Sony PCWA-C500 User Manual
4-657-719-11(1)
Operating Instructions
© 2002 Sony Corporation
5GHz
Wireless LAN PC Card
PCWA-C500
WARNING
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not
expose the unit to rain or moisture.
Owner’s 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-C500
Serial No.______________
CAUTION
Any changes or modifications not expressly
approved in this manual could void your warranty.
FCC ID: AK8PCWAC500
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.
– Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV
technician for help.
This device compiles with Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
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 unit, for whatever reason, could
lead to damages that are not covered by the
warranty.
• Do not use this equipment on hospital premises.
Doing so may cause medical devices to
malfunction.
• If using the equipment near a pacemaker, make
sure it is at least 9 inches (22 cm) away from
the pacemaker.
• Do not use this equipment 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 use this equipment outdoors.
• The use of optical instruments with this product
will increase eye hazard.
• Install and connect this product by following
descriptions in its Operating Instructions and
Quick Start Guide before using it.
• This equipment generates and radiates radiofrequency energy. In order to comply with FCC
radio-frequency radiation exposure guidelines
for an uncontrolled environment, this
equipment has to be installed and operated
while maintaining a minimum body to antenna
distance of 20 cm. Based on continuous
exposure of 30 minutes.
Users are not permitted to make changes or
modify the system in any way.
• Indoor use only.
2
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 Sony Corporation,
© 2000-2001 Atheros Communications, Inc., All
Rights Reserved
Documentation © 2002 Sony Corporation
Sony, VAIO, and the VAIO logo are trademarks
of Sony Corporation.
Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Me are
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in
the United States of America and other countries.
MMX and Pentium are registered trademarks of
Intel Corporation.
All other trademarks are trademarks of their
respective owners.
• In this manual, Microsoft® Windows® Me 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.
3
Table of contents
Overview ............................................... 5
What you can do with your
Wireless LAN PC Card ............. 5
System requirements ..................... 9
About manuals and Help files ............. 10
Accessing Online Help................ 10
Getting started
Unpacking............................................11
Supplied software and Wireless
LAN PC Card driver................ 11
Indicators ............................................. 12
Inserting the Wireless LAN PC Card .. 13
Notice for users who have a
computer with an upper and a
lower PC card slot ................... 14
Software setup
About the software provided ............... 15
Verifying driver installation ........ 15
Uninstalling the Wireless LAN PC
Card driver ............................... 23
Removing the Wireless Panel ..... 26
Additional information
Precautions .......................................... 55
Specifications ...................................... 56
Getting help .........................................56
Glossary ............................................... 57
Troubleshooting................................... 59
Wireless LAN connection
Initial settings for constructing
a wireless LAN ............................... 29
Windows Me or
Windows 2000......................... 29
Windows XP ............................... 37
Viewing communication status ........... 45
Viewing the signal
reception level ......................... 45
Viewing detailed network
information .............................. 46
Using Wireless Panel........................... 47
Displaying the main screen of the
Wireless Panel ......................... 48
4
Overview
What you can do with your Wireless LAN PC Card
The 5GHz Wireless LAN PC Card PCWA-C500 is a wireless network card
in a PC card format. You can use the Wireless LAN PC Card to construct a
wireless LAN environment for connecting multiple computers. With the
Wireless LAN PC Card, you can connect to another computer that has a
Wireless LAN PC Card (Peer to Peer Network connection mode), or you
can connect to a network through an optional wireless network access
point, the 5GHz Wireless LAN Access Point PCWA-A500 (Access Point
Network connection mode).
For details on connection modes, see the explanations on the following
pages.
Note
You can register and switch between various network settings, such as between Access
Point Network and Peer to Peer Network connection modes.
With Windows Me or Windows 2000:
Peer to Peer Network connection modeAccess Point Network connection mode
5
With Windows XP:
Available networks
6
Accessing the Internet from various places in the house
(with Access Point Network connection mode)
Access Point Network connection mode allows you to construct a wireless
network based on an Access Point (optional). By using a computer with a
Wireless LAN PC Card, you can communicate with the Access Point, and
share files with other computers via the Access Point. Furthermore, if you
connect the Access Point to a DSL modem, cable modem or ISDN router,
you can access the Internet from various places in the house.
