D-Link Air WCB-B13 User manual

D-Link Air WCB-B13
2.4 GHz Wireless Cardbus Adapter
Manual
Building Networks for People
®

2
Contents
1. Package Contents ......................................................................3
2. Introduction.................................................................................4
3. Wireless Basics ..........................................................................6
4. Getting Started............................................................................9
5. Using the Configuration Utility...................................................12
6. Troubleshooting ........................................................................ 18
7. Networking Basics .................................................................... 22
8. Technical Specifications............................................................50
9. Contacting Technical Support................................................... 52
10. Warranty and Registration........................................................53

3
1. Package Contents
Contents of Package:
•
D-Link Air WCB-B13 2.4GHz Wireless Cardbus Adapter
• Manual, QIG, and Drivers on CD
• Printed Quick Installation Guide
If any of the above items are missing, please contact your reseller.
System Requirements:
• A laptop computer with an available 32-bit Cardbus PC Card slot
• Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me, or Windows 98SE
• Cardbus Controller, properly installed and working
• At least 32 MB of memory and a 300 MHz processor
• An 802.11b Access Poin
WCB-B13

4
2. Introduction
The D-Link AirWCB-B13 Wireless Cardbus Adapter is an 802.11b wireless
adapter that supports high-speed wireless networking at home, at work or in
public places.
The WCB-B13 is compatible with existing802.11b devices such as the D-
Link Air and AirPlus family of products including the DWL-520 and DWL-
520+ Wireless PCI Adapters, the DI-614+ Wireless Router, DWL-900AP+
Wireless Access Point and the DWL-120 Wireless USB Adapter.
The WCB-B13 is an ideal way to connect your laptop computer to a Wireless
Local Area Network (WLAN.) After completing the steps outlined in the
Quick Installation Guide (included in the package) you will have the ability
to share information and resources, such as files and printers, and take full
advantage of a “connected” environment for work or play!
The WCB-B13 includes software driversfor the mostpopular Microsoft
Windows operating systems (Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me,
Windows 98SE) and can be integrated into a larger network, running, in
either Ad Hoc mode (without an Access Point) or Infrastructure mode (with
an Access Point.) Please take a look at our Getting Started section in this
manual to see examples of typical network setups using the WCB-B13 in
both Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc modes.
This manual provides a quick introduction to wireless technology and its
application as it relates to networking. Take a moment to read through this
manual and get acquainted with wireless technology.

5
Product Features
• Provides high-speed wireless connection up to 11Mbps
• Operates in the 2.4GHz frequency range
• Maximum reliability, throughput and connectivity with automatic data
rate switching
• Supports Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption at 64 or
128-bit encryption
• Supports infrastructure networks via an Access Point and peer-to-
peer communication in ad-hoc mode
• Built-in dual diversity antenna for reduced interference in a multi-path
environment
• 32-bit Cardbus Performance
• User-friendly configuration and diagnostic utilities
LEDs
LED stands for Light-Emitting Diode. The WCB-B13 has two LEDs:
• Link - Green LED lights on steady to indicate a proper
connection to the network.
• Activity - Amber LED flashes to indicate activity on the network.
WCB-B13
Activity
Link

6
3. Wireless Basics
D-Link Air wireless products are based on industry standards to provide
easy-to-use and compatible high-speed wireless connectivity within your
home, business or public access wireless networks. Strictly adhering to the
IEEE 802.11b and other standards, the D-Link wireless products will allow
you to access the data you want, when and where you want it. You will be
able to enjoy the freedom that wireless networking delivers.
A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a cellular computer network that
transmits and receives data with radio signals instead of wires. Wireless
LANs are used increasingly in both home and office environments, and
public areas such as airports, coffee shops and universities. Innovative ways
to utilize WLAN technology are helping people to work and communicate
more efficiently. Increased mobility and the absence of cabling and other
fixed infrastructure have proven to be beneficial for many users.
Wireless users can use the same applications they use on a wired network.
Wireless adapter cards used on laptop and desktop systems support the
same protocols as Ethernet adapter cards.
Under many circumstances, it may be desirable for mobile network devices
to link to a conventional Ethernet LAN in order to use servers, printers or an
Internet connection supplied through the wired LAN. A Wireless Access
Point (AP) is a device used to provide this link.
People use wireless LAN technology for many different purposes.
Mobility - Productivity increases when people have access to data in any
location within the operating range of the WLAN. Management decisions
based on real-time information can significantly improve worker efficiency.
Low Implementation Costs – WLANs (Wireless Local Area Networks) are
easy to set up, manage, change and relocate. Networks that frequently
change, both physically and logically, can benefit from WLANs ease of
implementation. WLANs can operate in locations where installation of wiring
may be impractical.
Installation Speed and Simplicity - Installing a wireless LAN system can
be fast and easy and can eliminate the need to pull cable through walls and
ceilings.
Network Expansion - Wireless technology allows the network to go where
wires cannot.
Scalability - Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) can be configured in a
variety of topologies to meet the needs of specific applications or

