Smc 2835W User Manual

EZ Connect g 2.4 GHz 54 Mbps
Wireless Cardbus Adapter
User Guide

The easy way to make all your network connections

38 Tesla
Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: [phone]

August 2004
R03 F1.0.0.2

Copyright

Information furnished by SMC Networks, Inc. (SMC) is believed to be accurate and reliable.
However, no responsibility is assumed by SMC for its use, nor for any infringements of patents
or other rights of third parties which may result from its use. No license is granted by
implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of SMC. SMC reserves the right to
change specifications at any time without notice.

Copyright © 2004 by

SMC Networks, Inc.

38 Tesla

Irvine, CA 92618

All rights reserved.

Trademarks:

SMC is a registered trademark; and EZ Connect and EZ Hub are trademarks of SMC
Networks, Inc. Other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks
of their respective holders.

COMPLIANCES

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. This equipment should be installed and operated with a
minimum distance of 20 centimeters (8 inches) between the radiator and your
body. This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any
other antenna or transmitter.

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COMPLIANCES

Wireless 2.4 GHz Band Statements:

As the SMC2835W Wireless Cardbus can operate in the 2412-2462 MHz
frequency band it is limited by the FCC, Industry Canada and some other
countries to indoor use only so as to reduce the potential for harmful interference
to co-channel Mobile Satellite systems.

The term “IC:” before the radio certification number only signifies that Industry
Canada technical specifications were met.

Industry Canada - Class B

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions
from digital apparatus as set out in the interference-causing equipment standard
entitled “Digital Apparatus,” ICES-003 of Industry Canada.

Cet appareil numérique respecte les limites de bruits radioélectriques applicables
aux appareils numériques de Classe B prescrites dans la norme sur le matérial
brouilleur: “Appareils Numériques,” NMB-003 édictée par l’Industrie.

Australia/New Zealand AS/NZS 4771

ACN 066 352010

A.C.N 096 592 442

Contact SMC at:
SMC Networks, Inc.

38 Tesla
Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: [phone]

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C

OMPLIANCES

EC Declaration of Conformity

This device complies with the essential
requirements of the R&TTE Directive 1999/5/EC.
The following references have been applied in order to prove presumption of
compliance with the R&TTE Directive 1999/5/EC:

ETSI EN 300 328-2 (07-2000)
ETSI EN 301 489-1, -17 (09-2000)
EN60950

Council recommendation 1999/519/EC of 12 July 1999, limitations of exposure of
the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz)

English

Dutch Hierbij verklaart SMC Networks dat het toestel Radio

French Par la présente SMC Networks déclare que l'appareil Radio

German Hiermit erklärt SMC Networks, dass sich dieses Wireless

Spanish Por medio de la presente SMC Networks declara que el

Hereby, SMC Networks, declares that this Radio LAN
device is in compliance with the essential requirements
and other relevant provisions of Directive 1999/5/EC.
The official EC-Declaration of Conformity can be
found under the corresponding product section on the
web http://www.smc.com.

LAN device in overeenstemming is met de essentiële eisen
en de andere relevante bepalingen van richtlijn 1999/5/
EG. Het officiële EC- gelijkvormigheidattest kan men
vinden op de internetsite http://www.smc.com onder de
betrokken productcategorie.

LAN device est conforme aux exigences essentielles et aux
autres dispositions pertinentes de la directive 1999/5/CE.
La déclaration de conformité officielle peut être trouvée
sur notre site internet http://www.smc.com dans la
rubrique Produits.

LAN Gerät in Übereinstimmung mit den grundlegenden
Anforderungen und den anderen relevanten Vorschriften
der Richtlinie 1999/5/EG befindet. Die offizielle
EC-Declaration of Conformity finden Sie im Internet
unter http://www.smc.com
Produktkategorie.

Radio LAN device cumple con los requisitos esenciales y
cualesquiera otras disposiciones aplicables o exigibles de la
Directiva 1999/5/CE. The official EC-Declaration of
Conformity can be found under the corresponding
product section on the web http://www.smc.com

unter der entsprechenden

.

iii

COMPLIANCES

Countries of Operation & Conditions of Use in EC/ EFTA member states

English This device is a 2.4 GHz wireless LAN transceiver, intended for indoor

Dutch Dit toestel is een 2.4 Ghz draadloze Lan transceiver, bestemd voor gebruik

French Ce produit est un appareil radio LAN transceiver de 2.4 GHz destiné aux

German Dieses Wireless LAN Gerät arbeitet im 2.4 GHz Frequenzband und ist für

Spanish Este aparato es un transmisor inalámbrico de 2.4 GHz, previsto para el uso

home and office use in all notified EC and EFTA member states. In
accordance with article 6.4 of the R&TTE Directive 1999/5/EC the
following EC/ EFTA member states have been notified: Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Portugal, Greece,
Ireland, Iceland. Requirements for outdoor operation, like license
requirements and allowed channels of operation apply in some countries.
Please contact your local regulation authority or SMC Networks for details
on current restrictions for outdoor use.