P
O
W
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M
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S
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A
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W
I
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E
L
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S
S
N
E
T
W
O
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1
N
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2
Note
The above illustration shows the Access Point connected to an Ethernet LAN, providing
network access to two wireless mobile notebook computers. Refer to the manuals
provided with the Access Point for details.
7
High bit rate movie streaming playback
*
(with Peer to Peer Nework connection mode)
Peer to Peer Network connection mode allows computers equipped with
Wireless LAN PC Cards to communicate directly, without using a Wireless
LAN Access Point. With this connection mode, users can share files
directly from one computer to another.
Because Peer to Peer Network connection mode is less prone to electronic
interference than Access Point Network connection mode making it
effective over a greater bandwidth, it is recommended that you use Peer to
Peer mode when using high bit rate movie streaming applications.
Note
Poor radio conditions can cause interruptions of movie playback over wireless
connections.
* A system for simultaneously replaying transmitted files on the receiving computer
while file transmission is still in progress.
8
System requirements
To use the software provided, the following hardware and software is
required.
❑A computer with the following specifications:
– 128 MB of RAM (or more)
– A CardBus-compatible PC card slot
– An available CD-ROM drive (for installing the software)
❑Supported operating system:
– Microsoft
– Microsoft
– Microsoft
– Microsoft
❑Display:
High-color (16-bit color) or greater, 800 × 480 resolution or greater
Notes
• Sony cannot assure trouble-free operation for all computers satisfying the
specified system requirements.
• Except for Sony VAIO personal computers upgraded with the regular
Windows XP upgrade service package provided by Sony, Sony cannot
assure trouble-free operation in environments using upgraded operating
systems.
• The 5GHz Wireless LAN Access Point PCWA-A500 (optional) is
required to gain access to the Internet from a wireless LAN.
• Internet access requires the separate purchase of an Internet connection
from an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
®
Windows® Millennium Edition
®
Windows® 2000 Professional
®
Windows® XP Home Edition
®
Windows® XP Professional
9
About manuals and Help files
The following manuals and Help file are provided with this product.
❑5GHz Wireless LAN PC Card PCWA-C500 Quick Start Guide
for Microsoft
Windows® 2000 Professional Users
❑5GHz Wireless LAN PC Card PCWA-C500 Quick Start Guide
for Microsoft
Windows® XP Professional Users
These two Quick Start Guides contain instructions for installing the
Wireless LAN PC Card, Wireless LAN PC Card driver, and the Wireless
Panel utility software provided. For information regarding most of the
basic settings, refer to the Quick Start Guide appropriate to the version of
Microsoft Windows you are using. Read this guide before using the
Wireless LAN PC Card.
❑5GHz Wireless LAN PC Card PCWA-C500 Operating
Instructions (this manual)
This manual contains instructions for installing the Wireless LAN PC
Card and detailed information about related settings. Refer to this manual
if there is something you cannot find in the Quick Start Guide.
❑Wireless Panel Online Help
This is the Online Help file for the supplied Wireless Panel software.
Refer to this for operating instructions for the Wireless Panel.
®
Windows® Millennium Edition and Microsoft
®
Windows® XP Home Edition and Microsoft
®
®
Accessing Online Help
To access the Wireless Panel Online Help:
1 Install the Wireless Panel, following the instructions in the
Quick Start Guide.
2 Start the Wireless Panel.
3 Right-click the Wireless Panel icon on the taskbar, and
select Help from the shortcut menu.
z Hint
You can also access Help by clicking the question mark icon on the Wireless Panel title
bar.
10
Unpacking
Your Wireless LAN PC Card comes with the following items:
• Wireless LAN PC Card
• PC card case
• CD-ROM (Setup disc)
• Operating Instructions
• Quick Start Guide for Windows Me and Windows 2000 Users
• Quick Start Guide for Windows XP Users
• Warranty Card
• Other printed matter
Supplied software and Wireless LAN PC Card driver
The CD-ROM supplied with this product contains the driver software for
your Wireless LAN PC Card and the Wireless Panel utility software. To
use the Wireless LAN PC Card, you must first install the driver and utility
software.
