Linksys WPC11 User Manual

Instant Wireless®Series

User Guide

Wireless-B
Notebook Adapter

Use this Guide to install: WPC11

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS
Copyright © 2002 Linksys, All Rights Reserved. Instant Wireless, Linksys, and the
Linksys logo are registered trademarks of Linksys Group, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, and
the Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trade­marks and brand names are the property of their respective proprietors.

LIMITED WARRANTY
Linksys guarantees that every Instant Wireless

®

Wireless-B Notebook Adapter is free
from physical defects in material and workmanship for one year from the date of pur­chase, when used within the limits set forth in the Specifications chapter of this User
Guide. If these products prove defective during this warranty period, call Linksys
Technical Support in order to obtain a Return Authorization Number. BE SURE TO HAVE
YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND A BARCODE FROM THE PRODUCT’S PACKAGING
ON HAND WHEN CALLING. RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT
PROOF OF PURCHASE. When returning a product, mark the Return Authorization
Number clearly on the outside of the package and include your original proof of pur­chase. All customers located outside of the United States of America and Canada shall
be held responsible for shipping and handling charges.

IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS’ LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE PROD­UCT FROM DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAM­AGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT, ITS ACCOMPANYING SOFT­WARE, OR ITS DOCUMENTATION. LINKSYS DOES NOT OFFER REFUNDS FOR ANY
PRODUCT. Linksys makes no warranty or representation, expressed, implied, or statuto­ry, with respect to its products or the contents or use of this documentation and all
accompanying software, and specifically disclaims its quality, performance, mer­chantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. Linksys reserves the right to revise or
update its products, software, or documentation without obligation to notify any individ­ual or entity. Please direct all inquiries to:

Linksys P.O. Box 18558, Irvine, CA 92623.

FCC STATEMENT
This product has been tested and complies with the specifications 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. The antenna
used for this transmitter must be installed to provide a separation distance of at least 20
centimeters from all persons and must operate in conjunction with other antenna or trans­mitters. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used according to 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 is found 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 or devices

• Connect the equipment to an outlet other than the receiver’s

• Consult a dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for assistance

UG-WPC11v4-30307NC ET

INDUSTRY CANADA (CANADA)
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
The use of this device in a system operating either partially or completely outdoors may require
the user to obtain a license for the system according to the Canadian regulations.

EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY (EUROPE)
Linksys Group declares that the Instant Wireless™ Series products included in the Instant
Wireless™ Series conform to the specifications listed below, following the provisions of the EMC
Directive 89/336/EEC and Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC:

ETS 300-826, 301 489-1 General EMC requirements for Radio equipment.
EN 609 50 Safety
ETS 300-328-2 Technical requirements for Radio equipment.

Note: This equipment is intended to be used in all EU and EFTA countries. Outdoor use may
be restricted to certain frequencies and/or may require a license for operation. For more
details, contact Linksys Corporate Compliance.

Note: Combinations of power levels and antennas resulting in a radiated power level of above
100 mW are considered as not compliant with the above mentioned directive and are not
allowed for use within the European community and countries that have adopted the European
R&TTE directive 1999/5/EC and/or the CEPT recommendation Rec 70.03. For more details on
legal combinations of power levels and antennas, contact Linksys Corporate Compliance.

Linksys Group™ vakuuttaa täten että Instant Wireless IEEE 802.11 PC Card tyyppinen laite on
direktiivin 1999/5/EY, direktiivin 89/336/EEC ja direktiivin 73/23/EEC oleellisten vaatimusten ja
sitä koskevien näiden direktiivien muiden ehtojen mukainen.
Linksys Group™ déclare que la carte PC Instant Wireless IEEE 802.11 est conforme aux con­ditions essentielles et aux dispositions relatives à la directive 1999/5/EC, la directive
89/336/EEC, et à la directive 73/23/EEC.
Belgique B L’utilisation en extérieur est autorisé sur le canal 11 (2462 MHz), 12 (2467 MHz), et
13 (2472 MHz).
Dans le cas d’une utilisation privée, à l’extérieur d’un bâtiment, au-dessus d’un espace public,
aucun enregistrement n’est nécessaire pour une distance de moins de 300m. Pour une dis­tance supérieure à 300m un enregistrement auprès de l’IBPT est requise. Pour une utilisation
publique à l’extérieur de bâtiments, une licence de l’IBPT est requise. Pour les enregistrements
et licences, veuillez contacter l’IBPT.
France F: Bande de fréquence restreinte: seuls les canaux 10, 11, 12, 13 (2457, 2462, 2467,
et 2472 MHz respectivement) doivent être utilisés en France.
Toute utilisation, qu'elle soit intérieure ou extérieure, est soumise à autorisation. Vous pouvez
contacter l'Autorité de Régulation des Télécommuniations
(<http://www.art-telecom.fr>) pour la procédure à suivre.
France F: Restricted frequency band: only channels 10, 11, 12, 13 (2457, 2462, 2467, and
2472 MHz respectively) may be used in France. License required for every indoor and outdoor
installations. Please contact ART for procedure to follow.
Deutschland D: Anmeldung im Outdoor-Bereich notwending, aber nicht genehmi­gungspflichtig. Bitte mit Händler die Vorgehensweise abstimmen.
Germany D: License required for outdoor installations. Check with reseller for procedure to fol­low
Italia I: E' necessaria la concessione ministeriale anche per l'uso interno. Verificare con i riven­ditori la procedura da seguire. L'uso per installazione in esterni non e' permessa.
Italy I: License required for indoor use. Use with outdoor installations not allowed.
the Netherlands NL License required for outdoor installations. Check with reseller for proce­dure to follow.
Nederlands NL Licentie verplicht voor gebruik met buitenantennes. Neem contact op met
verkoper voor juiste procedure

