D-Link DWL-510 User manual

D-Link Air DWL-510
2.4 GHz Wireless PCI Adapter
Manual
®

2
Contents
1. Package Contents ........................................... 3
2. Introduction ..................................................... 4
3. Wireless Basics ............................................... 7
4. Getting Started............................................... 10
5. Using the Configuration Utility .................... 13
6. Troubleshooting ............................................ 20
7. Networking Basics ........................................ 24
8. Technical Specifications............................... 52
9. Contacting Technical Support....................... 54
10. Warranty and Registration............................ 55

3
1. Package Contents
Contents of Package:
• D-Link Air DWL-510 2.4GHz Wireless PCI 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 PC computer with an available 32-bit PCI slot
• Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me, or Windows 98SE
• At least 32 MB of memory and a 300 MHz processor
• An 802.11b Access Point (e.g., DWL-1000AP for Infrastructure
Mode) or another 802.11b wireless adapter (e.g., DWL-650 for Ad-
Hoc mode.)

4
2. Introduction
The D-Link Air DWL-510 Wireless Cardbus Adapter is an 802.11b wireless
adapter that supports high-speed wireless networking at home, at work or in
public places.
The DWL-510 is compatible with existing 802.11b devices such as the D-
Link Air and AirPlus family of products including the DWL-650 Wireless
Cardbus Adapters, the DI-614+ Wireless Router, DWL-900AP+ Wireless
Access Point and the DWL-120 Wireless USB Adapter.
The DWL-510 is an ideal way to connect your 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 DWL-510 includes software drivers for the most popular 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 DWL-510 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 & Benefits
• Provides a simple and inexpensive way to connect your desktop
computer to a wireless network at home, or at the office
• Wi-Fi compatible
• Fully compliant with the 802.11b standard and interoperable with all
existing 802.11b-compliant devices
• Quick and Easy Installation- The DWL-510 installs quickly and easily
to a standard PCI 2.2 slot in a desktop computer. By following the
simple steps outlined in the Quick Installation Guide, you can connect
to an available wireless network in a matter of seconds
• High Performance 32-bit PCI- The high capacity PCI interface utilized
by the DWL-510 ensures optimal performance in transmitting a
wireless signal within the desktop computer. By utilizing a standard
PCI 2.2 interface, the DWL-510 ensures a wide range of compatibility
with motherboards used by PC manufacturers
• 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
• Provides a measure of security for the information transmitted over a
wireless network with high data encryption at 64 or 128-bit WEP.
• Supports infrastructure networks via an access point and peer-to-
peer communication in ad-hoc mode
• 32-bit PCI performance
• User-friendly configuration and diagnostic utilities

6
LEDs
LED stands for Light-Emitting Diode. The DWL-510 has a LED functioning
in two ways, Link and Activity:
• Link - Green LED lights on steady to indicate a proper
connection to the network.
• Activity - Green LED flashes to indicate activity on the network.

7
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

8
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 DWL-510 is compatible with the D-Link Air and AirPlus 802.11b family of
products which include:
 2.4GHz Wireless Cardbus used with laptop computers (DWL-650)
 Wireless Routers (DI-614+, DI-714P+)
 Wireless Access Points (DWL-900AP, DWL-900AP+)
Standards - Based Technology
Based on the 802.11b standard, the DWL-510 is also interoperable with
existing compatible 2.4GHz wireless technology with data transfer speeds of
up to 11Mbps.
Installation Considerations
The D-Link Air DWL-510 lets you access a wireless network with your
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 DWL-510 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.

9
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.

10
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 DWL-510 PCI 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 computer with a wireless network adapter –
i.e., D-Link Air DWL-510
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 DWL-510, using
the Configuration Program Utility.
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 DWL-510, when activated,
will automatically connect with other D-Link Air
or AirPlus products, right out of the box.

11
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 DWL-650)into the laptop computer. See the Quick
Installation Guid
e
included with the DWL-650.
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:
Install the D-Link Air DWL-510 wireless PCI adapter into an
available PCI slot on your desktop computer

12
Getting Started
Setting up a Wireless Ad Hoc Network
IP Address
Install a network adapter into one computer. In the example above,
the DWL-510 Wireless PCI Adapter in the desktop computer is
installed. See the Quick Installation Guide included with the product fo
r
installation instructions.
Install the DWL-650 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)

13
5. Using the Configuration Utility
If you want to alter the default settings or optimize the performance of the
DWL-510, D-Link has included a configuration utility to do so.
Before you use the configuration utility for the DWL-510, you must install the
drivers and the configuration utility by inserting the CD-ROM that came with
the DWL-510. (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 Air DWL-510 Utility window will
appear as shown on the following page.
Note: With its default settings, the DWL-510 will associate with D-Lin
k
A
ir / AirPlus products such as the DI-614+ (a wireless router), and the
DWL-650 (a wireless Cardbus adapter), right out of the box.

