Sony PCWA-C100 User manual

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Wireless LAN PC Card
PCWA-C100 - Microsoft®Windows®98
Second Edition/ Microsoft®Windows®
Millennium Edition/ Microsoft®Windows®
2000 Professional

Wireless LAN PC Card
Notice
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Notice
Owner's record
The model and serial numbers are located on the backside. Record the serial number in the space provided below. Refer to the below
numbers whenever you call your Sony dealer regarding this product.
Model No. PCWA-C100
Serial No.______________
Regulatory information
This product complies with the European Directive 1999/5/EC (R&TTE Directive).
This product complies with EN55022 Class B and EN55024 for use in the following areas: residential,
commercial and light-industrial.
This product has been tested and found compliant with the limits set out in the EMC Directive for using
connection cables not longer than 3 metres (9.8 feet).
In some countries the use of the Wireless LAN Access Point is restricted. Before using it, make sure you have
read the Wireless LAN regulation flyer.

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About the supplied software
The supplied software is supplied pursuant to the applicable end user license agreement.
❑Copyright laws prohibit reproducing the software or the software manual in whole or in part, or renting
the software without the permission of the copyright holder.
❑In no event will SONY be liable for any financial damage or loss of profits, including claims made by third
parties, arising out of the use of the software supplied with this product.
❑In the event a problem occurs with this software as a result of defective manufacturing, SONY will
replace it or issue a refund; however, SONY bears no other responsibility.
❑The software provided with this product cannot be used with equipment other than the equipment
designated to be used with the software.
❑Please note that, due to continued efforts to improve quality, the software specifications may be
changed without notice.
Copyrights notice
Program © 2000 2001 Sony Corporation, © 2000 Lucent Technologies, Copyright 1998 by Carnegie Mellon University.
CMU disclaims all warranties with regard to this software, including all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness, in no event
shall CMU be liable for any special, indirect or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data or
profits, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tortuous action, arising out of or in connection with the use or
performance of this software.
Sony, VAIO, the VAIO logo, Memory Stick™, and the Memory Stick logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.
Microsoft®, Windows®, Windows®98 Second Edition , Windows® Millennium Edition, Windows®2000 Professional, Windows®XP
Home Edition, Windows® Professional Edition and Windows®NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States of America and other countries.
MMX®and Pentium®are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation.
Netscape and the Netscape N and Ship's Wheel logo are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the United
States and other countries.
All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners.

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Safety information
Warning
❑Opening the unit, for whatever reason, could lead to damages that are not covered by the guarantee.
❑To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose your Sony Wireless LAN PC Card to rain or moisture.
✍The illustrations in this manual may differ from the actual software.
Explanations in this manual assume that you are familiar with basic operations of Windows. For instructions on how to use your computer and
operating system, please refer to their respective manuals.

Wireless LAN PC Card
Overview
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Overview
What you can do with your Wireless LAN PC Card
You can build a Wireless LAN (Local Area Network) using the PCWA-C100 Wireless LAN PC Card. The Wireless
LAN PC Card can be used with or without the PCWA-A200 Wireless LAN Access Point, hereinafter referred
to as the Access Point. With the Access Point, you can build a wireless LAN between multiple computers
equipped with the Wireless LAN PC Card and access to the Internet. You can achieve direct communication
(Peer to Peer mode) between computers without using the Access Point.
★Although you can connect up to 49 client computers to a wireless LAN, the maximum recommended amount is 16 or less.
Communication through the Access Point
Direct communication between computers (Peer to Peer mode)

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About the supplied software
The Wireless LAN PC Card is delivered with the following software:
❑Wireless Palette: You can set up a computer containing the Wireless LAN PC Card for communications
with the Access Point, display the communication status, and switch between Access Points when
multiple Access Points are present.
❑Basic Access Point Setup Utility (Basic Setup Utility): You can set up the Access Point for Internet access.
This dialog-driven utility covers basic setup procedures for Internet access.
❑Custom Access Point Setup Utility (Custom Setup Utility): You can make advanced configurations of the
Access Point. You can specify optional features for Internet access with this utility.
❑Access Point Firmware Upgrade Utility: This is the software for upgrading Access Point firmware.
If you are using an old version, some functions will be unavailable. For example, the DSL Modem (PPPoE)
mode cannot be selected, and roaming cannot be used. In this case, it is recommended that you upgrade
both your Access Point firmware and Wireless LAN Utility.
See the Confirming your software version (page 56) section to check the version. To upgrade the Access
Point firmware, see the Access Point Firmware Upgrade Utility Help.

