About this Manual
This User’s Manual describes ho w to install and operate your ABCD Wireless LAN Card.
Please read this manual before you install the product.
This manual includes the following topics:
!!Product description and features.
!!Hardware installation procedure.
Softwar e in stallat ion proce d ure.
!!
FAQ
!!
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the CardBus Wireless LAN Card. This high-speed
CardBus Wireless LAN Card provides you with an innovative wireless
networking solution. The Adapter is easy to set up and use. With this innovative
wireless technology, you can share files and printers on the network—without
inconvenient wires!
The Adapter is a network Adapter with a rate of 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 36,
48 and 54 Mbps operating in the ISM band using Direct Sequence Spread
Spectrum (DSSS) transmission implementing the IEEE 802.11g draft
standard. This Adapter provides Device Drivers for Windows Operating
Systems. It also provides tools for the configuration of the Adapter. The tool,
as well as the installation steps of the plug-and-play procedure for the
Windows operating systems, is described in this document.
The Adapter uses Technology that allows speeds up to
used with
by Atheros Communications, Inc.
Wireless Router
in b/g mode.The
Wireless
108 Mbps
is driven
when
Features
The CardBus Wireless LAN Card offers compliance with the IEEE 802.11g
draft specification. This feature allows them to communicate with other
wireless devices that support the standard. Features of the Adapter are:
Uses 2.4GHz frequency band, which complies with worldwide
requirement
Wireless interface following the IEEE 802.11g draft standard
Using CardBus interface
Enciphering/deciphering of wireless data by the implementation of
the WEP algorithm
Wire-free access to networked resources from anywhere beyond the
notebook
Allows users move between Access Points without resetting their
connection reconfiguration
Delivers data rate up to 54 Mbps
Supports 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 54 Mbps rates
Provide CardBus Wireless LAN Card Configuration utility
The Adapter uses external Antenna with LEDs indicating Power and
Link
Supports most popular operating systems
What is Wireless LAN?
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) systems offer a great number of
advantages over traditional wired systems. WLAN is flexible and easy to
setup and manage. They are also more economical tha n wired L AN systems.
Using radio frequency (RF) technology, WLAN transmit and receive data
through the air. WLAN combine data connectivity with user mobility. For
example, users can roam from a conference room to their office without being
disconnected from the LAN.
Using WLAN, users can conveniently access-shared information, and
network administrators can configure and augment networks without
installing or moving network cables.
WLAN technology provides users with many convenient and cost saving
features:
• Mobility: WLAN provide LAN users with access to real-time information
anywhere in their organization, providing service opportunities that are
impossible with wired networks.
•
Ease of Installation:
eliminating the need to install network cables in walls and ceilings.
• Scalability
to specific applications and installations. Configurations are easily
changed and range from peer-to-peer networks suitable for a small
number of users to full infrastructure networks of thousands of users
roaming over a broad area
: WLAN can be configured in a variety of topologies to adapt
Installing is easy for novice and expert users alike,
.
Wireless LAN Modes
Wireless LANs can be configured in one of two ways:
Ad-hoc
Networking
Also known as a peer-to-peer network, an ad-hoc
network is one that allows all workstations and
computers in the network to act as servers to all other
users on the network. Users on the network can share
files, print to a shared printer, and access the Internet
with a shared modem. However, with ad-hoc
networking, users can only communicate with other
wireless LAN computers that are in the wireless LAN
workgroup, and are within range.
Infrastructure Infrastructure networking differs from ad-hoc networking
Networking in that it includes an access point. Unlike the ad-hoc
structure where users on the LAN contend the shared
bandwidth, on an infrastructure network the access
point can manage the bandwidth to maximize bandwidth
utilization.
Additionally, the access point enables users on a
wireless LAN to access an existing wired network,
allowing wireless users to take advantage of the wired
networks resources, such as Internet, email, file
transfer, and printer sharing.
Infrastructure networking has the following advantages
over ad-hoc networking:
•
Extended range: each wireless LAN computer
within the range of the access point can
communicate with other wireless LAN computers
within range of the access point.
• Roaming: the access point enables a wireless LAN
computer to move through a building and still be
connected to the LAN.
•
Wired to wireless LAN connectivity: the access
point bridges the gap between wireless LANs and
their wired counterparts.
Notes on Wireless LAN Configuration
When configuring a wireless LAN (WLAN), be sure to note the following
points:
• Optimize the performance of the WLAN by ensuring that the distance
between access points is not too far . In most buildings, WLAN Adapters
operate within a range of 100 ~ 300 feet, depending on the thickness
and structure of the walls.
