Sonnet Technologies Aria extreme CardBus User Manual

Introduction

This user’s guide explains how to install and confi gure the Aria™
extreme wireless CardBus card in your compatible Macintosh
PowerBook computer.

Guide for

PowerBook

®

Users

The Aria extreme is a cross-platform, high-speed, wireless LAN
adapter card. It is compatible with Apple AirPort
tions and other 802.11g devices, is capable of data transfers of up to
54 Mbps, and is backward-compatible with 802.11b devices.

®

Extreme base sta-

PowerBook Requirements

At this printing, the Aria extreme is compatible with PowerBook
G3 models and the Titanium PowerBook G4 with 15" screen, and
requires Mac OS X Version 10.2.6 or higher, and AirPort 3.1 or
higher.

For Additional Information

For additional information regarding setup and confi guration of net­works and security, and working with Windows-based systems, refer
to AirPort help fi les and Apple’s AirPort online support pages.

Visit Our Web Site

For the most current product information and online support fi les,
visit the Sonnet web site at www.sonnettech.com. Remember to reg­ister your product online at http://registration.sonnettech.com to be
informed of future upgrades and product releases.

Getting Started

This section describes the physical aspects of the Aria extreme card.

• Activity indicator - Lights when the Aria extreme is turned on
(Figure 1).

• Link indicator - Flashes when data is transmitted between the
Aria extreme and another wireless LAN card or an Access Point
such as an AirPort Extreme base station (Figure 1).

antenna

end

Activity

indicator

Link

connector

end

• MAC number - Also known as the AirPort ID, this number is used
in a wireless networking administration program to limit access to
a closed network (Figure 2).

MAC:996063-71BD0AD

MAC

number

Figure 1

Figure 2

indicator

Special Instructions for Users with an Internal AirPort
Card-Equipped PowerBook

If your PowerBook already has an internal AirPort card installed, you
do not need to remove the card in order to use the Aria extreme; just
follow the steps below. Otherwise, skip to the next section.

1. Confi rm your PowerBook is running Mac OS X Version 10.2.6

or later, and is using AirPort 3.1 or later; if necessary, update the
software using Software Update in System Preferences.

2. Shut down your computer, and then insert the Aria extreme,

label up, into your PowerBook’s PC card slot; make sure the card
is level. Gently push the card all the way in until it stops. Note:

The Aria extreme will not work unless it is installed in the slot before
you start up your computer.

3. Start up your PowerBook.

4. Click on the AirPort Status icon

in the Finder menu bar; if AirPort
is listed as Off, turn it on. From
the drop down menu, select your
AirPort network, and proceed as
usual; the Aria extreme overrides
the internal AirPort card (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Note: In order to use the internal AirPort card again, you must either

shut down your PowerBook and eject the Aria extreme, or
eject the card and restart your machine. Until you do one of
the preceding, the internal card will remain disabled.

Configure Your PowerBook
Part 1 - Enable AirPort on Your PowerBook

Because the Aria extreme uses Apple AirPort driver software, confi g­uring your system to work with the card is very simple.

1. Confi rm your PowerBook is running Mac OS X Version 10.2.6

or later, and is using AirPort 3.1 or later; if necessary, update the
software using Software Update in System Preferences.

2. Before you install the Aria extreme, set up (or confi gure) your

AirPort Base Station or other wireless hub.

Enable AirPort on Your PowerBook (continued)

5. Launch the AirPort Setup Assistant utility (located in the

Utility folder within the Applications folder). If you are instruct­ed to turn on your AirPort card, click OK (Figure 5).

3. If you will be connecting to a closed network, obtain the

network’s name and password; you’ll need to enter this infor­mation while you confi gure your PowerBook. If access to the
closed network is restricted to specifi c users, give your network
administrator the MAC number from the back of your Aria
extreme card before you continue, so you can be added to the
list of users with access privileges.

4. Insert the Aria extreme, label up, into your PowerBook’s PC

card slot; make sure the card is level. Gently push the card all
the way in until it stops; an icon will appear in the menu bar
(Figure 4).

PC card

icon

Figure 4

Enable AirPort on Your PowerBook (continued)

7. The AirPort Setup Assistant will locate nearby wireless net-

works; choose the network you want to use from the drop­down menu and then click Continue (Figure 7).

Figure 5

6. Select “Set up your computer to join an existing Airport
Network,” and then click Continue (Figure 6).

Figure 6

Enable AirPort on Your PowerBook (continued)

9. The AirPort Setup Assistant will give you the option to
accept the settings you’ve entered or go back; click Continue
(Figure 9).

Figure 7

8. If the network you’ve chosen is protected, you will be request-
ed to enter a password (Figure 8). If this is the case, enter the
password and click Continue.

Figure 8

Figure 9

10. Click Done when the AirPort Setup Assistant is fi nished
(Figure 10).

Figure 10

Configure Your PowerBook
Part 2 - Set Network Settings

1. From the Apple Menu, select System Preferences.

2. Click on the Network icon at the top of the window, and then
select AirPort from the Show: drop-down menu (Figure 11).

