Linksys WPC54A User Manual

Instant WirelessTMSeries

Wireless PC Card

User Guide

Use this Guide to install:

WPC54A

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS Copyright © 2002 Linksys, All Rights Reserved. Instant Wireless™ is a registered trademark of Linksys. 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 Wireless PC Card 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-WPC54A-032802NC BW

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction 1

The Wireless PC Card 1 Features 1 Package Contents 2 System Requirements 2

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network 3

Network Topology 3 Roaming 3

Chapter 3: Installation of the Drivers and WLAN Monitor for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 4

Before You Start 4 Running the Automatic Driver Installation 4 Software and Driver Installation for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 5 Ad-Hoc Versus Infrastructure Mode 8

Chapter 4: Installation of the Wireless PC Card 12

Chapter 5: Installation of the Drivers and Configuration for the Wireless PC Card for Windows XP 13

Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration 15

Chapter 6: Installation of Network Protocols 18

Installation of the Network Protocols for Windows 98SE and Me 18

Chapter 7: Configuration of the Wireless PC Card 21

Using the WLAN Monitor 21

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Appendix A: Troubleshooting 27

Common Problems and Solutions 27 Frequently Asked Questions 28

Appendix B: Glossary 31

Appendix C: Specifications 38

Environmental 38

Appendix D: Warranty Information 38

Appendix E: Contact Information 40

Wireless PC Card

Chapter 1: Introduction

Put the “mobile” back into mobile computing! Whether you’re at your desk or in the boardroom, the Wireless PC Card allows you to share printers, files, and other resources anywhere within your LAN infrastructure, increasing your productivity and keeping you “in touch.”

The Wireless PC Card now has a new, higher-powered antenna that provides a greater range than ever. The increased sensitivity helps filter out interference and “noise” to keep your signal clear. Improved error correction in the chipset keeps you operating at higher transmission rates for longer distances. And, since you only need one Type II or III PCMCIA CardBus slot, you’re free to use your other slots for additional accessories.

Ready to run in Type II or III PCMCIA CardBus -equipped notebook PCs running Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, and XP, the Wireless PC Card is truly a “musthave” for all notebook PC users.

• Up to 72Mbps Turbo Mode (with Linksys WAP54A only)

• Compatible with Virtually All Major Network Operating Systems

• Plug-and-Play Operation Provides Easy Setup

• Sturdy Metal Design with Integrated Antenna

• Works with Virtually All Standard Internet Applications

• Interoperable with 802.11a Network Equipment

• Capable of up to 152-Bit WEP Security

• Free Technical Support—24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week, Toll-Free US Calls

• 1-Year Limited Warranty

Features

The Wireless PC Card

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Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

A wireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each computer in the LAN uses a Wireless PC Card to connect to the network through a wireless connection. Computers in a wireless LAN must be configured to share the same radio channel.

The Wireless PC Card provides LAN access for wireless workstations. An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure configuration. A group of Wireless PC Card users and an Access Point compose a Basic Service Set (BSS). Each PC equipped with a Wireless PC Card in a BSS can talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the Access Point.

An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of a Wireless PC Card PC to a wired LAN, and doubles the effective wireless transmission range for two PCs equipped with a Wireless PC Card. Since the Access Point is able to forward data within its BSS, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure LAN is doubled.

Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set (ESS). This continuous network allows users to roam freely within an ESS. All PCs that are equipped with an Wireless PC Card, and are within one ESS, must be configured with the same ESS ID.

Before enabling an ESS with roaming capability, it is recommended to select a feasible radio channel and optimum Access Point position. Proper Access Point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance performance.

Roaming

Network Topology

• One Wireless PC Card (IEEE 802.11a)

• One Setup Utility CD-ROM with User Guide

• One Quick Installation Guide

• One Registration Card

• Pentium-Class 200MHz or Faster Processor

• 64MB RAM Recommended

• One Available Type II or Type III PCMCIA CardBus Slot

• One CD-ROM Drive

• Windows 98SE, 2000, Me, or XP

• 5 Mb of free disk space for utility and driver installation

Package Contents

System Requirements

Figure 1-1

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1. To install your Wireless PC Card, click on the Setup button.

2. After you see Figure 3-2, click the Next button to continue.

Note: If you stop the installation before it has finished, you will have to run the complete installation again before installation of your hardware.

Figure 3-2

Note: If you need to abort or terminate the installation, press the Cancel button at any time during the installation. Otherwise the

installation will continue automatically.

Chapter 3: Installation of the Drivers and WLAN Monitor for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000

This Wireless PC Card Setup Wizard will guide you through the Installation Procedures for Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000.

1. Insert the Setup Wizard CD into your CD-ROM Drive. The Setup Wizard should run automatically and Figure 3-1 should appear. If it does not, click the Start button and choose Run. In the box that appears, enter D:\setup.exe (where “D” is the letter of your CD-ROM drive).

• The Setup button begins the software installation process, as shown on the

next page.

• The User Guide button shows you a PDF file of the User Guide.

• The LINKSYS WEB button links you to the Linksys website.

• The Exit button allows you to the exit the Setup Wizard.

Before You Start

Running the Automatic Driver Installation

Figure 3-1

Note to Windows 98SE, Me, and 2000 users: You must install this software before installation of the hardware.

Important for Windows XP users: Do NOT run the Wireless Network Adapter Setup Wizard. Proceed directly to Chapter 4: Installation of the Wireless PC Card.

Wireless PC Card

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5. When the screen shown in Figure 3-5 appears, the InstallShield Wizard will ask you to choose a wireless mode. Choose the mode that applies to your network. Ad-Hoc Mode is used for simple peer-to-peer networking or the sharing of local resources between wireless Networked PCs, and Infrastructure Mode allows a wireless network to be integrated into an existing, wired network through an access point, permitting roaming between access points while maintaining a connection to all network resources. If you are unsure whether to choose Infrastructure or Ad-Hoc, refer to the next section for more information. After you make your choice, click the Next button.

Figure 3-5

3. Figure 3-3 shows the License Agreement screen. Read the entire agreement by pressing the Page Down button on your keyboard or by using the on- screen scroll bar. Click on the Ye s button if you agree and want to continue the installation, or No to terminate the installation.

4. The InstallShield Wizard will automatically choose the folder where Setup Wizard will install the files. Click the Next button.

Figure 3-3

Figure 3-4

Wireless PC Card

6. The Setup Wizard will automatically select a channel for your use in the Ad-Hoc Mode at this time. If you want to specify a channel, after you install the Wireless PC Card, refer to “Chapter 7:Configuration of the Wireless PC Card, “and use the WLAN Monitor.

7. Enter in the name of your SSID (Service Set Identifier) for your Ad-Hoc or Infrastructure setting. The SSID must be identical for all points in the network. The SSID may be up to 32 characters in length, may include any character on the keyboard, but is case sensitive. If you are unsure, use the default value of “linksys.” Click the Next button. (See Figure 3-8.)

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Figure 3-8

Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in which they may be set up: Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc. 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 accessible 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 the Infrastructure mode. The basis of Infrastructure mode centers around an access point, which serves as the main point of communications in a wireless network (see Figure 3-6). Access points transmit data to PCs that are 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 hardware as well.

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 (shown in Figure 3-7). Ad-Hoc mode allows computers that are equipped with Wireless PC Cards to communicate directly with each other and eliminate the need for an access point. The drawback of this mode is that wireless-equipped computers are not able to communicate with computers on a

wired network. And, communication between the wirelessequipped computers is limited by the distance and interference directly between them.

Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode

Figure 3-6

Figure 3-7

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