binnen huis en kantoor in alle geïnformeerde lidstaten van de EC en de
EFTA.
In overeenstemming met artikel 6.4 van de R&T TE Directive 1999/5/EC
zijn de volgende EC/EFTA lidstaten verwittigd: België, Denemarken,
Duitsland, Finland, Frankrijk,Griekenland, Ierland, IJsland, Italië,
Luxemburg, Nederland, Noorwegen,Oostenrijk, Portugal, Spanje ,
Verenigd Koninkrijk, Zweden, Zwitserland. Benodigdheden voor gebruik
buiten, zoals gebruiksvergunningen en toegelaten werkkanalen zijn van
toepassing in sommige landen. Gelieve uw lokale instantie of SMC
Networks te contacteren voor details op huidige beperkingen voor gebruik
in buitenlucht.

PME et à l’utilisation domestique dans tous les pays certifiés conformes
aux conditions de l’EU et de l’EFTA. En accord avec l’article 6.4 de la
R&TTE directive 1999/5/EC, the membres de la EU et de l’EFTA sont
les suivants : Autriche, Belgique, Danemark, finalnde, France, Allemagne,
Italie, Luxembourg, Pays-Bas, Norvège, Espagne, Suède, Suisse,
Royaume-Uni, Portugal, Grèce, Irelande, Icelande. Des conditions sont
appliquées à certains pays pour l’utilisation en extérieur, tels que des
licences spécífiques et des canaux d’opération. Veuillez contacter votre
autorité locale ou SMC Networks pour plus de détails quant aux
restrictions actuelles concernant l’utilisation en extérieur.

den Einsatz im Innenbereich in den benachrichtigten EC/ EFTA
Mitgliedstaaten geeignet. In Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 6.4 der R&TTE
Direktive 1999/5/EC wurden folgende Mitgliedstaaten benachrichtigt:
Österreich, Belgien, Dänemark, Finland, Frankreich, Deutschland, Italien,
Luxemburg, Niederlande, Norwegen, Spanien, Schweden, Schweiz,
Großbritannien, Portugal, Griechenland, Irland, Island. Für den Einsatz
im Aussenbereich sind in einigen Ländern Lizenzen erforderlich oder die
Anzahl der Kanäle ist eingeschränkt. Bitte kontaktieren Sie Ihre
Regulierungsbehörde oder SMC Networks für die aktuellen
Einschränkungen beim Einsatz im Aussenbereich.

interior en domicilios y Pymes en todos los Estados de la CE y la EFTA
notificados. De acuerdo con el artículo 6.4 de la Directiva R&TTE 1999/
5/EC los siguientes estados de la CE y de la EFTA han sido notificados:
Austria, Bélgica, Dinamarca, Finlandia, Francia, Alemania, Italia,
Luxemburgo, Países Bajos, Noruega, España, Suecia, Suiza, Reino Unido,
Portugal, Grecia, Irlanda, Islandia. Los requisitos para su uso exterior,
como requerimiento de licencia y canales de operación permitidos se
aplican en algunos países. Por favor contacte la autoridad reguladora local
o SMC Networks para más detalles en relación con las restricciones
actuales para uso exterior.

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OMPLIANCES

SMC Contact for this device in Europe is:

SMC Networks Europe,
Edificio Conata II,
Calle Fructuos Gelabert 6-8, 2, 4ª,
08970 – Sant Joan Despi,
Barcelona, Spain

Wichtige Sicherheitshinweise (Germany)

1. Bitte lesen Sie diese Hinweise sorgfältig durch.

2. Heben Sie diese Anleitung für den späteren Gebrauch auf.

3. Vor jedem Reinigen ist das Gerät vom Stromnetz zu trennen. Verwenden Sie

keine Flüssigoder Aerosolreiniger. Am besten eignet sich ein angefeuchtetes
Tuch zur Reinigung.

4. Die Netzanschlu ßsteckdose soll nahe dem Gerät angebracht und leicht

zugänglich sein.

5. Das Gerät ist vor Feuchtigkeit zu schützen.

6. Bei der Aufstellung des Gerätes ist auf sicheren Stand zu achten. Ein Kippen

oder Fallen könnte Beschädigungen hervorrufen.

7. Die Belüftungsöffnungen dienen der Luftzirkulation, die das Gerät vor

Überhitzung schützt. Sorgen Sie dafür, daß diese Öffnungen nicht abgedeckt
werden.

