TRENDnet TEW-301PC User manual

TEW-301PC
2.4 GHz Wireless LAN CardBus Network Adapter
User's Guide
Rev. 050302

CONTENTS
1.Package Contents
2.Introduction
3.Wireless Basics
4.Getting Started
5.Installing the TEW-301PC
6.Using the Configuration Utility
7.Troubleshooting
8.Networking Basics
9.Technical Specifications
10. Contacting Technical Support
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1. Package Contents
TEW-301PC 2.4GHz Wireless LAN CardBus Network Adapter
CD-ROM with Drivers, Setup Utility, Quick Installation Guide, and
User's Guide
Printed Quick Installation Guide
If any of the above items are missing, please contact your reseller.
A computer with an available 32-bit CardBus PC Card slot
Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me, or Windows 98
CardBus Controller, properly installed and working
At least 32 MB of memory and a 300 MHz processor (recommended)
An 802.11b Access Point or another 802.11b wireless adapter
(Not required for driver and utility installation)
System Requirements
Contents
3
Fig. 1.1

2. Introduction
The TEW-301PC Wireless CardBus Adapter is an enhanced 802.11b high-
performance, wireless adapter that supports high-speed wireless networking at
home, at work or in public places.
Unlike most 802.11b network cards, theTEW-301PC provides speeds of up to 22
Mbps (compared to the standard 11 Mbps) when used with other TRENDware
products.
The TEW-301PC is also compatible with existing 802.11b devices.
It is an ideal way to connect one laptop computer to a Wireless Local Area
Network (WLAN.) After completing the steps outlined in the Quick Installation
Guide (included in the package) you will have the ability to share information and
resources, such as files and printers, and take full advantage of a “connected”
environment for work or play!
The TEW-301PC includes software drivers for the most popular Microsoft
Windows operating systems (Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me,
Windows 98) and can be integrated into a larger network, running, in either Ad
Hoc mode (without an Access Point) or Infrastructure mode (with an Access
Point.) Please take a look at our Getting Started section in this manual to see
examples of typical network setups using the TEW-301PC in both
Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc modes.
This manual provides a quick introduction to wireless technology and its
application as it relates to networking. Take a moment to read through this
manual and get acquainted with wireless technology.
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Provides high-speed wireless connection up to 22Mbps
Operates in the 2.4GHz frequency range
Maximum reliability, throughput and connectivity with automatic data rate
switching
Supports Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption at 64/128/256-
bit encryption
Supports infrastructure networks via an Access Point and peer-to-peer
communication in ad-hoc mode
Built-in dual diversity antenna for reduced interference in a multi-path
environment
32-bit CardBus Performance
User-friendly configuration and diagnostic utilities
LED Indicators
LED stands for Light-Emitting-Diode. The TEW-301PC has two LED:
1.Power - Orange LED lights on steady to indicate a proper
connection to a power source.
2.Link - Green LED flashes to indicate activity on the network
and lights on steady to indicate that a link to the
network is established.
Link LED
Power LED
Product Features
5
Fig. 2.1