Refer to the Quick Start Guide for instructions on installing the Wireless
LAN PC Card driver and installing the Wireless Panel utility software.
Getting started
11
Indicators
1 POWER indicator
2 NETWORK indicator
Indicator modes
POWER NETWORK Description
Blinking rapidly Communication in progress
Blinking slowly in unison Standby
Alternating slow blinking Connection not established
OFF Power not supplied
12
(The rate of flashing changes with the
amount of data flow.)
(Data transfer is possible, however no data
is being sent or received.)
(There is no problem with the Wireless
LAN PC Card, but connection has not been
established.)
12
Inserting the Wireless LAN PC Card
If you are inserting the 5GHz Wireless LAN PC Card
PCWA-C500 for the first time, see Quick Start Guide for
details.
This section explains how to insert and remove the Wireless LAN PC Card
from your computer.
You do not need to turn off your computer when inserting the Wireless
LAN PC Card.
To insert the Wireless LAN PC Card:
1 If your computer has a PC card slot protector, remove it from
the computer.
Some computers offer a PC card slot protector to prevent damage to
the PC card slot while it is not in use.
2 Insert the Wireless LAN PC Card in the PC card slot.
Note
If you have an upper and a lower PC card slot, use the upper slot for the Wireless
LAN PC Card. If you insert the card into the lower slot, the card's antenna may
block the upper slot. See also “Notice for users who have a computer with an upper
and a lower PC card slot” on page 14.
Push the Wireless LAN PC Card into the slot until it is firmly seated.
Inserting the card will extend the eject button.
If the card does not fit easily, do not force it. Remove the card and
reinsert it.
Getting started
Insert the card
in the direction
of the arrow.
13
If your computer is already turned on when you insert the Wireless LAN
PC card, the driver installation wizard starts automatically. Refer to the
Quick Start Guide for details on driver installation.
To remove the Wireless LAN PC Card:
1 Close any software that is using the Wireless LAN.
2 Stop PC Card Services on the taskbar or in Control Panel.
3 Remove the Wireless LAN PC Card, following the
instructions in your computer’s manual for removing PC
cards.
Notice for users who have a computer with an upper and a lower PC card slot
Notes
• If your computer has an upper and a lower PC card slot, use the upper slot for the
Wireless LAN PC Card. If you insert the card into the lower slot, the card's antenna
may block the upper 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. Refer to the Quick Start Guide for details on how to install
the Wireless LAN PC Card driver. (See page 23 for instructions on how to uninstall the
Wireless LAN PC Card.)
14
z Hint
If you are using Windows Me or Windows 2000, you can register up to eight networks for
each PC card slot. However, you have to register each network individually. You cannot
share the settings.
About the software provided
The CD-ROM provided contains the following software:
❑5GHz Wireless LAN PC Card driver
This software is required for 5GHz Wireless LAN PC Card PCWA-C500
operation.
❑Wireless Panel
Wireless Panel is a utility software that displays the status of wireless
communications. Normally, it displays the status in the status area on the
taskbar. When using an operating system other than Windows XP,
Wireless Panel is also used to set up computers or switch between
connection settings.
To use the Wireless LAN PC Card, you must first install the Wireless
LAN PC Card driver software and the Wireless Panel utility software.
Refer to the Quick Start Guide for instructions on how to install
the Wireless LAN PC Card driver and the Wireless Panel utility
software.
Notes
• To install the Wireless LAN PC Card software on computers running Windows 2000 or
Windows XP, log on to Windows 2000 as one of the Administrators or to Windows XP
using an account with computer administrator privileges. You cannot install the
software or modify its settings when logged on with any other account.
• To configure the Wireless Panel settings on computers running Windows 2000, log on
to Windows 2000 as one of the Administrators. All other users will be refused the
rights to change settings.
Software setup
Verifying driver installation
To verify that the Wireless LAN PC Card driver has been installed, perform
the following steps.
Windows Me:
1 From the Start menu, point to Settings, then select Control
Panel.
The Control Panel appears.
15
2 Double-click System.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
z Hint
If System is not displayed, click “view all Control Panel options.”
