Farallon SkyLINE 11Mb User manual

SkyLINE 11Mb Wireless PCI Card
User’s Guide


Copyright © 2000 Farallon Communications, Inc. v.1100
All rights reserved.
This manual and any associated artwork, software, and product designs are
copyrighted with all rights reserved. Under the copyright laws this manual,
artwork, software, and product designs may not be copied, in whole or part,
without the written consent of Farallon. Under the law, copying includes
translation to another language or format.
Farallon Communications
3089 Teagarden St.
San Leandro, CA 94577-5720
U.S.A.
For additional copies of this user’s guide, order Farallon part number
6120387-00-01.
Other products and corporate names may be trademarks of other companies
and are used only for explanation and to the owner’s benefit without intent to
infringe.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Introduction ....................................................................................1
SkyLINE 11Mb Wireless PCI Card features ........................................................2
Package contents ......................................................................................2
System requirements ......................................................................................3
Macintosh .................................................................................................3
Infrastructure network requirements ............................................................3
Network configuration .....................................................................................4
Ad Hoc network...........................................................................................4
Infrastructure network ................................................................................4
Chapter 2 - Installation .....................................................................................5
Macintosh software installation .......................................................................7
Macintosh SkyLINE Configuration ................................................................7
Configuring your card for your network .........................................................8
Configuring Macintosh networking software ................................................13
Chapter 3 - Troubleshooting ............................................................................15
SkyLINE 11Mb Wireless operation checklist ...............................................15
Operation troubleshooting .............................................................................17
Chapter 4 - Farallon Technical Support ............................................................19
Appendix A - Specifications & Regulations ......................................................21
Technical specifications ................................................................................21
Regulatory notices ........................................................................................22
DSSS PHY frequency channel plan .................................................................24
Appendix B - SkyLINE configurations ............................................................... 25
SkyLINE Wireless Preferences window ............................................................26
SkyLINE with Lucent and WEP ........................................................................27
Ad Hoc with Apple and Lucent ........................................................................29
Glossary .........................................................................................................31
Warranties .....................................................................................................33

1
Chapter 1
Introduction
Farallon’s SkyLINE 11Mb Wireless PCI Card provides PCI-equipped
desktop Macintosh computers with a DSSS 802.11 wireless network
connection. The SkyLINE 11Mb Wireless PCI Card houses the SkyLINE
Wireless PC Card, which connects computers on a wireless network at
speeds up to 11 Mbps.
SkyLINE cards can be used to build an Ad Hoc network (which
connects two or more computers directly to each other) or an
Infrastructure network which allows wireless clients to tap into the
resources of a wired network using an access point such as the
SkyLINE Wireless Access Point.
SkyLINE’s compliance with the 802.11b standard ensures
compatibility with many popular wireless access points as well as
interoperability with other DSSS 802.11 compatible wireless devices.
TM
wired LAN
server
SkyLINE
PC Card
SkyLINE
PC Card
SkyLINE PCI Card and
SkyLINE PC Card
SkyLINE™
arallFon
Power
Status
Link
Wireless
Ethernet
Access Point
arallFon
SkyLINE
Access Point

2
S
KY
LINE 11M
B
W
IRELESS
PCI C
ARD FEATURES
■
Offers desktop computers the ability to install the SkyLINE
Wireless PC Card, which offers all of the advantages of wireless
connectivity and provides an adjustable data rate of up to 11
Mbps using Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) radio
technology
■
Works with 802.11 2Mbps and 802.11b 11Mbps access points
from manufacturers such as Farallon, Proxim, Orinoco, Aironet,
Apple and others
■
Supports WEP 40-bit encryption for enhanced security
■
Offers an operating range of approximately 150 feet, depending
on environment
The SkyLINE PCI Card houses the SkyLINE PC Card. Together they connect a
desktop computer to your local wireless network.
P
ACKAGE CONTENTS
Your SkyLINE 11Mb Wireless PCI Card package should include the
following:
■ SkyLINE 11Mb Wireless PCI Card
■ SkyLINE software and documentation CD-ROM
■ Setup Guide

