LevelOne MIMO WPC-0500 User manual

Level One
W
WP PC C- -0 05 50 00 0
M
MI IM MO O W Wi ir re el le es ss s P PC CM MC CI IA A A Ad da ap pt te er r
User Manual
V1.0.1-0601

CONTENTS
1INTRODUCTION............................................................................. 1
1.1 Features......................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Specifications................................................................................................................ 2
1.3 Package Contents.......................................................................................................... 3
2INSTALLATION PROCEDURE ..................................................... 4
3CONFIGURATION UTILITY ......................................................... 8
3.1 Site Survey.................................................................................................................. 11
3.2 Profile.......................................................................................................................... 12
3.2.1Configure the Profile .....................................................................................13
3.2.1.1 Configuration ........................................................................................................ 13
3.2.1.2 Authentication and Security .................................................................................. 15
3.2.1.3 802.1x Setting-Certification .................................................................................. 19
3.2.1.4 802.1x Setting-CA Server ..................................................................................... 20
3.3 Link Status .................................................................................................................. 21
3.4 Statistics ...................................................................................................................... 22
3.5 Advance ...................................................................................................................... 23
3.6 About........................................................................................................................... 25
3.7 Turbo Mode................................................................................................................. 26
3.8 WMM Function .......................................................................................................... 26
4TROUBLESHOOTING .................................................................. 29

1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the LevelOne MIMO Wireless LAN PC Card. With the MIMO technology, this
card enables you to connect to wireless networks at farther distances than before. The card has two
internal antennas for signal reception and one internal antenna for high power signal transmission. Not
only the connection distance is enhanced, but also the “dead spots” in the network will be reduced. In
addition, the card remains backward compatible to 802.11b and 802.11g. When the card is connecting
to the standard 11g or 11b APs or Routers, it can perform much better than standard clients.
This card supports higher data throughput than the IEEE 802.11g standard. It supports specific ways to
increase the data transfer rate at a time; compress the data and decrease the waiting time to send the
next data to the Routers or APs. This feature is called Turbo Mode. When the card is connecting to the
Routers or APs with the proprietary feature, the wireless network will be more effective.
For WLAN security issues, this card supports 64/128-bit WEP data encryption that protects your
wireless network from eavesdropping. It also supports WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) feature that
combines IEEE 802.1x and PSK (Pre-Shared Key), TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol)
technologies. Client users are required to authorize before accessing to APs or AP Routers, and the
data transmitted in the network is encrypted/decrypted by a dynamically changed secret key.
Furthermore, this card supports WPA2 function, WPA2 provides a stronger encryption mechanism
through AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), which is a requirement for some corporate and
government users.
When you use the devices such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones, televisions, VCRs and
MP3 players, how can you speed up the audio, video and voice data to pass through the wireless
network? IEEE 802.11e Quality of Service (QoS) (The Wi-Fi Alliance defined WMM as a profile of the
IEEE 802.11e) extensions for 802.11 networks will help to define the priorities of the data traffics by the
data categories to provide enhanced multimedia support. This card supports the advanced technology
for sure.
This card is cost-effective, together with the versatile features; it is the best solution for you to build your
wireless network.
1

1.1 Features
• Works with both IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g products.
• High-speed transfer data rate.
• Farther coverage, less dead spaces and higher throughput with MIMO (Multiple Input
Multiple Output) technology.
• Supports Turbo Mode to enhance the data transfer speed within the specific wireless
network.
• Supports WMM (IEEE 802.11e QoS standard) function to meet the multi-media data
bandwidth requirement.
• Supports 64/128-bit WEP, WPA (PSK, TKIP with IEEE 802.1x), WPA2 (PSK, AES with
IEEE 802.1x) functions for high level of security.
*WPA2 supports Windows 2000/XP only
• Automatic fallback increases data security and reliability.
• Supports the most popular operating system: Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP.
• Supports 32-bit Cardbus interface.
1.2 Specifications
• Standard: IEEE 802.11b/g
• Interface: 32-bit Cardbus
• Frequency Band: 2.4000 ~ 2.4835GHz (Industrial Scientific Medical Band)
• Modulation: OFDM with BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM (11g)
BPSK, QPSK, CCK (11b)
• Data Rate: 54/48/36/24/18/12/11/9/6/5.5/2/1Mbps auto fallback
• Security: 64/128-bit WEP Data Encryption, WPA (PSK, TKIP with IEEE 802.1x), WPA2
(PSK, AES with IEEE 802.1x)
Note: WPA2 is only enabled in Windows 2000/XP.
• Internal Antenna: Two Receiving Antennas and One Transmitting Antenna
• Drivers: Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP
• LEDs: Link, Activity
• Transmit Power: 18dBm ± 2dBm
• Dimension: 8(H) x 118(W) x 54(D) mm
• Temperature: 32~131°F (0 ~ 55°C)
• Humidity: Max. 95% (NonCondensing)
• Certification: FCC, CE
2

