MicroNet SP906GK User manual

User’s Manual
Wireless LAN PCI Adapter
Model No.: SP906GK
http://www.micronet.info

CONTENTS
1INTRODUCTION.............................................................................1
1.1 Features.........................................................................................................................2
1.2 Specifications................................................................................................................2
1.3 Package Contents..........................................................................................................3
2INSTALLATION PROCEDURE .....................................................4
I. Install the Hardware............................................................................................................4
II. Install the Driver and Utility..............................................................................................4
3CONFIGURATION UTILITY .........................................................7
3.1 Site Survey....................................................................................................................9
3.2 Profile..........................................................................................................................10
3.2.1Configure the Profile.....................................................................................11
3.2.1.1 Configuration ............................................................................................... 11
3.2.1.2 Authentication and Security......................................................................... 13
3.2.1.3 802.1x Setting-Certification.........................................................................17
3.2.1.4 802.1x Setting-CA Server ............................................................................19
3.3 Link Status ..................................................................................................................19
3.4 Statistics......................................................................................................................21
3.5 Advance ......................................................................................................................21
3.6 About...........................................................................................................................24
3.7 Turbo Mode.................................................................................................................25
3.8 WMM Function ..........................................................................................................25
4TROUBLESHOOTING..................................................................28

1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing SP906GK Wireless LAN PCI Adapter. This adapter complies with IEEE
802.11g standard, which supports up to 54Mbps high-speed wireless network connections. It can also
work with IEEE 802.11b devices. When the adapter connects to 11b devices, the link speed will be up
to 11Mbps.
This adapter enables higher data throughput than the IEEE 802.11g standard (up to 54Mbps). 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
adapter is connecting to the Routers or APs with the proprietary Turbo Mode feature, the wireless
network will be more effective.
For WLAN security issues, this adapter 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 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 adapter 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 adapter supports the advanced
technology for sure.
The power consumption of the adapter is also very low. This adapter provides several levels of power
saving modes allowing user customizes the way of saving the power from his/her portable or handheld
devices.
This adapter is cost-effective, together with the versatile features; it is the best solution for you to build
your wireless network.
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1.1 Features
•Works with both IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g products.
•High-speed transfer data rate - up to 54Mbps.
•Supports Turbo Mode to enhance the data transfer speed within the specific wireless
network.
•Supports WMM function to meet the multi-media data bandwidth requirement.
•Supports 64/128-bit WEP, WPA (TKIP with IEEE 802.1x), WPA2 (AES with IEEE 802.1x)
functions for high level of security.
•Automatic fallback increases data security and reliability.
•Supports the most popular operating system: Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP.
•Supports 32-bit PCI interface.
1.2 Specifications
•Standard: IEEE 802.11b/g
•Interface: 32-bit PCI
•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 (TKIP with IEEE 802.1x), WPA2 (AES with
IEEE 802.1x) Note: WPA2 is enabled in Windows 2000/XP.
•Antenna: External detachable dipole antenna (Connector: RP-SMA connector,)
•Drivers: Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP
•LEDs: Link, TX/RX
•Transmit Power: 16dBm~18dBm
•Dimension: 19(H) x 130(W) x 121(D) mm
•Weight: 46g
•Temperature: 32~131°F (0 ~ 55°C)
•Humidity: Max. 95% (NonCondensing)
•Certification: FCC, CE
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1.3 Package Contents
Before you begin the installation, please check the items of your package. The package should include
the following items:
•Wireless LAN PCI Adapter
•Quick installation guide
•Driver and Manual CD
•Detachable Antenna
If any of the above items is missing, contact your supplier as soon as possible.
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2 Installation Procedure
Before you proceed with the installation, please notice following descriptions.
Note1: The following installation was operated under Windows XP. (Procedures are similar for
Windows 98SE/Me/2000.)
Note2: If you have installed the Wireless PCI Adapter driver & utility before, please uninstall the
old version completely first.
I. Install the Hardware
A. Turn off your computer and remove its cover.
B. Insert the PCI adapter to an available PCI slot firmly.
C. Secure this adapter to the rear of the computer chassis and put back the cover.
D. Secure the antenna to the antenna connector of the adapter.
E. Turn on the computer.
II. Install the Driver and Utility
A. “Found New Hardware Wizard” is displayed after the adapter is installed and the computer is
restarted. Click “Cancel”.
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B. Insert the supplied CD to your CD-ROM Drive. Execute the “Setup.exe” program.
C. Click “Yes” to process the installation if you accept the license agreement.
D. The system starts to install the software of the adapter.
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E. The system will automatically detect the adapter and display “Hardware Installation” screen. Click
“Continue Anyway” to continue.
F. Please click “Finish” to complete the installation.
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3 Configuration Utility
The Configuration Utility is a powerful application that helps you configure the adapter and monitor the
link status and the statistics during the communication process.
When the adapter is installed, the configuration utility will be displayed automatically. This adapter will