• Radio waves can pass through walls and glass but not metal. If there is
interference in transmitting through a wall, it may be that the wall has
reinforcing metal in its structure. Install another access point to
circumvent this problem.
• Floors usually have metal girders and metal reinforcing struts that
interfere with WLAN transmission.
This concludes the first chapter. The next chapter deals with the hardware
installation of the Adapter.
Chapter 2 - Hardware Installation
This chapter covers connecting your CardBus Wireless LAN Card to
CardBus slot of notebook.
Package Contents
Please make sure that items below are included on package.
One CardBus Wireless LAN Card
One CD containing drivers and documentation
One Quick Installation Guide
System Requirements for the Adapter
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
Notebook with CD-ROM drive
One free CardBus slot
Pentium-Class 90MHz or higher
Hardware description
The Wireless LAN Card is encased in a stainless compact frame and has a
68-pin connector for attaching to the CardBus port of notebook.
Inserting the Wireless LAN Card
Note!
Follow the procedure below to install the Wireless LAN card.
1. With 68-pin connector of the card facing the CardBus slots on
notebook, slide the card all the way into an empty slot.
These instructions apply to most notebook computers. For detailed
information on inserting PC cards into your notebook, consult the
notebook manual.
2. Connect to a network.
LED Indicators
The following table describes the meaning of LED indicators:
LED MEANING
POWER Indicates that the Adapter is powered on (solid green).
Indicates link status. It is normally blinking. When blinking,
LINK
indicates that the card is scanning the channels, and the link
is not active. When lit, indicates that the card is locked to a
channel, and the link is active.
Ejecting the Wireless LAN card
After disconnecting from the LAN, you can eject the Wireless LAN card from the
PC Card slot of notebook.
Note!
Most notebooks have an eject lev er or bu tton for eje cting PC ca rds from the PC slots.
Consult your notebook manual for details.
In Windows XP/2000/ME/98 operating systems, you do not ha ve to po wer
down the notebook to remove the card. The card is hot-swappable — you
can remove the card when the notebook is powered on. However,
Microsoft recommends that you stop the card. Refer to your Windows
2000/ME/98 online help for information on stopping the Wireless LAN card.
Warning!
After hardware installation is completed, please go to Chapter 3 to install driver on
different Operating System.
To prevent data loss, do not eject the Wireless LAN card
when a data transmission is taking place. Exit your
communications program normally, stop the card if
necessary, and then remove the card.
Chapter 3 – Driver Installation for
Windows
The following sections cover CardBu s Wi rele ss L AN C ard driver installation in the
Windows Operating Systems.
Note!
You have to install your hardware first before you begin to install the
drivers.
Driver installation for Windows 98
Follow the steps below to install the CardBus Wireless LAN Card drivers for
Windows 98.
1. Insert the CardBus Wireless LAN Card to CardBus slot of notebook first.
(Refer to Chapter 2 – Hardware installation.)
2. After Windows 98 detects the CardBus Wireless LAN Card, the Add New
Hardware Wizard window appears. Clicks Next to continue the installation.
3. A screen appears prompting you to select an installation method. Select
Search for the best driver for your device. (Recommended) and click Next to
continue.
4. Ensure that the CD-ROM drive is selected. Inserts the driver CD-ROM into
your CD-ROM drive and clicks Next to continue.
5. The f ollowing screen appears showing the driver search result. Click Next to
continue the installation.
6. Windows 98 copies files to your hard disk. The following screen will appear to
inform you when the software installation has finished. Click Finish to finish
the installation.
7. The following screen will ask you to restart your computer to finish the
installation. Click Yes to reboot the system. After system reboot, the Wireless
LAN Utility will be installed automatically. Please go to Chapter 4 to install the
utility.
Note!
In most cases, Windows will automatically copy all of the files needed for
networking. If Windows asks you for the files and prompts you to input
the path to the files. Follow the instructions on your screen, and then
click OK to continue.
Driver installation for Windows 2000
Follow the steps below to install the CardBus Wireless LAN Card drivers for
Windows 2000.
1. Insert the CardBus Wireless LAN Card to CardBus slot of notebook first.
(Refer to Chapter 2 – Hardware installation.)
2. After Windows 2000 detects the CardBus Wireless LAN Card, the Found New
Hardware Wizard window appears. Click Next to start the installation.
3. A screen appears prompting you to select an installation method. Select
Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended) and click Next
to continue.
4. Ensure that the CD-ROM driver is selected and insert the driver CD-ROM into
your CD-ROM drive and click Next to continue.
Loading...