Sony PCWA-A100 - Wireless Lan Access Point, Getting Started

Page 1: ... is also possible for multiple of computers within the same LAN system to connect to the Internet if the Access Point is connected to a telephone line an ISDN router cable modem or to an xDSL modem Furthermore you can build a Wireless LAN environment between computers that are installed with the Wireless LAN PC Card without having to use the Access Point This is called peer to peer connection Note...

Page 2: ...Overview Wireless LAN Utilities The setup process Before making settings Important precautions Page 2 ...

Page 3: ... can also make detailed settings for Internet connections Access Point Firmw are Upgrade Utility This is the softw are for updateing Access Point firmw are If the Access Point Setup Utility and Access Point firmw are versions is incompatible update the Wireless LAN Utilities or update the Access Point firmw are Refer here for details on checking and updating versions Note If you are using Window s...

Page 4: ...not been used 1 Insert the Wireless LAN PC Card into your computer 2 Install the Wireless LAN PC Card driver Note If you are using a computer that has multiple Ethernet interfaces you must stop using an Ethernet interface other than the Wireless LAN PC Card Refer to When using a computer that has an Ethernet interface other than the Wireless LAN PC Card for details 3 Setup the Window s based envir...

Page 5: ...Before making settings Important precautions Check the version When using a computer that has an Ethernet interface other than the Wireless LAN PC Card Privileges of Window s 2000 users Page 5 ...

Page 6: ...p Utility or Basic Access Point Setup Utility Either the Custom Access Point Setup Utility or the Basic Access Point Setup Utility starts 2 Check the version that is displayed in the title bar Checking the Access Point firmware version 1 Right click the Wireless Palette in the status area of the taskbar 2 Select the Version from the menu that is displayed If the combination of the Access Point Set...

Page 7: ...art menu select Settings then Control Panel 2 Double click System If all of the control panel options are not displayed click view all Control Panel Options then double click System 3 Select the Device Manager tab and double click Netw ork adapters 4 Double click the netw ork adapter that you w ant to stop 5 Select the check box for Disable in this Hardw are Profile in the dialog box that is displ...

Page 8: ...ution of Wireless LAN Utilities Yes w ith restrictions 1 Users Restricted users Installation of driver No Installation of Wireless LAN Utilities No Execution of Wireless LAN Utilities Yes w ith restrictions 2 1 Registration of the Access Point is not possible with the Wireless Palette Even if the Encryption Key is changed with the Access Point Setup Utility that setting is not reflected at the cli...

Page 9: ...nual for details 3 Establish a connection to the Access Point using the Wireless Palette Refer to the Wireless LAN PC Card Operating Instructions manual for details Follow the task sequence below to configure the Access Point using the Custom Setup Utility 1 Proceed to Loading the Access Point configuration to load the current configuration from the Access Point 2 Proceed to Setting common paramet...

Page 10: ...in approximately 100 m 330 feet o The Wireless Palette displays the communication status to the Access Point Forgot your password You can check your passw ord using the follow ing steps if it w as changed after you uploaded the settings o Use the Explorer to open the folder to w hich the Access Point Setup Utility w as installed normally it is C Program Files Sony WirelessLAN on the computer to w ...

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Page 12: ... Encryption Key We strongly recommend that you change this to prevent unw arranted use from an outside party Closed Wireless System Check this option to shield the Access Point from computers on other w ireless LANs System Administrator Name Enter the name of your system administrator You may enter up to 63 alphanumeric characters including symbols Hint System Administrator may be left blank Syste...

Page 13: ...e Access Point to the cable or xDSL modem For further steps proceed to Setting up cable connection LAN Bridge Mode Select this option to connect the Access Point to the ISDN router This mode is also recommended for connecting the Access Point to the existing LAN such as the corporate LAN Consult your netw ork administrator to identify the correct connection mode For further information on the oper...

Page 14: ... the ISP Passw ord re enter Enter the passw ord for connecting to the ISP once again Phone Number 1 Enter the telephone number of the ISP Phone Number 2 Enter the alternate telephone number to use w hen a call to Phone Number 1 is not completed This item does not necessarily need to be entered DNS Server 1 Enter the primary DNS server address if the ISP provides it DNS Server 2 Enter the secondary...

Page 15: ...s of the Access Point acting as the local DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server Size of IP Address Pool Enter the number of IP addresses that the DHCP server holds This number should be larger than the number of clients computers in your wireless LAN In most cases enter the recommended maximum number of clients 16 You may specify up to 49 clients The access speed declines as more clients...

Page 16: ...rformed using your new configuration 8 Click FINISH when the message Link established with Access Point is displayed The Custom Setup Utility closes Note If an error message appears open the Custom Access Point Setup Utility and check the configuration Page 16 ...