7
Wireless Basics
existing infrastructures. Configurations are easily changed and range from
peer-to-peer networks suitable for a small number of users to larger
infrastructure networks to accommodate hundreds or thousands of users,
depending on the number of wireless devices deployed.
The WCB-B13 is compatible with the D-Link Air and AirPlus 802.11b family of
products which include:
 2.4GHz Wireless PCI cards used with desktop computers (DWL-520,
DWL-520+)
 Wireless Routers (DI-614+, DI-714P+)
 Wireless Access Points (DWL-900AP, DWL-900AP+)
Standards - Based Technology
Based on the 802.11b standard, the WCB-B13 is also interoperable with
existing compatible 2.4GHz wireless technology with data transfer speeds of
up to 11Mbps.
Installation Considerations
The D-Link AirWCB-B13 lets you access a wireless network with your laptop
computer from virtually anywhere. Keep in mind, however, that the number,
thickness and location of walls, ceilings or other objects that the wireless
signal must pass thru may limit range. Typical ranges vary depending on the
types of materials and background RF (radio frequency) noise in your home
or business. The key to maximizing range is to follow these basic guidelines:
1. Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the WCB-B13 and other
network devices to a minimum - each wall or ceiling can reduce your D-
Link Air Wireless product’s range from 3-90 feet (1-30 meters.) Position
your receiving devices so that the number of walls or ceilings is
minimized.
2. Be aware of the direct line between network devices. A wall that is 1.5
feet thick (.5 meters), at a 45-degree angle appears to be almost 3 feet
(1 meter) thick. At a 2-degree angle it looks over 42 feet (14 meters)
thick! Try to make sure that devices are positioned so that the signal will
travel straight through a wall or ceiling for better reception.

8
Wireless Basics
3. Building Materials make a difference - a solid metal door or aluminum
studs may have a negative effect on range. Try to position wireless
devices, and computers with wireless adapters so that the signal passes
through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.
4. Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet or 1-2 meters) from electrical
devices or appliances that generate RF noise.

9
4. Getting Started
There are basically two modes of networking:
Infrastructure – using an Access Point, such as the DWL-6000AP
Ad-Hoc – directly connecting to another computer, for peer-to-peer
communication, using wireless network adapters on each
computer, such as two or more WCB-B13 cardbus adapters.
On the following pages we will show you an example of an Infrastructure
Network and an Ad-Hoc Network.
An Infrastructure network contains an Access Point. The Infrastructure
Network example shown on the following page contains the following D-Link
network devices:
A wireless Broadband Router – i.e., D-Link AirPlus DI-614+
A laptop computer with a wireless network adapter –
i.e., D-Link Air WCB-B13
A desktop computer with an Ethernet adapter – i.e., (D-Link DFE-530TX+)
A Cable modem – i.e., D-Link DCM-200
Please refer to the following sections of this manual for additional information
about setting up a network:
Networking Basics- learn how to check and assign your IP Address; share
printers and files.
Using the Configuration Utility- learn the settings for the WCB-B13, using
the web-based interface.
Troubleshooting – learn how to check for common installation issues and
other tips for troubleshooting.
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It is a protocol
for assigning IP addresses “automatically.” With a DHCP-capable
gateway/router, there is no need to manually assign an IP address.
With its default settings, the WCB-B13, when activated,
will automatically connect with other D-Link Air
or AirPlus products, right out of the box.