8. Beachten Sie beim Anschluß an das Stromnetz die Anschlußwerte.

9. Verlegen Sie die Netzanschlußleitung so, daß niemand darüber fallen kann.

Es sollte auch nichts auf der Leitung abgestellt werden.

10.Alle Hinweise und Warnungen, die sich am Gerät befinden, sind zu beachten.

11.Wird das Gerät über einen längeren Zeitraum nicht benutzt, sollten Sie es vom

Stromnetz trennen. Somit wird im Falle einer Überspannung eine
Beschädigung vermieden.

12.Durch die Lüftungsöffnungen dürfen niemals Gegenstände oder Flüssigkeiten

in das Gerät gelangen. Dies könnte einen Brand bzw. elektrischen Schlag
auslösen.

13.Öffnen sie niemals das Gerät. Das Gerät darf aus Gründen der elektrischen

Sicherheit nur von authorisiertem Servicepersonal geöffnet werden.

v

COMPLIANCES

14.Wenn folgende Situationen auftreten ist das Gerät vom Stromnetz zu trennen
und von einer qualifizierten Servicestelle zu überprüfen:

a. Netzkabel oder Netzstecker sind beschädigt.
b. Flüssigkeit ist in das Gerät eingedrungen.
c. Das Gerät war Feuchtigkeit ausgesetzt.
d. Wenn das Gerät nicht der Bedienungsanleitung entsprechend funktioniert

oder Sie mit Hilfe dieser Anleitung keine Verbesserung erzielen.
e. Das Gerät ist gefallen und/oder das Gehäuse ist beschädigt.
f. Wenn das Gerät deutliche Anzeichen eines Defektes aufweist.

15. Stellen Sie sicher, daß die Stromversorgung dieses Gerätes nach der EN
60950 geprüft ist. Ausgangswerte der Stromversorgung sollten die Werte von

AC 7,5-8V, 50-60Hz nicht über oder unterschreiten sowie den minimalen
Strom von 1A nicht unterschreiten.

Der arbeitsplatzbezogene Schalldruckpegel nach DIN 45 635 Teil 1000

beträgt 70dB(A) oder weniger.

California Proposition 65 Warning

This product or components of this product contains a chemical(s) known to the
State of California to cause cancer and/or birth defects or other reproductive
harm.

vi

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ABLE OF

EZ Connect g™

Wireless CardBus Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Hardware Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Driver and Utility Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

For Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Hardware Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

SMC2835W 2.4GHz 54Mbps Wireless Adapter Utility 11

Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Common . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Advanced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Link Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

IP Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Site Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Version Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

C

ONTENTS

Network Configuration and Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Network Topologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Ad Hoc Wireless LAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Infrastructure Wireless LANs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Setting the Communication Domain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Stationary Wireless PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Roaming Wireless PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Adapter Installation Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Network Connection Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

General Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

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ABLE OF CONTENTS

viii

EZ CONNECT G™

WIRELESS CARDBUS

ADAPTER

SMC’s EZ Connect g Wireless CardBus Adapter (SMC2835W) is
a 54 Mbps wireless adapter that seamlessly integrates with
existing Ethernet networks to support applications such as mobile
users or temporary conferences. This solution offers a high data
rate and reliable wireless connectivity with considerable cost
savings over wired LANs (which include long-term maintenance
overhead for cabling). Just install enough wireless access points
to cover your network area, plug wireless cards into your
notebooks or computers, and start networking.

Using this card in conjunction with any SMC 802.11g/b wireless
access point, you can create an instant network that integrates
seamlessly with your existing LANs. Moreover, moving or
expanding your network is as easy as moving or installing
additional access points – no wires!

Features

• Backward compatible with the existing 802.11b WLAN
infrastructure

• Enhances your network security with Wired Equivalent
Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)

• Greater flexibility to locate or move networked PCs

1

EZ Connect g™ Wireless CardBus Adapter

• Easy installation and user-friendly configuration

• Integrates with or replaces wired LANs at dramatically lower

cost than wired alternatives

• Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
technology provides high speed connection

Applications

EZ Connect wireless products offer fast, reliable, cost-effective
network access for wireless clients in applications such as:

• Remote access to corporate network information

Email, file transfer, and terminal emulation

• Difficult-to-wire environments

Historic or old buildings, asbestos installations, and open
areas where wiring is difficult to employ

• Frequently changing environments

Retailers, manufacturers, and banks who frequently rearrange
the workplace and change location

• Temporary LANs for special projects or peak times

Trade shows, exhibitions, and construction sites that need to
set up for a short time period. Retailers, airline, and shipping
companies who need additional workstations for peak times

• Access to databases for mobile workers

Doctors, nurses, retailers, office workers who need access to
databases while being mobile in a hospital, retail store, office,
campus, etc.

