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Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG User's Guide

Your Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection adapter works with either

802.11b or 802.11g wireless standard. Operating at 2.4 GHz frequency at speeds of up to 54 Mbps you can now connect your computer to high-capacity existing 802.11b networks using multiple access points within large or small environments, and also to high-speed 802.11g networks. Your wireless adapter maintains automatic data rate control according to access point location to achieve the fastest possible connection. All your wireless client connections can be easily managed by the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless utility. Using the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless Profile Wizard, you can create profiles automatically to suite your specific connection requirements. Enhanced security measures using 802.1x, WPA encryption and authentication, and 128-bit WEP encryption is standard for both 802.11b and 802.11g.

Introduction to Wireless Networking Software Installation Using Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless Connecting to a Network Security Overview Setting up Connection Security Troubleshooting Specifications Glossary Customer Support Safety and Regulatory Notices Warranty Adapter Registration

The copying or reproducing of any material in this document in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Intel Corporation is strictly forbidden. Intel(R) is a

trademark or registered trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Intel disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

Intel Corporation assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this document. Nor does Intel make any commitment to update the information contained herein.

September 2003

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Wireless LAN Overview: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG User's Guide

About Wireless LAN Technology

● Choosing a WLAN

● Configuring a WLAN

● Identifying a WLAN

● Surveying the Site of Your WLAN

● Factors Affecting Range

A wireless network connects computers without using network cables. Computers use radio communications to send data between each other. You can communicate directly with other wireless computers, or connect to an existing network through a wireless access point. When you set up your wireless adapter, you select the operating mode for the kind of wireless network you want. You can use your wireless adapter to connect to other similar wireless devices that comply with the 802.11 standard for wireless networking.

Choosing a Wireless LAN

Wireless LANs can operate with or without access points, depending on the number of users in the network. Infrastructure mode uses access points to allow wireless computers to send and receive information. Wireless computers transmit to the access point, the access point receives the information and rebroadcasts it to other computers. The access point can also connect to a wired network or to the Internet. Multiple access points can work together to provide coverage over a wide area.

Peer-to-Peer mode, also called Ad Hoc mode, works without access points and allows wireless computers to send information directly to other wireless computers. Ad Hoc Mode is only supported in 802.11b and 802.11g networks. You can use Peer-to-Peer mode to network computers in a home or small office or to set up a temporary wireless network for a meeting.

Configuring a Wireless LAN

There are three basic components that must be configured for an 802.11 wireless LAN to operate properly:

● Network Name: Each wireless network uses a unique Network Name to identify

the network. This name is called the Service Set Identifier (SSID). When you set up your wireless adapter, you specify the SSID. If you want to connect to an existing network, you must use the name for that network. If you are setting up your own network you can make up your own name and use it on each computer. The name can be up to 32 characters long and contain letters and numbers.

● Profiles: When you set up your computer to access a wireless network, the

wireless client manager creates a profile for the wireless settings that you specify. If you want to connect to another network, you can scan for existing networks and make a temporary connection, or create a new profile for that network. After you create profiles, your computer will automatically connect when you change

locations.

● Security: The 802.11 wireless networks use encryption to help protect your data.

Wired equivalent privacy (WEP) uses a 64-bit or 128-bit shared encryption key to scramble data. Before a computer transmits data, it scrambles the data using the secret encryption key. The receiving computer uses this same key to unscramble the data. If you are connecting to an existing network, use the encryption key provided by the administrator of the wireless network. If you are setting up your own network you can make up your own key and use it on each computer.

❍ Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a security enhancement that strongly

increases the level of data protection and access control to a WLAN. WPA mode enforces 802.1x authentication and key-exchange to strengthen data encryption. WPA utilizes its Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP). TKIP provides important data encryption enhancements that include a per-packet key mixing function, a message integrity check (MIC) named "Michael", an extended initialization vector (IV) with sequencing rules, and a also re-keying mechanism. Using these improvement enhancements, TKIP protects against WEP's known weaknesses.

❍ Cisco Client Extention (CCX) is a server and client 802.1x authentication

via a user-supplied logon password. When a wireless access point communicates with a Cisco LEAP-enabled RADIUS (Cisco Secure Access Control Server (ACS) server), Cisco LEAP provides access control through mutual authentication between client wireless adapters and the wireless network and provides dynamic, individual user encryption keys to help protect the privacy of transmitted data.

