ASUS WL-107 User Manual

Wireless Local Area Network Card

®

WL-107

(For 802.11b Wireless Networks)

User’s Manual

Copyright Information

No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it,
may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or
translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation
kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written
permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (“ASUS”).

ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF
ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF
MERCHANT ABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A P AR TICULAR PURPOSE. IN
NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES
OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT , SPECIAL, INCIDENT AL,
OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS
OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DATA,
INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE), EVEN IF ASUS HAS
BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING
FROM ANY DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT.

Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired,
modified or altered, unless such repair, modification of alteration is authorized
in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the product is defaced or
missing.

Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be
registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used
only for identification or explanation and to the owners’ benefit, without intent
to infringe.

SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS
MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND
ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, AND
SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS
ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS
OR INACCURACIES THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS MANUAL,
INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN IT.

Copyright © 2004 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved.

Product Name: ASUS WLAN Card (WL-107)
Manual Revision: 1 E1588
Release Date: April 2004

2 ASUS WLAN Card

Copyright Information

ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (Asia-Pacific)

Address 150 Li-Te Road, Peitou, Taipei, Taiwan 112
Telephone [phone]
Web site www.asus.com.tw

Technical Support

Telephone (MB/Component) [phone] (English)

(Notebook) [phone] (English)
(Server/PC) [phone] (English)
(Networking) [phone] (English)

Support fax [phone]

ASUS COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL (America)

Address 44370 Nobel Drive, Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Fax [phone]
E-mail [e-mail]
Web site usa.asus.com

Technical Support

Telephone (General) [phone]

(Notebook) [phone]
Support fax [phone]
Support e-mail [e-mail]

ASUS COMPUTER GmbH (Germany and Austria)

Address Harkort Str. 25, D-40880 Ratingen, Germany
Telephone [phone]
Fax [phone]
Online contact www.asuscom.de/sales

Technical Support

Telephone [phone]
Fax [phone]
Online support www.asuscom.de/support
Web site www.asuscom.de/news

ASUS COMPUTER (Middle East and North Africa)

Address P.O. Box 64133, Dubai, U.A.E.
Telephone [phone]
Fax [phone]
Web site www.ASUSarabia.com

ASUS WLAN Card 3

Table of Contents

1. Introduction ............................................................................. 7

Overview .............................................................................................. 7

The ASUS Wireless LAN Family..................................................... 8

ASUS WLAN Card Utilities Introduction ....................................... 10

System Requirements ........................................................................ 11

Installation Procedures....................................................................... 11

Installing the ASUS WLAN utilities and driver............................... 12

Configuring the ASUS WLAN utility .............................................. 13

Soft AP (Windows XP Only) ............................................................... 15

Reading the ASUS WLAN Status Indicators ...................................... 16

3. Software Reference .............................................................. 17

Chapter Overview............................................................................... 17

Windows XP Wireless Options ..................................................... 18

ASUS WLAN Control Center.............................................................. 19

Site Monitor................................................................................... 22

Wireless Settings Utility...................................................................... 24

Status - Status Tab ....................................................................... 25

Status - Connection Tab ............................................................... 29

Status - IP Config Tab ................................................................... 30

Config - Basic Tab......................................................................... 31

Config - Encryption Tab ................................................................ 33

Survey - Site Survey Tab .............................................................. 36

About - Version Info Tab ............................................................... 37

Link State...................................................................................... 38

Exit Wireless Settings ................................................................... 38

Mobile Manager Utility........................................................................ 39

New Configuration Wizard ............................................................ 43

Edit Configuration ......................................................................... 44

Ad Hoc................................................................................................ 52

Troubleshooting Utility........................................................................ 54

Windows XP Wireless Properties ....................................................... 57

4 ASUS WLAN Card

Table of Contents

4. Troubleshooting .................................................................... 59

5. Glossary................................................................................. 61

6. Safety Information................................................................. 69

Federal Communications Commission............................................... 69

FCC Radio Frequency Interference Requirements ...................... 70

FCC RF Exposure Guidelines (Access Points) ............................ 70

FCC RF Exposure Guidelines (Wireless Cards)........................... 71

Canadian Department of Communications ........................................ 71

Operation Channel for Different Domains .......................................... 71

France Restricted Frequency Band.................................................... 72

ASUS WLAN Card 5

6 ASUS WLAN Card

1. Introduction

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Overview

Thank you for purchasing the ASUS WLAN Card. The ASUS WLAN Card is
a PCMCIA compliant “wireless” network interface card (NIC) for any computer
equipped with a PC Card slot (available mainly in Notebook PCs).

