3Com AirConnect 3CRWE777A, User Manual

Page 1: ...http www 3com com http www 3com com productreg AirConnect Wireless PCI Card User Guide 3CRWE777A Part No 09 2006 000 Published October 2000 ...

Page 2: ...d to you UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LEGEND If you are a United States government agency then this documentation and the software described herein are provided to you subject to the following All technical data and computer software are commercial in nature and developed solely at private expense Software is delivered as Commercial Computer Software as defined in DFARS 252 227 7014 June 1995 or as a ...

Page 3: ...0 Driver Installation Procedure 9 3 NETWORK CONFIGURATION AND PLANNING Introduction 13 Network Topologies 13 Ad hoc Wireless LAN 13 Infrastructure Wireless LAN 14 Setting the Communication Domain 15 Stationary Wireless PCs 15 Roaming Wireless PCs 15 4 CONFIGURATION AND DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY Introduction 17 Installing the Wireless LAN Configuration Utility 17 Using the Wireless LAN Configuration Utili...

Page 4: ...rk Connection Problems 24 6 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Specifications 27 A TECHNICAL SUPPORT Online Technical Services 29 World Wide Web Site 29 3Com FTP Site 29 Support from Your Network Supplier 30 Support from 3Com 30 Returning Products for Repair 32 INDEX WARRANTY AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ...

Page 5: ...unction with 3Com s AirConnect Access Point you can create an instant network that integrates seamlessly with 10 Mbps Ethernet LANs Moreover moving or expanding your network is as easy as moving or installing additional access points no wires Package Checklist The Wireless PCI Card package includes One wireless PCI card 3CRWE777A One CD containing drivers and utilities This Wireless PCI Card User ...

Page 6: ...amless connectivity to wired Ethernet LANs augments existing networks quickly and easily Easy installation Operating range up to 30m 100 ft at 11 Mbps up to 100m 300 ft at 5 5 Mbps and lower Point to point and point to multipoint access Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS technology provides robust interference resistant and secure wireless connection Supports a wide range of operating systems Wi...

Page 7: ...p for a short time period Retailers airline and shipping companies that need additional workstations for peak periods Auditors who require workgroups at customer sites Access to database for mobile workers Doctors nurses retailers and white collar workers who need access to databases while being mobile in the hospital retail store or office campus SOHO Small Office and Home Office users SOHO envir...

Page 8: ...00 Kbytes of free disk space for installing the driver and utility program Other IEEE 802 11b compliant devices installed in your service area such as 3Com s AirConnect access point and wireless PC card Always On Blinking Off Power is being supplied to the PCI card A valid connection to the network exists The PCI card is transmitting or receiving data The PCI card is attempting to associate with a...

Page 9: ...reless PCI card Card Installation Procedure 1 Turn off power to your desktop computer and unplug the power cord 2 Remove the cover of your computer 3 Locate an empty PCI slot and remove its slot cover Save the screw 4 Carefully insert the PCI card into the selected slot until it seats snugly see Figure 2 The shielded part of the wireless PCI card protrudes from the card faceplate and juts out beyo...

Page 10: ...t you removed earlier 6 Replace the cover of your PC and plug in the power cord 7 Turn on the power to your computer 8 Depending on your operating system proceed to either Windows 95 98 2000 Me Driver Installation Procedure or Windows NT 4 0 Driver Installation Procedure ...

Page 11: ...om 3Com s web site at http www 3Com com 1 Windows 95 98 2000 Me will automatically detect the new hardware and prompt you to install the driver Click Next to find the driver 2 Insert the CD and click Next 3 Specify the CD drive and click Next The setup program automatically finds the appropriate INF file and driver for your operating system 4 Click Next to copy files from the CD 5 The Adapter Prop...

Page 12: ...cure data transmission set the Use WEP to Enabled to ensure wireless network security The advanced Wired Equivalent Privacy WEP is implemented in this card to prevent unauthorized access default Disabled If the access point you wish to connect to is set for encryption you must also enable encryption on the wireless client Click Encryption in the Wireless LAN Configuration Utility to go to screens ...

Page 13: ... ask for the drive path containing the Windows NT drivers Insert the CD into the drive specify the drive letter of the CD then click OK 4 When prompted select 3Com 3CRWE777A WLAN PCI adapter then click OK 5 Windows NT will attempt to locate the SYS and INF files in the specified path If you have entered the path name correctly Windows NT should copy the appropriate drivers to the Windows NT system...

