Lancom AirLancer MC-54ag User manual

AirLancer MC-54ag –
AirLancer USB-54ag –
AirLancer PCI-54pro

© 2005 LANCOM Systems GmbH, Wuerselen (Germany). All rights reserved.
While the information in this manual has been compiled with great care, it may not be deemed an assurance of product
characteristics. LANCOM Systems shall be liable only to the degree specified in the terms of sale and delivery.
The reproduction and distribution of the documentation and software included with this product is subject to written per-
mission by LANCOM Systems. We reserve the right to make any alterations that arise as the result of technical development.
All explanations and documents for registration of the products you find in the appendix of this documentation, if they
were present at the time of printing.
Trademarks
Windows®, Windows XP®and Microsoft®are registered trademarks of Microsoft, Corp.
The LANCOM Systems logo, LCOS and the name LANCOM are registered trademarks of LANCOM Systems GmbH. All other
names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit http://www.openssl.org/.
Subject to change without notice. No liability for technical errors or omissions.
LANCOM Systems GmbH
Adenauerstr. 20/B2
52146 Wuerselen
Germany
www.lancom.de
Wuerselen, November 2005
1105

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왘Preface
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Preface
Thank you for placing your trust in this LANCOM product.
Radio networks by LANCOM Systems are low-priced alternatives and comple-
ments of local, cable-bound networks (LANs). Thanks to the mobile network
adapters, notebooks and PCs are able to communicate together or gain access
over base stations to cable-bound networks and even to ISDN, DSL and Inter-
net.
This documention is addressed to users of the network adapters AirLancer
MC-54ag, AirLancer PCI-54pro and AirLancer USB-54ag. We will first intro-
duce you to the devices and their features, we will help you to install the
devices and drivers, and we will show you the connection to a base station at
first.
This documentation was created by …
… several members of our staff from a variety of departments in order to
ensure you the best possible support when using your LANCOM product.
In case you encounter any errors, or just want to issue critics or enhance-
ments, please do not hesitate to send an email directly to:
[email protected]
Our online services www.lancom.de are available to you around the
clock should you have any queries regarding the topics discussed in
this manual or require any further support. Current drivers, firmware,
tools and manuals can be downloaded at any time. The knowledge
database (KnowledgeBase) offers an additional large pool of informa-
tion.
In addition, LANCOM Systems support is available. For telephone
numbers and contact addresses of the LANCOM Systems support, ple-
ase see the enclosed leaflet or the LANCOM Systems website.

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Information symbols
Very important instructions. Failure to observe this may result in
damage.
Important instruction that should be observed.
Additional information that may be helpful but which is not
required.

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왘Contents
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Contents
1 Introduction 7
1.1 The AirLancer
models 7
1.2 Encryption in three security steps 8
1.3 Default WEP encryption 8
2 Installation 10
2.1 Properties 10
2.1.1 AirLancer MC-54ag 10
2.1.2 AirLancer PCI-54pro 11
2.1.3 AirLancer USB-54ag 11
2.2 Package contents 12
2.3 Installation 12
2.3.1 Checking the system preconditions 12
2.3.2 Driver installation 13
2.4 Installation of the AirLancer card 14
2.4.1 Putting the AirLancer MC-54ag into your PC 14
2.4.2 Putting the AirLancer USB-54ag into your USB interface
14
2.4.3 Installing the AirLancer PCI-54pro 14
3 The AirLancer 54 software 16
3.1 Starting the AirLancer 54 software 16
3.2 Basic configuration 17
3.3 Overview of the functions 21
3.3.1 Creating, modifying and removing of profiles 21
3.3.2 Profile Auto Selection 21
3.3.3 Analysis, diagnosis and information 22
3.3.4 Configuration with Windows XP configuration tools 22
3.4 Encryption settings 23
3.4.1 802.11i und WPA 23
3.4.2 WEP 24
4 Configuration example 26
4.1 Connecting to a company network 26

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5 Extension of the LANCOM 3550 Wireless base station 29
6 Appendix 31
6.1 Technical data 31
6.2 Declaration of conformity 32
6.2.1 European Union (CE) 32

