &
Monitor Utility and Firmware Upagrade Utility) and the latest PCMCIA & USB (A)
drivers. If the PCMCIA & USB (A) drivers have been previously installed and they
have not been uninstalled prior to the new installation the new drivers will ovewrite the
old ones without prompting you.
Application Only
•By selecting this installation option, you will only install the Applications (Configuration
& Monitor Utility and Firmware Upagrade Utility).
:
:
:
:
3-2
Installation and Configuration Procedures Under Windows 98/Me/2000
4.After you have assigned the Destination Location option where the application
will be installed (by Default this option is set to C:\Program Files\802.11
Wireless LAN), you can then choose the mode of operation:
In Ad-Hoc Mode the wireless stations can directly communicate with each other.
Figure 3-2.
Operating Mode Dialog
3-3
When selecting the Ad-Hoc mode you have to specify the ESSID and the Channel
parameters (Figure 3-3).
•ESSID: Select the ESSID of the Ad-Hoc network. All stations participating in the Ad-
Hoc network should have the same ESSID.
•Channel: Select the channel to be used. There are 14 channels available.
Installation and Configuration Procedures Under Windows 98/Me/2000
Figure 3-3.
ESSID and Channel Dialog
As soon as you have set your selections, press the “Next” button and a window appears
with a review of your installation settings. P lease make sure that these values are the
desired ones. In case you have made a mistake you can always select the “Back” button
to make a correction. Press the “Next” button to continue with the installation, and finally
select the “Finish” button for the installation to be completed.
3-4
Installation and Configuration Procedures Under Windows 98/Me/2000
Infrastructure Mode
In Infrastructure Mode the use of an Access Point is necess ary in order for the wi reless
clients to communicate with each other.
Figure 3-4.
Operating Mode Dialog
When selecting the Infrastructure mode you need to specify the ESSID (Figure 3-5).
•ESSID: Select the ESSID of the access point to which the wireless station will be
associated with in infrastructure mode.
3-5
Installation and Configuration Procedures Under Windows 98/Me/2000
Figure 3-5.
ESSID Dialog
3.4 Uninstall
Procedure Under
Windows 98/Me
A soon as you have set your selections, press the “Next” button and a window appears
with a review of your installation settings. P lease make sure that these values are the
desired ones. In case you have made a mistake, you can always select the “Back” button
to make a correction. Press the “Next” button to continue with the installation, and finally
press the “Finish” button for the installation to be completed.
Notes:1.You can now safely plug your USB (A) card. The “Add New Hardware Wiz-
ard” automatically loads the Drivers for your USB (A) card. As soon as the
procedure has been completed.
2.In the Windows 2000 installation procedure an extra window appears
prompting you to select whether you would like to install the “Digital Signature Not Found” or not. You can safely select “YES”.
In order to uninstall the Configuration & Monitor Utility from Windows 98/Me, you must
select the “Unistall Configuration & Monitor Utility” option (Star t -> Programs ->
802.11 Wireless LAN -> Unistall Configuration & Monitor Utility). It is recommended to
stop the USB (A) card and “Exit” the applic ation prior to starting the unis tallation proc edure. If during the unistall procedure you receiv e an error message, please insert the
CD which contains the setup program and try to uninstall the Utility again.
The above procedure uninstalls the Configuration & Monitor Utility, but not the card
itself. In order to uninstall the Fast-VNET card from Windows 98/Me, you must double
click on the “Network” option in the “Control P anel” (Start -> Settings -> Control Panel).
Select the "USB Wireless LAN Adapter” card from the list and press the “Remove” button. The system will prompt you to re-boot. Press "Yes" to re-boot.
3-6
Installation and Configuration Procedures Under Windows 98/Me/2000
3.5 Uninstall
Procedure Under
Windows 2000
The procedure in order to remove the Monitor & Configuration Utility is the same with the
one described for Windows 98/Me.
In order to uninstall the Fas t-VNET card from Wi ndows 2000 you must s elect it i n the
Device Manager of Windows 2000 and press “Uninstall”.
can be performed only if the Fast-VNET card is plugged in.