Figure 11

Configure Your PowerBook
Part 3 - Enable Internet Access Using Aria extreme

In order to access the Internet through the Aria extreme, you will
need to change settings in the Internet Connect application.

1. Launch the Internet Connect application (located in the

Applications folder).

2. Click on the Confi guration drop-down menu and select
AirPort (Figure 13).

3. Click on the AirPort tab to reveal and adjust settings (Figure 12).

Figure 12

Enable Internet Access Through Aria extreme(continued)

4. Quit the Internet Access application; you should now be able

to access the Internet through the Aria extreme (provided you
are within range of a base station or access point).

5. In the right corner of the menu

bar at the top of the screen, you
will see the AirPort status indica­tor (Figure 15). This icon indicates
signal strength of your selected net­work; click on the icon and choose
items to change settings and open
the Internet Access application.

Figure 15

Configure Your PowerBook
Part 4 - Create a Computer to Computer Network

You can create a network of two or more computers and share fi les,
so long as each is equipped with a 802.11b or 802.11g wireless LAN
card, such as the Aria extreme.

1. From the Apple Menu, select System Preferences.

Figure 13

3. After selecting AirPort, you will see basic information regard-
ing your setup (Figure 14). If it is not checked, click the box
next to “Show AirPort status in menu bar.”

Figure 14

Create a Computer to Computer Network (continued)

3. Close System Preferences.

4. Click on the AirPort status icon

and select “Create Network…”
(Figure 17).

Figure 17

5. Enter the required information,

including the name you choose
for the Computer to Computer
network, and then click OK
(Figure 18). Note that you must
use the same name and channel
settings for the other computer.

2. Click on the Sharing icon in the middle of the window, and
then click the Start button under “File Sharing Off” (Figure 16).

Figure 16

Figure 18

Create a Computer to Computer Network (continued)

6. From the Finder menu, select Go >
Connect to Server (Figure 19).

Figure 19

7. In the Connect to Server window, choose the other computer in
your Computer to Computer network, and then click Connect
(Figure 20); the other computer’s drive(s) will appear on your
desktop.

Figure 20

Technical Specifications

Software Requirements Mac OS - Mac OS X Version 10.2.6 or later, AirPort drivers

Hardware - Compatible Models Mac OS - Macintosh PowerBook G3, PowerBook G4

Aria extreme Card Specifications Electrical Interface - 3.3V, 32-bit CardBus specification

version 3.1 or later
Windows OS - Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, or XP

(Titanium 15")
Windows OS - Notebook and laptop computers with 32-bit

CardBus slot

Dimensions - 4 x 2.2 x 0.2 inches (101 x 54 x 3.3 mm)
Weight - 1.44 ounces (40.82 g)

Radio Specifications

Operating Frequency2.412~2.497 GHz

Operating Channels 802.11b - North America: 11, Japan: 14, Europe (ETSI): 13

Security Hardware 64/128-bit WEP engine, WEP weak key avoid-

Output Power 15 dBm maximum

Data Transmission Rates 802.11b - 11 Mbps maximum. Auto-ranging 1, 2, 5.5, a nd

Coverage Area (typical) 802.11b - Up to 60 M at 11 Mbps, up to 125 M at 1 Mbps

Receiver Sensitivity -80 dBm at 6 Mbps

802.11g - North America, Japan, Europe (ETSI): 13

ance, TKIP, hardware AES engine suppor ting CCM and
OCB, 802.1x, SSN

11 M bps

802.11g - 54 Mbps maximum. Auto-ranging 6, 9, 12, 18,
24, 36, 48, and 54 Mbps

802.11g - Up to 20 M at 54 Mbps, up to 75 M at 18 Mbps

Environmental Specifications

Operating Temperature 0˚–158˚ F (0˚–70˚ C)

Storage Temperature -20˚–194˚ F (- 4˚–90˚ C)

Relative Humidity 5–95%

Wireless Standards Compliance IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g

Limited Warranty

Sonnet Technologies, Inc. warrants that its product(s) shall be free
from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of three
years following the date of original purchase. For complete warranty
information, go to www.sonnettech.com/support/warranty.

Contacting Customer Service

The Sonnet web site located at www.sonnettech.com has the most
current support information and technical updates.

Before you call Sonnet Customer Service, please check our web site
for the latest updates and online support files, and check your user’s
guide for helpful information. When you call Sonnet Customer
Service, have the following information available so our customer
service staff can better assist you:

• Product name

• Date and place of purchase

• Computer type and model

• Operating system and version
If further assistance is needed, please contact us at:

Sonnet Customer Service:
Tel : [phone]

(Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Pacific Time)

Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Online Service Form: http://serviceform.sonnettech.com

©2003 Sonnet Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. Sonnet, the Sonnet logotype, Simply Fast, the Simply Fast logotype, and Aria are
trademarks of Sonnet Technologies, Inc. Macintosh, Mac, PowerBook and AirPort are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered
in the United States and other countries. Other product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Product specifications
subject to change without notice. Printed in the USA. UG-G54-CB-E-120803