Page 17: ...ed on the computer is specified in your cable modem contract then fill in the follow ing fields If this option is left unchecked the IP address is automatically assigned w hen connection to the ISP is established Hint Ask your ISP cable TV company for more information WAN IP Address Enter the IP address of the WAN WAN Subnet Mask Enter the subnet mask of the WAN Default Router Enter the IP address...

Page 18: ...DHCP server You may specify up to 720 minutes Hint To save the parameters you have entered the Access Point configuration file on the hard disk click SAVECONFIG The file may be loaded by clicking LOAD on the Selection of connection mode and setup of common parameters dialog box See Loading the Access Point configuration 3 Click NEXT A screen appears asking you to confirm the mode you have selected...

Page 19: ...CP is not used then fill in the follow ing fields IP Address Enter the IP address of the Access Point Subnet Mask Enter the subnet mask of the Access Point Default Router Enter the IP address for the default router Hints Refer to the manual that comes w ith your ISDN router for details To save the parameters you have entered the Access Point configuration file on the hard disk click SAVECONFIG The...

Page 20: ...ed You may start the link test w hen the Pow er indicator on the Access Point turns green 5 Click LINK TEST The link test betw een the Access Point and the client is performed using your new configuration 6 Click FINISH w hen the message Link established w ith Access Point is displayed The Custom Setup Utility closes Note If an error message appears open the Custom Setup Utility and check the conf...

Page 21: ... of the Access Point 2 Click the DHCP Server Setup tab This dialog box is for specifying functions of the Access Point acting as the DHCP server Size of IP Address Pool Enter the number of IP addresses that the DHCP server holds This number should be larger than the number of clients computers in your w ireless LAN Normally enter the recommended maximum number of clients 16 You may specify up to 4...

Page 22: ...ation is uploaded because the Access Point is automatically restarted You may start the link test w hen the Pow er indicator on the Access Point turns green 6 Click LINK TEST The link test betw een the Access Point and the client is performed using your new configuration 7 Click FINISH w hen the message Link established w ith Access Point is displayed The Custom Setup Utility closes Note If an err...

Page 23: ...ter suddenly stops functioning w hen the Access Point is connected to the ISDN router This explanation describes the former situation 1 Startup the Custom Access Point Setup Utility 2 Confirm w hether or not the Access Point ID and passw ord are correct and click SCAN The Access Point IP Address configuration screen is displayed 3 Enter the same IP address for the sub net as the client computer in...

Page 24: ... to enable sharing of files and the printer You can select the Cable Modem connection mode 5 Set each of the Connection Mode and Common Parameters and click NEXT The Setup of LAN Connection Mode screen is displayed 6 Manually set the WAN side Ethernet side IP address Consult w ith the netw ork manager regarding the setting of this IP address 7 Click NEXT A screen appears asking you to confirm the ...

Page 25: ... is uploaded because the Access Point is automatically restarted You may start the link test w hen the Pow er indicator on the Access Point turns green 10 Click LINK TEST The link test betw een the Access Point and the client is performed using your new configuration 11 Click FINISH w hen the message Link established w ith Access Point is displayed The Custom Setup Utility closes Note If an error ...

Page 26: ...Additional information Troubleshooting Helpful Information Technical Tips Glossary Trademarks Page 26 ...

Page 27: ...ode Changing the status of your connection Cautions w hen changing the mode Encryption Key Setup passw ord Drivers Peer to Peer mode General connections w ith the Access Point General overview of the Wireless Palette Internet service providers Other information Page 27 ...

Page 28: ...t to the HUB Use a straight Ethernet cable w hen connecting the Access Point to the HUB What type of Ethernet cable should I use to connect directly to a computer Use a cross Ethernet cable w hen connecting the Access Point directly to a computer Is the Access Point Ethernet interface 100BASE TX compatible The Access Point Ethernet interface is 10BASE T compatible It is not compatible to LAN that ...

Page 29: ...n the settings you have made for your email softw are program Also it w ill periodically establish a connection w ith the server for Window s update information The settings are for automatic connection and are unintentional Check your settings and refer to your mail softw are program s help for more information I cannot connect for a short period of time after clicking on the To Disconnect button...

Page 30: ...nt to connect w ith the Wireless Palette Tool Box and click the Select button o Startup the Wireless Palette o Click to display the Tool Box then click the Access Point that you w ant to use o Click Select then click OK 2 Restart your computer 3 Set the PC card to stop 4 Remove the Wireless LAN PC Card 5 Re install the Wireless LAN PC Card 6 Re acquire the IP address o Release or acquire the IP ad...

Page 31: ...lick OK The IP address is assigned to the Access Point and communications betw een the client and the Access Point are established 6 Perform the same operations as normal using the Access Point Setup Utility Here w e w ill explain connecting to the LAN no DHCP server and selecting the LAN connection mode to enable sharing of files and the printer You can also select the Cable Modem mode if you are...

