Sony PCWA-C300S User Manual

4-674-967-11(1)
Operating Instructions
© 2003 Sony Corporation
Mode d’emploi
Wireless LAN PC Card
(IEEE 802.11g: 2.4 GHz/54 Mbps)
PCWA-C300S
expose the unit to rain or moisture.
– Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV
technician for help.
Owners Record
The model and serial numbers are located on the back of the unit. Record the serial number in the space provided below. Refer to them whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product.
Model No. PCWA-C300S Serial No.______________
CAUTION
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your warranty.
FCC ID: AK8PCWAC300S Exposure to Radio Frequency Radiation. The radiated output power of the Wireless LAN
PC Card is far below the FCC radio frequency exposure limits.
Nevertheless, the Wireless LAN PC Card shall be used in such a manner that the potential for human contact during normal operation is minimized.
Note
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 or communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to 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 or more 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.
Declaration of Conformity
Trade Name: Sony Model No: PCWA-C300S Responsible Party: Sony Electronics Inc. Address: 680 Kinderkamack Road,
Oradell, NJ 07649 USA Telephone: 201-930-6972 This phone number is for FCC-related matters
only. This device complies with part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This equipment may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this equipment must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.
Safety Information WARNING
• Opening the product, for whatever reason, could lead to damages that are not covered by the warranty.
• Do not use this product on hospital premises. Doing so may cause medical devices to malfunction.
• If using the product near a pacemaker, make sure it is at least 9 inches (22 cm) away from the pacemaker.
• Do not use this product in an aircraft, as doing so could cause the aircraft's equipment to malfunction. Make sure you remove the equipment from the PC card slot before carrying your computer onto an aircraft.
• Do not apply unnecessary physical strain on the product when it is inserted in your computer as this could damage the product and/or your computer.
• This product is made for use in the USA and Canada only.
2
FCC RF Exposure
Install and connect this product by following descriptions in its Operating Instructions before using it.
This equipment generates and radiates radio frequency energy.
SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) for this device was measured in accordance with FCC OET Bulletin 65. Supplement C and guidelines established in IEEE C95.1-1991.
In order to comply with FCC RF exposure limits please maintain at least 4 mm (0.16 in.) spacing between the user and the antenna of this device while it is in use.
This product can only be used with desktop computers and laptop (notebook) computers with side mounted PCMCIA slots.
This device cannot be used with other types of host devices, such as PDAs.
Users are not permitted to make changes or modify the system in any way.
For customers in Canada
• This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
• Operation is subject to the following two conditions; (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
• To prevent radio interference to the licensed service, this device is intended to be operated indoors and away from windows to provide maximum shielding. Equipment (or its transmit antenna) that is installed outdoors is subject to licensing.
• The term “IC” before the equipment certification number only signifies that Industry Canada technical specifications were met.
Pour les utilisateurs au Canada
• Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
• L’utilisation de ce dispositif est autorisée seulement aux conditions suivantes : (1) il ne doit pas produire de brouillage et (2) l'utilisateur du dispositif doit être prêt à accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique reçu, même si ce brouillage est susceptible de compromettre le fonctionnement du dispositif.
• Pour empêcher que cet appareil cause du brouillage au service faisant l'objet d'une licence, il doit être utilisé à l’intérieur et devrait être placé loin des fenêtres afin de fournir un écran de blindage maximal. Si le matériel (ou son antenne d’émission) est installé à l’extérieur, il doit faire l'objet d'une licence.
• Le terme “IC” avant le muméro d’homologation ne signifie seulement que les normes d’Industrie du Canada ont été respectées.
About the supplied software
THE SUPPLIED SOFTWARE IS SUPPLIED PURSUANT TO THE APPLICABLE END­USER LICENSE AGREEMENT.
• Copyright laws prohibit reproducing the software or the software manual in whole or in part, or renting the software without the permission of the copyright holder.
• In no event will SONY be liable for any financial damage or loss of profits, including claims made by third parties, arising out of the use of the software supplied with this product.
• In the event a problem occurs with this software as a result of defective manufacturing, SONY will replace it at SONY’s option or issue a refund; however, SONY bears no other responsibility.
• The software provided with this product cannot be used with equipment other than that which is designated for use with.
• Please note that, due to continued efforts to improve quality, the software specifications may be changed without notice.
Program © 2001, 2002, 2003 Sony Corporation, © 2000-2003 Atheros Communications, Inc., All Rights Reserved
Documentation © 2003 Sony Corporation
Sony, VAIO, , , and the Eco Info logo are trademarks of Sony
Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks
of Microsoft Corporation in the United States of America and/or other countries.
MMX and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation.
All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners.
3

Table of contents

Overview ................................................ 5
Capabilities..................................... 5
System requirements ...................... 8
Documentation and Help file................ 10
Getting started
Unpacking............................................. 12
Supplied software......................... 12
Installing the supplied software............ 13
Making Access Point Connection
Settings ............................................ 20
Windows Me or Windows 2000
operating system ....................... 20
Windows XP operating system .... 24
Removing the Wireless LAN PC Card and
Precautions When Inserting it.......... 28
To remove the Wireless LAN PC
Card .......................................... 28
If your computer has two PC Card
slots........................................... 28
Wireless LAN connection
Checking the communication status ..... 29
Checking the wireless signal
strength ..................................... 29
Checking network information .... 29
Using the Wireless Panel...................... 30
Opening the Wireless Panel ......... 30
Additional information
Manually installing, verifying, and
removing the supplied software....... 31
Installing the Wireless LAN PC Card
driver manually......................... 31
Installing the Wireless Panel
manually ................................... 39
Connecting to the Access Point with
Wireless Panel (Windows Me/
2000 operating system)............. 41
Verifying Wireless LAN PC Card
driver installation ...................... 42
Uninstalling the Wireless LAN PC
Card driver ................................ 50
Uninstalling the Wireless Panel ... 53
Precautions ........................................... 56
Specifications ....................................... 57
Getting help .......................................... 57
Glossary ................................................ 58
Troubleshooting.................................... 60
• In this manual, Microsoft® Windows® Millennium Edition is referred to as Windows Me.
• In this manual, Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional is referred to as Windows 2000.
• In this manual, Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional and Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition are referred to as Windows XP.
Notes
• The user interface of the Sony supplied software may differ slightly from that shown in this manual.
• This manual is written based on the assumption that you are familiar with basic operations of the Windows operating system. For computer operations, refer to manuals that come with your computer.
4