• SOHO (Small Office Home Office) users

SOHO users who need quick and easy installation of a small
network

2

System Requirements

System Requirements

Before you install the EZ Connect g Wireless CardBus Adapter,
check your system for the following requirements:

• Available 32-bit Cardbus type II or type III slot

• Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP

• Minimum of 32 MB RAM and 300 MHz CPU

• Minimum of 6 MB of free hard disk space for driver and utility

installation

• Another IEEE 802.11g or 802.11b compliant device installed
in your network, such as the SMC2804WBRP-G Wireless
Cable/DSL Broadband Router with USB Print Server, or
another machine with a wireless adapter, such as the
SMC2802W EZ Connect g 2.4GHz 802.11g Wireless PCI
Card

Package Contents

The EZ Connect g Wireless CardBus Adapter package includes:

• 1 SMC2835W EZ Connect g Wireless CardBus Adapter

• 1 EZ Installation Wizard and Documentation CD

• 1 Quick Installation Guide

Please register this product and upgrade the product warranty at
http://www.smc.com

Please inform your dealer if there are any incorrect, missing or
damaged parts. If possible, retain the carton and the original
packing materials, in case there is a need to return the product.

3

HARDWARE DESCRIPTION

The SMC2835W adapter provides 54 Mbps connections. It is fully
compliant with the specification of the IEEE 802.11g standard. It
can be installed in any notebook running Windows 98SE/Me/
2000/XP, with a CardBus type II or type III slot.

LEDs

The two status LED indicators of the SMC2835W are described
in the following figure and table.

LED Status Description

LINK On (Green) Indicates a valid connection.

Flashing Indicates that the adapter is scanning for

ACT
(Activity)

Flashing Indicates that the adapter is transmitting

LINK

ACT

available networks.

or receiving data.

4

DRIVER AND UTILITY

INSTALLATION

The EZ Installation Wizard and Documentation CD that comes
with the package contains all the software, including the driver
and utility for the SMC2835W adapter. Any new or updated
software can be downloaded from the SMC web site at
http://www.smc.com
online support.

For Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP

It is recommended that you install the utility and driver software
first, before inserting the adapter into your laptop.

You may find that the screen shots here do not exactly match your
version of Windows. This is because these screen shots were
created from Windows XP. Steps for Windows 98SE, Millennium
Edition and Windows 2000, are similar, but not identical, to
Windows XP.

. Also, check the SMC web site for additional

Note: For Windows 98SE users, installation processes may require

the use of your original copy of Windows OS. Please have the
Windows OS CD available BEFORE proceeding with the
installation.

5

Driver and Utility Installation

1. Insert the EZ Installation Wizard CD into your CD-ROM drive.
The CD will auto-run, click on “Install Driver/Utility.”

2. Then the Setup window will automatically appear. Your OS
will start copying files into the system. This may take a few
minutes.

6

For Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP

3. Please insert the SMC2835W adapter into your laptop.

4. Once the utility has been installed on your system, this

window will appear. Select No, I will restart my computer later,
then click Finish to complete the utility installation.

7

Driver and Utility Installation

5. The Found New Hardware Wizard window appears, select the
“Install the software automatically” option, and click Next.

6. Click “Continue Anyway” to proceed with the installation.

Note: Do not select “STOP Installation,” as this will cancel the

installation process, and the drivers will not be installed
properly.

8

7. For users who are using this adapter outside of the United
States and Canada, the Country Select window will appear.
Please select the country in which you are using the adapter.

Note: This domain configuration applies only to users outside of the

FCC regulatory domain. If you are using this adapter in the
United States and Canada, please skip this step.

8. This window will then appear indicating that the driver has
been installed on your system. Click Finish to exit the window.
Your adapter is now ready for use.

9

HARDWARE INSTALLATION

Network cards are sensitive to static electricity. To protect the
card, avoid touching its electrical components, and touch the
ground often to equalize the static charges, before handling the
card.

To insert the card:

1. Find an available type II or type III CardBus slot in your laptop.

2. With the adapter’s 68-pin connector facing the CardBus slot,

and the “EZ Connect g” label facing up, slide the card
completely into the slot as shown below.

Note: Please install the driver and utility software first, before you

insert the adapter into the laptop.

10

SMC2835W 2.4GHZ

54MBPS WIRELESS

ADAPTER UTILITY

To communicate with other SMC 802.11g or 802.11b devices,
you need to configure the SMC2835W adapter first. Double-click
the SMC2835W 2.4GHz 54Mbps Wireless CardBus Adapter
Utility icon on the desktop to launch the configuration utility, or
you can access it from the Start menu.