3. Wireless Basics
TRENDware wireless products are based on industry standards to provide
easy-to-use and compatible high-speed wireless connectivity within your home,
business or wherever a wireless network is available. Strictly adhering to the IEEE
standard, the TRENDware wireless family of products will allow you to access the
data you want, when and where you want it. No longer will you be limited to one
location or forced to run new wiring through your home or office. You will be able to
enjoy the freedom that wireless networking delivers.
A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a cellular computer network that
transmits and receives data with radio signals instead of wires. Wireless LANs are
used increasingly in both home and office environments, and public areas such as
airports, coffee shops and universities. Innovative ways to utilize WLAN technology
are helping people to work and communicate more efficiently. Increased mobility
with the absence of cabling and other fixed infrastructure have proven to be
beneficial for many users.
Wireless users can use the same applications they use on a wired network.
Wireless adapter cards used on laptop and desktop systems, support the same
protocols as Ethernet adapter cards. For most users, there is no noticeable
functional difference between a wired Ethernet desktop computer and a wireless
computer equipped with a wireless adapter other than the added benefit of the ability
to roam within a wireless-cell. Under many circumstances, it may be desirable for
mobile network devices to link to a conventional Ethernet LAN in order to use
servers, printers or an Internet connection supplied through the wired LAN. A
Wireless Access Point (AP) is a device used to provide this link.
People use wireless LAN technology for many different purposes.
Mobility - Productivity increases when people have access to data in any
location within the operating range of the WLAN. Management decisions based
on real-time information can significantly improve worker efficiency.
Low Implementation Costs WLANs (Wireless Local Area Networks) are easy
to set up, manage, change and relocate. Networks that frequently change, both
physically and logically, can benefit from WLANs ease of implementation.
WLANs can operate in locations where installation of wiring may be impractical.
Installation Speed and Simplicity - Installing a wireless LAN system can be
fast and easy and can eliminate the need to install cable through walls and
ceilings.
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Network Expansion - Wireless technology allows the network to go where
wires cannot go.
Reduced Cost-of-Ownership - While the initial investment required for
Wireless LAN hardware might be higher than the cost of wired LAN
hardware, overall installation expenses and life-cycle costs will be
significantly lower. Long-term cost benefits are greatest in dynamic
environments requiring frequent moves, adds, and changes.
Scalability - Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) can be configured in a
variety of topologies to meet the needs of specific applications and
installations. Configurations are easily changed and range from peer-to-peer
networks suitable for a small number of users to full infrastructure networks
of thousands of users that allow roaming over a broad area.
TRENDware Wireless Family of LAN products include:
2.4GHz Wireless LAN PCI Network Adapter (TEW-301PC)
2.4GHz Witrless LAN CompactFlash Network Adapter (TEW-302CF)
2.4GHz Wireless LAN PCI Adapter (TEW-303PI)
2.4GHz Wireless LAN USB Network Adapter (TEW-304UB)
Wireless Access Point + Wireless Bridge (TEW-310APB)
Wireless Internet Router/Access Point (TEW-311BRP)
Standards - Based Technology
The IEEE802.11b standard-based technology assures that the TRENDware
Products are interoperable with existing compatible 2.4GHz wireless
technology. This means you will be able to transfer large files quickly or even
watch a movie in MPEG format over your network without noticeable delays. The
technology works by using multiple frequencies in the 2.4GHz range at speeds
up to 22Mbps. TRENDware products will automatically sense the best possible
connection speed to ensure the greatest speed and range possible with the
technology.
Installation Considerations
Designed to go up to 1,312 feet (400 meters) outdoors and up to 328 feet (100
meters) indoors, the TRENDware TEW-301PC lets you access your network with
your laptop computer from virtually anywhere. Keep in mind, however,
That the number, thickness, and location of walls, ceilings or other
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objects that the wireless signal must pass thru may limit range. Typical ranges
vary depending on the types of materials and any background RF (radio
frequency) noise in your home or business. The key to maximizing range is to
follow these basic guidelines:
1. Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the wireless Access
Point and your receiving device (i.e., the TEW-301PC) to a minimum -
Each wall or ceiling can reduce your TRENDware Wireless product's
range from 3-90 feet (1-30 meters.) Position your Access Points,
Internet Routers, and computers so that the number of walls or ceilings
is minimized.
2. Be aware of the direct line between Access Points, Internet Routers, and
computers. Awall that is 1.5 feet thick (.5 meters), at a 45-degree angle
appears to be almost 3 feet (1 meter) thick. At a 2-degree angle it looks
over 42 feet (14 meters) thick! Try to make sure that the Access Points
and Adapters are positioned so that the signal will travel straight through
a wall or ceiling for better reception.
3. Building Materials make a difference - A solid metal door or aluminum
studs may have a negative effect on range. Try to position Access
Points, and computers with wireless adapters so that the signal passes
through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.
4. Make sure that the device's antenna is positioned for best reception by
using the software signal strength tools included with your product.
5. Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet or 1-2 meters) from electrical
devices or appliances that may generate extreme RF noise.
For the average home, signal range should not be an issue. If you experience
low or no signal strength in areas of your home that you wish to access, consider
positioning the Access Point in a location directly between the computers with
wireless adapters. AdditionalAccess Points can be connected to provide better
coverage in rooms where the signal does not appear as strong as desired.
Using radio frequency (RF) technology, WLANs (Wireless LocalArea Networks)
transmit and receive data over the air, minimizing the need for wired
connections. Thus, WLANs combine data connectivity with user mobility, and,
through simplified configuration, enable movable LANs.
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4. Getting Started
For the price of a single IP Address from your Broadband Internet Service
provider you can share the Internet with all the computers on your local
network, without sacrificing speed or security, using TRENDware networking
products.
There are basically two modes of networking:
Infrastructure using Access Point
Ad-Hoc directly connecting to other wireless computers, for
peer-to-peer communication.
On the following pages we will show you an example of an Infrastructure
Network and an Ad-Hoc Network.
An Infrastructure network contains an Access Point. The Infrastructure
Network example shown on the following page contains the following
TRENDware network devices:
A wireless Internet Router/Access Point (DHCP enabled). TEW-311BRP
A laptop computer with a wireless network adapter TEW-301PC
A desktop computer with an Ethernet adapter TEW-303PI
A xDSL/Cable modem for accessing Internet access
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It is a protocol for
assigning IP addresses “automatically” to network computers. With a DHCP-
capable gateway/router, there is no need to manually assign an IP address for the
network computer.
Setting Up an Infrastructure
Network to share Internet Connection
TEW-311BRP
Wireless
Internet Router +
Access Point
Fig. 4.1
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Please remember that TRENDware wireless devices are pre-configured to connect
together, right out of the box, with the default settings.
1
1You will need a broadband Internet access (Cable
Modem/DSL Modem) subscription.
Consult with your Cable/DSL provider for proper installation
of the modem.
Connect the modem to a wireless Internet router.
If an Ethernet port is available on the router, connect a
computer that is equipped with an Ethernet Network adapter
to the router.
Install the drivers for the wireless network adapter (such as
the TRENDware TEW-301PC)into the computer. See the
Quick Installation Guide included with the TEW-301PC.
Please refer to the following sections of this manual for additional information
about setting up a network:
Networking Basics- learn how to check your IP Address; share printers and
files.
Using the Configuration Utility- learn the settings you must use on each
computer in your network for successful communication.
Troubleshooting learn how to check for the proper installation of the network
adapters' drivers and other tips for troubleshooting the network.
Setting up a Wireless Ad-Hoc Network
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2
3
3
4
4
5
5
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Fig. 4.2

