LINKSYS WPC54GV12 User Manual

Wireless-G Notebook Adapter

User’s Manual

Rev Draft.

User’s Manual

Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits 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. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with 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 can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one of the following measures:

-Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

-Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

-Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

-Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

FCC Caution: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

FCC Radiation Exposure Statement:

This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment, voefs!58!DGS!3/21:4!qbsbhsbqi!)e*)3*/!

This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.

˟˼́˾̆̌̆ʳ˷˸˶˿˴̅˸ʳ̇˻˴̇ʳ˪ˣ˖ˈˇ˚˩˄ˁ˅ʳ(Wireless-G Notebook Adapter) is limited in CH1~CH11 by specified firmware controlled in USA.

User’s Manual

About this manual

This User’ s Manual describes how to install and operate your CardBus 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.

Software installation procedure.

FAQ

User’s Manual

Table of Contents
About this manual..........................................................................................	3
Chapter 1 - Introduction .................................................	5
Features ..................................................................................................	5
What is Wireless LAN?...........................................................................	6
Wireless LAN Modes ..............................................................................	6
Notes on Wireless LAN Configuration ...................................................	7
Chapter 2 - Hardware Installation...................................	8
Package Contents...................................................................................	8
System Requirements for the Adapter...................................................	8
Hardware description..............................................................................	8
Inserting the Wireless LAN Card............................................................	8
LED Indicators.........................................................................................	9
Ejecting the Wireless LAN card..............................................................	9
Chapter 3 – Driver Installation for Windows ..................	11
Driver installation for Windows 98........................................................	11
Driver installation for Windows 2000...................................................	14
Driver installation for Windows ME .....................................................	17
Driver installation for Windows XP......................................................	19
Chapter 4 – Installing and Using the Wireless Utility .....	21
Installation in Windows ........................................................................	21
Using Wireless Utility In Windows XP.................................................	24
Use Windows Wireless Network Configuration ..........................................	24
Use Wireless LAN Utility ................................................................................	27
Use Wireless LAN Utility In Windows 98, 2000 and ME....................	30
Configuring the CardBus Wireless LAN Card.....................................	30
Chapter 5 – Installing Network Protocols......................	34
Installing the Network Protocols for Windows 98 and Millennium .....	34
Appendix A – FAQ.......................................................	37
Appendix B – Specifications ........................................	38

User’s Manual

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, and 11 Mbps operating in the ISM band using Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) transmission implementing the IEEE 802.11b 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.

Features

The CardBus Wireless LAN Card offers compliance with the IEEE 802.11b 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 802.11b 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 11 Mbps Supports 11, 5.5, 2, and 1 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

User’s Manual

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 than wired LAN 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: Installing is easy for novice and expert users alike, eliminating the need to install network cables in walls and ceilings.

•Scalability: WLAN can be configured in a variety of topologies to adapt 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.

Wireless LAN Modes

Wireless LANs can be configured in one of two ways:

Ad-hoc	Also known as a peer-to-peer network, an ad-hoc
Networking	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

User’s Manual

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.

User’s Manual

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!

These instructions apply to most notebook computers. For detailed information on inserting PC cards into your notebook, consult the

notebook manual.

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.

User’s 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!

In Windows XP/2000/ME/98 operating systems, you do not have to

User’s Manual

power 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.

Most notebooks have an eject lever or button for ejecting PC cards from the PC slots. Consult your notebook manual for details.

Warning!	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.

After hardware installation is completed, please go to Chapter 3 to install driver on different Operating System.

User’s Manual

Chapter 3 – Driver Installation for Windows

The following sections cover CardBus Wireless LAN Card 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.

User’s Manual

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.

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