Note that the screen shots were taken from Windows XP and will
not look exactly the same in all operating systems.

The Wireless Adapter Utility program includes the following five
tabs:

Configuration – Allows you to set parameters for the wireless
adapter.

Link Information – Allows you to view network status.

IP Information – Displays TCP/IP data.

Site Survey – Scans/shows all wireless devices within the

adapter’s signal range.

Version Information – Shows the driver and utility version
information.

11

SMC2835W 2.4GHz 54Mbps Wireless Adapter Utility

At the bottom of the screen, there are three boxes that can be
selected:

• Radio On/Radio Off – This allows you to turn on/off the
transmission/reception of the adapter.

• Help – Click here to display the help file.

• Exit – This closes the Configuration Utility dialog box.

Configuration

Go to the Configuration tab to set parameters for the SMC2835W
adapter.

Select Profile – You can specify a profile name for a specific
configuration of parameters.

New – To set up a new profile, click New.

Save – To save a new profile after configuring the settings, click

Save.

Delete – To delete a profile, select the profile from the drop-down
menu in the Select Profile field, then click Delete.

12

Common

Configuration

Network Name – Input an SSID for the wireless network to which
you want to connect.

Operating Mode – Set the adapter’s operating mode to 802.11
AdHoc for a network environment that does not have an access
point, or to Infrastructure for connections with an access point.
(See “Network Topologies” on page 27 for more information.)

Transmit Rate – Indicates the data transmission rate. Select an
appropriate transmission speed. Lower speeds will give better
range.

Power Save Mode – To use this funtion, select the Enabled or
Disabled in the Power Save Mode drop-down menu, then click the
Apply Change button.

13

SMC2835W 2.4GHz 54Mbps Wireless Adapter Utility

Security

The Security ON/Security OFF button indicates whether the
security function has been enabled or disabled.

14

Configuration

Click the Security ON/Security OFF button to enable the security
function.

Authentication Type – WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) are implemented in the
SMC2835W adapter to prevent unauthorized access.

Authentication Mode – Choose Open or Shared.

Default Key – Choose the key for encryption.

Key Type – Select 64-bit encryption, 64-bit encryption (ASCII),

128-bit encryption,or 128-bit encryption (ASCII).

Use Passphrase – Check this box to auto-generate keys for
encryption. First, check this box, then enter a string of characters
into the space. Encryption keys will be generated automatically.

15

SMC2835W 2.4GHz 54Mbps Wireless Adapter Utility

When Key Type is set to 128-bit, only one key will be generated. If
Key Type is set to 64-bit, four keys will be generated. Note that
you must use the same passphrase and default key on all the
other clients in your network.

How to set up WEP:

If you are transmitting sensitive data across wireless channels,
you should enable Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption.
WEP provides a basic level of security, preventing unauthorized
access to the network and encrypting data transmitted between
wireless clients and the access point. WEP uses static shared
keys (fixed-length hexadecimal or alphanumeric strings) that are
manually distributed to all clients that want to use the network.
WEP is the security protocol initially specified in the IEEE 802.11
standard for wireless communications. For more robust wireless
security, the SMC2835W provides Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
for improved data encryption and user authentication.

Note: Only one key is needed for WEP to function. However, the

IEEE 802.11 standard specifies that there must be four keys
for each device. For security purposes, the key should be
changed on a regular basis. Multiple keys are supported to
allow the user to change keys with minimal disruption of the
network.

16

Configuration

To set up the WEP function, take the following steps:

1. Select 64-bit encryption, 64-bit encryption (ASCII), 128-bit
encryption,or 128-bit encryption (ASCII) in the Key Type field.

2. To automatically generate keys, check the Use Passphrase
box, and type in a string of characters in this field.

3. In the Default Key field, select one key as the default key that
you want to use for encryption.

4. Click Apply Change to allow the settings to take effect.

Or

1. Select 64-bit encryption, 64-bit encryption (ASCII), 128-bit
encryption,or 128-bit encryption (ASCII) in the Key Type field.

2. In the Default Key field, select one key as the default key that
you want to use for encryption.

3. Manually type in a string of characters in the corresponding
key number field that you selected in step 2.

4. Click Apply Change to allow the settings to take effect.

Note: When setting up WEP without using the Use Passphrase

function, if the Key Type is set to Hex, only Hexadecimal
characters (range: 0~9 and A~F) can be used. When
encryption is set to 64-bit, a maximum of 10 Hex characters
can be entered in the Key field. When encryption is set to
128-bit, a maximum of 26 Hex characters can be used. If the
Key Type is set to ASCII, and encryption is set to 64-bit, then 5
ASCII characters can be used in the Key field. For 128-bit
encryption, 13 ASCII characters can be used.