1.3 Package Contents
Before you begin the installation, please check the items of your package. The package should include
the following items:
• MIMO Wireless PCMCIA Adapter
• CD (Driver/Utility/User Manual.)
• Quick Guide
If any of the above items is missing, contact your supplier as soon as possible.
3

2 Installation Procedure
Before you proceed with the installation, please notice following descriptions.
Note1: Please do not install the card into your laptop computer before installing the software
program from the CD.
Note2: The following installation was operated under Windows XP. (Procedures are similar for
Windows 98SE/ME/2000.)
Note3: If you have installed the Wireless LAN PC Card driver & utility before, please uninstall
the old version first.
A. Insert the Installation CD to your CD-ROM Drive. Click “WPC-0500”
Click “Driver & Utility” proceed installation
4

B. Click “Yes” to process the installation if you accept the license agreement.
C. In Windows XP, there is a “Windows Zero Configuration Tool” for you to setup wireless cards.
You can choose to configure the card through the “Zero Configuration Tool” or the “LevelOne
Configuration Tool” for the card. It is recommended to choose the “LevelOne Configure Tool” for the
card. Click “Next” to continue.
* This option only available under Windows XP
5

D. If you need the card to operate with better performance, please choose the “Optimize for
performance” to enable the Tx Burst mode. Or you can choose “Optimize for Wi-Fi mode” to let the
card run in standard wireless network.
E. The system starts to install the software of the card. Follow the instruction of the program to plug in
the PC card into the Cardbus slot of your laptop computer.
6

F. Please click “Finish” to complete the installation.
7

3 Configuration Utility
LevelOne Configuration Utility is a powerful application that helps you configure the PC card and
monitor the link status and the statistics during the communication process.
When the card is installed, LevelOne configuration utility will be displayed automatically. This card will
auto connect to wireless device which has better signal strength and no wireless security setting.
LevelOne Configuration Utility appears as an icon on the system tray of Windows while the card is
running. You can open the utility by double-click on the icon.
Right click the icon, there are some items for you to operate the configuration utility.
 Lauch LevelOne Config Utilities
Select “Lauch LevelOne Config Utilities” to open the Configuration Utility tool.
 Use Zero Configuration as Configuration Utility
 Select “Use Zero Configuration as Configuration Utility” to use Windows XP built-in wireless
configuration utility (Windows Zero Configuration) to configure the card.
 Exit
Select “Exit” to close the Configuration Utility tool.
8

In Windows XP, there is a “Windows Zero Configuration Tool” for you to setup wireless clients. If you
want to switch the configuration utilities, please follow one of the ways as below.
First Way
Right click the icon in the system tray and select “Use LevelOne Config as Configuration Utility”.
Second Way
A. Right-click the icon and select “View Available Wireless Networks”.
B. Click “Advanced”.
9

C. Uncheck “Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings” to enable the utility for the card.
Note: If “Wireless Zero Configuration” is enabled, you can only configure the advance setting or check
the link status and statistics from the configuration utility of the card.
Highlight the profile in the preferred network list and click on “Properties”. And in the “Authentication”
frame, click on “Properties” button and make sure the Certification Authority (or called it “CA” for short)
which you request the certification from, is checked.
10

3.1 Site Survey
When you open the LevelOne Configuration Utility, the system will scan all the channels to find all the
access points/stations within the accessible range of your card and automatically connect to the
wireless device with the highest signal strength. From the “Site Survey”, all the networks nearby will be
listed. You can change the connection to another networks or add one of the networks to your own
profile list.
Parameter Description
Available Networks This list shows all available wireless networks within range of your
card. It also displays the information of the networks including the
SSID, BSSID, Signal Strength, Channel, Encryption,
Authentication and Network Type. If you want to connect to any
networks on the list, double-click the item on the list, and the card
will automatically connect to the selected network.
Rescan Button Click “Rescan” button to collect the new information of all the
wireless networks nearby.
Connect Button Click “Connect” to connect to the selected network.
Add to Profile Button Add the selected network to Profiles list.
11