1
1
2
2
3
3
Install a wireless network adapter into a computer.
See the Quick Installation Guide included with the
product for installation instructions.
Install the TEW-301PC into a laptop computer.
See the Quick Installation Guide included with the
product.
Set the wireless configuration for the adapters to Ad-Hoc
mode, set the adapters to the same channel, same SSID
and assign an IP Address to each computer on theAd-Hoc
network. (See Box below)
When assigning IP Addresses to the computers on the network, please
remember that the IP Address for each computer must be in the same
IP Address range as all the computers in the network, and the subnet
mask must be exactly the same for all the computers in the network.
For example: If the first computer is assigned an IP Address of
192.168.0.2 with a Subnet Mask of 255.255.255.0, then the second
computer can be assigned an IP Address of 192.168.0.3 with a Subnet
Mask of 255.255.255.0, etc.
IMPORTANT: If computers or other devices are assigned the same IP
Address, one or more of the devices may not be visible on the
network
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5. Installing the TEW-301PC
Click on the
model name
and then
Click on
Install
Installing the TEW-301PC Drivers & Utility
NOTE: Do not insert the TEW-301PC CardBus into the CardBus slot at
this point. You will be instructed in Section 2 to install the TEW-301PC
CardBus adapter later in this Installation Guide.
Windows XP, 2000, Me, or 98 Installation:
The following screen shots are taken from Windows XP. Windows 2000,
Me, and 98 will have a similar screenshots for installing the drivers.
Turn on the laptop computer.
Insert the TRENDware TEW-301PC Driver CD into the CD-ROM
Drive (the CD-ROM will autorun and display a menu screen).
Click on the device Model Name and then click on Install on the
installation screen.
If the CD Autorun function on your computer does not automatically start,
please double click on My Computer on the desktop, right click on the CD-
ROM Drive, select Explore, double-click on 22M.EXE.
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Fig. 5.1

Click Next>
Click Next>
Click Finish>
Click No, I will restart
my computer later.
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Fig. 5.2.1
Fig. 5.2.2
Fig. 5.2.3

·Shut down and Power Off your
computer.
·Insert the TEW-301PC into the
CardBus slot.
· Restart your laptop computer
· Click Next at the Found New
Hardware Wizard screen
(Fig. 5.2.4)
Select Install the software
automatically (Recommended)
Click Next>
and then
For Windows XP, Fig. 5.2.5 may
appear after the computer restarts.
Click Continue Anyway to finalize
the installation. (This device has
been successfully tested to work
on Windows XP, as well as
Windows 2000, Windows Me and
Windows 98. Microsoft
certification is pending.)
For Windows 2000, Fig. 5.2.6 may
Appear after the laptop computer
restarts. Select Yes to finalize the
installation.
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Fig. 5.2.4
Fig. 5.2.5
Fig. 5.2.6

Click Finish to complete the
installation.
For Windows Me and 98, after the
computer restarts, it will ask you to
reboot the computer once more to
finalize the driver installation. Select
Yes to finalize the installation.
YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE INSTALLATION OF THE DRIVERS. SEE
NETWORKING BASICS IN THIS MANUAL FOR INFORMATION ON
SETTING UP YOUR NETWORK.
15
Fig. 5.2.7
Fig. 5.2.8