Page 32: ...nections The Access Point is connected to the telephone line and the pow er is on What s the problem The Access Point can no longer communicate w ith the Wireless LAN PC card installed in the computer In the LAN mode the Access Point becomes a client to the existing DHCP server such as an ISDN router Likew ise the Wireless LAN PC card installed in the computer becomes a client of the existing DHCP...

Page 33: ...cess Point s tw o reset modes to forcibly change the Access Point setting Use the reset mode to restore the Access Point to the factory default settings After placing the Access Point in the reset mode restore it to the factory default settings by using the Access Point Firmw are Utility See the Access Point Firmw are Upgrade Utility Help for the procedure Change to Suitable Access Point Settings ...

Page 34: ...ections to the Internet from anything other than that MAC address How to handle Turn off the pow er to the cable modem that you use and w ait for a few seconds Doing so w ill cause it to delete from the cable modem the MAC address that it has stored Also depending on the cable television company w ith w hich you have an agreement the MAC address may be registered If this is the case you may need t...

Page 35: ...ant to connect then connect the pow er and start it up 3 Confirm that the computer that is installed w ith the PCWA C100 Wireless LAN PC Card can be connected to the Access Point 4 It is possible in this state for file and printer sharing w ithin the Wireless netw ork and to access the Ethernet from the Wireless side Change the mode of the Access Point to LAN mode to share files and printers betw ...

Page 36: ...ess netw ork but it is not possible to share files and printers betw een the Ethernet and Wireless sides and to access the Wireless side from the Ethernet side When the current setting is the Cable Modem mode and the netw ork to w hich you w ant to shift is LAN on w hich the DHCP server is running This can be used as is if the Access Point settings are the default settings for the Cable Modem mode...

Page 37: ...onnection can require some time 3 Start either the Custom Access Point Setup Utility or the Basic Access Point Setup Utility The softw are reset w ill automatically set the passw ord to its ex factory setting of public You can now change the passw ord to anything other than public 4 Click SCAN Selection of communication mode and setup of common parameters dialog box appears 5 Click NEXT Note Alw a...

Page 38: ... 40 bit encryption function that conforms to IEEE802 11 It is also sometimes called the WEP Key in other company products I w ant to change the Encryption Key Use one of the Access Point Setup Utilities on a computer containing the Wireless LAN PC Card to change the Encryption Key Communications betw een the Access Point and the above computer are maintained because the change in the Encryption Ke...

Page 39: ...art either the Custom Access Point Setup Utility or the Basic Access Point Setup Utility The softw are reset w ill automatically set the passw ord to its ex factory setting of public You can now change the passw ord to anything other than public 4 Click SCAN Selection of communication mode and setup of common parameters dialog box appears 5 Click NEXT Note Alw ays delete the in the Encryption Key ...

Page 40: ...that there are many other netw ork drivers installed In many cases this problem can be solved by deleting unused or infrequently used netw ork drivers We strongly recommend that you confirm the location in the driver installation disk w hen deleting the driver and set it so that they can be reinstalled later if necessary Page 40 ...

Page 41: ...t Settings then Control Panel 2 Double click System 3 Select the Device Manager tab 4 Double click Netw ork adapters 5 Double click the device that you w ant to disable e g Intel 8255x based PCI Ethernet Adapter 10 100 for PCG Z505JX 6 Select Disable w ith this hardw are profile 7 Click OK The disabled devices are indicated w ith a cross mark 8 Click OK to close the System Properties dialog box Fo...

Page 42: ...nistrator Sw itching the Access Point fails many times Symptom 1 Three Access Points are being used When you sw itch to a different Access Point 1 The address is acquired by DHCP 2 The IP address of the Access Point is displayed in the Wireless Palette Advanced information In this case communications cannot be established regardless of the states described above Also there is no response even to p...

Page 43: ...2 If the IP address assigned by the Access Point does not match the LAN IP address that client does not exist on the LAN Therefore it is not possible for the client to check their mail or to access the Internet When connecting the Access Point to the company s existing LAN line refer here for details In the meantime you can remove the Access Point from the LAN and re acquire the client computer s ...

Page 44: ...Access Point varies depending on the user The Wireless Palette still show s the previous computer name after change The Access Point has not yet recognized the new computer name Click the Nickname of the Access Point to connect in the Tool Box w indow of the Wireless Palette and click Select If the correct information is displayed click OK The connection mode w as changed but the IP Address on the...

Page 45: ...vider Use one of the Access Point Setup Utilities to register another Internet service provider I w ant to sw itch betw een tw o Internet service providers You can register multiple providers using the Wireless Palette For details refer to the Wireless Palette Help file Page 45 ...

