D-Link Air DWL-520 User manual

D-LinkAir DWLDWL--520520
11Mbps Wireless LAN
PCI Adapter
Manual
Please see the Quick Install Guide, included separately, for installation instructions.
Building Networks for People

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Contents
Contents of Package .........................................................................3
Introduction...............................................................................................4
Wireless Basics.....................................................................................5
Configuration Utility.............................................................................8
Troubleshooting...................................................................................15
Networking Basics.............................................................................17
Technical Specifications................................................................42
D-Link locations...................................................................................45
Contacting Technical Support...................................................46
Limited Warranty.................................................................................47
Registration............................................................................................51

Contents of Package
Contents of Package:
•DWL-520 Wireless PCI Adapter
•Manual
•Quick Installation Guides
•Driver CD
If any of the above items are missing, please contact your reseller.

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Introduction
The D-Link Air DWL-520 11Mbps Wireless PCI Adapter is an ideal way to
connect your computer to a wireless network or as part of a wired LAN (Local
Area Network) with a wireless segment. After completing the steps outlined
in the Quick Install Guide (included separately) 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 and play!
This DWL-520 comes with drivers for the most popular operating systems
and can be integrated into a larger network, running Windows XP, Windows
2000, Windows ME, or Windows 98 in either Ad Hoc mode (without an
Access Point) or Infrastructure mode (with an Access Point.) Yet the IEEE
802.11b standards compliance means this adapter gives you the flexibility to
connect it to any 802.11b network. The IEEE 802.11b Ethernet standard
allows you to connect computers and devices at speeds up to 11Mbps,
dependent upon the distance between wireless adapters.
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 familiarize yourself with wireless technology. But you should
also give yourself some time to become familiar with your new wireless
network.

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 or
business. Strictly adhering to IEEE 802.11b, the D-Link Air wireless family of
products will allow you to access the data you want, when and where you
want it. No longer will you be tethered to a workstation or forced to run new
wiring. You will be able to enjoy the freedom that wireless networking
delivers.
Standards -Based Technology
The IEEE 802.11b standard designates that devices operate at an optimal
data rate of 11 Megabits per second. This means you will be able to transfer
large files quickly or even watch a movie in MPEG format over your network
without noticeable delays. This technology works by using multiple
frequencies in the 2.4GHz range utilizing Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
(DSSS) technology. D-Link Air products will automatically sense the best
possible connection speed to ensure the greatest speed and range possible
with the technology.
Installation Considerations
Designed to go up to 300 feet (100 meters) indoors and up to 900 feet (273
meters) outdoors, D-Link Air DWL-520 lets you access your network from
virtually anywhere you want. Keep in mind, however, that the number and
thickness of walls, ceilings or other objects that the wireless signals must
pass thru may limit range. Typical ranges vary depending on the types of
materials and background RF noise in your home or business. The key to
maximizing range is to follow these basic principles:

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Wireless Basics (continued)
1. Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the access point and your
receiving device to a minimum -Each wall or ceiling can reduce your D-
Link Air Wireless product’s range from 3-90 feet. For some business or
large residential home deployment, I may be more beneficial to have
more than one access point with overlapping coverage.
2. Be aware of the direct line between Access Points, Residential Gateways,
and Computers -A wall that is 1.5 feet thick, at a 45 degree angle
appears to be almost 3 feet thick. At a 2 degree angle it looks over 42
feet thick! Try to make sure that the AP and Adapters are positioned so
that the signal will travel straight through a wall or ceiling for better
reception.
3. Building Materials make a difference -A solid metal door or aluminum
studs may have a negative effect on range. Again, try to position Access
Points, Residential Gateways, and Computers so that the signal passes
through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.
4. Make sure that the antenna is positioned for best reception by using the
software signal strength tools included with your product.
5. Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet) from electrical devices that
generate RF noise, like microwaves, monitors, electric motors, etc.
For the average residence, range should not be a problem. If you
experience low or no signal strength in areas of your home that you wish
to access, consider positioning the Access Point in a location directly
between the Residential Gateways and/or Computers that will be
connected. Additional Access Points can be connected to provide better
coverage in rooms where the signal does not appear as strong as desired.