If you want to alter the default settings or optimize the performance of the
TEW-301PC, TRENDware has included a configuration utility to do so.
Note: Out of the box, with its default settings, the TEW-301PC will
associate with TRENDnet Wireless Routers and Access Point.
After the computer restarts, the configuration utility will automatically start and
the utility icon will appear in the bottom right hand corner of the screen
(Taskbar).
Double-click on the Configuration Utility icon
(Fig. 6.1) shown on the right.
After double-clicking on the icon (Fig. 6.1), the 22M WLAN Adapter Utility
window will appear.
If the utility icon does not appear on the Taskbar, double-click the shortcut
icon 22M WLAN Adapter Utility on your desktop. Or click on Start >select
Programs >22M WLAN > 22M WLAN Adapter Utility.
Configuration Utility - Link Info
6. Using the Configuration Utility
Status: Displays the MAC Address of the Access Point that is associated
with the TEW-301PC.
SSID: The Service Set Identifier is the name assigned to the wireless
network. The factory SSID setting is set to default.
After clicking on the Configuration Utility icon, the Link Info screen will
display the following:
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Fig. 6.1Fig. 6.1
Fig. 6.2

Tx Rate: The factory setting is set to 22 Mbps; however, Tx Rate settings are
automatically determined by the TEW-301PC depending on the
Channel: Displays the radio channel information. By default, the channel is set to 1.
Radio On/Off: When necessary, click on this button to turn off the wireless radio
signal. Click on Radio On to enable the wireless signal transmission.
Link Quality / Signal Strength: Displays the Link Quality for the TEW-301PC
wireless connection to the Access Point. The Signal Strength represents the
wireless signal between the Access Point and the TEW-301PC. The percentage
coincides with the graphical bar.
Data Rate: Displays the statistics of data transmitted and received.
distance and the Tx
Rate of the access point.
To communicate on the network all devices must have the same settings
for the following properties:
SSID - (Service Set Identifier) is a name that identifies a wireless network. Access
Points and wireless clients attempting to connect to a specific WLAN (Wireless
Local Area Network) must use the same SSID. The default setting is default.
BSS Type -Click on the pull-down menu; select from the following options:
Infrastructure - connecting the WLAN using an Access Point (The default
setting.)
Ad-Hoc - wireless mode used when connecting directly to computer
equipped with a wireless adapter in a peer-to-peer environment.
Channel - The default channel setting is channel 1. However, the TEW-301PC
will automatically select the channel to match the channel setting for the selected
Access Point. In Ad-Hoc mode, the channel must be manually set to the same
channel for each wireless adapter.
Configuration Utility - Configuration
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Fig. 6.4
This Configuration
Screen displays the
default settings for
the TEW-301PC.

TX Rate -Select the transmission rate on the network. 11Mbps is the default
setting.
Preamble -Select Long or Short Preamble. The Preamble defines the length of
the CRC block (Cyclic Redundancy Check is a common technique for detecting
data transmission errors) for communication between the Access Point and the
roaming wireless Network adapters. Long Preamble is the default setting.
Note: High network traffic areas should use the shorter preamble type.
Power Mode - Select from three modes:
Continuous Access Mode - this default setting consumes the most
power
Maximum Power Save-this setting consumes the least power
Power Save- this setting consumes a moderate amount of power
If any changes are made to the configuration of the wireless adapter, click Apply
to save the changes.
Please note that all devices must share the same Security
(Encryption) settings to communicate on the network.
Data Encryption - enable Encryption by clicking on the box.
The TEW-301PC has Encryption disabled as the default setting.
Authorization mode - choose one of the following modes:
Open Authentication communicates the key across the network
Shared Authentication allows communication only with other
devices with identical WEP settings
Auto will automatically adjust to the Authentication mode of the
wireless client
Network Key - enter a key in either ASCII (e.g., a word) or hexadecimal
format
Configuration Utility - Security
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Fig. 6.5

Key Format - ASCII or Hexadecimal
Key type - select the key length, either 64, 128 or 256 bits
Key Index You can create up to 4 different security keys
Click Apply to save the changes.
Hexadecimal digits consist of the numbers 0-9 and the letters A-F
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is a code
for representing English letters as numbers from 0-127
Available Networks
The top section of the window displays the Available Networks.
Scroll up and down the list and highlight the network to which you wish
to connect. Click on the Connect button to connect to the desired
network.
Profiles
In the lower half of the screen, you can manage the profiles that you
have created for the wireless network at home, at the office, and in
public places. Scroll up and down and highlight the profile that you
wish to configure. You can ADD or REMOVE a profile, or configure the
Properties of the profile in order to connect with an available network.
Configuration Utility - Site Survey
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Fig. 6.6
The Wireless Network you are currently connected to.
Available Wireless Network.
Unavailable Wireless Network.

Properties
Click on Properties and the screen below will appear.
In this window you can configure all the properties of a profile in order to
connect with a network of your choice.
After you have entered your changes in this window, click OK to save the
changes.
The ABOUT screen gives you information about the Firmware and Utility
Versionsof the TEW-301PC.
Configuration Utility - About
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Fig. 6.7