Gigabyte GN-WLBM101 User manual

GN-WLBM101
IEEE 802.11b Wireless USB Network Adapter
User’s Manual
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw
Rev. 1.0 First Edition

Contents
CHAPTER 1. PRODUCT OVERVIEW..........................................................................................1
1-1. INTRODUCTION TO THE WIRELESS LAN ADAPTER..........................................................1
1-2. FEATURES .................................................................................................................1
1-3. PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS/PACKAGING.............................................................................1
1-4. LED INDICATING LIGHT...............................................................................................2
1-5. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................2
1-5-1. Supported Platform.........................................................................................................2
1-5-2. Supported Operation System........................................................................................2
CHAPTER 2. INSTALLING THE WIRELESS LAN ADAPTER................................................3
2-1. INSTALLING THE DRIVER & UTILITY (APPLICABLE TO ANY SUPPORTED OS) .....................3
CHAPTER 3. USING THE UTILITY...............................................................................................6
3-1. INFO.........................................................................................................................6
3-2. STATISTICS ……………………………………………………...…………………………7
3-3. CONFIGURATION …...………………………………………………...……………………8
3-4. ENCRYPTION.............................................................................................................8
3-5. ADVANCED …………………………………………………………………………………9
3-6. PROFILES ……………………………………………………...…………………………10
3-7. ABOUT ……………………………………………………………………………………11
CHAPTER 4. SPECIFICATIONS.................................................................................................12

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Chapter 1. Product Overview
1-1. Introduction to The Wireless LAN Adapter
This wireless LAN (Local Area Network) adapter is composed of the IEEE 802.11b MAC,
Baseband, and radio components, USB interface, and two built-in antennas. This
product adopts the direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) technology and the DBPSK,
DQPSK, and CCK modulation mode to provide a very stable wireless communication
quality and an excellent signal receiver capability.
Our product features the compact size, low power consumption, and power management
functions, and provides a high-speed wireless data communication. Therefore, our
product is ideally suitable for being integrated into the personal mobile and desktop
platform.
1-2. Features
 Conforms to IEEE 802.11b specification.
 Transmits data rate up to the maximum speed of 11Mbps.
 Dynamically scales the data rate to 11, 5.5, 2, and 1Mbps.
 Automatic power management to reduce battery consumption.
 Built-in diversity antenna.
 Supports 64-bit /128-bit WEP encryption.
 Driver supports Windows 98/98SE/Me and Windows2000/XP.
1-3. Physical Dimensions/Packaging
Dimensions: 89.2mm * 62mm * 14.5mm
This wireless LAN adapter conforms to the USB1.1 Mechanical standard. There are two
LED-indicating lights to indicate power/Link status.

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1-4. LED Indicating Light
Power: The Power LED lights up when the USB wireless LAN adapter is powered on.
Link: The Link LED lights up when the adapter has an active connection. If the LED
isn’t on, the adapter isn’t interfacing with the network.
1-5. System Requirements
1-5-1. Supported Platform
IBM PC/AT compatible computer
1-5-2. Supported Operation System
Windows 98/98SE/Me
Windows 2000/XP

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Chapter 2. Installing the Wireless LAN Adapter
2-1. Installing The Driver & Utility (Applicable to any supported OS)
Step 1: Please make sure that you don’t plug your USB adapter yet.
Step 2: Insert our setup CD into your CDROM drive, the following window will pop up.
Step 3: Click “Install Wireless LAN Driver”.
Step 4: Click “Next”.

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Step 5: Click “Yes”. The wizard will ask you to click the type of setup.
Step 6: Select “Typical” and then click “Next”. The wizard will ask you to provide the
destination path of where the application will be installed.

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Step 7: You can click “Browse” to set the path or simply only click “Next” to go on.
Step 8:Click “Finish”, and then your installation is ok.

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Chapter 3. Using The Utility
The Configuration & Monitor Utility is a powerful application that helps you to configure the
adapter and monitor the statistics of the communication. Unlike the standard method of
configuring the adapter via the operating system utilities (e.g. Control Panel), this
application permits the dynamic modification of the configuration parameters while the
adapter is operating. It also offers some more configuration options. Gigabyte offers the
Configuration & Monitor Utility for Windows 98/98SE/Me, and Windows 2000/XP. It
appears as an icon on the system tray of Windows every time the adapter is running (see
Figure 3-1). You can open it by double-clicking on this icon.
Figure 3-1. The icon of the Configuration & Monitor Utility
Note: Please keep in mind that the Configuration & Monitor Utility can be used to change
the above configuration parameters when the adapter is active. When the adapter is not in
use, please use the Control Panel method.
3-1. Info
The Info tab shows you the current link status of the wireless LAN adapter and the
reachable assess points and the wireless LAN adapter. In the middle of the screen there is
information about the status of the communication (the BSSID of the access point to which
the adapter is associated, signal strength, and link quality).
Figure 3-2. Current link status of the wireless LAN adapter