Identifying a Wireless Network

Depending on the size and components of a wireless LAN, there are many ways to identify a wireless LAN:

● The Network Name or Service Set Identifier (SSID): Identifies a wireless

network. All wireless devices on the network must use the same SSID.

● Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID): A special case of SSID used to identify

a wireless network that includes access points.

● Independent Basic Service Set Identifier (IBSSID): A special case of SSID used

to identify a network of wireless computers configured to communicate directly with one another without using an access point.

● Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID): A unique identifier for each wireless device.

The BSSID is the Ethernet MAC address of the device.

● Broadcast SSID: An access point can respond to computers sending probe

packets with the broadcast SSID. If this feature is enabled on the access point, any wireless user can associate with the access point by using a blank (null) SSID.

Surveying the Site of Your Wireless LAN

Conducting a site survey for your wireless LAN is the most crucial step in the process of setting up a wireless network. It greatly reduces the amount of troubleshooting you will

have to do once you have the wireless LAN set up and ready for connection testing. To conduct a site survey, you will need the following tools:

● An access point (or laptop computer) that is set up to be the transmitter. It should

be mounted near and at the same height as the designated location of your wireless LAN.

● A laptop that will act as the mobile receiver. It must contain your site survey

software.

● An area or building map, which will be used to plot the strength of your signals.

Once you have the tools you need, you are ready to survey the inside of the building. Launch the site survey software on the mobile receiver laptop and carry it around in the intended wireless LAN area to test the signal strength. Be sure to also check the signal strength of each intended access point location. If you encounter problems while surveying the site, make sure your transmitter laptop is not located on a wall containing metal, such as an air-conditioning duct, which will interfere with the range of your signal. Simply move the transmitter and test the signal strength again. For users to have seamless coverage when moving from access point to access point, the signal levels at each point must overlap. There is software available that will seamlessly hand off changing signal levels from one access point to another.

Your building's infrastructure can sometimes interfere with the microwave signal, but finding the location and cause of the interference will allow you to figure out the best place to mount your access points for optimal area coverage. Microwave signals travel in all directions, which means there is one access point for a multi-floor building. However, the range is highly dependent on the material used to construct the flooring, especially metal materials. Once your signal strength is strong inside the building, you are ready to check the strength outside the building. To do so, simply carry the mobile receiver laptop as far down the street or around the building as you can go without losing significant signal strength. If possible, you should be aware of the types of networks being used by the companies on the floors above and below you, so that you can work together in harmony. With wireless networks, security is very important and if you communicate with those around you, you are better prepared to select the right channels, as well as the

best location for access points.

Factors Affecting Range

Although access points can transmit signals up to 60 feet away in an area with many walled barriers or as much as 500 feet away in a large open area, the range is affected by the following factors:

● Building materials, such as steel and drywall, can shorten the range of the radio

signals.

● Physical layout of the area can interfere with the signals and cause them to be

dropped.

● Electronic noise from cell phones, microwave ovens, or other devices on the same

frequency can interfere with the transmission of the signals.

● Range is inversely proportional to data rate, so the faster that the signals are sent,

the less distance they will travel.

Taking these factors into consideration when you survey the site for your WLAN is key to providing all of your users with undisturbed mobile connectivity. Using multiple access points will, of course, reduce the impact of these factors if your area has dividing walls throughout.

What is a Site Survey?

A site survey is an in-depth examination and analysis of a proposed wireless LAN site. The purpose of a site survey is to determine the number of access points needed, the types of antennas needed, and the best placement for those access points and antennas. Although the goal of a site survey is simple, the means of arriving at that goal are not. Some of the steps involve taking measurements, but most involve experience, trial and error, and a little guesswork rather than numbers and figures. When to Perform a Site Survey Intel® recommends that you perform a site survey prior to installing a wireless LAN. Site surveys are especially important when:

● You are installing a new site: Evaluate the placement of the access points and

antennas throughout the proposed site.

● You are changing an existing site: When modifying or extending an existing

network structure, re-evaluate the placement of the access points and antennas. If

you need a different level of coverage in some areas, you may need to move, replace, or supplement access points and antennas.