Overview

Capabilities

The Wireless LAN PC Card (IEEE 802.11g: 2.4 GHz/54 Mbps) PCWA-C300S is a PC Card type wireless network card. With this card, you can build a wireless LAN, allowing multiple computers to communicate and exchange data without needing any physical connection. The supplied Wireless Panel software lets you easily configure the card for multiple networks. For example, you can store different settings required for networking at the office and at home, or quickly switch between Access Point (Infrastructure) Network connection mode and Peer to Peer (Ad-Hoc) Network connection mode. This greatly facilitates use of the card in various environments and for a range of applications.
z Hints
The network mode can easily be switched using the supplied Wireless Panel software.
To use the card in Access Point Network connection mode, an IEEE 802.11g or IEEE
802.11b compliant Wireless LAN Access Point* (available separately) is necessary.
With the Windows Me or Windows 2000 operating system:
Access Point (Infrastructure) Network connection mode
Peer to Peer (Ad-Hoc) Network connection mode
*
If using the separately available Wireless LAN Access Point PCWA-A320, also refer to the documentation supplied with the unit.
5
With the Windows XP operating system:
Available Wireless Networks
Windows XP Service Pack 1:
Available Wireless Networks
6
Accessing the Internet from various points within your home (Access Point Network connection mode)
With a separately available Access Point you can easily build a wireless network. By connecting a DSL modem, cable modem, or ISDN router to the Access Point, you can access the Internet from the living room, bedroom, or any other convenient location in the house. Equipping multiple computers with a Wireless LAN PC Card also allows you to exchange files between the computers via the Access Point.
ADSL modem etc.
z Hint
The illustration above gives an example of a system configuration using the Access Point Network connection mode. Two computers equipped with Wireless LAN PC Cards establish communications with the Wireless Broadband Router PCWA-AR300. The Wireless Broadband Router is connected to the ADSL modem, therefore it is possible to access the Internet through this wireless connection.
7
Direct communication between computers (Peer to Peer Network connection mode)
The Peer to Peer Network connection mode enables computers equipped with Wireless LAN PC Cards to communicate directly. This allows file sharing in locations where the Wireless LAN Access Point is not present.

System requirements

To use the supplied software, the following system requirements must be met:
Windows
128 MB RAM or more Card Bus compliant PC Card slot CD-ROM drive (for software installation)
Operating system:
MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft
Display:
High color (16-bit color) or higher, 800 × 480 pixels or higher
®
-compatible PC:
®
Windows® Millennium Edition
®
Windows® 2000 Professional
®
Windows® XP Home Edition
®
Windows® XP Professional
8
Notes
Correct operation is not assured for all computers, even if satisfying the above system requirements.
Correct operation in an OS upgrade environment is not assured, except for factory provided Windows XP operating system upgrade packages for Sony VAIO® series computers.
For Internet access via the wireless LAN, an IEEE 802.11g or IEEE 802.11b compliant Wireless LAN Access Point (available separately) is necessary.
An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is required for Internet access.
Precaution when using the PCWA-C300S
Because of the particular shape of the PCWA-C300S, it may not be possible to insert it into all computers.
1 The PCWA-C300S has an antenna
protruding up 0.4 in. (9 mm). If obstructions 0.6 in. (15 mm) in length or more come in contact with it when you insert the PCWA-C300S into the PC card slot, you cannot fully insert the wireless LAN PC card into the slot.
2 If the PC card slot of your computer is
more than 3.3 in. (85 mm) in length, you cannot fully insert the PCWA-C300S into the slot.
For details, visit
http://www.sony.com/wirelesslansupport
The antenna is obstructed. The PCWA-C300S cannot be inserted.
Computer
Wireless LAN PC Card PCWA-C300S
The PC card slot is longer than
3.3 in. (85 mm). The PCWA-C300S cannot be inserted.
Computer
Wireless LAN PC Card PCWA-C300S
9

Documentation and Help file

This product comes with the following documentation and help files.
Operating Instructions (this document)
Explains how to install the Wireless LAN PC Card and how to configure all settings of the card.
Quick Start Guide
This document explains how to install software required to use the Wireless LAN PC Card (IEEE 802.11g: 2.4 GHz/54 Mbps) PCWA-C300S. The document also contains answers to frequently asked questions and common problems.
Wireless Panel Online Help
This is the Online Help of the supplied Wireless Panel software. Refer to it for instructions on how to use the software. Access the Wireless Panel Online Help as follows.
Access from the Easy Installation Wizard 1 On the main menu of the Easy Installation Wizard, click
Documents”.
10
2 On the screen that opens, click Wireless Panel Online Help.
Access from Wireless Panel 1 Install the Wireless Panel software, following the instructions in this
manual.
2 Start the Wireless Panel. 3 Right-click the Wireless Panel icon on your Windows operating
system taskbar and click Help on the shortcut menu.
z Hint
You can also access Help by clicking on the Wireless Panel title bar.
11

Unpacking

Your Wireless LAN PC Card comes with the following items:
Wireless LAN PC Card

Supplied software

The supplied CD-ROM contains the following software.
Wireless LAN PC Card driver
This device driver is necessary to the operation of the Wireless LAN PC Card.
Wireless Panel
Wireless Panel is a utility software that lets you configure the computer for the wireless LAN and monitor the communication status. The software is also used to switch between networks.
Normally, the Wireless Panel appears as an icon on your Windows operating system taskbar, which shows the communication status.
CD-ROM (Setup disc)
Quick Start Guide
Operating Instructions
Warranty card
12
When using the card for the first time, see page 13 for information on how to install the Wireless LAN PC Card driver and the Wireless Panel.