The “Uninstall” procedure
3-7
Installation and Configuration Procedures Under Windows 98/Me/2000
3-8
Section 4
Configuration & Monitor Utility
The Configuration & Monitor Utility is a powerful application that helps you to configure
the Fast-VNET card and monitor the statistics of the communication. Unlike the standard method of configuring the card via the operating system utilities (e.g. Control
Panel), this application permits the dynamic modification of the configur ation parameters while the card is operating. It also offers some more configuration options
offers the Configuration & Monitor Utility for Windows 98/Me/2000.
4.1 How to Install the
Configuration &
Monitor Utility
4.2 Using the
Configuration &
Monitor Utility
Note:
In order to setup the Configuration & Monitor Utility run the program “setup.exe,” which
you will find in your installation CD and follow the instructions as they appear on the
screen (see section 3). As soon as a link is established, the application will start running
and will appear as an icon on the system tray. You can locate the application under Start
The Configuration & Monitor Utility appears as an icon on the system tray of Windows
every time the card is running (see Figure 4-1). You can open it by double-clicking on
this icon. While the station is in infrastructure mode and not associated to an access
point, the color of the ic on is r ed. As soon as the s tation ass ociates i tself to an Acces s
Point (see page 4-4
mode the color is always blue, except when the card is resetting and Initialising where it
turns to red during the reset and initialisation procedure.
Figure 4-1.
Please keep in mind that the Configuration & Monitor Utility can be used to
change the above configuration parameters when the cards are ac tive. When
the cards are not in use, please use the Control Panel method described in previous sections.
“Site Survey”
The icon of the Configuration and Monitor Utility
), the icon color automatically turns to blue. In Ad-Hoc
4-1
When the application is opened the following options (tabs) are available:
•Monitor
•Statistics
•Site Survey
•Encryption
Configuration & Monitor Utility
•Advanced
•Version
Note:
Monitor
A typical screen of the applic ation in Infrastructure mode i s shown in Figure 4-2. The
configuration parameters are shown at the top of the screen (Operation Mode, Channel,
SSID, TxRate, Power Management Mode and MAC Addr ess of the USB card) . In the
middle of the screen there is information about the status of the communication (the
BSSID of the Access Point to which the c ard is associ ated, Signal Strength, and Link
Quality). In order to change the configuration parameters press the “Change” button,
make your changes and then press “Submit” in order to save your changes.
Figure 4-2.
Please Note that at the very top of the Monitor and Configuration Utility of
the application (Figure 4-2), you can either select PCMCIA FastVNET (3.3V) or USB (A) FastVNET card.
A typical screen of the Monitor Utility in Infrastructure mode.
4-2
Configuration & Monitor Utility
Statistics
This option enables you to view the available statistic information (Data packets, Management Packets and Rejected packets). In order to renew or update this list of
statistics, press the “Clear” button. In order to exit press the “Exit” button at the bottom of
the screen.
Figure 4-3.
Stastic information available
4-3
Configuration & Monitor Utility
Site Survey
By choosing the
nels in order to find all the access points within the range of your card. In Figure 4-4, the
card can see four access points. The list includes in formation about the BSSID and
SSID of the access point(s), the signal strength, the channel where the access point(s)
operates, and whether or not WEP encryption is us ed. In order to update this list, press
the “Rescan” button. If you want to associate with any of the access point(s) listed, double click on your choice (on the BSSID field), and the system will take you back to the
Monitor
screen showing you the parameters of the connection newly established.
Site Survey
option in any of the two modes, you can sc an all the chan-
Figure 4-4.
Site Survey Option
4-4
Configuration & Monitor Utility
Encryption
By choosing this option in any of the two modes, you can set four different WEP keys
and specify which one of them to use. First, either enable or disable encryprion from the
appropriate “Encryption” field (see Figure 4-5 below). If you dec ide to use encryption,
you can choose any of the available WEP keys (1 to 4). You also have the option to
select the WEP mode (Mandatory/Optional). If you select “Mandatory”, then not only
WEP will be used, but also any other station needs to use WEP encryption in order to
establish a communication with your station. This requirement is in li ne with the IEEE
802.11b standard. If, on the other hand, you choose “Optional”, then y our station can
communicate with every other station regardless if they use WEP or not. Please keep in
mind that the WEP keys must be in HEX format. Finally, you have the option to select
whether
the changes you wish to make, press the “Submit” button at the bottom of the screen.
Open System
Shared Key
or
authentication will be used. In order to tak e effec t
Figure 4-5.
