TwinMOS Laputa MiniPCI User manual

TwinMOS Laputa MiniPCI
(B100)
11b Mini-PCI
Wireless LAN Adapter
User’s Manual
TwinMOS®

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Contents
PACKAGE CONTENTS……........................................................1
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................2
WIRELESS NETWORK OVERVIEW............................................3
LAPUTA MINIPCI WIRELESS NETWORK SCENARIOS………..6
INSTALLATION FOR WINDOWS.............................................…..9
CONFIGURATION UTILITY....................................................…..19
TROUBLESHOOTING....................................................…..25
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.......................................…..26
PHYSICAL SIZE……………….….........................................…..27

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PACKAGE CONTENTS
Unpack your Laputa MiniPCI kit and verify that all items are present.
zLaputa MiniPCI Wireless LAN Adapter
zCoaxial Cable of Antenna (Option)
zExternal Antenna (Option)
zUser’s Manual (on CD)
zDriver (on CD)
If any of the items described appear to be damaged or missing, please contact your
reseller.

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INTRODUCTION
The Laputa MiniPCI adapter is a wireless network client that complies with the
IEEE 802.11b standard on wireless LANs. The IEEE 802.11b standards compliance
means this adapter gives you the flexibility to connect it to any 802.11b network. The
IEEE802.11b Ethernet standard allows you to connect computers and devices at
speeds up to 11Mbps, dependent upon the distance between wireless adapters, the
configuration of your working environment, or the capabilities or limitations of your
computer systems.
This Laputa MiniPCI Adapter is：
zWi-Fi certified by the WECA. This means that your Laputa MiniPCI
adapter is compatible with other supplier’s IEEE 802.11b compliant WLAN
products.
zFully compatible with any other WLAN system base on Direct Sequence
Spread Spectrum (DSSS) radio technology.
zCompatible with the mini-PCI revision 1.0 specification (Oct. 25, 1999)
This Laputa MiniPCI Adapter supports following WLAN features：
zAutomatic transmit data rate select mechanism in the transmit range of 1, 2,
5.5 and 11 Mbps.
zCenter frequency channel selection (2.4 GHz)
zRoaming over multiple channels.
zPower Management.
z128-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption.
This Laputa MiniPCI comes with software drivers for the most popular Microsoft
Windows operating systems and can be integrated into a larger network, running
Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, or Windows 98 in either Peer-to-Peer
mode or Infrastructure mode. 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 familiarize you with wireless technology. You should also
give yourself some time to become familiar with your new wireless network.

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WIRELESS NETWORK OVERVIEW
A wireless local area network (LAN) is a flexible data communications system
implemented as an extension to, or as an alternative for, a wired LAN. Using radio
frequency (RF) technology, wireless LANs transmit and receive data over the air,
minimizing the need for wired connections. Thus, wireless LANs combine data
connectivity with user mobility.
A local area network that transmit and receive over the air typically in an unlicensed
frequency such as the 2.4GHz band. A wireless LAN does not require lining up
devices for line of sight transmission like IrDA. Wireless access points (base stations)
are connected to an Ethernet hub or server and transmit a radio frequency over an area
of several hundred to a thousand feet which can penetrate walls and other nonmetal
barriers. Roaming users can be handed off from one access point to another like a
cellular phone system. Laptops use wireless modems that plug into an existing
Ethernet port or that are self contained on PC cards, while stand-alone desktops and
servers use plug-in cards (ISA, PCI, etc.).
Wireless LANs offer the following productivity, convenience, and cost advantages
over traditional wired networks：
Mobility - WLAN provide LAN users to access data in any location within the
operating range of the WLAN. Ad-hoc management decisions based on real-time
information can significantly improve worker efficiency.
Installation Speed and Simplicity - Installing a wireless LAN system can be
fast and easy and can eliminate the need to pull cable through walls and ceilings.
Installation Flexibility - Wireless technology allows the network to go where wire
cannot go.
Reduced Cost-of-Ownership - While the initial investment required for wireless
LAN hardware can be higher than the cost of wired LAN hardware, overall
installation expenses and life-cycle costs can be significantly lower. Long-term cost
benefits are greatest in dynamic environments requiring frequent moves and changes.
Scalability - Wireless LAN systems 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 enable roaming over a broad
area.
Installation Considerations
Designed to go up to 300 feet (100 meters) indoors and up to 900 feet (273 meters)
outdoors, Laputa MiniPCI lets you access your network from virtually anywhere
you want. Keep in mind, however, that the number and thickness of walls, ceilings or
other objects that the wireless signals must pass thru may limit range. Typical ranges
vary depending on the types of materials and background RF noise in your home or
business. The key to maximizing range is to follow these basic principles:

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Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the access point and your receiving
device to a minimum - Each wall or ceiling can reduce your TwinMOS Laputa
Wireless product’s range from 3-90 feet (1-30 meters.) For some businesses or for a
large residential home deployment, it may be more beneficial to have more than one
access point with overlapping coverage.
1. Be aware of the direct line between Access Points, Residential Gateways, and
Computers - A wall 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.
2. Building Materials make a difference - A solid metal door or aluminum studs
may have a negative effect on range. Try to position Access Points, Residential
Gateways, and Computers so that the signal passes through drywall or open
doorways and not other materials.
3. Make sure that the antenna is positioned for best reception by using the
software signal strength tools included with your product.
4. Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet or 1-2 meters) from electrical devices
that generate RF noise, like microwaves, monitors, electric motors, etc.
For the average residence, range should not be a problem. 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 Residential Gateways and/or
Computers that will be connected. Additional Access 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 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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Laputa MiniPCI WIRELESS NETWORK SCENARIOS
The Laputa MiniPCI enables you to:
zConnect your computer to a Peer-to-Peer workgroup of wireless computing devices
(see Figure 1-1 on page 7).
zConnect your computer to a Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) network that
includes a Residential Gateway (RG) access point (see Figure 1-2 on page 8).
zConnect your computer to a Local Area Network (LAN) Infrastructure that includes
Access Points, or other IEEE 802.11 compliant LAN systems (see Figure 1-3 and
Figure 1-4).
zExpand the capabilities of your Access Points, to support wireless devices that have
been equipped with Laputa MiniPCI.
Peer-to-Peer Workgroup
The Peer-to-Peer workgroup configuration enables you to quickly set up a small
wireless workgroup, where the workgroup participants can exchange files using
features like “Files and Printer Sharing” as supported by Microsoft Networking.
Figure 1-1 Peer-to-Peer Wireless Workgroup
You can use this option to setup a temporary or ad-hoc network in environments
where no access points are available (for example in Small Office/Home Office
(SOHO) environments). As long as the stations are within range of one another, this is
the easiest and least expensive way to set up a wireless network.

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Home Networking
With the TwinMOS Laputa MiniPCI, wireless access to the Internet or other
computers is at your fingertips. All you need to do is connect the wireless computers
to an external cable, an xDSL or a ISDN modem and you are ready to：
zShare files and printers, and
zAccess the Internet
Figure 1-2 Connect to a Residential Gateway (RG)
Enterprise Networking
With the 11 Mbps Wireless LAN access point you can connect to a corporate Local
Area Network (LAN) infrastructure to have wireless access to all network facilities.
LAN Infrastructures may either be:
zStand-alone wireless LANs (Figure 1-3).
zWireless network infrastructures connected to an existing Ethernet network
(Figure 1-4).
Figure 1-3 Stand Alone Wireless LAN
XDSL

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Figure 1-4 LAN Infrastructure
It’s Easy
The Laputa MiniPCI functions like any standard wired Ethernet card, but Laputa
MiniPCI does not need any wires!
Where an Ethernet card requires a cable connection to a hub and/or patch panel, the
cable physically ties you down to the location of the wired connection.
Laputa MiniPCI allows you to connect your computer to a Local Area Network
(LAN) system from anywhere within the wireless coverage area. Expanding or
re-designing your network is easy: Add or relocate access point, power-up your (new)
wireless computers, and you’re done!
Unlike Ethernet, TwinMOS Laputa MiniPCI will enable you to roam throughout the
network while remaining connected to the LAN.
Note ： The Laputa MiniPCI wireless adapter is a radio product. Refer to the
flyer ”Information to the User” for regulatory information that may apply in
your country.