● You are physically changing the site: Remodeling may introduce new sources of

interference, such as motors and metal structures within the coverage area of the access point, even if it does not directly effect the sites where the access points are located.

Elements of an Effective Site Survey

An effective site survey requires four elements. Failure to commit the appropriate time, money, and energy to accomplish a proper site survey in advance may result in greater expenditures of money and time later, when problems arise that require repeated adjustments to the wireless configuration. The three elements of an effective site survey are:

1. Examine the network usage problems solved by the wireless LAN. How many clients need a wireless LAN connection? What areas of the site require wireless LAN connectivity? How many hours each day is wireless LAN connectivity required? Which locations are likely to generate the largest amount of data traffic? Where is future network expansion most likely?

2. Study blueprints of the proposed wireless LAN site. A site blueprint provides a map of the site as well as the location of objects, such as walls, partitions, and anything else that could affect the performance of a wireless LAN. Examining the site blueprint prior to conducting the physical walkthrough helps you identify areas in which wireless equipment is likely to perform well and areas where it is not. Many obstructions are not readily visible and, in some cases, a room originally built for a specific purpose, such as a radiology lab, might have been converted into something completely different, such as a conference room. The blueprint may also show areas proposed for future building expansion. To prepare for the next step of the site survey, mark possible wireless device locations on the blueprint and refer to the marked blueprint during the physical walk-through and inventory.

3. Conduct a physical walk-through and inventory. The primary purpose of the physical walk-through is to document any items or materials near a proposed device location that may interfere with reception or transmission and affect network performance. Document stock and inventory levels, current environmental conditions and any materials that may interfere with the wireless LAN.

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Software Installation: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG User's Guide

Software Installation

Installing Drivers and Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless Software

See the instructions for your operating system:

● Windows 2000

● Windows XP

Installation under Windows* 2000

Preliminary Notes

The installation instructions in this section are based on the following assumptions:

● The wireless adapter hardware has already been installed in the computer in

accordance with the computer manufacturer's instructions.

● The computer has not been powered on since the hardware installation was

completed.

● No other wireless LAN card is installed in this computer.

To install the driver before installing hardware, use Start > Run and browse to the file SetupWLD.exe in the path PROW2200\WIN2K on the Intel CD. After running SetupWLD.exe, shut down the computer and install the hardware. When the computer

restarts, the driver will be automatically installed.

After loading the Windows 2000 operating system, be sure to log in with administrative rights. If you log in to Windows 2000 without administrative rights, you may run into problems during the installation.

During initial adapter installation and configuration, it may take up to two minutes for adapter settings to be confirmed.

Driver Installation

To install driver software in Windows* 2000, follow these steps:

1. Power up the computer in which the wireless adapter hardware has just been installed.

2. Log in with administrative rights when prompted by Windows 2000.

3. Wait for Windows to detect the newly installed hardware and display the Found New Hardware Wizard dialog. If Windows does not detect the new hardware, see

Troubleshooting.

4. Insert the Intel CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. If the Intel(R) PRO Network

Connections menu screen appears, leave it open and click the Found New Hardware Wizard dialog to make that the active window.

5. On the Install Hardware Device Drivers screen verify that Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended) is selected, then click Next.

6. When the Locate Driver Files dialog appears, verify that the item CD-ROM drives is checked and click Next.

7. When the Driver Files Search Results dialog appears, indicating that a driver was found, click Next.

8. On the Network Name screen, click Next to accept the default Network Name (SSID), or enter a specific SSID for your network, then click Next.

9. On the Data Encryption screen, click Next to accept the default encryption setting None, or enter specific encryption settings for your network, then click Next.

10. On the Found New Hardware Wizard screen, click Finish. Proceed to install Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless.

Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless Installation (Required)

Continue with the following steps to install the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless

wireless configuration utility (required):

Some versions of this product do not support the Intel(R) PRO Network

Connections menu screen for installation of utility software. If the Intel(R) PRO Network

Connections menu screen does not appear, or if it does not have a menu item for Wireless LAN Adapters, you can start the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless installer manually using Start > Run and browsing to the file iSetup.exe in the path APPS/PROSET/WINXPT32 on the Intel CD supplied with the product. Skip Steps 11 and 12 below and continue with Step 13.