3.2 Profile
The “Profiles List” is for you to manage the networks you connect to frequently. You are able to
Add/Delete/Edit/Activate a profile.
Parameter Description
Profiles List The profiles list display all the profiles and the relative settings of
the profiles including Profile Name, SSID, Channel, etc.
This sign indicates the activated profile is been connecting.
This sign indicates the activated profile is not been
connecting.
Add/Delete/Edit Button Click these buttons to add/delete/edit the selected profiles.
Activate Button Click “Activate” to connect to the selected profile. When a profile is
activated, the card will be initially connected to the profile.
12

3.2.1 Configure the Profile
3.2.1.1 Configuration
Parameter Description
Profile Name Define a recognizable profile name for you to identify the different
networks.
SSID The SSID (up to 32 printable ASCII characters) is the unique
name identified in a WLAN. The ID prevents the unintentional
merging of two co-located WLANs.
You may specify a SSID for the card and then only the device with
the same SSID can interconnect to the card. If you want to add the
network nearby to the profile list, pull down the menu, all the
networks will be listed for you to add one of them to the profile list.
Parameter Description
PSM (Power Saving Mode) The power saving function is only available when the network type
is in Infrastructure.
CAM (Constantly Awake Mode) – The card will always set in
active mode.
PSM (Power Saving Mode) – Enable the card in the power
saving mode when it is idle.
Network Type Infrastructure – This operation mode requires the presence of an
802.11 Access Point. All communication is done via the Access
13

Point or Router.
Ad-Hoc – Select this mode if you want to connect to another
wireless stations in the Wireless LAN network without through an
Access Point or Router.
TX Power If you want to lower the transmit power of the card for saving the
power of the system, you can select the lower percentages from
the list. The lower power will cause the lower signal strength and
the coverage range.
Ad Hoc Wireless Mode When the card is set in Ad Hoc (Peer to Peer Mode), you can
designate the wireless connection mode for the Ad Hoc network.
802.11 B only – This card can be compatible with both 802.11g
and 802.11b wireless stations. If there are only 802.11b wireless
stations in the network, you can set the card to this mode.
802.11 B/G mix – If you have a mix of 802.11b and 802.11g
wireless stations in your network, it is recommended to setting the
card to this mode. This mode is also the default setting.
802.11 G only – This card can be compatible with both 802.11g
and 802.11b wireless stations. If there are only 802.11g wireless
stations in the network, you can set the card to this mode.
*Ad Hoc mode supports only WEP and WPA-NONE encryption
Infrastructure Mode It will scan all available channels continuously until it finds one or
more Access Points that match its SSID
Preamble The preamble defines the length of the CRC block for
communication among wireless devices. This option is only active
in the Ad Hoc network.
There are two modes including Auto and Long Preamble. If
“Auto“ mode is selected, the card will auto switch the preamble
mode depending on the wireless devices the card is connecting
to.
Parameter Description
RTS Threshold Minimum packet size required for an RTS (Request To Send). For
packets smaller than this threshold, an RTS is not sent and the
packet is transmitted directly to the wireless network. Select a
setting within a range of 0 to 2347 bytes. Minor change is
recommended.
14

Fragment Threshold The value defines the maximum size of packets; any packet size
larger than the value will be fragmented. If you have decreased
this value and experience high packet error rates, you can
increase it again, but it will likely decrease overall network
performance. Select a setting within a range of 256 to 2346 bytes.
Minor change is recommended.
Channel This setting is only available for Ad Hoc mode. Select the number
of the radio channel used for the networking. The channel setting
should be the same with the network you are connecting to.
3.2.1.2 Authentication and Security
Parameter Description
Authentication Type This setting has to be consistent with the wireless networks that
the card intends to connect.
Open – No authentication is needed among the wireless network.
Shared – Only wireless devices using a shared key (WEP Key
identified) are allowed to connecting each other.
Parameter Description
Authentication Type LEAP – LEAP is a pre-EAP, Cisco-proprietary protocol, with many
of the features of EAP protocols. Cisco controls the ability of other
vendors to implement this protocol, so it should be selected for
use only when limited vendor choice for client, access-point, and
15