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction 1

The Wireless-B Notebook Adapter 1
Features 1

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network 2

Network Topology 2
Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode 2

Chapter 3: Getting to Know
the Wireless-B Notebook Adapter 4

The Adapter’s LEDs 4

Chapter 4: Using the Setup Wizard to
Configure Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 5

Chapter 5: Hardware Installation 9

Chapter 6: Driver Installation and Configuration for
Windows XP 10

Overview 10
Driver Installation for Windows XP 10
Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration 12

Chapter 7: Using the WLAN Monitor for Windows
98SE, Me, and 2000 14

Overview 14
Accessing the WLAN Monitor 14
Link Information 15
Site Survey 17
Profiles 19
Creating a New Profile 21

Appendix A: Troubleshooting 27

Common Problems and Solutions 27
Frequently Asked Questions 28

Appendix B: Glossary 32

Appendix C: Specifications 40

Environmental 40

Appendix D: Warranty Information 41

Appendix E: Contact Information 42

Wireless-B Notebook Adapter

2

Instant Wireless®Series

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

A wireless local area network (WLAN) is exactly like a regular local area net­work (LAN), except that each computer in the WLAN uses a wireless device to
connect to the network. Computers in a WLAN share the same frequency
channel and SSID, which is an identif ication name for wireless devices.

Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in which
they may be set up: infrastructure and ad-hoc. An infrastructure configura-
tion is a WLAN and wired LAN communicating to each other through an
access point. An ad-hoc configuration is wireless-equipped computers com­municating directly with each other. Choosing between these two modes
depends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or periph­erals with a wired network or not.

If the computers on the
wireless network need to
be accessed by a wired
network or need to share a
peripheral, such as a print­er, with the wired network
computers, the wireless
network should be set up
in infrastructure mode.
(See Figure 2-1.) The
basis of infrastructure
mode centers around an
access point, which serves
as the main point of communications in a wireless network. Access points
transmit data to PCs equipped with wireless network cards, which can roam
within a certain radial range of the access point. Multiple access points can be
arranged to work in succession to extend the roaming range, and can be set up
to communicate with your Ethernet (wired) hardware as well.

Network Topology

Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode

Figure 2-1

1

Chapter 1: Introduction

The Linksys Wireless-B Notebook Adapter lets your notebook communicate
with the popular 802.11b wireless network standard. 802.11b wireless net­works are commonly found in corporate environments, and are used in homes
for household Internet connectivity without the need for running cables.
They're also popping up all over the country in coffee shops, airports, hotels,
convention centers, and other public spaces offering "on the go" connectivity to
mobile users.

The included Setup Wizard will walk you through configuring the adapter to
your network's settings, step by step. Then just slide it into your notebook's PC
Card slot and enjoy network access with your notebook computer, while retain­ing true mobility.

Once you're connected, you can keep in touch with your e-mail, access the
Internet, and share files and other resources such as printers and network stor­age with other computers on the network, wherever you wander. At home, you
can surf the web or use instant messaging to chat with friends while sitting out
on the patio. To protect your data and privacy, the Wireless-B Notebook
Adapter can secure all wireless transmissions with up to 128-bit data encryp­tion.

Join the wireless revolution. With the Linksys Wireless-B Notebook Adapter,
you'll be ready to connect to the wireless world, wherever you go.

• 11 Mbps High-Speed Data Transfer Rate with Automatic Fallback

• Plug-and-Play Operation Provides Easy Setup

• 802.11b, DSSS, 2.4GHz-Compliant

• Supports up to 128-bit WEP Encryption Security

• Compatible with Virtually All Major Network Operating Systems

• Free Driver Upgrades via Web

• Integrated Equalizer Recovers Weak Signals and Enhances Sensitivity

• Sturdy Metal Design with Integrated Antenna

• Works with All Standard Internet Applications

• Clear Channel Assessment Increases Network Throughput

• Hardware Buffer Chaining Provides High Performance While Reading and

Writing Buffers

Features

The Wireless-B Notebook Adapter

Wireless-B Notebook Adapter

4

Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-B Notebook Adapter

The Adapter has two LEDs to let you know how the card is functioning. Here
are a description of those LEDs:

Power Green. The Power LED lights up when the PC Card is pow-

ered on.