Installing the supplied software

This section explains how to use the supplied CD-ROM to install the Wireless LAN PC Card device driver and Wireless Panel. You must insert the Wireless LAN PC Card into your computer before installing the device driver and Wireless Panel.
The installation procedures are performed with an easy-to-use wizard. Before you start, verify the following.
The wizard located on the CD-ROM supplied with the Wireless LAN PC
Card. Make sure that your CD-ROM drive is ready for use.
When using the Wireless LAN PC Card in Access Point Network
Connection mode, you must install the Access Point and make the necessary settings before proceeding. For details about these procedures, refer to your Access Point users guide.
Notes
To install the supplied software on a computer running the Windows 2000 operating system, log on with a user account listed in “Administrators”. To install the supplied software on a computer running the Windows XP operating system, log on with a user account with administrator access privileges. You cannot install the software or modify settings when logged on with any other account.
To change any of the Wireless Panel settings on a computer running the Windows 2000 operating system, log on with a user account listed in “Administrators”. You cannot modify settings when logged on with any other account.
Exit all other Windows operating system programs.
Getting started
13
Important
Computer Firewall Functions
When using the Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall function
Enabling the Windows XP Internet Connection Firewallfunction may prevent you from being able to access your computer through wireless communication. (This function is inactive under the Windows XP operating system default settings.) Because of this function, you may not be able to connect to your network when you change your Access Point settings. If this happens, deactivate the “Internet Connection Firewall function, connect to the network, and then reactivate the function. For details, refer to Windows XP Help.
Note
Network security is an important issue. You are urged to consider carefully how best to protect your computer.
When using a personal firewall function provided by virus scanning or network security software
Virus scanning and network security software sometimes includes a function called a personal firewall that is designed to prevent illegal access by outside entities. Depending on the software, the security level of this function may be initially set to a high level. If this high security level setting is left in effect, it may be impossible for an outside entity to access your computer. This can cause problems such as not being able to connect to the network when changing the Access Points settings. In this event, lower the security level in order to permit the network connection. For details, refer to the manuals provided with your software.
Notes
Pay special attention to security issues.
For questions regarding firewall functions, please contact your firewall software manufacturer.
14
1 When using the Wireless LAN PC Card in Access Point
Network Connection mode, turn on the Access Point.
2 Insert the supplied CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive of your
computer.
The Easy Installation Wizard starts automatically.
z Hint
If the Easy Installation Wizard does not appear when you insert the supplied CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive, double-click “Setup.exe” ( ) on the CD-ROM. Depending on the settings of your computer, the file name may be Setup.
Getting started
3 When the following message appears, click “OK”.
4 Click the button that corresponds to your type of CD-ROM
drive.
15
If you are using an external CD-ROM drive, follow the instructions on the screen and copy the contents of the CD-ROM to your hard disk. When the copy is complete, click Main Menu”.
The Main Menu of the Easy Installation Wizard appears.
5 Click “Install Driver”.
The following screen appears.
16
Insert the Wireless LAN PC Card and follow the instructions on the screen to install the device driver.
6 Insert the Wireless LAN PC Card in the PC card slot.
You do not need to turn off your computer when you insert the Wireless LAN PC Card.
Insert in arrow direction
To PC Card slot
Notes
If your computer has two PC Card slots, insert the Wireless LAN PC Card into the top slot. If inserted into the bottom slot, the antenna of the Wireless LAN PC Card will block the top slot. See section If your computer has two PC Card slots on page 28.
Depending on the depth and configuration of PC card slots on your computer, you may not be able to insert the Wireless LAN PC Card.
Push the Wireless LAN PC Card into the slot until it is firmly seated. If the card does not fit easily, do not force it in. Take the card out and try reinserting it.
When you insert the Wireless LAN PC Card, the device driver installed automatically. When installation is complete, proceed to step 7.
Getting started
17
7 When installation is complete, the following screen appears.
Click “Continue”.
8 Click “Install Software Utility”.
18
The utility installation starts.
9 Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the
installation.
This completes the installation of the software.
Getting started
Once Wireless Panel is installed, system taskbar.
appears on your Windows operating
What to do next
Make Access Point connection settings. When using the Windows Me or Windows 2000 operating system, proceed
to page 20. When using the Windows XP operating system, proceed to page 24.
z Hint
When using the Windows XP operating system, click “Main Menu” as necessary to return to the first screen of the wizard, or click to close the Easy Installation Wizard.
19

Making Access Point Connection Settings

After installing the necessary software, you must make the necessary settings to establish a connection with the Access Point.
If you want to establish a connection in Peer to Peer Network connection mode, refer to the Wireless Panel Help for details about the necessary settings.

Windows Me or Windows 2000 operating system

1 Click “Connect to Access Point”.
20
The following screen appears.
2 Make the appropriate settings.
1
2
1Network Name (SSID)
This is a unique ID used to identify wireless networks. The setting can be made individually for Access Point Network connection mode and Peer to Peer Network connection mode. When connecting to an existing network, consult your network administrator regarding the proper settings. When changing an existing Network Name, you can use up to 32 alphanumeric characters (including symbols).
z Hints
Opening the Network Name drop-down list will show the Network Names of any Access Points within range. You can then select a Network Name from the list.
When using the Wireless LAN Access Point PCWA-A320, the default Network Name (SSID) of the Access Point is shown on the ID label of the Access Point. For details on the position of the label and other information, refer to the manuals provided with the Access Point.
2WEP
If Data Encryption (WEP) is enabled for the Access Point to which you connect, select this item. When this item is selected, you also need to enter the encryption key (WEP key) in the “Key” and Confirm key fields. The data encryption function serves to prevent unauthorized access to the network. For security reasons, it is strongly recommended that you enable this feature. The setting can be configured individually for Access Point Network connection mode and Peer to Peer Network connection mode. When connecting to an existing network, consult your network administrator regarding the proper settings. For information on how to control this setting at the Access Point, refer to the manuals of the Access Point.
Getting started
21
Key
If data encryption (WEP) is enabled for the Access Point, enter the encryption key (WEP key) here. Because this key functions as a password that enables communication with the network, the key entered here must be exactly the same as that set for the Access Point. Only computers for which the key has been configured correctly can join the network. The number of characters depends on the “ASCII/Hex” and “Length” settings (see table below).
ASCII Hexadecimal
Permissible characters Alphanumeric characters 0 to 9, A to F, a to f Maximum number 5 or 13 characters 10 or 26 characters
of characters
Confirm key
Re-enter the encryption key that you entered in the “Key” box.
z Hint
This product supports a function called “roaming” which allows the creation of a wireless network with multiple Access Points for wider coverage. When using this function, configure all Access Points to the same Network Name (SSID) and Data Encryption (WEP) settings.
3 When you are done, click “Next”.
The following screen appears.
22
4 Make sure that the settings are correct, and then click
“Connect”.
Wait until the Wireless LAN PC Card connects to the Access Point.
When the Wireless LAN PC Card establishes the connection with the Access Point, the following screen appears.
Getting started
This completes the Access Point connection settings procedure.
z Hint
You can change the connection settings and network connection mode from Wireless Panel. For details about how to use Wireless Panel, refer to the Wireless Panel Help.
23