17

SMC2835W 2.4GHz 54Mbps Wireless Adapter Utility

How to set up WPA:

Wi-Fi Protected Access is a standards-based, interoperable
security enhancement that strongly increases the level of data
protection and access control for existing and future wireless LAN
systems. It will be forward-compatible with the upcoming
IEEE 802.11i standard. WPA employs a combination of several
technologies to provide an enhanced security solution for 802.11
wireless networks, including TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity
Protocol) for data protection and 802.1x for authenticated key
management. WPA provides a simple operating mode that uses
just a pre-shared password for network access. The Pre-Shared
Key mode uses a common password for user authentication that
is manually entered on the access point and all wireless clients
on the network.

18

Configuration

To use the WPA function, take the following steps:

1. Select Authentication Type, WPA-PSK from the drop-down
menu.

2. Type in the Pre-Shared Key (PSK).

3. Click Apply Change to allow the settings to take effect.

Note: The PSK Passphrase character limit needs to be between 8-63

characters.

Manual Pre-Shared Key supports up to 64-Hex characters. If
there is no authentication server on your SOHO network, you can
issue the Pre-Shared Key to the adapter that is connected to the
access point. Be sure to use the same key for the wireless access
point and the connected adapter.

For enterprise deployment, WPA requires a RADIUS
authentication server to be configured on the wired network. The

802.1x client and RADIUS server should use an appropriate EAP

type - such as EAP-TLS (Transport Layer Security), EAP-TTLS
(Tunneled TLS), or PEAP (Protected EAP) - for strongest
authentication. Working together, these protocols provide “mutual
authentication” between a client, the access point, and a RADIUS
server that prevents unauthorized users from joining your
network, and also prevents users from accidentally joining a
rogue network. Only when a RADIUS server has authenticated a
user’s credentials will encryption keys be sent to the access point
and client.

Note: To implement WPA on wireless clients requires a

WPA-enabled network card driver and 802.1x client software
that supports the EAP authentication type that you want to use.
Windows XP provides native WPA support, other systems
require additional software. Note that Microsoft now has an

802.1x authentication client for Windows 2000 that you can
download from their web site.

19

SMC2835W 2.4GHz 54Mbps Wireless Adapter Utility

Advanced

RTS Threshold – This sets the packet size threshold at which a

Request to Send (RTS) signal must be sent to the receiving
station prior to the sending station starting communications.
Devices contending for the wireless medium may not be aware of
each other. The RTS/CTS mechanism can solve this problem.
The larger the threshold, the faster the speed.

Fragment Threshold – Sets the minimum packet size that can
be transmitted from the adapter without being fragmented.
Fragmentation can increase the reliability of transmissions
because it increases the probability of a successful transmission
due to smaller frame size. The larger the threshold, the faster the
speed.

20

Link Information

Preamble Type – The preamble is used to acquire the incoming
signal and synchronize the receiver. If all the clients in your
service area support the short preamble or can automatically set
the preamble type, then setting the preamble on the access point
to short can boost your throughput. (Options: Long, Short;
Default: Long)

Transmit Power – Move the slider bar up and down to select an
appropriate transmission power. Lower power reduces
interference, higher power gives more range.

Link Information

The Link Information screen displays information of the current
wireless access point to which you are connected.

21

SMC2835W 2.4GHz 54Mbps Wireless Adapter Utility

Network Name – The name of the network to which the adapter
is currently connected with other clients on the network.

Base Station Name ID – The MAC address of the access point
to which this adapter is connected in an infrastructure network. In
an ad hoc network, the Network Name is a random number
generated by the first station that communicates with other clients
on the network.

Channel – The channel used to connect with the wireless device.

Current Connection Speed – The data transmission speed.

Link Quality – Shows the link quality of the wireless connection.

Signal Strength – Shows the strength of the connection between

the adapter and the access point.

22

IP Information

This screen displays IP Information for your notebook. Now that
you have configured your adapter to connect to a wireless
network, your adapter needs to obtain new network settings. By
releasing old IP settings and renewing them with settings from
the access point, you will also verify that you have configured
your adapter correctly. To release network settings click on
Release, then click on Renew to get new IP settings.

IP Information

IP Address Client – Internet address of the notebook.

IP Netmask Client – A mask used to determine the subnet for an

IP address.

23

SMC2835W 2.4GHz 54Mbps Wireless Adapter Utility

Gateway – The IP address of the network gateway.

Host Name Client – The notebook’s name on the network.

Release – Click on this button to release the IP address.

Renew – Click on this button to get a new IP address.

Site Survey

Site Survey scans and displays all wireless devices within range.
You can choose one of them to connect to by double-clicking on
an entry.