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1Introduction
The advantages of a radio network (Wireless LAN) are obvious: notebooks and
PCs can be set up where they are needed. Due to Wireless LANs, problems
with missing connections or structural alterations belong to the past.
Network access in conferences or during presentations, access to resources in
neighbouring buildings or data exchange with portable terminals are only
some possible applications of Wireless LANs.
1.1 The AirLancer models
The AirLancer series with 54 Mbps data transfer rate features several models.
You have the possibilty to extend standard PCs and a multitude of mobile
computers for access to the Wireless LAN:
왘AirLancer MC-54ag
Dual band PC card (Cardbus) according either to IEEE 802.11a (up to 54
Mbps data tranfer rate in the 5 GHz band) or to IEEE 802.11g (up to 54
Mbps data transfer rate in 2,4 GHz, backward-compatible to IEEE
802.11b) for operation with mobile devices
왘AirLancer PCI-54pro
Dual band PCI adapter according to IEEE 802.11a (up to 54 Mbps data
tranfer rate into 5 GHz frequency band) or IEEE 802.11g (up to 54 Mbps
data tranfer rate into 2,4 GHz frequency band, backward-compatible to
IEEE 802.11b) for installation in a stationary desktop PC. You find an
external dual band antenna enclosed with the product.
왘AirLancer USB-54ag
Dual band USB adapter according to IEEE 802.11a (up to 54 Mbps data
tranfer rate into 5 GHz frequency band) or IEEE 802.11g (up to 54 Mbps
data tranfer rate into 2,4 GHz frequency band, backward-compatible to
IEEE 802.11b) for installation in a USB interface of stationary desktop PCs
or mobile devices.

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1.2 Encryption in three security steps
AirLancer 54 Mbps Wireless LAN adapters support three different variants of
encryption:
왘WEP64, WEP128, WEP152 – for encryption in accordance with Wired
Equivalent Privacy (WEP), encryption keys are used with an effective
length of 40, 104 or 128 bit.
왘WPA – this method uses the encoding methods TKIP and Michael (only
Windows 2000 or XP)
왘WPA2 – als Nachfolger von WPA is based on AES (Advanced Encryption
Standard) (only Windows 2000 or XP)
왘802.11i – for the at present highest security standard the encoding
method AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is used (only Windows 2000
and XP)
Further details to WLAN security and the used encoding methods can be
found in the LCOS reference manual.
Please inform yourself about the valid legal regulations for employ-
ment of encryption technology in the country you want to use a Air-
Lancer Wireless LAN adapter. Pay attention to use no devices which
support inadmissible encryption technologies.
1.3 Default WEP encryption
As of LCOS version 4.0, WEP128 encryption is activated for every
unconfigured access point as standard.
The standard WEP key consists of the first letter “L” followed by the LAN MAC
address of the access point in ASCII characters. The LAN MAC addresses of the
LANCOM devices always begin with the character string “00A057”. You will
find the LAN MAC address on a sticker on the base of the device. Only use the
number labeled as “MAC address” that starts with “00A057”. The other num-
bers that may be found are not the LAN MAC address!

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A device with the LAN MAC address “00A0570FB9BF” thus has a standard
WEP key of “L00A0570FB9BF”. This key is entered into the 'Private WEP set-
tings' of the device for each logical WLAN network as 'Key 1'.
To use a WLAN adapter to establish a connection to a new LANCOM access
point, the WEP128 encryption must be activated for the WLAN adapter and
the standard 13-character WEP key entered.
Please notice that also the WLAN encryption settings of the access
point will get lost in case of a reset of the device and the standard
WEP key comes into effect again. The wireless communication with
the device will only succeed after a reset, if the standard WEP key is
programmed into the WLAN adapter!

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2 Installation
In this chapter you will find a description of the AirLancer WLAN clients and
a step-by-step instruction for starting the devices. After installation of hard-
ware, drivers and the AirLancer software, you have to set up the access to a
Wireless LAN. The description of this configuration step can be found for both
AirLancers in chapter 3.
2.1 Properties
The AirLancer WLAN adapters are compliant to the IEEE 802.11a and IEEE
802.11g standards, and are thus excellent suitable for notebook users who
need a maximum of flexibility and performance. The switch between the radio
standards can be made as desired automatically, and enables at any time the
fastest possible connection. So for example the connection to a company net-
work with up to 54 Mbps can be made with the IEEE 802.11g or IEEE 802.11a
standard, while on journeys the compatibility to public hot spots is ensured
with up to 11 Mbps transfer rate according to IEEE 802.11b.
2.1.1 AirLancer MC-54ag
The radio network card AirLancer MC-54ag is a PC card for notebooks and
mobile devices with Cardbus interface. It is a little bit longer than other PC
cards. The internal radio antenna of the AirLancer MC-54ag is located inside
the part jutting out of the casing.
Cardbus receptacle
LEDs for sending and receiving status:
컄Off – no radio activity
컄Blinking alternately – searching for base station




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컄Blinking simultaneously – sending or receiving of radio data
컄Flickering – card is in power save mode
Integrated antenna
2.1.2 AirLancer PCI-54pro
AirLancer PCI-54pro is intended for the installation in a desktop PC. An exter-
nal antenna is part of the package contents.
AirLancer PCI-54pro with external antenna
Plug-in socket for PCI bus
2.1.3 AirLancer USB-54ag
The AirLancer USB-54ag is intended to be used in a USB 2.0 interface. With
the included USB extension cable the device can be positioned flexibly to opti-
mize the reception. A velcro pad for fixing the AirLancer USB-54ag to e. g. a
monitor is also included in delivery.