Windows XP operating system

After installing the necessary software, you must make the necessary settings to establish a connection with the Access Point.
If you want to establish a connection in Peer to Peer Network connection mode, refer to the Wireless Panel Help for details about the necessary settings.
Note
Before configuring the Wireless LAN PC Card
Perform the following steps to confirm that the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings check box is selected. This option is selected by default.
1 Click “Start”, “Control Panel”, and double-click “Network
Connections”.
zHint
If Network Connections is not displayed, click Switch to Classic View.
2 Right-click “Wireless Network Connection *” (“*” is a
number that differs according to the computer settings), and click “Properties” on the shortcut menu.
3 Click the “Wireless Network” tab. 4 Confirm that the “Use Windows to configure my wireless
network settings” check box is selected. If not, select it.
24
1 Click “Start”, point to “Connect To”, and click “Show all
connections”.
The Network Connections window appears.
2 Right-click “Wireless Network Connection *” (“*” is a number
that differs according to the computer settings), and click “View Available Wireless Networks” on the shortcut menu.
The Connect to Wireless Network dialog box appears.
z Hints
If the computer is not connected to a wireless network, an x is shown for theWireless Network Connection * icon in the Network Connections window.
If you have installed Windows XP Service Pack 1, see page 26.
3 From the “Available Wireless Networks” list in the “Connect
to Wireless Network” dialog box, select the Access Point to which you want to connect.
z Hint
The Available Wireless Networks list shows the names of Access Points within communication range of the computer. When using the Wireless LAN Access Point PCWA-A320, the default Network Name (SSID) of the Access Point is shown on the ID label of the card. For details on the position of the label and other information, refer to the manuals of the Access Point. Because the Network Name of an Access Point may have been changed, consult your network administrator if you are not sure.
Getting started
4 If Data Encryption (WEP) is enabled for the Access Point,
enter the encryption key (WEP key) in the “Network key” field.
The key entered here must be exactly the same as that set for the Access Point. Permissible characters and their maximum number are detailed below.
ASCII Hexadecimal
Permissible characters Alphanumeric characters 0 to 9, A to F, a to f Maximum number 5 or 13 characters 10 or 26 characters
of characters
25
z Hints
ASCII and hexadecimal characters are automatically identified.
The data encryption (WEP) function serves to prevent unauthorized access to the
network. When the function is enabled, only computers configured with the correct encryption key (WEP key) can join the network. For security reasons, it is strongly recommended that you enable this feature. The setting can be made individually for Access Point Network connection mode and Peer to Peer Network connection mode. When connecting to an existing network, consult your network administrator regarding the proper settings. For information on how to control this setting at the Access Point, refer to the manuals of the Access Point.
When using Service Pack 1
If you installed Windows XP Service Pack 1, steps 3 and 4 must be performed as follows.
3 From the “Available Wireless Networks” list in the
“Connect to Wireless Network” dialog box, select the Access Point to which you want to connect.
4 Depending on the Data Encryption (WEP) settings of the
Access Point, proceed as follows.
• Data Encryption (WEP) at selected Access Point is enabled
Enter the encryption key (WEP key) in the Network key field. (The input is shown only as asterisks.) For verification, the same string must be entered once more in the Confirm network key field.
26
• Data Encryption (WEP) at selected Access Point is disabled
Select the Allow me to connect to the selected wireless network, even though it is not secure check box. (For security reasons, enabling data encryption is recommended.)
5 Click “Connect”.
Connection to the Access Point is established. If the Access Point has already been configured, the setup procedure is
now complete. If you want to change the Access Point settings, refer to the manuals of
the Access Point for information on how to proceed.
Getting started
Note
To use an Access Point to connect to the Internet, you must change the Access Point default settings.
z Hint
For additional information on the wireless network capabilities of the Windows XP operating system, refer to Windows XP “Help and Support”. (Click “Start”, and click Help and Support, enter wireless into the Search field, and click the green arrow icon.) You may also wish to consult the Windows XP operating system documentation.
27

Removing the Wireless LAN PC Card and Precautions When Inserting it

This section explains how to remove the Wireless LAN PC Card and outlines precautions when inserting the card in a computer with two card slots arranged one above the other.
z Hint
You do not need to turn off your computer when you insert or remove the Wireless LAN PC Card.

To remove the Wireless LAN PC Card

1 Quit any software accessing the wireless LAN (e.g. Internet
Explorer).
2 Click on your Windows operating system taskbar. 3 Click “Safely remove Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter”
or “Stop Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter” on the shortcut menu that appears.