Page 46: ...umber of clients increases the accessing speed generally decreases Is there a function for communication betw een tw o Access Points You cannot communicate betw een Access Points Why is it not possible to connect even though it is w ithin 100 m 330 feet Be aw are that there are differences in the distances that electric w aves w ill reach their target depending on the location of the setup and the...

Page 47: ...P gatew ay That is not possible The installation of tw o Wireless LAN PC Cards is not supported I use a telephone equipped w ith a door phone Can I use the Access Point w ith the telephone line mode The telephones equipped w ith door phones or business phone connectors have more pins than normal home phones In this case it is necessary to have installation w ork done Consult w ith your phone servi...

Page 48: ...l information Technical tips Each connection mode function Encryption Key WEP Key Setup passw ord Communication channels Reset mode and Softw are Reset mode Compatibility w ith other company products Page 48 ...

Page 49: ...Each connection mode function Functions of the Phone mode Functions of the Cable Modem mode Functions of the LAN mode Functions of the Local Only mode Page 49 ...

Page 50: ...AN already has a DHCP server there w ill be conflicts Refer here for details Dialup connect and disconnect You can use the Wireless Palette to connect and disconnect the dialup Therefore you cannot control from the computer connected by the Ethernet Automatic disconnect function of the dialup The automatic disconnect function of the dialup automatically disconnects the telephone w hen there is no ...

Page 51: ...possible to share files and printers betw een the Ethernet and w ireless netw ork sides Also it is possible to access the Ethernet side from the w ireless netw ork but conversely it is not possible to access the w ireless netw ork from the Ethernet side Ethernet cables that can be used This depends on the type of cable mode you are using Use the same type of cable that is connected betw een the ca...

Page 52: ... DHCP server is not operating w ith a LAN connecting the Access Point In that case communications betw een the Access Point and the Wireless client are not established so settings for the Access Point are impossible Refer here for details Ethernet cables that can be used Either using a cross cable or a straight cable differs according to the ISDN Router that you are using Use the same type of cabl...

Page 53: ...t LAN 6 Click UPLOAD and register the contents of the settings to the Access Point 7 For the other clients set the IP address subnet mask and default router to the appropriate settings on that LAN These operations w ill make it possible to use the Access Point w ith the LAN mode on LAN on w hich the DHCP server is not running Page 53 ...

Page 54: ...m Access Point Setup Utility Functions betw een each interface Ethernet Wireless The Access Point functions as a bridge Therefore it is possible for clients to share access w ith each other and to share files and printers betw een the tw o netw orks Hint The Access Point in the Local Only mode must never be connected to an existing LAN such as the one in your office The Access Point acts as the DH...

Page 55: ...uld allow them to maliciously use the customer s Access Point to access the Internet through their account From a security standpoint w e strongly recommend changing the Encryption Key Note Make sure to remember Encryption Key changes made by the customer You can use the Custom Access Point Setup Utility to set the Access Point to be a closed system Thereby clients on Wireless LAN connected to ano...

Page 56: ... w as set in case it is forgotten If it is forgotten a log file is created in the folder to w hich the Wireless LAN system is installed on the client computer w here the setting for the passw ord w as made You can use a text editor to view the passw ord in the log file The name of the log file is Access Point ID conf w hen the ID is 22a224 it is 22a224conf If you cannot remember the passw ord at a...

Page 57: ...y s w ireless access point or a w ireless station is operating nearby In that case it is possible that the electric w aves are interfering w ith each other You can sw itch channels to reduce the amount of interference and improve the baud rate Refer to Setting common parameters for details on how to change channels Page 57 ...

Page 58: ...nistrator of the LAN netw ork to w hich you w ant to connect and change to the appropriate settings To set to the Reset mode Hold the reset sw itch by using the tip of a paper clip for about one second w hile pow ering on the Access Point 1 Hold the reset sw itch by using the tip of a paper clip for about one second w hile pow ering on the Access Point 2 Release the reset sw itch w hen the POWER i...

Page 59: ...ike to decline any questions regarding that I w ant to control the dialup from my iBook Control of connecting and disconnecting the dial up is performed by the Wireless Palette Therefore it is not possible to control from an iBook Will it connect to the AirStation made by Melco We believe that it is possible to connect though w e do not guarantee operation In this case it is considered that comput...

Page 60: ... TCP IP protocol such as the Internet use a set of numbers like 192 168 0 1 IP address to identify a computer How ever it is time consuming to assign an IP address to every single computer With the DHCP server you can assign multiple IP addresses to it and let it assign an IP address to client computers Encryption Key Key used in the IEEE802 11 compliant security system WEP Using the Encryption Ke...

Page 61: ...n the United States and other countries Netscape and the Netscape N and Ship s Wheel logos are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the United States and other countries This Help File describes Window s 2000 Professional as Window s 2000 and Window s Millennium Edition as Window s Me All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective ow ners Copying all or part of ...