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Task flow
To build a wireless LAN environment, you must configure both the Access Point and the Wireless LAN PC
Card.
The required tasks depend on the state of your Access Point and Wireless LAN PC Card. The table below lists
their states and tasks required for building a wireless LAN environment.
If you are already using a Sony Wireless LAN product, make sure you check the product's version. See the
Confirming your software version (page 56) section to check the version.
New Wireless LAN PC Card Wireless LAN PC Card in use
Access
Point
New 1. Connect the Access Point. See Connections in the
Access Point Operating Instructions manual.
2. Insert the Wireless LAN PC Card into a computer,
set up the Windows-based environment and install
software. See Inserting the Wireless LAN PC Card
(page 13) and following sections in this manual.
3. Install the software, and then set up according to
the Wizard. See Installing software (page 39) in this
manual.
4. Verify the communication with the Access Point.
See Verifying communication with the Access Point
(page 48) in this manual.
5. Configure the Access Point using the Basic Setup
Utility. See Establishing communication with the
Access Point (page 44) and following sections in this
manual. For further information, see the Wireless
Palette Help file.
1. Connect the Access Point. See Connections in the
Access Point Operating Instructions manual.
2. Register the Access Point using the Wireless
Palette. See Establishing communication with the
Access Point (page 44) and following sections in this
manual. For further information, see the Wireless
Palette Help file.
3. Configure the Access Point using the BasicSetup
Utility. See Setting up the Access Point (page 48) and
following sections in this manual.

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Overview
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System requirements
A computer answering to the following minimum system requirements:
❑CPU: Intel®Pentium®233Mhz with MMX®technology or later
❑RAM :
❑64 MB or more with Microsoft®Windows®98 Second Edition, Microsoft®Windows®Millennium
Edition or Microsoft®Windows®2000 Professional
❑128 MB or more with Microsoft®Windows®XP Home or Professional Edition.
❑CD-ROM drive
❑Default built-in PCMCIA Type II slot
❑Operating system: For best results, use a computer with one of the preinstalled operating systems below.
❑Microsoft®Windows®98 Second Edition, English version
❑Microsoft®Windows®Millennium Edition, English version
❑Microsoft®Windows®2000 Professional, English version
❑Microsoft®Windows®XP Professional Edition, English version
In use 1. Insert the Wireless LAN PC Card into a computer,
set up the Windows-based environment and install
the software. See Inserting the Wireless LAN PC Card
(page 13) and following sections in this manual.
2. Install the software, and then set up according to
the Wizard. See Installing software (page 39) in this
manual.
3. Verify the communication with the Access Point.
See Verifying communication with the Access Point
(page 48) in this manual.
To communicate with an Access Point previously
used in another wireless LAN environment from a
computer containing the Wireless LAN PC Card:
1. Register the Access Point using the Wireless
Palette. See Establishing communication with the
Access Point (page 44) and succeeding sections in
this manual. For further information, see the
Wireless Palette Help file.
New Wireless LAN PC Card Wireless LAN PC Card in use

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❑Microsoft®Windows®XP Home Edition, English version
❑(Does not operate under Microsoft®Windows®3.1, 95, 98 or NT. Also, operation is not guaranteed under
all upgraded environments.)
❑Display: SVGA (800 x 600 pixels) and above, (supports High Color (16 bit) and above)
✍We do not assure trouble-free operation for all computers answering to these system requirements.
The Wireless LAN Access Point PCWA-A200 is required to gain access to the internet using this Wireless LAN technology.
An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is required for Internet access.

Wireless LAN PC Card
About this manual
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About this manual
This manual explains the operation of the Wireless LAN PC Card and the installation and setup of the
supplied software when using Windows®98 Second Edition, Windows®Millennium Edition or Windows®
2000 Professional operating systems. If your operating system is Windows®XP Professional Edition or XP
Home Edition, refer to the Windows®XP Professional Edition/ XP Home Edition manual. For details on using
the Wireless Palette and the Custom Access Point Setup Utility software supplied with the Wireless LAN PC
Card, please refer to the software's Help files.