If your computer has two PC Card slots

Notes
When using a computer which has two PC Card slots arranged vertically (one above the other), insert the Wireless LAN PC Card into the top slot. If inserted into the bottom slot, the antenna of the Wireless LAN PC Card will block the top slot.
If you insert the Wireless LAN PC Card into a slot other than the one you usually use, the computer treats the card as a new device and automatically begins installing device drivers for it. Completing the driver installation makes it possible to use the Wireless LAN PC Card in that slot. Installation is performed automatically by the installation wizard. (For instructions on how to uninstall the Wireless LAN PC Card driver, see page 50.)
z Hint
If you are using the Windows Me or Windows 2000 operating system, you can register up to 32 networks for each PC card slot. However, you have to register each network individually. You cannot share the settings across slots.
28

Checking the communication status

Checking the wireless signal strength

The communication status is shown by the signal level indicator on your Windows operating system taskbar.
Signal level indicator
Meaning of indicator appearance
Excellent
Good
Poor
Out of range

Wireless LAN connection

Card not inserted (Wireless LAN PC Card is not inserted or not
recognized correctly) Peer to Peer
(Communicating in Peer to Peer Network connection mode)

Checking network information

To obtain information about the network to which you are connected, proceed as follows.
Double-click the signal level indicator on your Windows operating system taskbar.
The Wireless Panel main screen appears, and information about the network connection is shown. For details, refer to the Wireless Panel Help.
29

Using the Wireless Panel

The Wireless Panel is a software application that shows information about the communication status of the computer connected to the wireless network. Normally, the Wireless Panel runs in the background and only shows the radio signal condition by means of the signal level indicator on your Windows operating system taskbar. The main screen of the Wireless Panel contains more detailed information. When running under operating systems other than Windows XP, communication setup and network switching are also performed using the Wireless Panel.
Notes
To use the Wireless Panel under the Windows 2000 operating system to modify communication settings, log on with a user account listed in “Administrators”. You cannot modify settings when logged on with any other account.
On a computer running the Windows XP operating system, communication setup and network switching are not performed with the Wireless Panel but with built-in functions of the Windows XP operating system. However, the Wireless Panel can be used to check the communication status.

Opening the Wireless Panel

To open the Wireless Panel, proceed as follows.
30
Double-click the signal level indicator on your Windows operating system taskbar.
The Wireless Panel appears.
z Hints
For information on the signal level indicator, see Checking the wireless signal strength on page 29.
When you move the mouse pointer over an item in the Wireless Panel screen, a short description of that item appears.
For details about how to use Wireless Panel, refer to the Wireless Panel Help. For details about how to access Help, see page 10.

Manually installing, verifying, and removing the supplied software

Installing the Wireless LAN PC Card driver manually

Notes
To install the supplied software on a computer running the Windows 2000 operating system, log on with a user account listed in “Administrators”. To install the supplied software on a computer running the Windows XP operating system, log on with a user account with administrator access privileges. You cannot install the software or modify settings when logged on with any other account.
Exit all other Windows operating system programs.
1 Insert the supplied CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive of your
computer.
2 In the Easy Installation Wizard dialog box, click Exit”. 3 If your computer has only one PC card slot and it is currently
used, copy the “Driver” folder from the supplied CD-ROM to the hard disk of your computer before inserting the Wireless LAN PC Card.
The following explanation assumes that a folder called “temp” was created on drive C and that the data was copied to this folder.

Additional information

4 Insert the Wireless LAN PC Card into the PC Card slot of the
computer.
5 Install the Wireless LAN PC Card driver.
The actual procedure differs slightly, depending on whether you are using the Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP operating system. See the section specific to your operating system.
31
Windows Me operating system:
1 Select Specify the location of the driver and click Next.
2 Select the Specify a location check box.
32
3 Click Browse and specify the location of the driver in the
dialog box that appears.
z Hint
If the “Driver” folder from the CD-ROM has been copied to the “temp” folder on drive C, enter “C:\temp\Driver\WinMe”.
4 Click OK.
Additional information
5 Click Next.
33
6 Click Next.
The driver is installed.
7 Click Finish.
34
Restart the computer.
Windows 2000 operating system:
1 Click Next.
2 Select Search for a suitable driver for my device and click
Next”.
3 Select the “Specify a location check box and click Next.
Additional information
4 Click Browse and specify the location of the driver in the
dialog box.
z Hint
If the “Driver” folder from the CD-ROM has been copied to the “temp” folder on drive C, enter “C:\temp\Driver\WinXP2K”.
5 Click OK.
35
6 Click Next.
The driver is installed.
7 Click Finish.
36
Windows XP operating system:
1 Select Install from a list or specific location and click
Next”.
2 Select the Include this location in the search check box
and click “Browse”.
Additional information
37
3 In the dialog box that appears, select the folder that
contains the driver and click “OK”.
z Hint
If the “Driver” folder from the CD-ROM has been copied to the “temp” folder on drive C, select “C:temp\Driver\WinXP2K”.
4 Click OK.
38
5 Click Next.
6 Click Finish.

Installing the Wireless Panel manually

Note
When using the Windows 2000 operating system, log on with a user account listed in Administrators. When using the Windows XP operating system, log on with a user account with administrator access privileges.
Before installation
Additional information
Install the Access Point and connect it to a power outlet when using the
Access Point Network connection mode.
Complete installation of the Wireless LAN PC Card driver. (See page 31)
Exit all other Windows operating system programs.
1 Insert the supplied CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive of your
computer.
2 In the Easy Installation Wizard dialog box, click Exit”. 3 If your computer has only one PC card slot and it is currently
used, copy the “WPanel” folder from the supplied CD-ROM to the hard disk of your computer before inserting the Wireless LAN PC Card.
The following explanation assumes that a folder called “temp” was created on drive C and that the data was copied to this folder.
39
4 Go to the WPanel folder copied from the CD-ROM and
double-click Setup.exe.
Depending on your computers settings, the file name “Setup.exe” may be displayed as Setup. If there are multiple files named Setup in the same folder, double-click the one with the following icon.
5 Click Next. 6 The License Agreement dialog box appears. Click Yes to
accept.
The Choose Destination Location dialog box appears.
7 Click Next.
The Wireless Panel software is installed.
8 Click Finish.
Once Wireless Panel is installed, appears on your Windows operating system taskbar.
40
If you installed Wireless Panel manually, see the following for details about how to connect to the Access Point.
With the Windows Me and Windows 2000 operating systems, seeConnecting to the Access Point with Wireless Panel (Windows Me/2000 operating system) on page 41.
With the Windows XP operating system, see “Making Access Point Connection Settings on page 20.

