Atheros AR5BUB173 User manual

Atheros1X1singleband
802.11b/g/n module
ModelAR5BUB173
March2009

2000–2009byAtherosCommunications, Inc.All rightsreserved.
Atheros®,AtherosDriven®,AtherosXR®, Driving the WirelessFuture®, ROCm®,SuperAG®, SuperG®,
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Notice
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noresponsibility foranyinaccuraciesthatmaybe contained in thisdocument,andmakesnocommitment
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DocumentConventions
TextConventions
bold Boldtypewithinparagraphtextindicatescommands,filenames,
directorynames, paths, output,orreturnedvalues.
Example:TheDK_Clientpackagewillnotfunctionunlessyou
usethe wdreg_install batchfile.
italic Withincommands, italicsindicateavariablethattheusermust
specify.
Example: mem_alloc size_in_bytes
Titlesofmanualsorotherpublisheddocumentsarealsosetin
italics.
Courier TheCourierfontindicatesoutput ordisplay.
Example:
Error:Unableto allocate memory fortransfer!
Menu TheMenucharactertagisusedformenu items.
Example: Choose Edit> Copy.
[] Withincommands, items
enclosedinsquarebracketsareoptional
parametersorvaluesthattheusercanchoosetospecifyoromit.
{} Withincommands, itemsenclosedinbracesareoptionsfrom
whichtheusermustchoose.
| Withincommands, thevertical barseparatesoptions.
…Anellipsisindicatesarepetitionoftheprecedingparameter.
> Therightanglebracketseparatessuccessivemenuselections.
Example: Start > Programs > DK > wdreg_install.
Notices
NOTE: Thismessagedenotesneutralorpositiveinformationthat callsout
important pointstothe text. Anoteprovidesinformationthat mayapplyonly
inspecialcases.

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Revision History
Revision Description of Changes
March2009 InitialRelease

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Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................................7
SystemRequirements........................................................................................7
ProfileManagement.................................................................................................7
CreateorModifyaConfigurationProfile.......................................................7
RemoveaConfigurationProfile......................................................................8
AutoProfileSelection Management.......................................................................8
SwitchingtoaDifferent ConfigurationProfile.....................................................9
ImportandExportProfiles.......................................................................................9
Importing aProfile.....................................................................................................9
ExportingaProfile.....................................................................................................9
TCP/IPConfiguration.............................................................................................9
ConfiguringtheTCP/IPAddressforthenetworkdevice:....................................9
General Tab..............................................................................................................10
AdvancedTab.........................................................................................................10
SecurityTab.............................................................................................................11
UsingEAP-TLSSecurity.................................................................................12
UsingEAP-TTLSSecurity...............................................................................12
UsingPEAP(EAP-GTC)Security..................................................................13
UsingPEAP-MSCHAPV2Security...............................................................14
UsingLEAPSecurity.......................................................................................15
ConfiguringLEAP....................................................................................................15
Pre-SharedEncryptionKeys.................................................................................16
Definingpre-sharedencryption keys:..................................................................16
OverwritinganExisting StaticWEP Key.............................................................16
DisablingStaticWEP..............................................................................................16
UsingWPAPassphraseSecurity..........................................................................17
ZeroConfiguration.................................................................................................17
WirelessNetworkConfiguration...........................................................................17
ChecktheStatusInformationorDiagnostics......................................................18
Current Status...................................................................................................18
AdapterInformationButton.................................................................................19
DiagnosticsTab.......................................................................................................19
Transmitted Frames................................................................................................20
Received Frames....................................................................................................20
Scan AvailableNetworks.......................................................................................20
Connecting toadifferentnetwork.........................................................................20

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DisplaySettings......................................................................................................22
ACU Tools...............................................................................................................22
TrayIcon..................................................................................................................23
Color.........................................................................................................................24
Quality.......................................................................................................................24
RSSI*........................................................................................................................24
AdHocMode..........................................................................................................24
AdHocModeProfileConfiguration.............................................................24
Infrastructure(AccessPoint)Mode......................................................................25
Infrastructure(AccessPoint)ModeProfileConfiguration........................25
UninstallanOldDriver.........................................................................................26
AdditionalSecurityFeatures................................................................................26
MessageIntegrityCheck (MIC)............................................................................26
AdvancedStatusInformation...............................................................................27
RegulatoryComplianceNotices...........................................................................33
USA-FederalCommunicationsCommission (FCC)..........................................33
EuropeanCommunity CENotice:...................................................................36
Taiwan DGTRadioCompliance:..........................................................................37