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2.2 Package contents
Please check the package contents for completeness before starting. The
package should contain the following components:
왘AirLancer MC-54ag, AirLancer USB-54ag (USB stick with cover cap) or
AirLancer PCI-54pro
왘USB cable with Klettpad (AirLancer USB-54ag only)
왘External dual-band antenna i (AirLancer PCI-54pro only)
왘AirLancer 54 MBit CD with drivers, the Client Manager and electronical
documentation
If anything is missing, please contact your retailer directly.
2.3 Installation
2.3.1 Checking the system preconditions
You should check before installing, whether your device fulfills all necessary
system preconditions:
왘300 MHz processor or faster, at least 32 MByte RAM.
왘CD ROM drive
왘Free PC card interface (Cardbus, type II or type III, AirLancer MC-54ag
only)
왘Free PCI slot (PCI specification 2.1 or better, AirLancer PCI-54pro only)
왘Free USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 interface (AirLancer USB-54ag only)

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A USB 1.1 interface cannot use the full performance due to its maxi-
mum throughput of 8 Mbps.
왘One of the following operating systems:
2.3.2 Driver installation
햲Place the AirLancer-CD into the drive. The AirLancer installation wizard
will run automatically.
In case the installation wizard doesn’t start automatically, run the
AUTORUN.EXE file in the main directory of the AirLancer 54 MBit CD.
햳Please follow the instructions of the hardware installation wizard for
installing the drivers.
During the installation, a driver that supports all current AirLancer WLAN
adapters is installed on your system. A benefit of this is that switching bet-
ween an AirLancer USB-54ag and an AirLancer MC-54ag, for example, does
not require a new driver to be installed. When the AirLancer card is started for
the first time, the driver is activated just once.
The integrated WLAN module in some Intel Centrino computers will
only operate simultaneously with an AirLancer card on the condition
that the Intel WLAN module connects to the remote before the
AirLancer card. To this end, the AirLancer card has to be set up for
manual registration.
Operating System AirLancer
MC-54ag
AirLancer
USB-54ag
AirLancer
PCI-54pro
Windows 98 SE
(Second Edition)
✔
Windows ME
(Millennium Edition)
✔
Windows 2000 ✔✔✔
Windows XP ✔✔✔

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2.4 Installation of the AirLancer card
2.4.1 Putting the AirLancer MC-54ag into your PC
Slip the card into a free PC card slot of your computer while running. Ensure
that the side with the product label points upwards and the side with the
series number label downwards. Windows operating systems install the
required drivers for the AirLancer MC-54ag automatically after detecting the
hardware. Please follow the instructions of the installation wizard.
2.4.2 Putting the AirLancer USB-54ag into your USB interface
Plug the AirLancer USB-54ag while the pc is operating into the USB-interface
of your computer. Windows operating systems install the required drivers for
the AirLancer USB-54ag automatically after detecting the hardware. Please
follow the instructions of the installation wizard.
With the enclosed USB cable you can position the AirLancer USB-
54ag further away from your computer and therefore if required opti-
mize the radio reception.
2.4.3 Installing the AirLancer PCI-54pro
햲Switch off your PC.
햳In order to divert electrostatic loadings, you should touch the metal casing
of the computer briefly. Then pull out the power plug on the back of the
PC casing.
햴Loose the screws and lockings of the computer casing and remove the
casing cover.