11. On the Intel(R) PRO Network Connections screen, click Wireless LAN Adapters.

This screen may have been launched in step 4 above. If the screen is not visible when you close the Found New Hardware Wizard dialog, display it by removing and re-inserting the Intel CD, or by running autorun.exe from the CD.

12. On the Intel PRO/Wireless LAN Adapters menu screen, click Install Software.

13. On the Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard for Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless screen, click Next.

14. On the License Agreement screen, after reading the license agreement, select I accept the terms in the license agreement and click Next.

15. On the Setup Type screen, verify that Typical is selected, then click Next. This is the recommended setting for a first-time installation.

16. On the Ready to Install the Program screen click Install.

17. After the software is installed on your computer, click Finish. Click Exit to close the Intel(R) PRO Network Connections screen.

18. To launch Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless, double-click the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless icon in the system tray or follow the path Start > Programs > Intel Network Adapters > Intel(R) PROSet. For additional information on the program, press F1 or click Help while the program is running.

During initial adapter installation and configuration, it may take up to two minutes for

adapter settings to be confirmed.

Uninstalling Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless

After uninstalling Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless using the "add/remove" feature in

Windows, re-boot the computer. Any current connection remains active (the profile is active) until the computer re-boots.

Installation under Window* XP

Preliminary Notes

The installation instructions in this section are based on the following assumptions:

● The wireless adapter hardware has already been installed in the computer in

accordance with the computer manufacturer's instructions.

● The computer has not been powered on since the hardware installation was

completed.

● No other wireless LAN card is installed in this computer.

To install the driver before installing hardware, use Start > Run and browse to the file SetupWLD.exe in the path PROW2200\WINXP on the Intel CD. After running SetupWLD.exe, shut down the computer and install the hardware. When the computer restarts, the driver will be automatically installed.

Before proceeding, make sure that you are operating Windows XP with administrative rights. If you log in to Windows XP without administrative rights, you may run into problems during the installation.

The Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless utility or the Windows XP wireless configuration feature can be used to configure wireless network settings. The instructions below include steps for installing the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless utility and for turning off the Windows XP configuration feature. If you do not turn off the Windows XP feature, you will not be able to use Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless to configure wireless network settings. For information on how to use the Windows XP feature, see your Windows XP documentation.

Driver Installation

To install drivers under Windows* XP, follow these steps:

1. Power up the computer in which the wireless adapter hardware has just been installed.

2. Log in with administrative rights if prompted by Windows XP.

3. Wait for Windows to detect the newly installed hardware and display the Found

New Hardware Wizard dialog. Verify that Install the software automatically (Recommended) is selected. If Windows does not detect the new hardware, see

Troubleshooting.

4. Insert the Intel CD into your CD drive. The New Hardware Found Wizard searches for the correct driver files and copies them to your hard drive.

5. On the Network Name screen, click Next to accept the default Network Name (SSID), or enter a specific SSID for your network, then click Next.

6. On the Data Encryption screen, click Next to accept the default encryption setting None, or enter specific encryption settings for your network, then click Next.

7. On the Found New Hardware Wizard screen, click Finish. Proceed to disable the Windows XP wireless configuration feature.

Disable Windows XP Wireless Configuration (Required)

To disable the Windows XP wireless configuration feature so that you can use Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless for wireless configuration, continue as follows:

Instructions are written for use with the Windows XP Start Menu and Control Panel

Category View, not with "Classic" Start Menu or Control Panel views.

8. Click Start and Control Panel.

9. On the Pick a category screen, click Network and Internet Connections, then under the heading or pick a Control Panel icon click Network Connections.

10. In the Network Connections window, right-click your Wireless Network Connection and select Properties.

11. Select the Wireless Networks tab.

12. Click to clear ("deselect") the check box Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings, then click OK on the Wireless Network tab. Do not click any other tabs. Continue with the installation of Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless.

Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless Installation (Required)

Continue with the following steps to install the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless wireless configuration utility (required):

Some versions of this product do not support the Intel(R) PRO Network Connections menu screen for installation of utility software. If the Intel(R) PRO Network Connections menu screen does not appear, or if it does not have a menu item for Wireless LAN Adapters, you can start the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless installer manually using Start > Run and browsing to the file iSetup.exe in the path APPS/PROSET/WINXP32 on the Intel CD supplied with the product. Skip Steps 13 and 14 below and continue with Step 15.