Connecting to the Access Point with Wireless Panel (Windows Me/2000 operating system)

1 Double-click on your Windows operating system taskbar.
The Wireless Panel screen appears.
2 Click the Network List tab, select a wireless network from
the list, and click “Register”.
The Registering Network dialog box appears.
3 If data encryption (WEP) is enabled for the Access Point,
select the WEP check box, enter the encryption key in theKey box, and then confirm it by entering it again in theConfirm key box.
Additional information
4 Click Connect.
The Wireless LAN PC Card connects to the Access Point.
41

Verifying Wireless LAN PC Card driver installation

To verify that the Wireless LAN PC Card driver has been installed properly, perform the following steps.
Windows Me operating system:
1 Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
Control Panel appears.
2 Double-click the System icon.
z Hint
If the “System” icon is not shown, select View all Control Panel options”.
3 Click the Device Manager tab. 4 Click View devices by type. 5 Double-click Network adapters.
42
6 Double-click Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter.
The Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter Properties dialog box appears.
Note
The Wireless LAN PC Card is not working properly in the following cases:
•“Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter is shown with an “X or “! symbol. c Click Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter and click Remove to uninstall
the driver. Then repeat the installation process.
Double-clicking Network Adapters does not display Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter.
c Remove the Wireless LAN PC Card. Then repeat the installation process.
Double-clicking Other devices displays Ethernet Controller. c Click Ethernet Controller, then click Remove to uninstall the driver. Repeat
the installation process.
Additional information
7 Confirm that the message This device is working properly.
is displayed under Device status”.
Note
If This device is working properly. is not shown, the Wireless LAN PC Card is not working correctly. Perform steps 1 - 5, click Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter, then click Remove to uninstall the driver. After uninstalling, restart the computer and repeat the installation process.
43
8 Click OK to close the Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter
Properties dialog box.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
9 Click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.
Control Panel appears.
10
Click to close Control Panel.
If the computer you are using incorporates another Ethernet interface besides the Wireless LAN PC Card, disable the other interface as follows.
1 Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
Control Panel appears.
2 Double-click the System icon.
z Hint
If the “System” icon is not shown, select View all Control Panel options”.
3 Click the Device Manager tab and double-click “Network
adapters”.
44
4 Double-click the network adapter to disable. 5 Click the General tab, then select the Disable in this
hardware profile check box.
6 Click OK to close the Properties dialog box for the network
adapter to disable.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
7 Click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.
Control Panel appears.
8 Click to close Control Panel.
Windows 2000 operating system:
1 Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
Control Panel appears.
2 Double-click the System icon.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
3 Click the Hardware tab, then click Device Manager.
The Device Manager window appears.
4 In the View menu, click Devices by type”. 5 Double-click Network adapters. 6 Double-click Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter.
The Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter Properties dialog box appears.
Additional information
45
Note
The Wireless LAN PC Card is not working properly in the following cases:
•“Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter is shown with an “X or “! symbol. c Right-click Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter and click Remove to
uninstall the driver. Then repeat the installation process.
Double-clicking Network Adapters does not display Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter.
c Remove the Wireless LAN PC Card. Then repeat the installation process.
Double-clicking Other devices displays Ethernet Controller. c Right-click Ethernet Controller, then click Remove to uninstall the driver.
Repeat the installation process.
7 Confirm that the message This device is working properly.
is displayed under Device status”.
Note
If This device is working properly. is not shown, the Wireless LAN PC Card is not working correctly. Perform steps 1 - 5, right-click Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter, then click Remove to uninstall the driver. After uninstalling, restart the computer and repeat the installation process.
8 Click OK to close the Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter
Properties dialog box.
The Device Manager window appears.
46
9 Click to close the Device Manager window.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
10
Click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.
Control Panel appears.
11
Click to close Control Panel.
If the computer you are using incorporates another Ethernet interface besides the Wireless LAN PC Card, disable the other interface as follows.
1 Click Start, point to Settings, and click Network and Dial-
up Connections”.
The Network and Dial-up Connections window appears.
2 Select the network adapter to disable. 3 On the File menu, click Disable”.
4 Click to close the Network and Dial-up Connections
window.
Windows XP operating system:
1 Click Start and click Control Panel.
Control Panel appears.
2 Double-click the System icon.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
Additional information
z Hint
If the “System” icon is not displayed, click Switch to Classic View”.
3 Click the Hardware tab, then click Device Manager.
The Device Manager window appears.
4 On the View menu, click Devices by type”. 5 Double-click Network adapters.
47
6 Double-click Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter.
The Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter Properties dialog box appears.
Note
The Wireless LAN PC Card is not working properly in the following cases:
•“Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter is shown with an “X or “! symbol. c Right-click Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter and click Remove to
uninstall the driver. Then repeat the installation process.
Double-clicking Network Adapters does not display Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter.
c Remove the Wireless LAN PC Card. Then repeat the installation process.
Double-clicking Other devices displays Ethernet Controller. c Right-click Ethernet Controller, then click Remove to uninstall the driver.
Repeat the installation process.
48
7 Confirm that the message This device is working properly.
is displayed under Device status”.
Note
If This device is working properly. is not shown, the Wireless LAN PC Card is not working correctly. Perform steps 1 - 5, right-click Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter, then click Remove to uninstall the driver. After uninstalling, restart the computer and repeat the installation process.
8 Click OK to close the Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter
Properties dialog box.
The Device Manager window appears.
9 Click to close the Device Manager window.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
10
Click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.
Control Panel appears.
11
Click to close Control Panel.
If the computer you are using incorporates another Ethernet interface besides the Wireless LAN PC Card, disable the other interface as follows.
1 On the “Start menu, click Control Panel, and double-click
Network Connections”.
The Network Connections window appears.
Note
If Network Connections is not displayed, click Switch to Classic View on the left of Control Panel.
Additional information
2 From LAN or high-speed Internet, select the network
adapter to disable.
3 On the File menu, click Disable”. 4 Click to close the Network Connections window.
49