Introduction 3
S
YSTEM REQUIREMENTS
M ACINTOSH
■
Mac OS 8.1 requirements or higher (up to Mac OS 9)
■
Available PCI card slot
■
Minimum 16 MB RAM (24 MB RAM for Mac OS 8.5 and up)
Note: The SkyLINE PCI Card is not compatible with the 300 or 333
MHz Beige G3 Macintosh systems or “AGP Graphics” G4
model AirPort-enabled Macintosh systems. For more informa-
tion about unsupported systems, visit us online at www.faral-
lon.com or call 510-346-8001.
I NFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK REQUIREMENTS
An Infrastructure network requires the use of one or more IEEE
802.11 DSSS compliant wireless LAN access points.
When the network is configured properly, a desktop computer with the
SkyLINE 11Mb Wireless PCI and SkyLINE PC cards installed can
access a number of different brands of access points when they are
in use on a network.
For an updated list of compatible access points, visit us online at
www.farallon.com or call 510-346-8001.

4
N
ETWORK CONFIGURATION
Computers with Farallon’s SkyLINE 11Mb Wireless PCI Card installed
can join a wireless LAN configured as an Ad Hoc or Infrastructure
network.
A
D
H
OC NETWORK
The Ad Hoc network offers peer to peer connections between
workstations, allowing communication between computers within
range that have an 802.11 DSSS compatible PC card installed. A
wireless Ad Hoc network can also access a wired network’s TCP/IP
services (such as email and the Internet) by using a TCP/IP software
router on an Ethernet equipped computer.
I NFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK
The Infrastructure network uses an access point (or several access
points) as a gateway, linking the wireless network to a wired network.
As a result, workstations on your wireless network have access to all
of the features of your wired network including email, Internet access,
network printers and file servers.
wired LAN
server
access point
SkyLINE
™
arallFon

Power
Status
Link
Wireless
Ethernet
AccessPoint
arallFon


5
Chapter 2
Installation
Install your SkyLINE 11Mb Wireless PCI Card in these steps:
•
Install the SkyLINE PCI Card
•
Insert a SkyLINE Wireless PC Card into the PCI card
•
Install the driver
•
Configure the SkyLINE Wireless PC Card
Once inserted into an installed SkyLINE PCI Card, the SkyLINE
Wireless PC Card can be configured for use with wireless networks
using Ad Hoc mode or Infrastructure mode.
Configure the SkyLINE PC Card in the SkyLINE PCI Card for the wireless network.

6 Chapter 2
H
ARDWARE INSTALLATION
Consult your computer’s manual for instructions on installing a card in
a PCI slot before you begin.
1. Power down and unplug your computer.
2. Locate an available PCI slot and remove any access cover,
retainer clamp or screws. Keep retainer clamps or screws for
securing the SkyLINE PCI Card in place.
3. Ground yourself and take your SkyLINE PCI Card from its antistatic
bag, handling the card by its edges to avoid touching the
components.
4. Align the card with the PCI slot and press firmly until the
connector is fully seated in the slot, with no gold pins showing.
5. Screw the SkyLINE PCI Card card firmly into the PCI slot using the
retainer clamps or screws.
6. Insert a SkyLINE PC Card into the PCI card slot.
7. Reassemble your computer according to the instructions in its manual.
8. After the SkyLINE PCI Card is installed with a SkyLINE PC Card
inserted in it, you can install the necessary driver and configure
your card for your wireless network. See the next page for
Macintosh software installation instructions.

Installation 7
M
ACINTOSH SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
1. Power on your computer and insert the Farallon CD-ROM into the
computer’s CD drive.
2. Double-click the Installer icon. The Easy Install dialog box
appears. Make sure the correct hard drive, with the active system
folder, is selected.
3. Click the Install button. The Installer places the required
networking software in your System Folder.
4. After installation, restart your computer.
M ACINTOSH S KY LINE C ONFIGURATION
Use the Wireless Configuration Control Panel to configure your
SkyLINE PC card. All devices on the network, including any access
points, must have the same configuration settings.
1. Open the Wireless Configuration Control Panel by selecting it in
your Macintosh’s Control Panels.
2. The Wireless Configuration window offers several pop-up menus
to help you configure your wireless network.
3. Use the Wireless Configuration Control Panel to configure your
card for use with a wireless network. All devices on the network,
including any access points, must be set to the same
configuration settings.
Click the Save Changes button to establish the wireless connection
after you have finished setting up or making changes to your Wireless
Configuration.
Note: Choose Show Balloons from the Help menu for more informa-
tion about the items in the configuration panel.