The ASUS WLAN Card is designed to be fully compliant with both the
IEEE802.11b wireless local area network (W ireless LAN) standards. As a result
of the completion of the standard, the interoperability of W ireless LAN products
among multiple manufacturers will be guaranteed. The ASUS WLAN Card
product provides high-speed, standards-based W ireless LAN solutions.

The ASUS WLAN Card configuration utility is a user-friendly application that
helps you quickly setup multiple roaming nodes using the ASUS WLAN Card.
You can even export the configuration settings to a file and import them to
other computers for fast multiple installations using ASUS Mobile Manager.
Wireless LANs are complementary extensions to existing wired LANs, of fering
complete mobility while maintaining continuous network connectivity to both
corporate and home Intranets. They add a new level of convenience for LAN
users. PC users stay connected to the network anywhere throughout a building
without being bound by a LAN wires. This is accomplished through the use of
ASUS WLAN Access Points or ASUS WLAN Home Gateways. ASUS WLAN
Home Gateways with built-in Internet gateway capability , allows your family
to share a broadband Modem and one ISP account simultaneously from dif ferent
rooms without wires! ASUS WLAN products can keep you connected
anywhere, any time.

Chapter 1

Introduction

ASUS WLAN Card 7

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Introduction

Chapter 1

The ASUS Wireless LAN Family

The ASUS Wireless LAN family contains a complete solution for wireless
local area networks in the office or at home.

For 802.11b Wireless Networks

802.11b wireless standard and allows
sharing a single Internet connection.

The ASUS WLAN

Gateway (WL-500b)

creates a
wireless
network using
the IEEE

The ASUS WLAN PC
Card (WL-103b/107) is a
IEEE 802.11b wireless
LAN adapter that fits into
a standard PCMCIA Type
II slot.

The ASUS 3 in 1 Pocket

Access Point (WL-330)

creates a wireless network
using the IEEE 802.11b
wireless standard.

The ASUS WLAN

802.1 1b USB Client
(WL-140) is an IEEE

802.11b wireless
USB LAN adapter
that connects to any
computer’s USB port
with the benefit of
being able to place
the antenna anywhere
in order to maximize
signal strength.

The ASUS WLAN

PCI Card (WL­130b) is a wireless

LAN adapter that
fits into a standard
PCI slot in a desktop
PC and creates a
wireless network

using the IEEE 802.11b wireless standard.

The above illustrations are not to scale.

The ASUS WLAN

802.11b CF Card (WL-

110) is a IEEE 802.11b

wireless LAN adapter that
fits into a Compact Flash
Type II slot in a Portable
Digital Assistant (PDA).

8 ASUS WLAN Card

Chapter 1 - Introduction

For 802.11g & 802.11b Wireless Networks

Chapter 1

Introduction

The ASUS WLAN

Gateway (WL-500g)

creates a
wireless
network using
the IEEE

802.11g/b wireless standards and allows
sharing a single Internet connection.

The ASUS WLAN PC
Card (WL-107g) is a
wireless LAN adapter that
fits into a PCMCIA Type
II slot in a Notebook PC
and creates a wireless
network using the IEEE

802.11g/b wireless
standards.

The ASUS 3 in 1

Pocket Access
Point (WL-330g)

creates a wireless
network using the
IEEE 802.11g/b
wireless standards.

The ASUS USB W ireless

LAN Adapter (WL­160g) creates a wireless

network using the IEEE

802.11g/b wireless
standards and connects to
any computer using
USB2.0 connectivity.

The ASUS WLAN PCI Card (WL-138g)
is a wireless LAN adapter that fits into a
standard PCI slot in a desktop PC and
creates a wireless network using the IEEE

802.11g/b wireless standards.

The above illustrations are not to scale.

ASUS WLAN Card 9

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Introduction

Chapter 1

ASUS WLAN Card Utilities Introduction

Control Center

The Control Center integrates all the tools and
displays real time status on the system tray.

Setup Wizard

Sets up your home networking using easy-to­follow steps.

Wireless Settings

Wireless Settings allows you to diagnose and
configure your wireless network settings.

Mobile Manager

The Mobile Manager is a convenient tool to
setup and configure multiple alternative
configurations for different locations.

Site Monitor

The Site Monitor utility measures the signal-to­noise (SNR) values of available wireless networks.

TroubleShooting

The TroubleShooting utility provides a
flowchart to solve connection problems between
the ASUS WLAN card and a wireless network.

10 ASUS WLAN Card

Chapter 2 - Installation

System Requirements

To begin using the ASUS WLAN Card, you must have the following
minimum requirements:

• Windows XP/2000/ME/98SE or Linux Redhat (Version 7.1 or later)

• Standard PCMCIA Slot Type II

• 32MB system memory or larger

• 300MHz processor or higher

Installation Procedures

Linux users: This manual is meant for Windows users. Information
pertaining to Linux is located in “readme.txt” in the Linux folder.
Linux drivers are also located in the same folder.