Scan – Click this button to scan for available network
connections.

24

Site Survey

Network name – Service Set ID. (See “Configuration” on page
12 for details.)

MAC address – The MAC address of the listed wireless devices.

Channel – The radio channel on which the access point

operates. (See “Link Information” on page 21 for details.)

Encryption – The key icon indicates that encryption has been
enabled.

Signal – This shows the signal strength from the adapter to the
listed access points.

Scroll right to see the remainder of the Site Survey screen.

Network Type – This shows the operating mode of the listed
wireless devices.

25

SMC2835W 2.4GHz 54Mbps Wireless Adapter Utility

Version Information

This screen shows information on the current version of the driver
and Wireless Adapter Utility program. You can download the
latest firmware from the SMC web site at http://www.smc.com

.

26

Network Configuration and Planning

NETWORK CONFIGURATION

AND

SMC’s EZ Connect g Wireless Solution supports a stand-alone
wireless network configuration, as well as an integrated
configuration with 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LANs.

The SMC2835W can be configured as:

• Ad hoc - for small groups that only communicate with each

other, without access points

• Infrastructure - for wireless LANs

PLANNING

Network Topologies

Ad Hoc Wireless LAN

An ad hoc wireless LAN
consists of a group of
computers, each equipped
with one wireless adapter,
connected via radio signals
as an independent wireless
LAN. Computers in a specific
ad hoc wireless LAN must
therefore be configured to
the same radio channel. An
ad hoc wireless LAN can be
used in a SOHO or temporary environment.

Ad Hoc Wireless LAN

Notebook with
Wireless USB Adapter

PC with Wireless
PCI Adapter

Notebook with
Wireless PC Card

27

Infrastructure Wireless LANs

The SMC 802.11g access point (SMC2870W) can also provide
wireless workstations with access to a wired LAN. An integrated
wired and wireless LAN is called an infrastructure configuration. A
Basic Service Set (BSS) consists of a group of wireless PC
users, and an access point that is directly connected to the wired
LAN. Each wireless PC in this BSS can talk to any computer in its
wireless group via a radio link, or access other computers or
network resources in the wired LAN infrastructure via the access
point.

The infrastructure configuration not only extends the accessibility
of wireless PCs to the wired LAN, but also extends the effective
wireless transmission range for wireless PCs by passing their
signal through one or more access points.

A wireless infrastructure can be used for access to a central
database, or for connection between mobile workers, as shown in
the following figure.

Wired LAN Extension

to Wireless Adapters

File
Server

Desktop PC

Switch

Access Point

PC with Wireless
PC I Adapter

Notebook with Wireless
PC Card Adapter

28

Setting the Communication Domain

Setting the Communication Domain

Stationary Wireless PCs

The Basic Service Set (BSS) is the communication domain for
each access point. For wireless PCs that do not need to support
roaming, set the domain identifier (SSID) for the wireless card to
the SSID of the access point to which you want to connect. Check
with your administrator for the SSID of the access point to whick
you are connecting.

Roaming Wireless PCs

A wireless infrastructure can also support roaming for mobile
workers. More than one access point can be configured to create
an Extended Service Set (ESS). By placing the access points so
that a continuous coverage area is created, wireless users within
this ESS can roam freely. All wireless adapters and access points
within a specific ESS must be configured with the same SSID and
to the same radio channel.

You can configure the wireless client to connect to a specific
wireless network or to the first available wireless network.

• If you configure the client to connect to a specific wireless

network, the client establishes a radio connection to the AP in
the specified wireless network that provides the best
communications quality. APs in a different wireless network
are ignored.

• If you configure the client to connect to the first available

wireless network (the SSID = ANY), the client establishes a
radio connection to the AP that provides the best
communications quality. Be aware that if there are multiple
wireless networks, the client could connect to an AP that is not
in the network you want to join.

29

Network Configuration and Planning

• In either configuration, the client automatically matches the
radio channel used by the AP.

File
Server

Wireless Cell
Coverage Area

Desktop PC

Switch

Notebook with Wireless
PC Card Adapter

<BSS1>

PC with Wireless
PCI Adapter

Notebooks with Wireless
PC Card Adapters

Access Point

Access Point

PC with Wireless
PC I Adapter

<ESS>

Seamless Roaming

<BSS2>

30

Troubleshooting

TROUBLESHOOTING

Check the following troubleshooting items before contacting
SMC technical support.

Adapter Installation Problems

If your notebook cannot find the SMC2835W adapter or the driver
software does not install correctly, check the following:

• Make sure the adapter is securely seated in the Cardbus slot.
When you insert the wireless adapter into the notebook’s slot,
your notebook should make a beeping sound, if the adapter is
properly inserted. Check for any hardware problems, such as
physical damage to the card’s connector.