auto connect to wireless device which has better signal strength and no wireless security setting.
The Configuration Utility appears as an icon on the system tray of Windows while the adapter 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.
zLauch Config Utilities:
Select “Lauch Config Utilities” to open the Configuration Utility tool.
zUse Windows 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 adapter.
zExit:
Select “Exit” to close the Configuration Utility tool.
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In Windows XP, there is a “Windows Zero Configuration Tool” for you to setup wireless clients. By
default, this “Windows Zero Configuration Tool” is enabled. If you want to use the Utility for the
adapter, please follow one of the ways as below.
First Way
Right click the icon in the system tray and select “Use RaConfig as Configuration Utility”.
Second Way
A. Right-click the icon and select “View Available Wireless Networks”.
B. Click “Advanced”.
C. Uncheck “Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings” to enable the utility for the
adapter.
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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 adapter.
3.1 Site Survey
When you open the Configuration Utility, the system will scan all the channels to find all the access
points/stations within the accessible range of your adapter 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 other networks or add one of the networks to your own profile list.
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Parameter Description
Available Networks This list shows all available wireless networks within range of your
adapter. 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
adapter 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.
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.
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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 adapter will be initially connected to the profile.
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 printableASCII 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 adapter and then only the device
with the same SSID can interconnect to the adapter. 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
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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 adapter will always set in
active mode.
PSM (Power Saving Mode) – Enable the adapter 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
Point or Router.
Ad-Hoc – Select this mode if you want to connect to other
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 adapter 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 adapter is set inAd Hoc (Peer to Peer Mode), you can
designate the wireless connection mode for the Ad Hoc network.
802.11 B only – This adapter 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 adapter 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
adapter to this mode. This mode is also the default setting.
802.11 G only – This adapter 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 adapter to this
mode.
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 includingAuto and Long Preamble. If
“Auto“ mode is selected, the adapter will auto switch the preamble
mode depending on the wireless devices the adapter is
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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.
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 adapter intends to connect.
Open – No authentication is needed among the wireless network.
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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
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 station 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 802.1 x/EAP
authentications 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 WPAand 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).
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
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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 64 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-digitASCII 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”.
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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
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RADIUS
Server
Windows 2000 IAS
(Internet Authentication
Service)
IEEE 802.1x
Access Client
Access Point
RADIUS
Client
1
2
3
4
(2) Login with username,
password.
(1) Client requests to login the
network.
(4) Approve or deny user
login to the LAN.
(3) Send username, password to
RADIUS server.
3.2.1.3 802.1x Setting-Certification
Parameter Description
Authentication Type The EAP authentication protocols this adapter has supported are
included as follows. This setting has to be consistent with the
wireless APs or Routers that the adapter intends to connect.
PEAP &TTLS – PEAP and TTLS are similar and easier than TLS
in that they specify a stand-alone authentication protocol be used
within an encrypted tunnel. TTLS supports any protocol within its
tunnel, including CHAP, MS-CHAP, MS-CHAPv2, PAP and
EAP-MD5. PEAP specifies that an EAP-compliant authentication
protocol must be used; this adapter supports EAP-MSCHAP v2,
EAP-TLS/Smart adapter and Generic Token Adapter. The client
certificate is optional required for the authentication.
TLS/Smart Adapter –TLS is the most secure of the EAP
protocols but not easy to use. It requires that digital certificates be
exchanged in the authentication phase. The server presents a
certificate to the client. After validating the server’s certificate, the
client presents a client certificate to the server for validation.
MD5-Challenge – MD5-Challenge is the easiest EAP Type. It
requires the wireless station to enter a set of user name and
password as the identity to RADIUS Server.
Session Resumption There are “Disabled”, “Reauthentication”, “Roaming”, “SameSsid”
and “Always” selections for you to choose whether to recovery the
session in different status.
Identity Enter the name as the identity for the server.
Password Enter the password as the identity for the server.
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Use Client Certificate
A
client certificate is required for TLS, and is optional for TTLS and
PEAP. This forces a client certificate to be selected from the
appropriate Windows Certificate Store and made available to the
RADIUS server for certification.
Parameter Description
Tunneled Authentication
Protocol When the authentication type is PEAP or TTLS, select a protocol
to be used to build the encrypted tunnel.
Identity This is the protected user EAP Identity used for authentication.
The identity specified may contain up to 63ASCII characters, is
case sensitive and takes the form of a Network Access Identifier,
consisting of <name of the user>@<user’s home realm>. The
user’s home realm is optional and indicates the routing domain.
Password The password used for authentication. It may contain up to 63
ASCII characters and is case sensitive.
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