TRENDnet TEW-PC16 User manual

TEW-PC16
11Mbps Wireless
PCMCIA Network Card
User’sGuide
Rev 1.1

Regulatory Compliance
FCC Warning
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interfer-
ence in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in ac-
cordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:
?? Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
?? Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
?? Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that
to which the receiver is connected.
?? Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
You are cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly ap-
proved by the party responsible for compliance could void your
authority to operate the equipment.
FCC Radiation Exposure Statement
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for
an uncontrolled environment.
This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance
20cm between the radiator & your body.

Wireless LAN card user’sguide
ii
CE Mark Warning
This is a Class B product. In a domestic environment, this product may
cause radio interference, in which case the user may be required to take
adequate measures.
About this Guide
This User’s Guide describes how to install and operate your Wireless
LAN card. Please read this guide before installing the product.
This guide includes the following topics:
?? Product description, features and specifications.
?? Hardware installation procedures.
?? Software installation procedures.
?? Troubleshooting procedures.

Preface
iii
Table of contents
CHAPTER 1...................................................................................................................1
Introduction 1
Features...........................................................................................................1
What is Wireless LAN?..................................................................................2
LAN Modes......................................................................................................3
Notes on wireless LAN configuration........................................................4
CHAPTER 2...................................................................................................................5
Hardware installation 5
What’s in the package..................................................................................5
Hardware description...................................................................................5
Inserting the Wireless LAN card .................................................................6
Status LEDs.....................................................................................................7
Ejecting the Wireless LAN card...................................................................7
CHAPTER 3...................................................................................................................9
Driver installation for Windows and Linux 9
Driver installation for Windows 95............................................................9
Driver installation for Windows 98..........................................................16
Driver installation for Windows 2000.....................................................19
Driver installation for Windows NT 4.0 ..................................................24
Driver Installation for Windows ME........................................................29
Driver installation for Linux.....................................................................31
CHAPTER 4.................................................................................................................34
Using the Wireless Utility 34
Installation in Windows.............................................................................34
Using the Wireless Utility...........................................................................42
APPENDIX A...............................................................................................................46
Troubleshooting 46
Q&A for Windows environments...............................................................46
APPENDIX B...............................................................................................................48
Specifications...............................................................................................48

1
Chapter 1
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Wireless LAN card. This high-speed
Wireless LAN card provides you with an innovative wireless net-
working solution. The Card is easy to set up and use. With this
innovative wireless technology, you can share files and printers on
the network—without inconvenient wires! Now you can carry the
LAN in your pocket!
Features
?? Wire-free access to networked resources from anywhere beyond
the desktop
?? Low interference & high susceptibility guarantee reliable perform-
ance
?? Delivers data rate up to 11 Mbps
?? Dynamically shifts between 11, 5.5, 2, and 1 Mbps network speed,
based on signal strength for maximum availability and reliability of
connection
?? Allows users move between Access Points without resetting their
connection configuration
?? Antenna is built into the card with LEDs indicating Power and
Link
?? Uses 2.4GHz frequency band, which complies with worldwide re-
quirement
?? Supports most popular operating systems: Window
95/98/2000/NT 4.0/ME and Linux
?? Ensures great security by providing the Wired Equivalent Privacy
(WEP) defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard

Wireless LAN card user’sguide
2
What is Wireless LAN?
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) systems offer a great
number of advantages over traditional wired systems. WLANs are
flexible and easy to setup and manage. They are also more eco-
nomical than wired LAN systems.
Using radio frequency (RF) technology, WLANs transmit and re-
ceive data through the air. WLANs combine data connectivity with
user mobility. For example, users can roam from a conference
room to their office without being disconnected from the LAN.
Using WLANs, users can conveniently access shared information,
and network administrators can configure and augment networks
without installing or moving network cables.
WLAN technology provides users with many convenient and cost
saving features:
?? Mobility: WLANs provide LAN users with access to real-
time information anywhere in their organization, providing
service opportunities that are impossible with wired net-
works.
?? Ease of Installation: Installing is easy for novice and ex-
pert users alike, eliminating the need to install network
cables in walls and ceilings.
?? Scalability: WLANs can be configured in a variety of to-
pologies to adapt to 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 roaming over
a broad area.

—Introduction
3
LAN Modes
Wireless LANs can be configured in one of two ways:
Ad-hoc
Networking Also known as a peer-to-peer network, an ad-hoc network is one that allows all workstations and com-
puters in the network to act as servers to all other
users on the network. Users on the network can
share files, print to a shared printer, and access the
Internet with a shared modem. However, with ad-hoc
networking, users can only communicate with other
wireless LAN computers that are in the wireless LAN
workgroup, and are within range.
Infrastructure
Networking Infrastructure networking differs from ad-hoc network- ing in that it includes an access point. Unlike the ad-
hoc structure where users on the LAN contend the
shared bandwidth, on an infrastructure network the
access point can manage the bandwidth to maximize
bandwidth utilization.
Additionally, the access point enables userson a
wireless LAN to access an existing wired network,
allowing wireless users to take advantage of the
wired networks resources, such as Internet, email,
file transfer, and printer sharing.
Infrastructure networking has the following advan-
tages over ad-hoc networking:
?? Extended range:each wireless LAN computer
within the range of the access point can com-
municate with other wireless LAN computers
within range of the access point.
?? Roaming:the access point enables a wireless
LAN computer to move through a building and
still be connected to the LAN.
?? Wired to wireless LAN connectivity: the access
point bridges the gap between wireless LANs

Wireless LAN card user’sguide
4
and their wired counterparts.
Notes on wireless LAN configuration
When configuring a wireless LAN (WLAN), be sure to note the
following points:
?? Optimize the performance of the WLAN by ensuring that
the distance to Access Points is within the transmission
range. In most buildings, WLAN cards operate within a
range of 100 ~ 300 feet, depending on the thickness and
structure of the walls.
?? Radio waves can pass through walls and glass but not metal.
If there is interference in transmitting through a wall, it may
be that the wall has reinforcing metal in its structure. Install
another access point to circumvent this problem.
?? Floors usually have metal girders and metal reinforcing
struts that interfere with WLAN transmission.
This concludes the first chapter. The next chapter deals with the
hardware installation of the Wireless LAN card.