Encryption
4-5
Configuration & Monitor Utility
Advanced
By Choosing the
configuration settings, such as the Preamble Type, Fragmentation Threshold, and
RTS/CTS Threshold (Figure 4-6). Figur e 4-5 shows the r ecommended confi guration for
the advanced settings. Before selecting Short Preamble, make sure that the other stations and APs are also supporting this feature.
Advanced
option in any of the two modes, you can change advanced
Note:
Figure 4-6.
The USB (A) card has an auto-detection feature therefore it automaticatilly
selects the Preable Type depending on the Access Point Preamble type. In
order to enable the Fragmentation and the RTS/CTS Threshold parameters
move the slide bar with your mouse and then use the right and left arrow keys of
your keyboard in order to select an exact number.
Advanced Settings
4-6
Configuration & Monitor Utility
Version
By choosing this option, you can view basic informat ion about the Utility like the Driv er,
Firmware and Application Version. Use the “Exit” button in order to exit the application.
Figure 4-7.
Version information
4.3 How to Uninstall
the
Configuration &
Monitor Utility
4-7
In order to uninstall the Configuration & Monitor Utility, you must select the “Unistall
Configuration & Monitor Utility” option (Start -> Programs -> 802.11 Wireless LAN
-> Unistall Configuration & Monitor Utility). It is recommended to “Exit” the Configuration
& Monitor Utility prior to starting the unistallation procedure. Finally a window will appear
prompting you to reboot and you must select YES.
Configuration & Monitor Utility
4-8
Section 5
Firmware Upgrade Utility
For the Fast-VNET USB (A) cards, offers a firmware utility which is a Windows
application (Firmware Upgrade utility) that allows you to upgrade the firmware of your
card while your card is running.
5.1 Firmware
Upgrade Utility
Note:
The Firmware Upgrade utility allows you to upgrade the firmware of your card while your
card is running. It will download the new firmware and it will reset your card in order to
start operating with the new firmware.
offers the Firmware Upgrade Utility for Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows
2000.
The Firmware Upgrade Utility is automatically installed when you run the program
“setup.exe” of you installation CD (see Section 4- “How to install the Configuration &
Monitor Utility”). Locate the program from the Start Menu -> Programs ->
802.11Wireless LAN -> Firmware Upgrade Utility. When y ou open the progr am, you wi ll
see the main screen of Figure 5-1.
Please DO NOT use this utility unless you have got new binary files from
. If you use this utility and you do not supply the correct binary file, you
may damage your card.
5-1
Firmware Upgrade Utility
Figure 5-1.
Press the “Upgrade” button in order for a file selection window to appear. Browse for the
xxxx.rom file that contains the new firmware. A fter you have located and s elected the
file, the firmware upgrade process will begin (Figure 5-2).
The PCMCIA Firmware Upgrade Utility
Figure 5-2.
Upgrading the firmware
5-2
Firmware Upgrade Utility
When the firmware has been upgraded, y ou will s ee a notifi cation from the Firmware
Upgrade Utility (Figure 5-3). Press “OK” to complete the upgrade.
Figure 5-3.
Completion of the firmware upgrade procedure
5-3
Firmware Upgrade Utility
5-4
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Atmel Corporation makes no warranty for the use of its products, other than those expressly contained in the Company’s standard warranty which is detailed in Atmel’s Terms and Conditions located on the Company’s web site. The Company assumes no responsibility for
any errors which may appear in this document, reserves the right to change devices or specifications detailed herein at any time without
notice, and does not make any commitment to update the information contained herein. No licenses to patents or other intellectual property of Atmel are granted by the Company in connection with the sale of Atmel products, expressly or by implication. Atmel’s products are
not authorized for use as critical components in life support devices or systems.
Marks bearing “ and/or TM are registered trademarks and trademarks of Atmel Corporation
®
Microsoft
Ter ms and product names in this document may be trademarks of others
Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft.
Printed on recycled paper.
AX–4/20/01
INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
INTERFERENCE STATEMENT
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 and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, 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 turning
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 euipment into an outlet on a circuir different from that to
which the receiver is connected.
-- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
CAUTION:
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by th e grantee of
his device could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
The antenna(s) used for this transmitter must be installed to provide a separation distance of
at least 20 cm from all persons and must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any
other antenna or transmitter. End-users and installers must be provided with antenna installation
instructions and transmitter operating conditions for satisfying RF exposure compliance
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