10
Getting Started
Setting Up an Infrastructure Network
You will need broadband Internet access (a Cable or DSL-
subscriber line into your home or office)
Consult with your Cable or DSL provider for proper installation of the
modem.
Connect the Cable or DSL modem to your Broadband router (such
as the D-Link DI-614+.) See the Quick Installation Guide included
with the router.
If an Ethernet port is available on the router, connect a computer
that is equipped with an Ethernet Network adapter (such as the
DFE-530TX+
)
to the router.
Install the drivers for the wireless network adapter (such as the
D-Link Air WCB-B13)into the laptop computer. See the Quick
Installation Guid
e
included withthe WCB-B13.
Please remember that D
-
Link Air wireless devices are pre-configured to connec
t
together, right out of the box, with their default settings.
For a typical wireless setup at home (as shown above), please do th
e
following:
WCB-B13

11
Getting Started
Setting up a Wireless Ad Hoc Network
IP Address
Install a network adapter into one computer. In the example above,
the D-Link Air DWL-120 USB Wireless Network adapter is
installed. You can also install the DWL-520 Wireless PCI Adapte
r
in the desktop computer. See the Quick Installation Guide include
d
with the product for installation instructions.
Install the WCB-B13 into a laptop computer. See the Quic
k
Installation Guide included with the product.
When assigning IP Addresses to the computers on the network, please
remember that the IP Address for each computer must be in the same IP
Address range as all the computers in the network, and the subnet mas
k
must be exactly the same for all the computers in the network.
For example: If the first computer is assigned an IP Address of 192.168.0.2
with a Subnet Mask of 255.255.255.0, then the second computer can be
assigned an IP Address of 192.168.0.3 with a Subnet Mask o
f
255.255.255.0, etc.
IMPORTANT: If computers or other devices are assigned the same IP
Address, one or more of the devices may not be visible on the network.
Set the wireless configuration for the adapters to Ad-Hoc mode,
set the adapters to the same channel, and assign an IP Address
to each computer on the Ad-Hoc network. (See Box below)
WCB-B13
DWL-120

12
5. Using the Configuration Utility
If you want to alter the default settings or optimize the performance of the
WCB-B13, D-Link has included a configuration utility to do so.
Before you use the configuration utility for the WCB-B13, you must install the
drivers and the configuration utility by inserting the CD-ROM that came with
the WCB-B13. (Please see the Quick Installation Guide that came with the
product.) After you have completed this installation and restarted your
computer, you can access the Configuration Utility at any time by clicking on
the icon in your taskbar at the bottom right corner of your PC’s screen.
• Double-click on the Configuration Utility icon
shown on the right.
Note: If the utility icon does not appear, double-click on the
shortcut icon that has been created on your desktop workspace
(shown here).
After double-clicking on the icon, the D-Link AirWCB-B13 Utility window will
appear as shown on the following page.
Note:With its default settings, the WCB-B13 will associate with D-Lin
k
A
ir / AirPlus products such as the DI-614+ (a wireless router), and the
DWL-520 (a wireless PCI adapter), right out of the box.

13
Configuration Utility
Link Info
After clicking on the Configuration Utility icon, the Link Info screen will
display the following:
Status: Displays the MAC Address of the Access Point that is associated
with the WCB-B13.
SSID: The Service Set Identifier is the name assigned to the wireless
network. The factory SSID setting is set to default.
TxRate:The factory setting is set to 11 Mbps; however, TxRate settings are
automatically determined by the WCB-B13 depending on the distance from
the access point.
Channel: Displays the channel information. By default, the channel is set to
6 and selection is automatically determined by the WCB-B13.
Link Quality /SignalStrength: Displaysthe Link Quality for the WCB-B13
wireless connection to the access point. The Signal Strength represents the
wireless signal between the access point and the WCB-B13. The percentage
coincides with the graphical bar.
Data Rate: Displays the statistics of data transmitted and received.
m
s

14
Configuration Utility
Configuration
To communicate on the network all devices must have the
same settings for the following properties:
SSID - (Service Set Identifier) is a name that identifies a wireless network. Access
Points and wireless clients attempting to connect to a specific WLAN (Wireless Local
Area Network) must use the same SSID. The default setting is default.
Wireless Mode - Click on the pull-down menu; select from the following options:
Infrastructure - connecting the WLAN using an Access Point such as the
DWL-6000AP. (The default setting.)
Ad-Hoc – wireless mode used when connecting directly to a computer
equipped with a wireless adapter such as the D-Link Air DWL-520 Wireless
PCI adapter in a peer-to-peer environment.
Channel – The default channel setting ischannel 6. However,the WCB-B13 will
automatically select the channel to match the channel setting for the selected
Access Point. In Ad Hoc mode, the channel must be manually set to the same
channel for each wireless adapter.
TX Rate - Select the transmission rate on the network. Auto is the default setting.
Preamble - Select Long or Short Preamble. The Preamble defines the length of
the CRC block (Cyclic Redundancy Check is a common technique for detecting data
transmission errors) for communication between the Access Point and the roaming
wireless Network adapters. Auto is the default setting. Note: High network traffic
areas should use the shorter preamble type.
If any changes are made to the configuration of the wireless adapter, click Apply to
save the changes.
This Configuration
screen displays the
default settings for
the WCB-B13.