Link Green. The Link LED lights up and stays solid when the

Adapter is inserted correctly and a link is established with
the notebook. The LED flashes when data is transmitted or
received..

The Adapter’s LEDs

Instant Wireless®Series

If the wireless network is relatively small and needs to share resources only
with the other computers on the wireless network, then the ad-hoc mode can
be used. (See Figure 2-2.) Ad-hoc mode allows computers equipped with wire­less transmitters and receivers to communicate directly with each other, elimi­nating the need for an access point. The drawback of this mode is that, in Ad­Hoc mode, wireless-equipped computers are not able to communicate with
computers on a wired network. And, of course, communication between the
wireless-equipped computers is limited by the distance and interference direct­ly between them.

3

Figure 2-2

Wireless-B Notebook Adapter

6

Instant Wireless®Series

5

1. To install the PC Card, click the Install button on the Welcome screen,
Figure 4-1. Click User Guide to view the User Guide or click Exit to exit
the Setup Wizard.

2. After reading the License Agreement on the following screen, shown in
Figure 4-2, click the Next button to continue the installation, or click the
Cancel button to end the installation.

3. The next screen in the Setup Wizard, shown in Figure 4-3, will ask you to
choose a wireless mode. Click the Infrastructure Mode radio button if you
want your wireless computers to network with computers on your wired
network using a wireless access point. Click the Ad-Hoc Mode radio but­ton if you want multiple wireless computers to network directly with each
other.

Figure 4-2

Chapter 4: Using the Setup Wizard to Configure Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000

The Adapter’s Setup Wizard will guide you through the installation procedure
for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000. The Setup Wizard will install the WLAN
Monitor and driver, as well as configure the PC Card.

Insert the Setup Wizard CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. The Setup
Wizard should run automatically, and Figure 4-1 should appear. If it does not,
click the Start button and choose Run. In the f ield that appears, enter
D:\setup.exe (if “D” is the letter of your CD-ROM drive).

Figure 4-1

Important for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 users: You must run
the Setup Wizard to install the software before installing the hardware.

Important for Windows XP users: Do NOT run the Setup Wizard.
Proceed directly to “Chapter 5: Hardware Installation.”

Wireless-B Notebook Adapter

8

5. The next screen, shown in Figure 4-5, will ask you to review your settings
before it starts to copy files. Click the Next button to save these settings, or
click the Back button to change any settings.

6. After the files have been successfully copied, the screen in Figure 4-6 will
appear. Click the Exit button.

Proceed to “Chapter 5: Hardware Installation.”

Figure 4-6

Figure 4-5

Instant Wireless®Series

7

In the SSID field, enter the SSID (Network Name) of your wireless net­work. The SSID must be identical for all devices in the network. The
default set­ting is linksys
(all lower­case). Click
the Next but­ton, or click
the Back but­ton to return
to the previ­ous page.

4. If you chose Infrastructure Mode, go to Step 5 now. If you chose Ad-Hoc
Mode, the screen shown in Figure 4-4 will appear and you will need to
select the correct operating channel for your network from the Channel
drop-down menu. Click the Next button, and go to Step 5. Click the Back
button to change any settings.

Channel - The channel you choose should match the channel set on the
other devices
in your wire­less network
or using the
channel to set
the wireless
network. If
you are
unsure about
which chan­nel to use,
select the
default chan­nel (Channel

6).

Figure 4-3

Figure 4-4

Wireless-B Notebook Adapter

Chapter 6: Driver Installation and Configuration for Windows XP

After inserting it into your notebook, you will install the driver and configure
the Adapter.

1. Windows XP will automatically detect the PC Card. Insert the Setup CD­ROM into the CD-ROM drive. From the screen shown in Figure 6-1, click
the radio button next to Install the software automatically
(Recommended). Then, click the Next button.

109

Figure 6-1

Overview

Driver Installation for Windows XP

Instant Wireless®Series

Chapter 5: Hardware Installation

1. Turn off your notebook PC.

2. Locate an available PC Card slot on your notebook PC.

3. With the PC Card’s
label facing up, as
shown in Figure 5-1,
slide the PC Card
completely into the
PC Card slot.

4. Restart your note­book PC.

5. Windows will begin copying the driver files to your computer. (Windows
2000 users may see a digital signature screen. This is normal. Click Yes to
continue, and then click the Finish button to end the hardware detection
process.) If Windows asks you for the original Windows CD-ROM, insert
the CD-ROM, and direct Windows to its proper location (e.g., D:\).

If your PC is using Windows 98SE, Me, or 2000, proceed to the next sec­tion, “Chapter 7: Using the WLAN Monitor for Windows 98SE, Me, and

2000.”

If your PC is using Windows XP, proceed to “Chapter 6: Driver

Installation and Configuration for Windows XP.”

Figure 5-1

Important for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 users: You must run
the Setup Wizard to install the software before installing the hardware.

Important for Windows XP users: You must install the PC Card’s
hardware before installing the software.