13. Display the Intel(R) PRO Network Connections screen by removing and reinserting the Intel CD, or by running autorun.exe from the CD. Click Wireless LAN Adapters.

14. On the Intel PRO/Wireless LAN Adapters menu screen, click Install Software.

15. On the Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard for Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless screen, click Next.

16. On the License Agreement screen, after reading the license agreement, select I accept the terms in the license agreement and click Next.

17. On the Setup Type screen, select Typical and then click Next. This is the recommended setting for a first-time installation.

18. On the Ready to Install the Program screen click Install.

19. After the software is installed on your computer, click Finish. Click Exit to close the Intel(R) PRO Network Connections screen.

20. To launch Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless, double-click the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless icon in the system tray or follow the path Start > Programs > Intel Network Adapters > Intel(R) PROSet. For additional information on the program, press F1 or click Help while the program is running.

Uninstalling Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless

After uninstalling Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless using the "add/remove" feature in Windows, re-boot the computer. Any current connection remains active (the profile is active) until the computer re-boots.

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Troubleshooting: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG User's Guide

Troubleshooting

● LAN Utility Conflict Message

● Using a Profile with an incorrect WEP Encryption Key

● Problems with installation

● Users are dropped from the wireless network

● Range decreases as data rate increases

● Signal doesn't pass through a short or thin wall

● Signal strength drops when a cell phone is used in area

● Range is shorter than it should be

● Interference from fluorescent lights

● When too much range is undesirable

● Help Prevent access to wireless networks from outside the building

● Problems with network connectivity

● Checking Adapter Statistics

● Before calling Customer Support

LAN Utility Conflict Message

Message dialog "Another wireless LAN utility is communicating with the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN adapter. To avoid conflicts, Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless has temporarily disabled its Profile Management features" is displayed. Refer to Enabling

Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless to manage Your Wireless Connections for information.

Using a Profile with an incorrect WEP Encryption Key

When connected to an access point using a profile with an incorrect WEP key encryption, the task tray icon and the General page will both indicate good signal strength and that you are associated with the AP. However, when you attempt to send data to the AP using this profile, because of the incorrect WEP key encryption, authentication cannot be

established to acquire an IP address from the AP to allow data transfer.

Refer to the following WEP encryption and authentication settings.

Open Authentication with an incorrect WEP 64 or 128-bit encryption key:

● A profile with an incorrect WEP encryption key will allow the wireless adapter to

associate with the access point.

● No data transfer

Open Authentication with no WEP encryption:

● Allows association to an access point

● Data transfer is allowed

Shared Authentication:

● Associated to an AP always allows data transfer.

Problems with installation

Windows does not detect the wireless adapter:

1. Remove and re-install the adapter.

2. Uninstall and reinstall the adapter's drivers.

Users are dropped from the wireless network

Suggested causes and solutions:

● Find out if a person or workgroup moved or if the building has been rearranged.

● If two or more users are seated too close to each other, performance can suffer.

Instruct your users to space themselves a small distance apart to keep receivers from being overloaded.

● Delivery trucks with very large metal sides can affect performance by reflecting

destructive signals back into a building. If you have an installation that includes a shipping dock, check to see if the problem coincides with the arrival of large trucks.

● Personal “systems” can also interfere with your network. Wireless speakers,

cordless earphones, some Bluetooth devices, and similar systems can be the source of an infrequent but hard to find the problem. Some systems do not conform to wireless regulations. Shut off suspect devices or remove them from the area.

● If possible, remove and reinstall your new software. Conflicts with other resident

software packages are always a possibility, and they are not always the fault of the newest addition. Sometimes just starting over fixes the problem.

● Swap units around. Does your problem follow the changed units, or is it unique to a

specific location? If it follows the product, the swapped unit could be damaged, or improperly configured. If the problem stays with the location, try to find out what is different about that particular room or area.

Range decreases as data rate increases

This is a normal condition. Range is inversely proportional to data rate: the faster the data, the shorter the range. This has to do with the modulation technology used. Very fast data rates require extremely complex signal waveforms, where even minor distortions can result in data errors. Slower data rates are much more tolerant, and consequently will get through even in the presence of some amount of noise, interference, distortion and echo.