Page 14: ...eld to Enabled to ensure wireless network security Wired Equivalent Privacy WEP is implemented in the PCI card to prevent unauthorized access default Disabled If the access point you wish to connect to is set for encryption you must also enable encryption on the wireless client Click Encryption in the Wireless LAN Configuration Utility to go to screens where you can enable and configure encryption...

Page 15: ...tion Procedure 11 9 Restart your computer when prompted 10 To ensure that the 3Com Wireless PCI Card works correctly go to the Windows Control Panel and double click Devices The 3Com Wireless PCI Card driver status should be Started ...

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Page 17: ...s Ad hoc for departmental or SOHO LANs Infrastructure for enterprise LANs Network Topologies Ad hoc Wireless LAN An ad hoc wireless LAN consists of a group of computers each equipped with a wireless adapter connected via radio signals as an independent wireless LAN Computers in a specific ad hoc wireless LAN must therefore be configured to the same radio channel An ad hoc wireless LAN can be used ...

Page 18: ...Each wireless PC in this BSS can talk to any computer in its wireless group via a radio link or access other computers or network resources in the wired LAN infrastructure via the access point The infrastructure configuration not only extends the accessibility of wireless PCs to the wired LAN but also doubles the effective wireless transmission range for wireless PCs by passing their signal throug...

Page 19: ...r she wants you to connect to Roaming Wireless PCs A wireless infrastructure can also support roaming for mobile workers More than one access point can be configured to create an Extended Service Set ESS By placing the access points so that a continuous coverage area is created wireless users within this ESS can roam freely All AirConnect cards and access points within a specific ESS must be confi...

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Page 21: ...ct main menu appears 2 Click Installation for Windows from the menu screen 3 Click Install WLAN Applications from the menu 4 Follow the onscreen instructions to finish installation Using the Wireless LAN Configuration Utility Once the installation is completed the configuration utility can be accessed by selecting the Configuration Utility icon from the 3Com AirConnect Utility folder The configura...

Page 22: ...are information window for the wireless PCI card is shown on the first folder of the utility windows Click on the Link Information tab to monitor the network status of the wireless adapter including the BSSID current channel transmission rate used transmission receiving throughput link quality and signal strength condition ...

Page 23: ...Using the Wireless LAN Configuration Utility 19 Configuration Screen The Configuration screen allows you to check and modify the configuration of the adapter ...

Page 24: ...ch your wireless LAN settings Fully Automatic is the default setting WEP For more secure data transmission select Enabled to use WEP security The advanced Wired Equivalent Privacy WEP is implemented in this card to prevent unauthorized access However for normal use it is recommended to retain the factory set Disabled WEP Disabled is the default setting Channel If you are setting up an Ad hoc wirel...

Page 25: ...rotects your wireless LAN against eavesdropping and unauthorized access by hackers or other intruders If the WEP is in use the WEP key is required for connecting to an access point or listening to messages that pass through the air To use the WEP function take the following steps 1 Click on the Encryption tab to set up WEP security keys 2 Select Enabled for the WEP field 3 Select one encrypted key...

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Page 27: ...mputer BIOS to the latest version Verify that the PCI slot is an enabled bus master slot and not a slave PCI slot In some computers the PCI slot must be configured to enable bus mastering Refer to your computer s manual and check the PCI BIOS Setup program to be sure the PCI slot is an enabled bus master slot In some computers you may be required to disable Plug n Play PnP in the BIOS Setup progra...

Page 28: ... If the Link LED on the wireless PCI card does not light or if you cannot access any network resources from the computer check the following Make sure the correct software driver is installed for your operating system If necessary try reinstalling the driver Make sure the computer and other network devices are receiving power The access point you want to attach to may be defective Try using anothe...

Page 29: ...n associated with is powered on Make sure your wireless station is configured with the same operating radio channel as the access point If you still cannot connect change the access point and all the stations within the BSS to another radio channel Make sure the BSSID is the same as the access point for a station with roaming disabled or the SSID is the same as the access point for a station with ...

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Page 31: ...2 400 2 4835 GHz Europe 2 400 2 4835 GHz Japan 2 400 2 497 GHz Sensitivity 1 2 5 5 Mbps 80 dBm 11 Mbps 76 dBm typical Modulation CCK BPSK QPSK Physical Characteristics Power Consumption 5V 480 mA transmit 360 mA receive Dimensions 178 x 120 x 20 mm 7 x 4 7 x 0 8 in Antenna Built in LED Indicator AdHoc Infrastructure AP link Host Interface PCI Specification 2 1 Standards Conformance IEEE 802 11b En...