Uninstalling the Wireless LAN PC Card driver

To uninstall the Wireless LAN PC Card driver, proceed as follows.
z Hint
For information on how to install the Wireless LAN PC Card driver, see page 31.
Windows Me operating system:
1 Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
Control Panel appears.
2 Double-click the System icon.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
z Hint
If the “System” icon is not shown, select View all Control Panel options”.
3 Click the Device Manager tab. 4 Click View devices by type.
50
5 Double-click Network adapters. 6 Click Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter, then click
Remove”.
The Confirm Device Removal dialog box appears.
7 Click OK to uninstall.
The message To finish removing your hardware, you must restart your computer. Do you want to restart your computer now? appears.
8 Remove the Wireless LAN PC Card from its slot, then click
Yes”.
The computer restarts. This completes uninstallation of the driver.
Windows 2000 operating system:
Notes
With the Windows 2000 operating system, only users with administrator access privileges can uninstall drivers. Log on to the Windows 2000 operating system with a user account listed in “Administrators”.
Exit all programs before running the uninstall process.
1 Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
Control Panel appears.
2 Double-click the System icon.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
3 Click the Hardware tab, then click Device Manager.
The Device Manager window appears.
4 On the “View menu, click Devices by type”.
Additional information
5 Double-click Network adapters, and double-click Sony
802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter”.
The Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter Properties dialog box appears.
6 Click the Driver tab, then click Uninstall”.
The Confirm Device Removal dialog box appears.
7 Click OK.
The Device Manager window appears.
8 Click to close the Device Manager window.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
51
9 Click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.
Control Panel appears.
10
Click to close Control Panel.
Windows XP operating system:
Notes
With the Windows XP operating system, only users with administrator access privileges can uninstall drivers. Log on to the Windows XP operating system with a user account with administrator access privileges.
Exit all programs before running the uninstall process.
1 Click Start and click Control Panel.
Control Panel appears.
2 Double-click the System icon.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
z Hint
If the “System” icon is not displayed, click Switch to Classic View”.
52
3 Click the Hardware tab, then click Device Manager.
The Device Manager window appears.
4 On the View menu, click Devices by type”. 5 Double-click Network adapters, and Double-click Sony
802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter”.
The Sony 802.11g Wireless LAN Adapter Properties dialog box appears.
6 Click the Driver tab, then click Uninstall”.
The Confirm Device Removal dialog box appears.
7 Click OK.
The Device Manager window appears.
8 Click to close the Device Manager window.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
9 Click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.
Control Panel appears.
10
Click to close Control Panel.

Uninstalling the Wireless Panel

To uninstall the Wireless Panel, proceed as follows.
Note
Exit the Wireless Panel with the icon on your Windows operating system taskbar before proceeding.
z Hint
For information on how to install the Wireless Panel, see page 39.
Windows Me operating system:
Note
Exit all programs before running the uninstall process.
1 Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
Control Panel appears.
2 Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
The Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box appears.
Additional information
3 Select Wireless Panel and click Add/Remove.
The Confirm File Deletion dialog box appears.
4 Click OK.
The software uninstall process is carried out.
5 Click Finish.
The uninstall process is complete.
53
Windows 2000 operating system:
Notes
With the Windows 2000 operating system, only users with administrator access privileges can uninstall software. Log on to the Windows 2000 operating system with a user account listed in “Administrators”.
Exit all programs before running the uninstall process.
1 Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
Control Panel appears.
2 Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
The Add/Remove Programs dialog box appears.
3 Select Wireless Panel and click Change/Remove.
The Confirm File Deletion dialog box appears.
4 Click OK.
The software uninstall process is carried out, and then the InstallShield completion dialog box appears.
54
5 Click Finish.
The uninstall process is complete.
Windows XP operating system:
Notes
With the Windows XP operating system, only users with administrator access privileges can uninstall software. Log on to the Windows XP operating system with a user account with administrator access privileges.
Exit all programs before running the uninstall process.
1 Click Start and click Control Panel.
Control Panel appears.
2 Double-click the Add or Remove Programs icon.
The Add or Remove Programs window appears.
z Hint
If the Add or Remove Programs icon is not displayed, click Switch to Classic View”.
3 Select Wireless Panel and click Change/Remove.
The Confirm File Deletion dialog box appears.
4 Click OK.
The software uninstall process is carried out, and then the maintenance completion dialog box appears.
5 Click Finish.
The uninstall process is complete.
Additional information
55

Precautions

Safety
Do not drop or cause a mechanical shock to the Wireless LAN PC Card, as this may damage the unit.
Installation
Do not expose the Wireless LAN PC Card to the following conditions:
Unstable surfaces
High humidity or poor ventilation
Excessive dust
Direct sunlight or extreme heat
Closed cars
Magnetized location (near magnets,
speakers, or televisions)
Locations exposed to frequent vibration
Locations where the transmission of
radio waves may be obstructed by metal plates or concrete walls
Cleaning
Clean the casing with a soft cloth, lightly moistened with water or a mild detergent solution. Do not use any type of abrasive pad, scouring powder, or solvent such as alcohol or benzene as it may damage the finish of the casing.
Operation
If the Wireless LAN PC Card is moved directly from a cold location to a warm locations, or if it is placed in a very damp environment, moisture may condense on the parts inside. The Wireless LAN PC Card may not operate properly if moisture condensation occurs.
56