3 Click the Device Manager tab.
4 Select Devices by type.
5 Double-click Network adapters.
6 Double-click Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter.
The Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter Properties dialog box
appears.
16
Note
The Wireless LAN PC Card is not working properly if the following occurs:
• The Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter is represented in the Device Manager
list by a yellow question mark or exclamation point.
c Click Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter, and click Remove to uninstall the
Wireless LAN PC Card driver. Then, reinstall the Wireless LAN PC Card
driver.
• Double-clicking Network adapters does not display the Sony 802.11a Wireless
LAN Adapter.
c Remove the Wireless LAN PC Card from the computer, and reinsert it. Then,
reinstall the Wireless LAN PC Card driver.
• Double-clicking Other devices displays the Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter.
c Click Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter, and click Remove to uninstall the
Wireless LAN PC Card driver. Then, reinstall the Wireless LAN PC Card
driver.
7 Confirm that the message “This device is working properly”
is displayed under Device status.
Note
If the message “This device is working properly” is not displayed, the Wireless LAN
PC Card is not working properly. In this case, repeat steps 1 to 5, and click Sony
802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter. Then click Remove to uninstall the Wireless LAN
PC Card driver. Next, restart the computer, and reinstall the Wireless LAN PC Card
driver.
8 Click OK.
You are returned to the System Properties dialog box.
9 Click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.
You are returned to the Control Panel.
Software setup
10
Click to close the Control Panel.
The Control Panel closes.
When using a computer with an Ethernet interface other than a Wireless
LAN PC Card, it is recommended that you disable the Ethernet interface to
avoid any unexpected difficulties. After completing all of the above steps,
perform the following steps:
1 From the Start menu, point to Settings, then select Control
Panel.
The Control Panel appears.
2 Double-click System.
z Hint
If the System icon is not displayed, click “view all Control Panel options”.
17
3 Click the Device Manager tab, then double-click Network
adapters.
4 Double-click the network card you want to disable.
5 Click the General tab, then select the Disable in this
hardware profile check box.
Windows 2000:
1 From the Start menu, point to Settings, then select Control
Panel.
The Control Panel appears.
2 Double-click System.
The System Properties dialog box appears.
3 Click the Hardware tab, then click Device Manager.
The Device Manager window appears.
4 From the View menu, select Devices by type.
18
5 Double-click Network adapters.
6 Double-click Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter.
The Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter Properties dialog box
appears.
Note
The Wireless LAN PC Card is not working properly if the following occurs:
• The Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter is represented in the Device Manager
list by a yellow question mark or exclamation point.
c Right-click Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter, and click Remove to
uninstall the Wireless LAN PC Card driver. Then, reinstall the Wireless LAN
PC Card driver.
• Double-clicking Network adapters does not display the Sony 802.11a Wireless
LAN Adapter.
c Remove the Wireless LAN PC Card from the computer, and reinsert it. Then,
reinstall the Wireless LAN PC Card driver.
• Double-clicking Other devices displays the Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter.
c Right-click Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter, and click Remove to delete
the Wireless LAN PC Card driver. Then, reinstall the Wireless LAN PC Card
driver.
Software setup
19
7 Confirm that the message “This device is working properly”
is displayed under Device status.
Note
If the message “This device is working properly” is not displayed, the Wireless LAN
PC Card is not working properly. In this case, repeat steps 1 to 5, and right-click
Sony 802.11a Wireless LAN Adapter. Then click Remove to delete the Wireless
LAN PC Card driver. Next, restart the computer, and reinstall the Wireless LAN PC
Card driver.
8 Click OK.
You are returned to the Device Manager window.
9 Click to close the Device Manager window.
You are returned to the System Properties dialog box.
10
Click OK to close the System Properties dialog box.
You are returned to the Control Panel.
11
Click to colose the Control Panel.
The Control Panel closes.
20
When using a computer with an Ethernet interface other than a Wireless
LAN PC Card, it is recommended that you disable the Ethernet interface to
avoid any unexpected difficulties. After completing all of the above steps,
perform the following steps.
1 From the Start menu, point to Settings, then select Network
and Dial-up Connections.
The Network and Dial-up Connections window appears.
2 Click to select the network card you want to disable.
3 From the File menu, select Disable.
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