• Try the card in another Cardbus slot. If this also fails, test your
notebook with another wireless adapter that is known to
operate correctly.

• Make sure your notebook is using the latest BIOS.

• If there are other network adapters in the notebook, they may

be causing conflicts. Remove all other adapters from the
notebook and test the wireless adapter separately.

• If it still does not work, go to “Control Panel” and delete the
adapter from your system. Remove the wireless adapter from
your laptop. Restart your laptop and reinstall the card and the
driver and utility.

31

Network Connection Problems

If the LINK LED on the SMC2835W adapter does not light, or if
you cannot access any network resources from the notebook,
check the following:

• Make sure the correct software driver is installed for your
operating system. If necessary, try reinstalling the driver.

• Make sure the notebook and other network devices are
receiving power.

• The access point you want to connect to may be defective. Try
using another access point.

• Make sure the SSID and security settings of the adapter are
set to the same as the access point to which you are
connecting.

If your wireless station cannot communicate with a computer in
the Ethernet LAN when configured for Infrastructure mode, check
the following:

• Make sure the access point that the station is associated with
is powered on.

• If the connection still fails, change the access point and all the
clients within the BSS to another radio channel.

• For a station with roaming disabled, make sure the SSID is the
same as that used by the access point, or the same as that
used by the access points in the extended service set (ESS).

32

SPECIFICATIONS

General Specifications

Functional Criteria

Data Rate

802.11g: 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps

802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps

Operating Range

Up to 350 m (1155 ft)

Radio Signal

Signal Type

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)

Modulation Techniques

802.11g (OFDM): BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM

802.11b (DSSS): DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK

Channel Support

FCC: 1-11
ETSI: 1-13
MKK: 1-14

RF Output Power

16 dBm

Specifications

Physical Characteristics

Power Consumption

Tx mode: 480mA, Rx mode: 380 mA

Dimensions

118.6*54.0*4.85 mm (4.66*2.12* 0.19 inch) (L*W*H)

Antenna

Built-in antenna

33

LED Indicators

Network Link (LINK), Activity (ACT)

Host Interface

32-bit Cardbus interface

Power Voltage

3.3 Volt +/- 5%

Standards Conformance

IEEE 802.11g
IEEE 802.11b

Environmental

Temperature

Operating: 0 to 55 °C (32 to 122 °F)
Storage: -20 to 65 °C (32 to 158 °F)

Humidity

5 to 95% (non-condensing)

Certification

CE Mark

EN50081-1, EN55022 Class B, EN50082-1, IEC 61000-4-2,
IEC 60601-1-2

Safety Compliance

USA: FCC Part 15 Class B
UL1950/CSA22.2 No.950
IEC 60950

Software Drivers

Windows 98SE
Windows Me
Windows 2000
Windows XP

34

FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT, CALL:

From U.S.A. and Canada (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

(800) SMC-4-YOU; Phn: [phone]; Fax: [phone]

From Europe : Contact details can be found on

www.smc-europe.com or www.smc.com

INTERNET

E-mail addresses:

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

Driver updates:

http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?action=tech_support_drivers_downloads

World Wide Web:

http://www.smc.com
http://www.smc-europe.com

FOR LITERATURE OR ADVERTISING RESPONSE, CALL:

U.S.A. and Canada: (800) SMC-4-YOU; Fax [phone]
Spain: 34-91-352-00-40; Fax [phone]
UK: 44 (0) 1932 866553; Fax [phone]
France: 33 (0) 41 38 32 32; Fax [phone]
Italy: 39 (0) 335 5708602; Fax [phone]
Benelux: 31 33 455 72 88; Fax [phone]
Central Europe: 49 (0) 89 92861-0; Fax [phone]
Nordic: 46 (0) 868 70700; Fax [phone]
Eastern Europe: 34 -93-477-4920; Fax [phone]
Sub Saharian Africa: 216-712-36616; Fax [phone]
North West Africa: 34 93 477 4920; Fax [phone]
CIS: 7 (095) 7893573; Fax [phone]
PRC: 86-10-6235-4958; Fax [phone]
Taiwan: 886-2-8797-8006; Fax [phone]
Asia Pacific: (65) 238 6556; Fax [phone]
Korea: 82-2-553-0860; Fax [phone]
Japan: 81-45-224-2332; Fax [phone]
Australia: 61-2-8875-7887; Fax [phone]
India: 91-22-8204437; Fax [phone]

If you are looking for further contact information, please visit
www.smc.com, www.smc-europe.com, or www.smc-asia.com.

38 Tesla
Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: [phone]

Model Number: SMC2835W
Revision number: E082004-R03 V1.0.0.2