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INSTALLATION FOR WINDOWS
The following section will assist you to install Laputa MiniPCI WLAN adapter
successfully. You will install driver firstly and then plug in the Laputa MiniPCI
WLAN adapter, and finally set the network properties to accommodate resource
sharing and select the type of wireless network that you want to install.
In order to establish your wireless network connection, make sure some steps below
will be performed.
■Install the Access Point (AP) at first if you use Infrastructure network mode.
■Install the driver using the Installation CD.
■Plug in the Laputa MiniPCI wireless LAN adapter.
■Install the network protocol(s) required to communicate on your network. Most
likely you will need the TCP/IP protocol.
The PRISM WLAN Configuration Utility is installed simultaneously with the driver
by executing the PRISM for Windows (2-0-9).exe file. Note also that some versions
of Microsoft Windows operating systems require administrator to install software. If
this is the case for your operating system, be sure that you have such privileges before
executing the PRISM for Windows (2-0-9).exe file. To upgrade an existing driver, it is
not necessary to remove your PRISM driver from your computer. Simply run the
PRISM for Windows (2-0-9).exe file to replace the existing driver with the latest
version. After the new driver is installed, maybe you must restart the operating system
(depend on the Windows’ OS).
Please follow the following steps one by one in order to install the Laputa MiniPCI
adapter successfully.

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For Windows XP
Insert the given Installation CD in the CD-ROM.
1. Select CD-ROM drives to locate driver files.
2. Run the program〝PRISM for Windows(2-0-9).exe〞file to set up configuration
utility and driver.
Follow the instruction and click Continue then Next.

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3. Accept the license agreement.
4. Takes a few seconds for copying the utility files and driver to your computer.
5. Finished.

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6. Connecting to the wireless network
To connect to your wireless network, please do the following:
◎Double-click on the icon in the task bar. The window on the next page
will appear showing the current status of your connected network.
◎The “Connect to Wireless Network” window will contain a list of all the
available Wireless Networks. Select the proper network for your needs. In
this example, “shortESS” network was selected as shown.

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For Windows 2000
Insert the given Installation CD in the CD-ROM.
1. Select CD-ROM drives to locate driver files.
2. Run the program〝PRISM for Windows(2-0-9).exe〞file to set up configuration
utility and driver.
Follow the instruction and click Continue then Next.

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3. Accept the license agreement.
4. Takes a few seconds for copying the utility files and driver to your computer.
5. Finished.

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For Windows 98/98SE/ME
Insert the given Installation CD in the CD-ROM.
1. Select CD-ROM drives to locate driver files.
2. Run the program〝PRISM for Windows(2-0-9).exe〞file to set up configuration
utility and driver.
Follow the instruction and click Continue then Next.

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3. Accept the license agreement.
4. Takes a few seconds for copying the utility files and driver to your computer.
5. Finished.

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6. Restart the computer.
7. Plug in the Laputa MiniPCI card into the computer, the system will detect new
hardware and auto install the driver.
8. Once installation is complete, the utility will be pops up.

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CONFIGURATION UTILITY
TwinMOS Laputa MiniPCI uses the Configuration Utility as the management
software. The utility provides the user an easy interface to change any settings
related to the wireless adapter. When the computer is started, the Configuration Utility
starts automatically and the system tray icon is loaded in the toolbar (see illustration
below.) Clicking on the utility icon will start the Configuration Utility.
If the icon is in red, it means that the Laputa MiniPCI wireless adapter configuration
is invalid or incomplete. A “red” icon may indicate that the adapter is set to an
incorrect channel or the communication mode is set incorrectly. Verify the settings for
the Laputa MiniPCI and make sure that the computer is within wireless range.
Double-click on the icon shown above. The screen below will be displayed.