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Other items in the table are the detailed information about the link status, which are
available only when the wireless LAN adapter is connected to an access point or other
wireless LAN adapter.
SSID: Network name.
BSSID: MAC address of the base station.
Channel: The current channel used by the wireless LAN adapter.
TxRate: The current transmission rate used by the wireless LAN adapter.
Reachable Access Points / Stations:
This item will show you all of the 802.11 access points or wireless LAN adapters in your
wireless environment. The icon in the front of every item represents an access point or a
wireless LAN adapter. You can add a network easily by clicking on the desired SSID.
Signal: It shows the signal intensity of the currently connected base station.
Ch: The current channel used by the wireless LAN adapter.
3-2. Statistics
This option shows you to view the available statistic information (Data Packets,
Management Packets and Rejected Packets). In order to renew or update this list of
statistics, click the “Clear” button. In order to exit, click the “Hide” button at the bottom of
the screen.
Figure 3-3. Statistic information available

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3-3. Configuration
A typical screen of the application in Infrastructure mode is shown in Figure 3-4. The
configuration parameters are shown at the top of the screen (Operating Mode, Channel,
SSID, TxRate, Int. Roaming and Radio of the USB card). In order to change the
configuration parameters, click the “Change” button, make your changes and then click
“Submit” in order to save your changes.
Figure 3-4. A typical screen of the application in Infrastructure mode
3-4. Encryption
By choosing this option in any of the two modes, you can set four different WEP keys and
specify which one of them to use. First, either enable or disable encryption from the
appropriate “Encryption” field (see Figure 3-5 below). If you decide to use encryption, you
can choose any of the available WEP keys (1 to 4). You also have the option to select the
WEP mode (Mandatory/Optional). If you select “Mandatory”, then not only WEP will be
used, but also any other station needs to use WEP encryption in order to establish a
communication with your station. This requirement is in line with the IEEE 802.11b
standard. If, on the other hand, you choose “Optional”, then your station can
communicate with every other station regardless if they use WEP or not. Please keep in
mind that the WEP keys must be in HEX format. Finally, you have the option to select
whether Open System, Shared Key, or Auto authentication will be used. In order to take
effect the changes you wish to make, click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the
screen.

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Figure 3-5. Encryption
3-5. Advanced
By Choosing the Advanced option in any of the two modes, you can change advanced
configuration settings, such as the Preamble Type, Fragmentation Threshold, and
RTS/CTS Threshold (Figure 3-6). Figure 3-6 shows the default configuration for the
advanced settings. The USB adapter has an auto-detection feature therefore when
selecting “Auto” for the preamble type it automatically selects the Preamble Type
depending on the Access Point Preamble type
Note: In order to enable the Fragmentation and the RTS/CTS Threshold parameters move
the slide bar with your mouse and then use the right and left arrow keys of your keyboard
in order to select an exact number.

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Figure 3-6. Advanced Settings
3-6. Profiles
This option shows you to view your current profile. You can click “New” to create a custom
profile.
Figure 3-7. Your current profile

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3-7. About
By choosing this option, you can view basic information about the utility like the Driver,
Firmware and Application Version and this adapter’s MAC address.
Figure 3-7. Version information and MAC address

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Chapter 4. Specification
4-1. System
Standards IEEE 802.11b compliant, Wi-Fi compatible
Host Interface USB 1.1
Modulation 1Mbps: DBPSK; 2Mbps: DQPSK; 5.5 and 11 Mbps: CCK
Transmission Rate 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps
Operating Voltage 5V
Operating Range Open space: 100 - 300m; Indoor: 30 - 100m
4-2. RF Performance
Frequency Band 2.400 ~ 2.4835 GHz (subject to local regulation)
Radio Technology DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum)
11 Channels (US, Canada) 4 channels (France)
Number of Channel 14 Channels (Japan) 13 Channels (Most European countries, ETSI)
Output Power 15dBm @ Nominal Temp Range
Receive Sensitivity - 80dBm @ 11 Mbps date rate, 8% PER
Antenna Two built-in diversity antennas
4-3.Safety Regulation and Operating Environment
FCC Part 15 (USA)
EMC certification CE (Europe)
Temperature Range Operating: 0 ~ 50 deg C, Storing: -20 ~ 65 deg C
Humidity Max. 90% Non-condensing
4-4. Software Support
Driver Windows 98/98SE/Me; Windows 2000/XP
Roaming Supports roaming.
Network Protocol TCP/IP, IPX, NetBEUI
Security 64 bit WEP (128 bit WEP optional)
Management Utility Monitors the network situation.
4-5. Mechanical
Dimensions 89.2 x 62 x 14.5 mm
Weight 45.4 g
Packaging Packaging specially used by Gigabyte.
Host Interface USB Type B connector
USB cable 80cm
LED indicator Power and Link