Wireless Basics (continued)
Using radio frequency (RF) technology, WLANs transmit and receive data
over the air, minimizing the need for wired connections. Thus, WLANs
combine data connectivity with user mobility, and, through simplified
configuration, enable movable LANs.
•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.
•Installation Flexibility -Wireless technology allows the network to go
where wires cannot go.
•Reduced Cost-of-Ownership -While the initial investment required for
wireless LAN hardware might be higher than the cost of wired LAN
hardware, overall installation expenses and life-cycle costs will be
significantly lower. Long-term cost benefits are greatest in dynamic
environments requiring frequent moves, adds, and changes.
•Scalability -Wireless LAN systems can be configured in a variety of
topologies to meet the needs of specific applications and installations.
Configurations are easily changed and range from peer-to-peer networks
suitable for a small number of users to full infrastructure networks of
thousands of users that allows roaming over a broad area.

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Configuration Utility
D-Link Air DWL-520 uses the “Configuration Utility” as the management
software. The utility provides the user an easy interface to change any
settings related to the wireless adapter. When the computer is started, the
“Configuration Utility” starts automatically and the system tray icon is loaded
in the toolbar. Clicking on the utility icon will start the Configuration Utility.
Another way to start the Configuration Utility is to click on Start>Programs>D-
Link DWL-520.
A new icon -will appear in your Icon tray.
If the icon is in red, it means that DWL-520 NIC configuration is invalid or
incomplete. A “red” icon may indicate that the adapter is set to an incorrect
channel or the communication mode is set incorrectly. Verify the settings for
the DWL-520 and make sure that the computer is within wireless range.
Double-click on the icon shown above. The screen below will be displayed.

Link Info Tab
The Link Info Tab displays the current state of your wireless adapter.
The fields in this menu provide the following information:
•State:shows the association state of your computer with the
wireless LAN. When operating in Infrastructure mode, this field
shows the MAC address of the Access Point with which you are
communicating. When operating in Ad Hoc mode, this field shows
the virtual MAC address used by computers participating in the Ad
Hoc network. In both cases, the MAC address will be shown in
hex format (BSSID.) If the word scanning appears in this field, it
indicates that networking has not been achieved. The adapter is
searching for an available Access Point, within range. (Note: If
there is a problem with driver installation, this field will display an
error message.)
•Rescan: Pressing the rescan button causes the driver to restart
and begin its connection procedure. The connection procedure
differs depending on the mode of the driver.
•Infrastructure Mode: The driver will scan all available
channels continuously until it finds one or more Access
Points that matches its SS ID. It will then try to authenticate
and associate with the Access Point.
•Ad Hoc Mode: The driver will scan for 5 seconds looking
for an existing Ad Hoc network using the same SSID. If one
is not found, the driver will “start” its own Ad Hoc network.
•Current Channel: shows the channel on which the connection is
made. In Infrastructure mode, this number changes as the radio
scans the available channels.
•Current Tx Rate:shows the highest transmit rate of the current
association.
•Throughput: shows the short term transmit and receive
throughput in bytes/second, and is continuously updated.
•Link Quality: is only active when in Infrastructure Mode. The
bar graph displays the quality of the link with the Access Point. If
the Link quality becomes “poor” the driver will begin looking for a
better Access Point. The graph will be labeled for quality as as
shown on the following page:

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Link Info Tab continued
•“Poor”
•“Weak”
•“Fair”
•“Good”
•“Excellent”
•Signal Strength: is active only when in Infrastructure Mode.
The graph displays normalized signal strength averaged over all
frames over 100 bytes long that are received by the Access Point.
Configuration Tab
Select the Configuration tab to access the Configuration menu, as shown
below. You can make changes to any of the fields shown below, without the
need to restart your computer.