Linksys Instant Broadband Series User manual

2
• One Instant WirelessT M Network PC Card ver. 3.0
• One Setup Utility CD-R OM (User Guide on CD)
• Quick Installation insert and Registration Card (not shown)
• A 16-bit PCMCIA Type II or T ype III slot
• PCMCIA revisions 2.10 compliant card and socket services
• Windows 95, 98, Millennium, NT, 2000, or X P
• 600 K bytes of free disk space for utility and driver installation
P a c k a ge C o nt e nt s
S y s te m R e qu ire m e n ts
Instant Wireless
TM
Series
1
Chapter 1: Introduction
Put the “mobile” back into mobile computing! Whether you’ re at your desk or
in the boardroom, the Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card allows you to share
printers, files, and other resources anywhere within your L AN infrastructure,
increasing your productivity and keeping you “in touch.”
The Instant W ireless™ Network PC Card now has a new, higher-powered
antenna that provides a greater range than ever. The increased sensitivity helps
filter out interference and “noise” to keep your signal clear. Improved error
correction in the chipset keeps you operating at higher transmission rates for
longer distances. And, since you only need one Type II or III PCMCIA slot,
you’ re free to use your other slots for additional accessories.
R eady to run in T ype II or III PCMCIA -equipped notebook PCs running
Windows 95, 98, Millennium, NT , 2000, and X P, the I nstant Wireless™
Network PC Card ver. 3.0 is truly a “must-have” for all notebook PC users.
•11 M bps High-Speed Data T ransfer R ate
•Compatible with V irtually A ll Major Network Operating Systems
•Plug-and-Play Operation Provides Easy Setup
•Integrated E qualizer R ecovers W eak Signals and E nhances Sensitivity
•Sturdy Metal Design with Integrated Antenna
•Works with A ll Standard Internet A pplications
•Interoperable with I E E E 802.11b (DSSS) 2.4GHz-Compliant E quipment
•Clear Channel A ssessment Increases Network T hroughput
•Hardware B uffer Chaining Provides High Performance While R eading and
Writing B uffers
•Capable of up to 128-B it WE P
•Free Technical Support—24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week for North America
Only
•1-Year L imited Warranty
F e a tu re s
T h e I ns t a n t W ir e le s s T M N e t w or k P C C a r d v e r. 3 . 0
Network PC Card
Figure 1-1

43
Chapter 3: Installing the Drivers
and Configuration Utility for
Windows 95, 98, ME, and 2000
Your new Linksys Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card ver. 3.0 comes with an
automated software installation procedure for Windows 95, 98, Millennium,
and 2000. Windows NT or XP users should refer to the next section. This
new procedure automatically installs the drivers and Configuration Utility
before you insert the Card into your PC, so there’s no searching for the location
of drivers. Again, this step is taken before inserting the Card into your PC.
1. Before installing your
card, insert the Setup
Utility CD into your
CD-ROM drive. Unless
you have deactivated the
auto-run feature of
Windows, the screen
shown in Figure 2-1
should appear automati-
cally.
If this screen does not appear automatically, you can access the installation
by clicking the Start button and choosing Run. In the drop-down box pro-
vided, type D:\setup.exe (where D: is the letter of your CD-ROM drive).
Alternately, double-click My Computer and double-click the CD-ROM
drive where the Setup Utility CD is located. Double-click the Setup.exe icon
in the folder that appears.
Before You Start
Running the Auto Driver Installation
Network PC Card
Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless
Network
Awireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each computer in the
LAN uses an Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card ver. 3.0 to connect to the
network through a wireless connection. Computers in a wireless LAN must be
configured to share the same radio channel.
The Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card ver. 3.0 provides LAN access for
wireless workstations. An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an
Infrastructure configuration. A group of Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card
ver. 3.0 users and an Access Point compose a Basic Service Set (BSS). Each
PC equipped with an Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card ver. 3.0 in a BSS can
talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the Access Point.
An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of an Instant
Wireless™ Network PC Card ver. 3.0 PC to a wired LAN, and doubles the
effective wireless transmission range for two PCs equipped with an Instant
Wireless™ Network PC Card ver. 3.0. Since the Access Point is able to for-
ward data within its BSS, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure
LAN is doubled.
Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. More
than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set (ESS). This con-
tinuous network allows users to roam freely within an ESS. All PCs, equipped
with an Instant Wireless™ Network PC Card ver. 3.0, within one ESS must be
configured with the same ESS ID.
Before enabling an ESS with roaming capability, selecting a feasible radio
channel and optimum Access Point position is recommended. Proper Access
Point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance per-
formance.
Roaming
Network Topology
Figure 2-1
Instant Wireless
TM
Series