8 Chapter 2
CONFIGURING YOUR CARD FOR YOUR NETWORK
If you have access points installed on your network you will need the
following information to configure your SkyLINE 11Mb Card:
•SSID (Service Set Identification): the name of the access point
•Address mode: how wireless packets are being converted to Ethernet
on your wireless network
•Encryption: any passwords or keys used by your access point for Wire-
less Encryption (WEP)
NETWORK MODE
Configure your Network Mode by selecting Ad Hoc or Infrastructure
from the Network Mode pop-up menu.
Ad Hoc mode
Ad Hoc mode allows wireless computers to be linked on a local area
network. In Ad Hoc mode all operations are peer to peer and no access
point is required. Ad Hoc networks can only be started when computers are
within range of each other (approximately 150 feet depending on
environment). If you select Ad Hoc, you will also select a Channel. All
computers must have the same channel and Address Mode selected.
Infrastructure mode
In Infrastructure mode, all wireless communication between mobile
computers and the wired network take place through a wireless
access point. If you select Infrastructure mode, you must configure
the wireless card by setting the SSID selection, Address mode and
Encryption to correspond to the access point you are using.

Installation 9
ADDRESS MODE
Next you must set your Address Mode. The address mode determines
how the Ethernet packets on your network are addressed. All devices
on the network, including any access points, must be set to the same
address mode setting.
The default setting for Address Mode is Translation-Apple/Lucent,
which is compatible with the SkyLINE Access Point and Apple AirPort
Base Stations. If you are unable to get network access using this
setting, select Translation-Other or Encapsulation and click Save
Changes to test the setting.
SSID SELECTION
Be sure to click the Save Changes button after you select or change
your SSID (Service Set Identification) selection method.
The SSID pop-up menu offers three access point selection methods:
•Select the best
•Select from list
•Select other

10 Chapter 2
SSID Select the best
This method automatically scans for available access points and picks
the one with the strongest signal level. Pick Select the best from the
SSID pop-up menu and then click the Save Changes button.
The name of the access point with the strongest signal will appear in
the Status window at the top of the configuration panel.
SSID Select from list
This method opens a window displaying a list of available wireless
access points. The panel shows the data rate of each access point
and whether WEP (encryption) is enabled on that access point.
Highlight the name of the desired access point and click the Select
button. You can also simply double-click the name of the desired
access point and it will be selected. Click the Re-scan button if all of
the access points you are expecting to see do not appear on the list.
When you return to the Wireless Configuration panel, be sure your
network and address modes match the settings for the access point
you selected from the list. Then click the Save Changes button.
SSID Select other
This selection method allows you to enter the name of the access
point you want to use into the Wireless Base Station panel. This is
useful if an access point is in closed mode, or configured not to
appear unless the user knows the exact name of that access point.

Installation 11
Enter the SSID (network name)of the access point you want to use and click
the Select button. The panel is case and space sensitive, so be sure to enter
the name precisely. When you return to the Wireless Configuration panel, be
sure your network and address modes match the settings for the access
point you selected from the list. Then click the Save Changes button.
DATA RATE
Use the Max Data Rate pop-up menu to set the rate of data
transmission to 1 Mbps, 2 Mbps, 5.5 Mbps or 11 Mbps. A higher data
rate allows higher throughput, a lower data rate allows better
performance at a greater distance from the access point.
The SkyLINE driver will automatically adjust the data rate to
compensate for distance from the access point in use.
ENCRYPTION
Clicking the Encryption button opens the Wireless Encryption panel,
where you can set up encryption keys to decipher and encode data on
the wireless network.
Check the Enable Encryption box if you are connecting to an access
point or Ad Hoc network that has encryption enabled.