Page 32: ...ATIONS Certification CE Mark EN55022 Class B EN 55024 IEC 61000 4 2 3 4 6 11 Emissions FCC Part 15 B ETS 300 328 RCR STD 33 A Software Drivers NDIS Drivers Windows 95 Windows 98 Windows 2000 Windows NT 4 0 Windows Millennium Edition ...

Page 33: ... such as technical documentation and software library as well as support options ranging from technical education to maintenance and professional services 3Com FTP Site Download drivers patches software and MIBs across the Internet from the 3Com public FTP site This service is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week To connect to the 3Com FTP site enter the following information into your FTP clien...

Page 34: ...ecent configuration changes if applicable If you are unable to contact your network supplier see the following section on how to contact 3Com Support from 3Com If you are unable to obtain assistance from the 3Com online technical resources or from your network supplier 3Com offers technical telephone support services To find out more about your support options please call the 3Com technical teleph...

Page 35: ...gium Denmark Finland France Germany Hong Kong Hungary Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Malaysia Netherlands 1800 678 515 0800 297468 0800 71429 800 17309 0800 113153 0800 917959 0800 1821502 800 933 486 06800 12813 001 80061 009 1 800 553117 1 800 9453794 800 879489 1800 801777 0800 0227788 New Zealand Norway P R of China Phillipines Poland Portugal Singapore South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Sw...

Page 36: ...option 2 and then option 2 Australia Austria Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Hong Kong Hungary Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Malaysia Netherlands New Zealand Norway P R of China Phillipines Poland Portugal South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan R O C Thailand U K 1800 678 515 0800 297468 0800 71429 800 17309 0800 113153 0800 917959 0130 821502 800 933 486 06800 12813 001 ...

Page 37: ... roaming wireless PCs 15 for stationary wireless PCs 15 stationary wireless PCs 15 transmission rate 20 D Data rate 27 Driver installation 7 Windows NT 4 0 9 Drivers NDIS 28 E Encryption configuring 8 10 20 21 screen 21 security keys 21 Wired Equivalent Privacy WEP 20 Extended Service Set ESS 15 F Features 2 data rate 2 DSSS technology 2 operating range 2 Frequency operating 27 FTP site 3Com 29 I ...

Page 38: ...PCs 15 Stationary wireless PCs 15 Status LED indicator 3 System requirements 802 11b compliant devices 4 free disk space 4 operating system 4 T Technical specifications 27 Technical support 30 3Com URL 29 product repair 32 telephone numbers 30 Transmission mode 27 Transmission rate configuring 20 Troubleshooting network connection 24 PC compatibility 23 preliminary steps 23 U URL 29 Utility wirele...

Page 39: ...shipment or the remainder of the initial warranty period whichever is longer SOFTWARE 3Com warrants to Customer that each software program licensed from it except as noted below will perform in substantial conformance to its program specifications for a period of ninety 90 days from the date of purchase from 3Com or its authorized reseller 3Com warrants the media containing software against failur...

Page 40: ...m is delivered to Customer 3Com shall not be responsible for any software firmware information or memory data of Customer contained in stored on or integrated with any products returned to 3Com for repair whether under warranty or not Dead or Defective on Arrival In the event a product completely fails to function or exhibits a defect in materials or workmanship within the first forty eight 48 hou...

Page 41: ...eir entirety they will be limited to the duration of the applicable written warranty This warranty gives you specific legal rights which may vary depending on local law GOVERNING LAW This Limited Warranty shall be governed by the laws of the State of California U S A excluding its conflicts of laws principles and excluding the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Go...

Page 42: ...e from Information Technology Equipment VCCI If this is used near a radio or television receiver in a domestic environment it may cause radio interference Install and use the equipment according to the instruction manual BSMI CLASS A COMPLIANCE TAIWAN CE MARK DECLARATION OF COMPLIANCE This is to certify that this product complies with ISO IEC Guide 22 and EN45014 This product complies with the req...

Page 43: ...documentation to the same party or destroy any such materials not transferred Except as set forth above you may not transfer or assign the Software or your rights under this License Agreement Modification reverse engineering reverse compiling or disassembly of the Software is expressly prohibited However if you are a European Community EC resident information necessary to achieve interoperability ...

Page 44: ...tion to this License Agreement LIMITED WARRANTY LIMITATION OF LIABILITY All warranties and limitations of liability applicable to the Software are as stated on the Limited Warranty Card or in the product manual whether in paper or electronic form accompanying the Software Such warranties and limitations of liability are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference SEVERABILITY In the ev...