Signal doesn't pass through a short or thin wall

Range is highly dependent on the physical environment. In a line-of-sight location, with elevated and calibrated antennas, range predictions are quite accurate. This is not true in a “typical” office building, where the walls may be simple drywall (which is almost transparent to microwaves), or could be plaster with metal underneath. Most sites are somewhere between these two extremes, and consist of a mixture of surfaces. You can’t tell what is inside a wall by just looking at it, and we can’t tell you exactly what distance you will achieve. Consider published range information to be typical, average, common or usual. Do not expect it to be exact.

Signal strength drops when a cell phone is used in the area

Range also depends on the electronic environment. If other equipment that could cause interference is nearby, the range of your transceiver could vary widely, and could change suddenly when the other equipment activates. This is particularly true for 802.11b installations, which share their frequencies with microwave ovens, cordless phones, wireless hi-fi speakers, electronics toys and similar devices. Try to keep your system away from other transmitters, and from other sources of electrical noise, such as large

motors, spot welders, and similar “electronically noisy” devices.

Range is shorter than it should be

Repeat some tests late in the evening, or on a weekend, when there may be less interference. However, some users leave their networks turned all the time so this test is not foolproof. By all means, try more than one channel. Your range problem may just be a nearby user whose system uses your present test channel.

Interference from fluorescent lights

If you mount an access point close to fluorescent light fixtures, the lamp glow appears constant, but inside the lamp tube, ionization appears and disappears 120 times a second. This can modulate or “chop” an incoming signal and interfere with reception.

When too much range is undesirable

Too much range is not necessarily a good thing. At first it would appear that you would want as much range as possible, but with the increase in range comes an increase in interference potential, as your unit hears not only your other units but also manages to hear the systems of other companies up and down the street. If you have a large installation, you will also wind up with more than one access point using the same channel. If a remote unit hears two or more access points, this will slow the network.

Help Prevent access to wireless networks from outside the building

Excess transmit range presents a special reverse problem. For example, putting an access point adjacent to a second floor bay window invites anyone with the right software on the street below to pick up and enjoy all network transmissions. We discuss some possible solutions to this problem further on.

Problems with Network Connectivity

If you cannot connect to the wireless network, try the following:

Check Network Settings

1. From the General page, check that the Network Name (SSID) and operating mode are correct. If the laptop is configured for ad hoc networking, make sure that the

channel is correct.

2. To correct these settings, click the Networks tab.

3. Select the profile being used.

4. Click the Edit button and make the changes.

Check Security Settings

1. From the General page, check that the security settings are correct.

2. To correct the security settings, click the Networks tab.

3. Select the profile being used.

4. Click the Edit button.

5. Click the Security tab. Make sure that the settings for WEP encryption are correct.

Checking Adapter Statistics

Adapter Statistics

If the adapter is communicating with an access point (infrastructure mode) or other computers in peer-to-peer mode, click the Statistics button in the Troubleshooting tab to display the current information about how well the adapter is transmitting and receiving information.

Before calling Customer Support

Make a note of the following answers before calling customer support:

● From the General tab, view the adapter's connection details. Check that it is

associated with an access point, and the quality and strength of the signal.

● From the General page, click the Details button and check what revision of

software and hardware or other LAN software are you running?

● How many remote units do you have talking to each access point?

● What channels are you using, and how are they dispersed?

● How much coverage overlap is there between access points?

● How high above the floor are the access points mounted?

● What other electronic equipment is operating in the same band?

● What construction materials are used in wall and floors?

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Connecting to a Network: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG User's Guide

Connecting to a Network using Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless

● Enabling Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless to manage Your Wireless Connections

● How to access Advanced Settings

● System Wide Advanced Settings

● Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless Configuration Service

● Scanning for Available Networks

● Connecting to a Network Using an Access Point

● Connecting to a Peer-to-Peer (Ad Hoc) Network

● Switching the Radio Off and On

● Disable the Radio from Windows

● Viewing Adapter Advanced Settings in Windows

Enabling Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless to manage Your Wireless Connections

If you are using Windows XP as your wireless manager the following described how to enable Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless as your wireless manager.

1. From the desktop, Click the Start button > Control Panel. Double-click Network Connections, right-click Wireless Network Connection, then click Properties.