14
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 DWL-510.
SSID: The Service Set Identifier is the name assigned to the wireless
network. The factory SSID setting is set to default.
Frequency: Display the frequency of the Access Point that is associated
with the DWL-510.
Wireless Mode: Display wireless mode using infrastructure or Ad-Hoc mode.
Encryption: Display the encryption with the connected wireless device is
enable or disable.
TxRate: The factory setting is set to 11 Mbps; however, TxRate settings are
automatically determined by the DWL-510 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 DWL-510.
Signal Strength: Displays the Signal Strength represents the wireless signal
between the access point and the DWL-510. The percentage coincides with
the graphical bar.
Packet Count: Displays the statistics of data transmitted and received.

15
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. (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-650 Wireless Cardbus adapter
in a peer-to-peer environment.
Data Encryption- Enable Encryption by choosing the enable on the box. The DWL-
510 has Encryption disabled as the default setting.
Authentication– Click on the pull-down menu; select from the following options:
Open Authentication- communicates the key across the network
Shared Authentication- allows communication only with other devices with
identical WEP settings
Key Length - Select the key length, either 64 or 128 bit using a key in either ASCII
code for representing English letters as numbers from 0-127 (e.g., a word) or
hexadecimal digits consist of the number 0-9 and the letters A-F.
Click Apply to save any changes made to the configuration of the wireless adapter.
If you enable WEP encryption make sure to enable the WEP
encryption on all the devices in your network.
This Configuration
screen displays the
default settings for
the DWL-510.

16
Configuration Utility
IP Setting
Assigning a Static IP Address
• Select Use the following IP address
In the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window,
• Input your IP address and subnet mask. (The IP Addresses on your
network must be within the same range. For example, if one computer
has an IP Address of 192.168.0.2, the other computers should have IP
Addresses that are between 192.168.0.3 and 192.168.0.254. No two
computes can have the same IP Address. The subnet mask must be the
same for all the computers on the network.)
• Input your DNS server address only if you plan to use the Internet.
(Note: If you are entering a DNS server address, you must also enter the IP
Address of the Default Gateway.)
The DNS server information will be provided by your ISP (Internet Service
Provider.)

17
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.
Refresh- Click Refresh to get the most current network information
Configure- Click to configure the settings of the network.
Advanced-
Add- Click Add to create a new profile to add to the list of available
networks. Please see the next page for details on configuring
the new profile
Remove- Highlight a profile and click Remove to delete it from the list
Properties- Highlight a profile and click Properties to see the
configuration settings of the highlighted network
Connect- Highlight a network and click Connect to connect to that
network
Rescan- Click to scan the entire wireless network.

18
Configuration Utility
Site Survey > Add
SSID (Service Set Identifier)-
Enter an SSID name (up to 32 characters in
length) The SSID is a unique name that
identifies a network. All the devices in a
network must share the same SSID name in
order to communicate.
Wireless Mode-
Select Ad-Hoc or Infrastructure mode.
Infrastructure indicates that there is an access
point in the network. An Ad-Hoc network
consists of direct peer-to-peer communication,
with no access point in the network.
Data Encryption-
Select this box to enable data encryption
Authentication Mode-
Choose one of the following modes: Open-communicates the key across the
network; Shared- allows communication only with other devices with identical WEP
settings; Auto- automatically adjusts to the Authentication mode of the network.
Key-
After inputting up to four Network keys, click on the key that you wish to use
Network Key-
Enter a key corresponding to the format you selected in the Key Format field
Key Length-
64 or 128 bit key length using ASCII or Hexadecimal key format
Hexadecimal digits consist of the numbers 0-9 and the letters A-F
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is a code for representing
English Let
ters as numbers from 0
-
127

19
Configuration Utility
About
The ABOUT screen gives you information about the MAC Address,
Firmware and Utility Versions of the DWL-510.

20
6. Troubleshooting
This chapter provides solutions to problems that can occur during the
installation and operation of the DWL-510 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