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