Important: Install the ASUS WLAN card utilities before inserting the
ASUS WLAN Card into your computer.

Follow these two easy steps before using the ASUS WLAN card.

1. Install the ASUS WLAN card utilities and driver from the support CD.

2. Insert the ASUS WLAN card into your computer.

Chapter 2

Quick Start

ASUS WLAN Card 11

Installing the ASUS WLAN utilities and driver

Follow these instructions to install the ASUS WLAN card utilities and driver.
Insert the support CD and an autorun menu will appear. If your autorun is
disabled, double click SETUP.EXE in the root directory of the support CD.

Quick Start

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Installation

1. Select your language and click Install ASUS

WLAN Card Utilities/Driver.

3. Click Next after reading the Information. 4. Click Next to use the default Destination

2. Click Next on the Welcome screen.

Folder or click Browse to select another folder.

5. Click Next to place icons in the default pro­gram folder or type another folder name.

12 ASUS WLAN Card

6. When Setup is complete, click Finish to exit
the installation wizard and restart Windows.

Chapter 2 - Installation

7. Windows XP users: When the program is
launched for the first time (during Windows
restart), you will be asked which function to
use. Select to use ASUS utilities for more
functions.

8. Carefully insert the ASUS WLAN card into
your computer’s PC card slot. Windows will
automatically find and configure the ASUS
WLAN card using the drivers installed in the
previous steps.

Configuring the ASUS WLAN utility

After installing the ASUS WLAN Card Utilities, you will need
to make some settings before being able to use your wireless
connection. Double-click the ASUS WLAN Control Center icon
to start the utility.

Chapter 2

Quick Start

1. Right-click the ASUS WLAN icon and se­lect “Wireless Settings”

ASUS WLAN Card 13

2. Set the Network Name (SSID) to the same
name as the SSID set in your wireless ac­cess point.

Quick Start

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Installation

3. Use “Site Survey” if you don’t know the
name of your access point(s).

5. Check the “Status” page to see the “Asso­ciation State”. It should show “Connected ­xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx”.

4. Encryption settings must also match those
set in the access point. Ask your network
administrator about settings if necessary.
Click Apply to save your settings

6. You can also see the connection quality on
the “Connection” page. Click OK to exit the
utility.

14 ASUS WLAN Card

Chapter 2 - Installation

Soft AP (Windows XP Only)

Soft AP mode allows the ASUS WLAN card to act as a virtual access point.
The computer needs to be connected to a wired network using an Ethernet
connection in order to provide network access to WLAN clients.

Chapter 2

Quick Start

1. Select Soft AP Mode

3. Enable ICS* and Firewall if desired. Refer
to Windows help for information on “Inter­net Connection Sharing”.

2. Drag and drop a wired network connection
next to the globe icon.

4. You can easily switch between Soft AP and
Station mode by right clicking the taskbar
icon and selecting “A-S Change Mode”.

*ICS is used to share this computer’s Internet connection with the rest of the computers on your
network. When this computer is connected to the Internet, communication to and from the Inter­net to all the computers on your network are sent through this computer, called the host com­puter. Other computers can send and receive email and access the Web as if it were connected
directly to the Internet.

ASUS WLAN Card 15

Reading the ASUS WLAN Status Indicators

The part of the ASUS WLAN Card that protrudes out of the PCMCIA socket
consists of two LEDs that indicate the status of the ASUS WLAN Card .

Quick Start

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Installation

PWR

ACT

PWR (Power) LED

OFF: No power or error.
ON: Power ON.

ACT (Activity) LED

OFF: No wireless activity.
Blink: Transmitting or receiving wireless data.

16 ASUS WLAN Card

Chapter 3 - Reference

3. Software Reference

Chapter Overview

The ASUS WLAN Card software includes several utilities

• ASUS WLAN Control Center – Makes it easy to launch applications

and activate network location settings.

• Mobile Manager – A convenient tool to setup and manage network

location settings.

• Setup Wizard - Sets up your home networking using easy-to-follow

steps.

• Site Monitor – Measures the received signal strength indicator (RSSI)

values of all wireless networks. This tool is used for determining the
best placement of Access Points to provide the most ef ficient coverage
in a wireless network.

• T r oubleshooting - T roubleshooting will test your settings and connec-

tion to try to pinpoint your problem and give you a solution.

• Wireless Settings – Allows users to control the ASUS WLAN Card.