15
Configuration Utility
Encryption
Please note that all devices must share the same Encryption
settings to communicate on the network.
Data Encryption – enable Encryption by clicking on the box. The WCB-B13
has Encryption disabled as the default setting.
Authorization mode – choose one of the following modes:
Open Authentication – communicates the key across the network
Shared Authentication – allows communication only with other
devices with identical WEP settings
Auto – will automatically adjust to the Authentication mode of the
wireless client
Network Key – enter a key in either ASCII (e.g., a word) or hexadecimal
format
Key Format - ASCII or Hexadecimal
Key Length - select the key length, either 64 or 128 bit
Default Key – select the key you wish to use for Encryption
Click Apply to save the changes.
Hexadecimal digits consist of the numbers 0-9 and the letters A-F
A
SCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is a code for
representing English letters as numbers from 0-127

16
Configuration Utility
Site Survey
Available Network
The window displays the Available Networks. Scroll up and down the list
and highlight the network to which you wish to connect. Click on the
Connect button.

17
Configuration Utility
About
The ABOUT screen gives you information about the Firmware and Utility
Versions of the WCB-B13.

18
6. Troubleshooting
This chapter provides solutions to problems that can occur during the
installation and operation of the WCB-B13 Wireless Adapter. Read the
following descriptions if you are having problems. (The examples below are
illustrated in Windows XP. If you have another operating system, these solutions
will still apply although the appearance on your computer screen may differ.)
1. Checking the Installation of the Drivers for the Wireless Adapter
• Go to Start
• Right-click on
My Computer
• Click Properties
• Select the Hardware Tab
• Click Device Manager

19
Troubleshooting
• Double-click on Network
Adapters
• Right-click on D-Link Air
WCB-B13 Wireless
Adapter
• Select Properties to check
that the drivers are
installed properly.
• Look under Device
Status
to check that the
device is working
properly.
• Click OK
D-Link AirWCB-B13 Wireless Cardbus Adapter
D-Link AirWCB-B13 Wireless Adapter
D-Link Air WCB-B13 Wireless Cardbus Adapter

20
Troubleshooting
2. I cannot connect to the access point or the wireless router.
•
Make sure that the SSID on the WCB-B13 Cardbus adapter is exactly
the same as the SSID on the Access Point or wireless router.
3. The WCB-B13 Power andLinklights are not on.
•
Check to see if the WCB-B13 Cardbus adapter is firmly inserted into a
PC Cardbus slot.
4. I forgot my Encryption key.
• Reset the Access Point to its factory default settings and restore the
WCB-B13 Wireless Cardbus Adapter to the factory default settings.
(The default settings are listed in Ch.5: Using the Configuration
Utility in this manual.)
5. The computer does notrecognize the WCB-B13 Wireless Adapter.
•
Make sure that the WCB-B13 Wireless Adapter is properly seated in
the computer’s Cardbus slot.
• If Windows does not detect the hardware upon insertion of the
adapter, make sure to completely remove drivers that were
previously loaded. To remove the drivers, do the following:
A. Under Tools> select Folder Options…> select View >
under Hidden files and folders > select Show hidden
files and folders
B. Uncheck Hide extension for known file types > click on
Apply
C. Search for the files TIACXLN.INF and TIACXLN.SYS.
Remove these files from the INF and SYSTEM32
(DRIVERS) folders in the Windows directory. Note:
Windows XP and Windows 2000 will rename .inf files that
have not received WHQL certification into oem.inf files (e.g.,
oem1.inf.)
6. The computer with the WCB-B13 installed is unable to connect tothe
wireless network.
• Check that the LED indicators for the broadband modem are
indicating normal activity. If not, there may be a problem with the
broadband connection.