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Introduction
ThecardusestheAtherosClientUtility(ACU)whichisauser-modeutilitydesignedto
editandadd profilesforselectedAtherosnetworkinterfaceadapters.
SystemRequirements
Laptop/PCcontaining:
32-bitPCI ExpressBus
32MBmemoryorgreater
300 MHzprocessororhigher
MicrosoftWindows2000,WindowsMillenniumEdition, Windows98Second
Edition, WindowsXP,orWindowsNT4.0(with ServicePack6)
ProfileManagement
Configurethewirelessnetworkadapter(wirelesscard) fromtheProfileManagement tab
oftheAtherosClientUtility.
Addaprofile
Editaprofile
ImportaProfile
ExportaProfile
Orderprofiles
Switchtoadifferent profile
Removeaprofile
ConnecttoaDifferent
Network
Thewirelessnetworkadapterworksineither infrastructuremode (whichusesanaccess
point)or adhocmode (agroupofstationsparticipatinginthewirelessLAN).
CreateorModifyaConfigurationProfile
Toadd anewconfigurationprofile,click New ontheProfileManagement tab. Tomodify
aconfigurationprofile, selecttheconfigurationfromtheProfilelistandclickthe Modify
button.
TheProfileManagementdialogboxdisplaystheGeneraltab.Inprofilemanagement:
EdittheGeneral tab.
EdittheSecuritytab.
EdittheAdvancedtab.
Toconfigureaprofileforadhocoraccess point(infrastructure)mode,edittheNetwork
TypefieldontheAdvancedtab.
NotethattheACU onlyallowsthecreationof16 configurationprofiles. Afterthe
creationof16 profiles,clickingthe Newbuttondisplaysanerrormessage. Removean
oldprofileormodifyanexistingprofileforanewuse.

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RemoveaConfigurationProfile
1. Goto theProfileManagementtab.
2. Selecttheprofiletoremovefrom thelistofconfigurationprofiles.
3. Clickthe Remove button.
AutoProfileSelectionManagement
Includingaprofileintheautoselectionfeatureallowsthewirelessadapterto
automaticallyselectthatprofilefromthelistofprofilesanduseittoconnecttothe
network.
Includingaprofileinautoprofileselection:
1. OntheProfileManagement tab,clickthe OrderProfiles button.
2. TheAutoProfileSelectionManagementwindowappears, withalistofallcreated
profilesinthe AvailableProfiles box.
3. Highlight theprofilestoaddtoautoprofileselection,thenclick Add.Theprofiles
appearinthe AutoSelectedProfiles box.
Ordering theautoselectedprofiles:
1. Highlight aprofileinthe AutoSelectedProfiles box.
2. Click MoveUp, MoveDown, or Remove asappropriate. ThefirstprofileintheAuto
SelectedProfilesboxhashighestpriority,andthelastprofilehaslowestpriority.
3. Click OK.
4. Checkthe AutoSelectProfiles box.
5. Savethemodifiedconfigurationfile.
Whenautoprofileselectionisenabledbychecking AutoSelectProfiles ontheProfile
Managementtab, theadapterscansforanavailablenetwork. Theprofilewiththe
highestpriorityandthesameSSIDasoneofthefoundnetworksistheonethatisused
toconnecttothenetwork.Iftheconnectionfails, theadaptertriesthenexthighest
priorityprofilethatmatchestheSSID, andsoon.
Withautoprofileselectionenabled, thewirelessadapterscansforavailablenetworks.
Thehighestpriorityprofilewith thesameSSIDasafoundnetworkisusedtoconnectto
thenetwork.Onafailedconnection,theadaptertrieswiththenexthighestpriority
profile.