Specifications

Getting help

Protocol support
TCP/IP compliant
Standard compliance
IEEE 802.11b IEEE 802.11g
Radio frequency
2.4 GHz wireless network:
2.4 to 2.4835 GHz (ISM band)
Modulation
DS-SS OFDM
General
Power requirements
3.3 V DC (supplied from the computer through the PC card adapter)
Current
Peak current at transmission: 700 mA Peak current at reception: 370 mA
Connector
PC Card Card Type II (Card Bus)
Dimensions
Approx. 2.2 × 0.2 × 3.6 inches (Approx. 54 × 5 × 91 mm) (W × H × D) (Antenna height: 0.55 inches (Approx. 14 mm))
Mass
Approx. 1.4 oz. (Approx. 40 g)
Operating temperature
41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C) (not condensed)
Environment temperature
–4°F to 140°F (–20°C to 60°C) (not condensed)
Supplied accessories
See Unpacking on page 12.
Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
This section describes how to get help and support from Sony, as well as troubleshooting tips for your Wireless LAN PC Card.
About Sonys Support Options
Sony provides several support options for your Wireless LAN PC Card.
Operating Instructions explains
how to use your Wireless LAN PC Card.
Quick Start Guide explains how to
install software required to use the Wireless LAN PC Card (IEEE 802.11g:
2.4 GHz/54 Mbps) PCWA-C300S. The document also contains answers to frequently asked questions and common problems.
Wireless Panel Online Help is the
Online Help of the supplied Wireless Panel utility software. Refer to it for instructions on how to use the software.
The Sony Wireless LAN products
support Web site http://www.sony.com/ wirelesslansupport provides the
latest information on your Wireless LAN products.
The Sony e-mail support service
answers your questions by electronic mail. Just send your question in an e-mail message and a customer service representative will reply. To send a question to Sony e-mail support, fill out the e-mail form at
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/ support/pc/email.html
Additional information
57
The Sony fax-back service provides
you with answers to commonly asked questions. You can use this automated service to request a list of available topics then select the topics you want to receive. To contact the Sony fax-back service, call 1-877-760-7669.
The Sony Customer Information
Services Center offers information
about your Wireless LAN products and other Sony products that work with your computer. To contact the Sony Customer Information Services Center, call 1-877-760-7669.
Open 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

Glossary

Access Point (Infrastructure) Network mode
A method of building a wireless network using one or more Access Points. For details, see “Capabilities” on page 5.
Channel
A part of the frequency spectrum to be used for wireless communication.
Only client computers and Access Points set to the same channel can communicate with each other.
Client
A computer connected to a LAN (Local Area Network). Also may be called a client computer.
58
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
DHCP lets network administrators centrally manage and automate assignment of client computer IP addresses.
DNS (Domain Name System)
A system that translates host names into IP addresses.
Networks that use the TCP/IP protocol, such as the Internet, use a set of numbers like 192.168.0.1 (IP address) to identify a computer. However, since the IP address is hard to memorize, DNS was developed to allow a name like “www.sony.com” to identify a computer for convenience. DNS servers manage these translations from host names into IP addresses.
LAN (Local Area Network)
A network which is accessible only to its members, unlike the Internet which is open to an unlimited number of people. A LAN may be built for different purposes. For example, you can build an office LAN that is accessible only to members of the same department or a home LAN that is accessible only to family members.
Network Name (SSID)
A wireless LAN group identifier according to the IEEE 802.11 standard. SSID stands for Service Set ID. The Network Name can be set individually for each Access Point and Peer to Peer Network to connect to. When roaming among multiple Access Points is used, all Access Points must be configured for the same Network Name (SSID) and WEP encryption key.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)
TCP/IP is the network communications protocol that is used to communicate over the Internet. TCP is a connection-oriented protocol for establishing reliable, sequenced data transfer. TCP ensures that data reaches its destination.
IP assembles and addresses data packets for transmission to their network destinations.
WAN (Wide Area Network)
Additional information
A network that interconnects remote LANs through the Internet or telephone lines.
59

Troubleshooting

Read the Troubleshooting section of this guide before calling Sony Customer Information Services. If you still cannot resolve your issue after reading this section, call Sony Customer Information Services.
Symptom Cause/Remedy
My computer does not detect the Wireless LAN PC Card.
I cannot see other computers.
I cannot access the Internet.
The Wireless LAN PC Card may not be properly inserted into the PC card slot of your computer.
c Check that the Wireless LAN PC Card is inserted in the
proper direction, then push it in as far as it will go.
You did not enter a password when your Windows operating system started.
c Make sure that you enter a user name and appropriate
password when you log on to your Windows operating
system. Windows settings are incorrect. c Check your Windows operating system network settings. If there are no other computers on the network to which you
are connected, no other computer is displayed. The Access Point is not connected. c Follow the instructions in the Access Point Operating
Instructions to connect it properly. The Wireless LAN PC Card may not be inserted into your
computer. c See the instructions on page 17 of this manual to insert it
properly. Communication between the Access Point and your
computer are not established. c Check the communication status using the Wireless Panel.
For details on how to check the status, see Checking the
communication status (page 29). The Access Point is not properly configured. c Configure the Access Point with the connection method of
your choice. Distance between computer and Access Point is too great.
The maximum allowable distance is about 150 feet in line of sight, but this will vary depending on usage conditions.
c Check the signal level indicator on your Windows
operating system taskbar. If the level is low, bring the
computer and Access Point closer together.
60
Symptom Cause/Remedy
Data transfer speed is slow
I cannot remember the WEP Key.
There is interference with other Access Points. c Try changing the Access Point channel setting. The network is handling a large amount of simultaneous
traffic. c Try again when the network load is lower. Communication distance is long. c Reduce the communication distance. There are obstacles (objects blocking radio transmission)
within the communication range.
c Remove the obstacles or change the installation location. c When using an Access Point, reset the Access Point to its
defaults. For further information about how to reset the Access Point, see the Access Point Operating Instructions.
c When using a Wireless LAN PC Card in Peer to Peer
Network connection mode, delete the network settings registered on each computer connected to the network, then reconfigure the computers wireless network settings.
Additional information
61
The Sony Wireless LAN products support Web site
http://www.sony.com/wirelesslansupport provides the
latest information on your Wireless LAN products.
The Sony e-mail support service answers your questions
by electronic mail. Just send your question in an e-mail message and a customer service representative will reply. To send a question to Sony e-mail support, fill out the e-mail
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/pc/email.html
The Sony fax-back service provides you with answers to
commonly asked questions. You can use this automated service to request a list of available topics and then select the topics you want to receive. To contact the Sony fax-back service, call 1-877-760-7669.
The Sony Customer Information Services Center offers
information about your Wireless LAN products and other Sony products that work with your computer. To contact the Sony Customer Information Services Center, call
1-877-760-7669. Open 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
Printed on 100% recycled paper using VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)-free vegetable oil based ink.
Printed in Japan
form at
Loading...