12 Chapter 2
If you are using Apple’s AirPort base station with WEP, enter the
AirPort’s password into the first panel. The software will automatically
transform your password into a numerical key code.
If you are connecting to SkyLINE Access Point or another brand of
access point that uses WEP, you can manually enter as many as four
keys (provided by your network manager) and switch between them as
desired.
Keys must be hexadecimal digits (meaning they are limited to
combinations of the numbers 0-9 and letters A-F). Select Key #1,2, 3
or 4 depending on which key the access point is using. They must
match.
Refer to the documentation that came with your access point for more
information about WEP implementation.
STATUS WINDOW
The Status text string at the top of the configuration window shows
the name of the active access point and channel. If the card is
configured for an Infrastructure network, the Signal Strength meter
will appear, indicating the strength of the card’s connection to the
access point. Note that the Signal Strength meter does not appear in
Ad Hoc mode.
After you have configured the Wireless Control Panel, configure the
AppleTalk and TCP/IP Control panels of your Macintosh (see
instructions on the next page).

Installation 13
CONFIGURING MACINTOSH NETWORKING SOFTWARE
After you have configured the Wireless Control panel, you will need to
configure the AppleTalk and TCP/IP Control panels of your Macintosh.
1. Open the Wireless Control Panel. The Windows menu allows
immediate access to the Configuration,Information and
Statistics panels as well as your computer’s AppleTalk, File
Sharing and TCP/IP Control Panels.
2. Open the AppleTalk Control Panel and select Farallon Wireless
from the Connect via pop-up menu. When you are finished, close
the Control Panel and save your settings.
3. Open the TCP/IP Control Panel from the Windows menu and
select Farallon Wireless from the Connect via pop-up menu.
Make sure the rest of your TCP/IP panel is configured correctly for
your wireless network.
4. Close the TCP/IP panel, saving your changes.

15
Chapter 3
Troubleshooting
When properly installed in a SkyLINE PCI Card, Farallon’s SkyLINE
11Mb Wireless PC Card will be recognized automatically by the
Macintosh OS.
The LED on the SkyLINE Wireless PC Card is lit solid when the card
has link to a wireless network, and blinks when searching for a
network to connect to.
SKYLINE 11MBWIRELESS OPERATION CHECKLIST
■Make sure the SkyLINE PCI Card is seated firmly in the PCI slot
and the PC Card is correctly inserted into the PCI card.
■The LED on the card is lit. If the LED is not lit at all, it may not be
securely seated in the PCI card’s slot. The card’s LED is lit solid
when the card has link, and blinks when searching for a network.
■The Farallon driver is installed.
■The Farallon Wireless card is selected in the AppleTalk and TCP/IP
Control Panels of the Macintosh and that AppleTalk is active.
■All devices on the wireless network, including any access points,
are set to the same configuration settings. Check the Wireless
Control Panel for configuration settings and network information.
Clicking the Save Changes button will reset the connection.

16 Chapter 3
■Make sure that all Ad Hoc networks are started when computers
are within range of each other.
■Make sure you open the AppleTalk Control Panel and turn on
AppleTalk each time you insert the wireless card.
■Check all configuration settings as described in “Macintosh Sky-
LINE Configuration” on page 7.
■Reinstall the card and driver.
If the card seems to work but network applications don't connect:
■Try moving closer to the access point on an Infrastructure network
or try moving closer to the other computers on an Ad Hoc network.
If the computers can communicate at close range but not at a
greater distance, there may be interference creating blind spots
or some environmental factor limiting range.
■Try opening the Wireless Control Panel and clicking the Save
Changes button without making any changes. This will reset the
connection.
■Check WEP settings. WEP settings on all systems on the network
must match, with identical passwords or keys.
Note: When connecting to an access point with WEP, it is best to
use Select from list as the SSID selection method.
See Appendix B on page 25 for additional information about
configuring the SkyLINE 11Mb Wireless PC Card.