2. In Wireless Network Connection Properties, Click the Wireless Network tab.

3. Verify that the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings checkbox is clear (unchecked).

4. Double-click the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless icon in the desktop task tray.

5. If you have previously setup your profiles, click the Networks tab. The profile list

should display available networks to connect to. If no profiles have been established, refer to Creating a New Profile for more information.

How to access Advanced Settings

Use the Advanced Setting to configure your network connection preferences, and profile management option.

To access the Advanced Settings:

1. From the General page, click the Networks tab.

2. Click the Advanced button.

Advanced Settings:

● Auto-connection

● Connection preference

● Infrastructure wireless mode selection

● Profile management

● 11b/11g mixed environment protection protocol

● Advanced Security

● Import/Export Button

Refer to

System Wide Settings for more about profile management options in Advanced

Settings.

System Wide Advanced Settings

Profile Management Options

The following Profile Management options can be found in Advanced Settings.

Display available networks when not associated: When cleared, disables the Intel(R)

PROSet for Wireless wireless manager dialog listing the available networks. When checked, the Intel Configuration Service running in the background automatically

displays available networks not listed in the Profile List. This method provides automatic connection to available networks in the range of your wireless adapter. The Configuration Service constantly monitors your wireless adapter's connection status. If no matching profiles are found in the Profile List for a network, a dialog automatically displays the available network access points and computers (ad hoc mode) within range of the wireless adapter. The Configuration Service can also be used if there is more than one wireless adapter installed using 802.11b bands. When the Intel Configuration Service dialog is displayed, listing the available networks, checking "Don’t show this again" option, will prevent the dialog from displaying again if the adapter becomes unassociated. The Configuration Service will continue to function and attempt to connect, using a profile from the Profile List, or to an available network depending on the selection mode. This means that if Connect Using Preferred Profiles Only is selected and no matching profile is found, then the adapter will remain unassociated. You can still use the Connect button from the Networks tab to connect to an available network.

Notify when disabling profile management features:

Check: If Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless is currently managing your wireless adapter a

message dialog displays "Windows XP is managing your profiles" if Windows XP Zero Configuration becomes enabled.

● Select yes, Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless will manage the wireless adapter.

● Select No, Windows XP will manage the wireless adapter.

If any other wireless manager (not Windows XP wireless manager) becomes enabled the message dialog displays "Another wireless LAN utility is communicating with the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN adapter. To avoid conflicts, Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless has temporarily disabled its Profile Management features."

Clear: If Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless is currently managing your wireless adapter you will not be notified in the event that Windows XP Zero Configuration or any other wireless manager becomes enabled.

In the event that Windows XP Zero Configuration is enabled, and this box is cleared, or you answer no to the above question, the Connect button on the Profile page cannot be used to connect to any available networks. The Scan button can be used to scan for available networks. However, the Connect button is non-functioning when used to connect to an available network.

● Ad hoc mode is disabled. The Connect button in the ad hoc connect dialog is non-

functioning.

● Task tray icon menu: Launching an ad hoc profile and applying a profile from the

task tray menu is not available.

Notify when Windows XP Zero Configuration is enabled:

Check: If the box is checked, when Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless starts up, a message

dialog displays "Windows XP is managing your profiles" if Windows XP Zero Configuration is enabled, indicating that Windows XP is currently configured to manage the wireless adapter. Do you wish to disable Windows XP management and let Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless manage your wireless network?

● Select Yes - Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless will manage the wireless adapter.

● Select No - Windows XP will manage the wireless adapter.

Clear: If the box is cleared, when Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless starts up, you will not be notified in the event that Windows XP Zero Configuration wireless manager is enabled.

Enable Profile Management Features: If the box is checked, it indicates that Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless is configured to manage your wireless adapter. If cleared, Windows XP is the wireless network manager.

Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless Configuration Service

The Configuration Service feature operates in background to automatically display available networks not listed in the Profile List. This method provides automatic connection in a 2.4 environment to available networks in the range of your wireless adapter. The Configuration Service constantly monitors your wireless adapter's connection status. If no matching profiles are found in the Profile List for a network, a

dialog automatically displays the available network access points and computers (ad hoc mode) within range of the wireless adapter. The Configuration Service can also be used if there is more than one wireless adapter installed using 802.11b band.

The Configuration Service features:

● The Configuration Service is launched when you log on to your computer.