Chapter 3

Software Reference

Additional Reference

• Windows XP Wireless Properties - Brief overview of the wireless

settings provided in Windows XP.

ASUS WLAN Card 17

Chapter 3 - Reference

Windows XP Wireless Options

The wireless options shown below is only available for Windows XP. The
first time you run the Control Center utility, it will automatically show.
Select one of the radio buttons to decide which interface to use with your
ASUS WLAN Card.

Only use XP wireless function – Only use “Windows XP” wireless network
settings to configure the ASUS WLAN Card.

Only use ASUS utilities and disable XP wireless function – Only use
“ASUS WLAN Card utilities” to configure the ASUS WLAN Card.
(recommended)

Software Reference

Chapter 3

You can return to the Wireless Option setting at any time by left clicking
the control center icon and choosing “Wireless Option”.

Taskbar Left-Click Menu

18 ASUS WLAN Card

Chapter 3 - Reference

ASUS WLAN Control Center

Control Center is an application that makes it easy to launch applications
and activate network location settings. Control Center starts automatically
when the system boots. Whenever Control Center is running, you will see
a Control Center icon displayed on the Windows taskbar.

Starting the Control Center manually

• Select ASUS WLAN Control Center in Windows Start menu.
or

• Double click the ASUS WLAN Control Center icon on the desktop.

Windows Start Menu

Using the Control Center Taskbar

The Control Center Taskbar menu display the following information:

• The link quality of the ASUS WLAN Card (Excellent, Good, Fair,
Poor, Not Linked)

• Whether the ASUS WLAN Card is connected to the Internet (Blue:
Connected, Gray: Not Connected)

Chapter 3

Control Center

Taskbar Icon and Status

ASUS WLAN Card 19

Chapter 3 - Reference

Wireless Status Icons (on the taskbar)

Excellent link quality and connected to Internet (Infrastructure)

Good link quality and connected to Internet (Infrastructure)

Fair link quality and connected to Internet (Infrastructure)

Poor link quality and connected to Internet (Infrastructure)

Not linked but connected to Internet (Infrastructure)

Excellent link quality but not connected to Internet (Infrastructure)

Control Center

Chapter 3

Taskbar Icon - Right Menu

Right-clicking the taskbar icon shows
the following menu items:

• Wireless Settings – Launches

Wireless Settings application.

• Activate Configuration – Allows

you to set which profile to use.

• Mobile Manager – Launches

Mobile Manager application.

Good link quality but not connected to Internet (Infrastructure)

Fair link quality but not connected to Internet (Infrastructure)

Poor link quality but not connected to Internet (Infrastructure)

Not linked and not connected to Internet (Infrastructure)

• Site Monitor – Launches the Site

Monitor application.

20 ASUS WLAN Card

Right-Click Menu

Chapter 3 - Reference

• Change Mode (Windows XP Only) - Configures your card in Station

(STA) or Soft Access Point (Soft AP) mode. In STA mode, your card
connects to an access point to access a wireless network or the Internet.
In Soft AP mode, your card transmits and receives signals to and from
other WiFi devices in a wireless network.

• Preferences – Customizes the way the Control Center program behaves.

You can create a Control Center shortcut on the desktop. You can also
set whether Control Center starts up with Windows.

• Exit – Closes the Control Center program.

Taskbar Icon - Left Menu

Left-clicking the taskbar icon shows the
following menu:

• Wireless Radio On – Turns the
wireless radio ON.

• Wireless Radio Off – Turns the
wireless radio OFF.

• Search & Connect – View the
properties of available Access Points within range.

• Wireless Option (W indows XP only) – Sets your Windows XP wire-
less networking environment.

Taskbar Left-Click Menu

Taskbar Icon - Launch Wireless Settings

Double-clicking the taskbar icon:

• Launches the Wireless Settings application.

Chapter 3

Control Center

ASUS WLAN Card 21

Site Monitor

Site Monitor measures the received
signal strength indicator (RSSI)
values of all available wireless
networks. This tool is used for
determining the best placement of
Access Points to provide the best
coverage for a wireless network.

Starting Site Monitor

• Click the Windows Start button, select Programs | ASUS Utility |

or

Site Monitor

Chapter 3

• Right-click the Control Center icon on the Windows taskbar and then

Chapter 3 - Reference

Windows Start Menu

WLAN Card | Site Monitor.

click Site Monitor.

Your wireless LAN perfor­mance may be affected when
running the site monitor.

Main Screen

Measures the signal values of all available wireless networks.

Some Access Points can disable broadcasting SSID to hide them­selves from “Site Survey” or “Site Monitor” for added security
but still allow you to join if you know their SSID.

22 ASUS WLAN Card