Intersil PRISM1BRD Datasheet

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WLANKITPR1-EVAL

Wireless Local Area Network PC Card

The Intersil WLAN PC Card (Note 1) is
a complete wireless high speed modem
utilizing the Intersil PRISM® Direct
Sequence Spread Spectrum Wireless

Transceiver chip set. It provides a
sophisticated turnkey solution of hardware and software to
system providers or integrators requiring wireless data
communications capability and is ideal for integration into
computer platforms.

Evaluation kits include two WLAN PC cards, Windows 95
Software and documentation to get your evaluation started
quickly. Supporting the IEEE 802.11 network specification for
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS signaling the card
is packaged in a PCMCIA Type II extended cover set. Radio
design evaluation can be conducted by using PRISM1KIT­EV AL (PCMCIA card with an open co ver set and connector
output, two cards per kit) or network performance may be
evaluated by using WLANKITPR1-EVAL (PCMCIA card with
cover set and integrated antenna, 2 cards per kit). The card
provides data rates up to 2Mbps. Outdoor line of sight range
in excess of 1000 feet has been demonstrated and indoor
range of 300 feet, depending on environment, is achievable.
Interoperable Access P oints are available from a number of
suppliers, enabling a total wireless network solution.

Features

• FCC Certified Under Part 15 to Operate in 2.4GHz ISM
Band

• Support for 1 and 2 Megabit Per Second (Mbps) Data
Rates

• Supports the lEEE802.11 Direct Sequence Specification

• Microsoft® Windows® 95 NDlS3 and Microsoft Windows

3.1 NDIS2 Network Drivers Available (ODI Network
Drivers Planned)

• Integrated Microstrip Antenna

• Microcode/BIOS are Contained in Programmable
Nonvolatile Flash Memory

• Radio Range of 300 Feet in an Indoor Environment
(Note 2)

• Completely Covered Assembly is Designed to Fully
Support PCMCIA’s Defined Mechanical and
Environmental Stress Conditions

• Intelligent Power Control, Including Low Power Standby
Mode

NOTES:

1. Throughout this document, all references to ‘PC Card’, ‘WLAN
adapter’, ‘adapter’, or ‘card’ refer to a covered card assembly
conforming to the mechanical size specifications of the PCMCIA
Standard Release 2.0, Type Il Extended (5.0mm) definition.

2. The range will vary in different operating environments dueto
effects such as building construction.

Packaging

Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Ordering Information

PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION CARDS/SET

WLANKITPR1-EVAL WLAN Evaluation Kit 2

™

Data Sheet November 1998 File Number

4289.2

CAUTION: These devices are sensitive to electrostatic discharge; follow proper IC Handling Procedures.

http://www.intersil.com or 407-727-9207

| Copyright © Intersil Corporation 1999

PRISM and PRISM logo are trademarks of Intersil Corporation.

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Functional Overview

The WLAN PC Card is designed to operate in the 2.4GHz
ISM frequency band, channels 1 to 11, as specified by the
FCC in the USA and ETSI in Europe (refer to Table 3). The
Card will also operate with reduced performance (due to
filter selection) on channel 14, specified for use in Japan.
Radio Transmitters must be certified in a country prior to
use. Refer to Table 4 for a list of countries and agencies that
have approved the WLANKITPR1-EVAL for operation.

The Intersil PRISM Chip Set and AMD PCNet Mobile allows
for high level integration allowing for reduced size,increased
throughput, improved radio performance and faster time to
market. The WLAN PC card implements Direct Sequence
Spread Spectrum DSSS technology providing superior noise
and signal jamming immunity including less severe impact
from unintentional radiators such as microwave ovens. The
user can connect the PC Card in an ad-hoc peer to peer
networking scheme, allowing for instant network setup in any
office environment. By using an access point, the wireless
LAN can be set up to allow for a greater number of users to
interconnect, and to increase the coverage area. With a
portal, the wireless LAN can be easily connected into an
existing wired LAN, allowing for easy expansion of the
service.

To learn more about what the IEEE802.11 is, refer to:

• Tech Brief TB337 “A Brief Tutorial on Spread Spectrum
and Packet Radio” [1].

For a more detailed description of radio operation, please
refer to:

• Data sheet “PRISM 2.4GHz Chip Set” [2] and:

• Application Note AN9624 “PRISM1KIT-EVAL DSSS PC
Card Wireless LAN Description” [3].

For more specific software questions, refer to:

• Application Note AN9666 “Wireless LAN Evaluation Kit
SW Installation and Usage” [4].

The MAC Protocol Handler
(AMD® PCNet™ Mobile) (AM79C930)

The PCNet Mobile device (AM79C930) and its firmware are
responsible for running the 802.11 protocol in the WLAN
card. This section describes thefeatures of IEEE 802.11that
are implemented. Further information can be obtained from
the following documents:

1. AMD PCNet MobiIe WLAN Controller, Firmware Over­view (available from AMD)

2. Firmware InterfaceSpecification for IEEE 802.11/D5
(available from AMD)

Contact AMD’s web site:
http://www.amd.com/products/npd/npd.html
select Available Literature
or PCnet Family Drivers

The functions supported by the STA (station) Firmware are:

• DCF (Distributed Coordination Function)

• CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with
Collision Avoidance)

• Random Backoff

• RTS/CTS Handshake (Ready To Send/Clear To Send)
and NAV Management (Network Allocation Vector)

• MAC Level Acknowledgments (Media Access Control)

• Re-Transmission of Unacknowledged Frames

• Duplicate Detection and Rejection

• Broadcast and Multicast Frames

• Fragmentation and Re-Assembly

• Power Management (Planned)

• Timestamp Synchronization

• Probe Generation

• Beacon Generation in an Ad-Hoc Network

• Probe Response Generation in an Ad-Hoc Network

Card Information Structure

The standard Intersil WLAN PC Card will be supplied with
the following information embedded in the CIS. It should be
noted that in most systems this information is displayed
when the card is inserted. Customization of the CIS for
specific customer requirements is available upon request, to
enable customer information to be displayed when the card
is inserted.

TABLE 1.

FUNCTION NAME CONTENT

Manufacturer’s ID 00
Function ID Network Adapter
Product Revision 5
Manufacturer AMD
Product AM79C930
PROG
LOT

WLANKITPR1-EVAL

AMD® is a registered trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

PCNet™ is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.