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Switching toaDifferentConfiguration Profile
1. Toswitchtoadifferent profile,gototheProfileManagementtab.
2. ClickontheprofilenameintheProfileList.
3. Clickthe Activate button.
TheProfileListprovidesiconsthatspecifytheoperational stateforthatprofile.Thelist
alsoprovidesiconsthatspecifythesignal strengthforthatprofile.
ImportandExportProfiles
ImportingaProfile
1. FromtheProfileManagement tab,clickthe Import button. TheImportProfile
windowappears.
2. Browsetothedirectorywheretheprofileislocated.
3. Highlight theprofilename.
4. Click Open. Theimportedprofileappearsintheprofileslist.
Exporting aProfile
1. FromtheProfileManagement tab,highlighttheprofiletoexport.
2. Clickthe Export button.TheExport Profilewindowappears.
3. Browsetothedirectorytoexporttheprofileto.
4. Click Save. Theprofileisexportedtothespecifiedlocation.
TCP/IPConfiguration
ConfiguringtheTCP/IPAddress forthenetworkdevice:
1. Afterconfiguringthewirelessnetworkadapterproperties, opentheControlPaneland
open NetworkandDial-upConnections.
2. FindtheLocalAreaConnectionassociatedwiththewirelessnetworkadapter.Right-
clickthatconnection,andclick Properties.
3. Select InternetProtocol(TCP/IP) andclick Properties.
4. Clicktheradiobutton UsethefollowingIPaddress,thenenteranIPaddress andSubnet
mask. AssigninganIPaddressandSubnetmaskallowsstationstooperateinaccess
pointmode(infrastructuremode)orinadhocmodeandtohaveInternetaccess.Default
gatewayandDNSserverinformationisalsorequired. IPconfigurationinformation
(DHCPtoassigntheIPaddress,gatewayandDNSserverIPaddresses)isusually
obtainedfromthecorporateITstaff.
5. Click OK tofinish.

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GeneralTab
IntheAtherosClientUtility, accesstheGeneraltabbyclicking New or Modify onthe
ProfileManagementtab.Editthefields intheGeneraltab toconfiguretheconfiguration
profile.MakesuretoalsoedittheSecurityandAdvancedtabs.
ProfileName
Identifiestheconfigurationprofile. Thisnamemustbe
unique.Profilenamesarenotcasesensitive.
ClientName
Identifiestheclientmachine.
NetworkNames(SSIDs)
TheIEEE 802.11wirelessnetworkname.Thisfieldhasa
maximumlimitof32 characters.
Configureuptothree SSIDs (SSID1,SSID2,andSSID3).
AdvancedTab
IntheAtherosClientUtility, accesstheAdvancedtabbyclicking New or Modify onthe
ProfileManagementtab,thenclickingtheAdvancedtab inProfileManagement.Edit
thefieldsintheAdvancedtabofProfileManagementtoconfiguretheprofile.
Transmit
PowerLevel
SelectsthetransmitpowerlevelinmW. Actualtransmitpowermaybe
limitedbyhardware.
PowerSave
Mode
Specify:
Maximum modecausestheaccess pointto bufferincoming messages
forthewirelessadapter. Theadapterperiodicallypollstheaccess
pointtoseeifanymessagesarewaiting.
Normal usesmaximum whenretrievingalargenumberofpackets,
thenswitchesbackto powersavemodeafterretrieving thepackets.
Off turnspowersaving off,thuspoweringupthewirelessadapter
continuouslyforashortmessageresponsetime.
NetworkType
Specifiesthenetworkaseitherinfrastructureoradhoc.
802.11b
Preamble
Specifiesthepreamblesettingin802.11b.Thedefaultsettingis Short&
Long (accesspointmode),whichallowsbothshortandlongheadersin
the802.11bframes. Theadaptercanonlyuseshortradioheadersifthe
access pointsupportsandusesthem. Setto LongOnly tooverride
allowingshortframes.
Authentication
Mode
Selectthemodethewirelessadapterusesto authenticateto anAP:
Auto causestheadapterto attemptauthenticationusing shared, but
switchesitto openauthenticationifsharedfails.
Open enablesanadapterto attemptauthenticationregardlessofits
WEPsettings. Itwill onlyassociatewiththeaccesspointiftheWEP
keysonboththeadapter andtheaccesspointmatch.
Shared onlyallowstheadapterto associatewithaccess pointsthat
havethesameWEPkey.