● No active profile switching will be performed. Once the adapter is associated with

the access point, if a higher priority profile becomes available, no switching will occur.

● The Configuration Service is only available if Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless is

installed.

● If a connection to an access point cannot be made using any of the profiles in the

Profile List, a dialog will display the available networks.

● If there are multiple profiles listed for an available network, a dialog box will list the

profiles for you to choose from.

● If an available network is detected with WEP encryption and authentication, a

dialog for setting up WEP encryption displays before the connection is made.

The Configuration Service can be used in two ways:

1. Connect to available network using profiles only: In this mode the Configuration Service attempts to connect to a network access point using profiles from the Profile List only. If no matching profile is found, a dialog appears that lists the available networks. You can also close this dialog without connecting by clicking the Cancel button. The adapter will remain unassociated, and the list of available networks will NOT be displayed again unless another available network is detected. This mode is set in the Advanced Setting options.

2. Connect to any available network if no matching profile found: In this mode the Configuration Service attempts to connect to a network access point first using profiles from the Profile List. If no matching profile is found, the Configuration Service automatically connects to any available network. This mode is set in the Advanced Setting options.

Enabling Automatic Connection

The Configuration Service also monitors for the "resume status" after a laptop computer suspend event. When this occurs, the Configuration Service will re-enable the automatic connection service.

These features can be enabled again after rebooting your computer or after a suspend and resume cycle.

Features affected when another profile management application is detected

For AAA Client:

Select OK, and the AAA Client application will manage the adapter. The current

connection will continue with the affected Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless features show below. To avoid conflicts, the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless profile management features have been temporarily disabled. To re-enable these features, first disable the other LAN utility and then either:

1. Re-enable from Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless Advanced Settings.

2. Resume after a computer suspend.

3. Reboot the computer.

NOTE: AAA Client Wireless Manager - If Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless detects another wireless AAA client manager, a notification dialog displays, if you choose "OK" on this dialog, the Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless profile management features are automatically disabled. The Advanced Setting "Notify when disabling profile management features" check box must be checked in order to display the notification dialog if Windows XP Zero Configuration in not enabled. The default setting is enabled (checked).

For Windows XP Zero Configuration:

● Select Yes, to disable Windows XP Zero Configuration. Intel(R) PROSet for

Wireless will continue to manage the adapter.

● Select No, Windows XP will manage the adapter. The current connection will

continue with the affected Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless features show below. You can also prevent the dialog from being displayed again, in which case Windows XP Zero Configuration will automatically manage the wireless adapter. The notification dialog can be re-enabled from the Advanced Settings options.

Affected Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless features:

● The Connect button on the Profile page is non-functioning.

● The Scan button can be used to scan for available networks, however, the Connect

button is non-functioning when used to connect to an available network.

● Ad hoc mode is disabled. The Connect button in the ad hoc connect dialog is non-

functioning.

● Task tray icon menu: Launching an ad hoc profile and applying a profile from the

task tray menu is not available.

NOTE: If the buttons described above are used, the following message displays: "Another wireless LAN utility is communicating with the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN adapter. To avoid conflicts, Intel(R) PROSet for Wireless has temporarily disabled its Profile Management features."

Scanning for Available Networks

A fast way to connect to a network is to use the Scan button to search for a network access point in range of your wireless adapter. When a network is found, you can instantly

To scan for available networks:

1. From the General page, select the wireless adapter on the left side pane.

2. Select the Networks tab.

3. Click the Scan button.

4. The Available Networks dialog displays the names of the available networks. Click

5. Select the network from the list, and click the Connect button.

connect without a profile or create a new profile.

NOTE: Profiles with the Enable Auto-Import feature enabled will also be displayed in the profile list of available networks. Refer to

Distribution for more information.

the Refresh button to refresh the list of available networks.

Automatic Profile

6. Select the network profile name with <no profile> shown, and click the Connect button.

7. Click the No, connect me directly without creating a profile option. Note, you can click Yes, create a profile for this network now to create a profile to be used later.

NOTE: If the selected network has 802.1x authentication, you must first create a profile using the Profile Wizard. However, if the network has no WEP security (Open), WEP 64 or 128-bit encryption, or WPA-PSK, you can enter the required security settings in the dialog that displays after clicking the Connect button. Then a one time connection without a profile can be made.

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