server products is not a concern. When you have set up LEAP
authentication, you have to enter the user name and password of
your computer.
WPA – WPA provides a scheme of mutual authentication using
either IEEE 802.1x/Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)
authentication or pre-shared key (PSK) technology. It provides a
high level of assurance to enterprises, small businesses and
home users that data will remain protected and that only
authorized users may access their networks. For enterprises that
have already deployed IEEE 802.1x authentication, WPA offers
the advantage of leveraging existing authentication databases
and infrastructure.
WPA-PSK – It is a special mode designed for home and small
business users who do not have access to network authentication
servers. In this mode, known as Pre-Shared Key, the user
manually enters the starting password in their access point or
gateway, as well as in each wireless stations in the network.
WPA-PSK takes over automatically from that point, keeping
unauthorized users that don't have the matching password from
joining the network, while encrypting the data traveling between
authorized devices.
WPA2 – Like WPA, WPA2 supports IEEE 802.1x/EAP
authentication or PSK technology. It also includes a new
advanced encryption mechanism using the Advanced Encryption
Standard (AES). AES is required to the corporate user or
government users. The difference between WPA and WPA2 is that
WPA2 provides data encryption via the AES. In contrast, WPA
uses Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP).
WPA2-PSK – WPA2-PSK is also for home and small business.
The difference between WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK is that
WPA2-PSK provides data encryption via the AES. In contrast,
WPA-PSK uses Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP).
*For Windows 2000/XP only
WPA-NONE – WPA-NONE is defined for Ad hoc mode and
behaves like WPA-PSK (WPA-PSK is only defined for
infrastructure mode). The user manually enters the Pre-Shared
Key (8 ~ 63 characters) in each wireless station in the network
and WPA-NONE controls unauthorized users that don't have the
matching Pre-Shared Key from joining the network and also
encrypts the data traveling between authorized devices.
16

802.1x Setting When you have set the Authentication Type to Open, Shared,
WPA or WPA2, you can also enable IEEE 802.1x setting to use
the authentication server or certification server to authenticate
client users.
Parameter Description
Encryption Mode None – Disable the encryption mode.
WEP – Enable the WEP Data Encryption. When the item is
selected, you have to continue setting the WEP Encryption keys.
TKIP – TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) changes the
temporal key every 10,000 packets (a packet is a kind of message
transmitted over a network.) This insures much greater security
than the standard WEP security.
AES – AES has been developed to ensure the highest degree of
security and authenticity for digital information and it is the most
advanced solution defined by IEEE 802.11i for the security in the
wireless network.
Note: All devices in the network should use the same encryption
method to ensure the communication.
WPA Pre-Shared Key The WPA-PSK key can be from 8 to 63 characters and can be
letters or numbers. This same key must be used on all of the
wireless stations in the network.
WEP Key
(Key1 ~ Key4)
The WEP keys are used to encrypt data transmitted in the
wireless network. There are two types of key length: 64-bit and
128-bit. Select the default encryption key from Key 1 to Key 4 by
selected the radio button.
Fill the text box by following the rules below.
64-bit – Input 10-digit Hex values (in the “A-F”, “a-f” and “0-9”
range) or 5-digit ASCII characters (including “a-z” and “0-9”) as
the encryption keys. For example: “0123456aef“ or “test1”.
128-bit – Input 26-digit Hex values (in the “A-F”, “a-f” and “0-9”
range) or 13-digit ASCII characters (including “a-z” and “0-9”) as
the encryption keys. For example:
“01234567890123456789abcdef“ or “administrator”.
17

The IEEE 802.1X specification describes a protocol that can be used for authenticating both clients and
servers on a network. The authentication algorithms and methods are those provided by the Extensible
Authentication Protocol (EAP), a method of authentication that has been in use for a number of years
on networks that provide Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) support as many internet service providers and
enterprises do.
When an AP acting as an authenticator detects a wireless station on the LAN, it sends an EAP-Request
for the user's identity to the device. (EAP, or the Extensible Authentication Protocol, is an authentication
protocol that runs before network layer protocols transmit data over the link.) In turn, the device
responds with its identity, and the AP relays this identity to an authentication server, which is typically
an external RADIUS server.
An example for MD5 Authentication
RADIUS
Server
Windows 2000 IAS
(Internet Authentication
Service)
IEEE 802.1x
Access Client
Access Point
RADIUS
Client
1
2
3
4
(1) Client requests to login the
network.
(4) Approve or deny user
login to the LAN.
(3) Send username, password to
RADIUS server.
(2) Login with username,
password.
18