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햵One free PCI slot is needed for the AirLancer PCI-54pro. Remove the
assembly sheet of the slot before installing the card.
Avoid if possible installing the PCI card into the first PCI slot in case
your PC is equipped with an AGP graphics board. The first PCI slot is
the one, which is located nearest towards the graphic card. In this
case, interrupt conflicts could arise between the AGP graphic board
and the PCI card.
햶Screw off the external antenna from the PCI card.
햷Carefully plug the AirLancer PCI-54pro into the free slot. Make sure that
the card is fitting correctly and screw up the assembly sheet on the casing.
햸Put on the PC casing and screw it up.
햹Screw up the external antenna onto the antenna connection of the
AirLancer PCI-54pro.
햺Switch on your PC. Windows operating systems will install automatically
the necessary drivers for AirLancer PCI-54pro after starting. Please follow
the instructions of the installation wizard.
AGP-slot
PCI-slot
ISA-slot

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왘Chapter 3: The AirLancer 54 software
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3 The AirLancer 54 software
The AirLancer 54 software is the main program for configuration and
management of AirLancer radio adapters. It is available for the following ope-
rating systems:
왘Windows 98 SE (Second Edition)
왘Windows ME (Millennium Edition)
왘Windows 2000
왘Windows XP
The AirLancer 54 software has been installed likewise during the installation
of AirLancer drivers. It consists of following components:
왘AirLancer Client Manager for the configuration of the WLAN adapters
왘AirLancer Link Monitor to generate log files
For the use of the Client Manager under Windows 98 SE the WMI
Interface (Windows Management Instrumentation) is necessary. The
WMI Interface is included on the AirLancer driver CD and is installed
with the installation of the other AirLancer drivers. In case it isn’t
automatically installed, you can do it manually by selecting the file
with the language of your operating system in the directory WMI98SE.
3.1 Starting the AirLancer 54 software
The AirLancer 54 software will be activated automatically after finishing the
installation. You find it in the right corner of the Windows task bar also.
If the AirLancer 54 software should not appear in the task bar, you can
start it manually out of the menu Programs 왘LANCOM 왘AirLan-
Icon of the AirLancer Client Manager

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cer-54 Client Tools. The AirLancer 54 software will appear on the
task bar then.
To launch the AirLancer 54 software or its help function, just click with the
right mouse botton on the AirLancer Client Manager quickstart icon and select
the desired function.
3.2 Basic configuration
The basic configuration will demonstrate you how to connect your AirLancer
client adapter to your base station. The required parameters such as SSID and
WEP settings must match exactly the according settings of your base station.
햲Start the AirLancer Client Manager.
햳Check your country settings in the menu Action under Country Select
and choose the appropriate country.

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햴Change in AirLancer Client Manager to the index card Profile Manage-
ment. Here you can adjust the standard profile for AirLancer or add a new
profile.
Under Windows 2000 or Windows XP you can activate an automatic
choice of often used profiles for certain radio networks. By clicking on
Order Profiles you open a list in which you can enter the profile for
the radio networks you usually log in with, e.g. a WLAN in your own
office, another at work and a third at home. The AirLancer 54 soft-
ware automatically chooses the profile of an available network. As a
result it isn’t necessary to change your profile manually.
햵Select the command New to add a new configuration profile.
Assign a name to the new profile under Profile Name and specify one or
more wanted network names (SSID).
The network name must correspond to all other devices of the same
network (base stations or radio cards). You can enter ANY as network
name if you have a base station in reach with the 'Closed Network'
function switched off. As a result, the radio station will join the next

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available Wireless LAN. You can find further information in ’Closed
network’ →page 37 and in the documentation of your access point.
햶Change now to the register card Advanced and select a network type
under Network Type. Here you can specify whether you want to access
a base station (access point), or whether you want to establish ad-hoc-
connections (peer-to-peer-group).
Ad-hoc networks are only possible in the 2,4 GHz frequency band
using IEEE 802.11g and IEEE 802.11b. Ad-hoc networks are not avai-
lable with IEEE 802.11a in the 5 GHz band.
햷Change now to register card Security to activate the encryption settings.
컄Select WPA Passphrase to encode with 802.11i/ WPA. To define a
Passphrase choose Configure and enter a keyword with the length of
8 to 63 characters. Confirm your entry with OK.

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컄Select Pre-Shared Keys for static WEP keys. To define one or more
keys select Configure. Define first the entry method of the keys (Key
Entry Method). Select the WEP Key Size via the radio button
(WEP64, WEP128 or WEP152) and enter now one or more keys in your
selected method (ASCII or hexadecimal). Please notice that only one
key at a time can be activated. Confirm your selection with OK.
Detaillierte Informationen zur WLAN-Sicherheit und zu den verwen-
deten Verschlüsselungsmethoden finden Sie im LCOS Referenzhand-
buch.
햸Complete the profile configuration with OK and activate the new profile
by clicking on the profile and then Activate.
Please notice that for a legal operation of your AirLancer radio card a
correct country setting is mandatory, since the regulations for opera-
ting a radio network may differ in different countries. Further informa-
tion to the specific regulations for operating with radio networks in
different countries can be found in the electronic documentation on
the AirLancer 54 Mbps CD.
햹Now close the AirLancer Client Manager.