11Mbps IEEE802.11 Products
WL-3550Wireless LAN PCMCIA Adapter
Network Configuration
4.1 Installation of "WLU" utilityFig. Step1 of Wireless LAN Utility setup.
Click Next to continue.Fig. Step2 of Wireless LAN Utility setup.
Fig. Step3 of Wireless LAN Utility setup.
Fig. Step4 of Wireless LAN Utility setup.
4.2 Using the WireFree Utility
To set up your wireless network environment, please follow these steps:
Step 1: Configure the adapter - Select Network Configuration in the main menu screen and follow the instructions.
Step 2: Diagnose the operation - Using Diagnostics Tools in the main menu screen and follow the instructions.
A. Main Menu
A WireFree wireless LAN adapter hardware information window will show on the top of the screen while Main Menu screen is displayed. In this window, you will see current adapter configuration information, that is, the MAC address, firmware version, frequency domain, BSS joined, current channel and ESS ID of the adapter that you installed in your desktop or notebook computers.
The Main Menu screen shows all main functions of the WireFree Utility:
[Network Configuration] - WireFree Utility provides a screen for you to configure parameters of the WireFree wireless LAN adapter for your wireless network environment.[Diagnostics Tools] - The WireFree Utility provides several diagnostic tools for you to diagnose the operation of your wireless network environment.[Firmware Upgrade] - WireFree Utility provides the function of upgrading the firmware in the wireless adapter.[Exit] - End the execution of WireFree Utility.
Click Start, point to Programs and run WLA Utility.
- Main menu appears.
B. Network Configuration Screen
The Network Configuration screen allows you to check and modify current configuration of the WireFree wireless LAN adapter. The user-configurable parameters are divided into several groups: ESSID, Network Type, RTS Threshold, Frag Threshold, Use WEP, Power Save and Transmission Rate..
Fig. Network Configuration
B-1. ESS ID PARAMETERS
ESS ID: Input a digit ESS ID while the roaming feature is enabled (ANY is default setting).
B-2. NETWORK TYPE PARAMETERS
Station Operation Mode: Set the station operation mode to Ad-Hoc (without Access Point) or Infrastructure (with Access Point, default setting).
Ad-Hoc Default Channel: Select the channel number as your operating radio channel.
NOTE: Your WL-3550 can connect to Lucent 11MB Access Point or any IEEE802.11 compliant 2MB Access Point,
B-3. RTS Threshold
If you arent concerned with the Hidden Node Problem, please select the Disable item. It will implements a mechanism if packet size that exceeds the value you set. The value range you can set is from 50 to 1500, default value is disable.
A Hidden Node Problem is when two wireless nodes cant see each other. RTS implements a mechanism to reduce collision of hidden nodes, but some throughput drop is expected.
NOTE: All parameters you modified on the wireless LAN adapter is kept in the flash ROM (non-volatile memory) on the adapter. The new parameters will take effect thereafter even though you boot your PC into any other operating systems or insert the adapter into another PC.
B-4. Use WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
If you require high security in transmission, please select the Enable item and set encryption key.
When you enter encryption configuration. You can type keyword to create 4 new encryption key and select one of them to scramble your transmission data. When your use WEP to communicate with the other wireless clients. All wireless network must have the same Encryption Key and keyword.
You can input the number or string to set up passphrase before press [Generate] button. The new value can be found from the encryption key screen. You can select one of them to use as primary encryption key.
B-5. Frag Threshold
If you always let your WL-3550 transmit large files in wireless LAN, please select the Frag threshold as Disable item. It will split the packet size that exceeds the value you set. The value range you can set is from 50 to 1500, default value is disable.
B-6. Transmit Rate
If you need your WL-3550 to transmit in long distance or bad environment, you may adjust transmit rate to make better performance.
NOTE: Because PLANET still test and modify this version, some parameter PLANET only provide demo and dont support customer to use. If customers want to get advance information and complete version, please contact Sales Dept. or go to URL: www.planet.com.tw.
C. Diagnostics Tools Screen
The Diagnostics Tools screen shows all diagnostics tools in the WireFree Utility. There are buttons for executing the following diagnostics tools:
Fig. Diagnostic Tools
- [Site Survey] - Inspect channel quality for your site.
- [Link Quality Test] - Test point-to-point communication quality.
- [Access Point Browser] - Show all active WireFree Access Points in your site.
The instructions of using each diagnostic tool are as follows:
C-1. Site Survey
When Site Survey screen is displayed, the channel quality of all 14 radio channels will be displayed. These channel quality measurements are shown on each gauge for the 14 radio channels. The higher bar means the radio channel having better quality (i.e., less interference).
The channel quality is scanned channel-by-channel repeatedly. You may see some of the gauges changing their height occasionally. To determine the channel quality in a longer time span, you can refer to the average channel quality measurement from the small-shaped dot in each channel quality gauge.
Fig. Site Survey
C-2. Link Quality Test
Link Quality Test is a useful diagnostic tool for you to understand the point-to-point data transmission quality between two wireless LAN stations. Or, if you use the Infrastructure wireless LAN configuration, you can test the transmission quality between your wireless LAN station and Access Point.
When Link Quality Test Screen is displayed, you may choose one of the roles that this wireless LAN station should perform.
- Act as Master test station:
You should input the destination slave test station address before press[Start] button. The slave address can be found from the slave test station
s screen. The Master Test Station window will be displayed after pressing [Start] button.
Fig. Act as Master test station
The Master Test Station window contains the following status/ statistical information during the Link Quality Test session:
Slave / Test Address: The physical address of the destination slave test station. (Self physical address will be displayed while performing Access Point loopback test.)Packet Sent: Total test packets have been sent.Packet Received: Total responding packets have been received.Elapsed Time: Total testing time.Signal level: The signal level when receiving last responding packet. The signal level is calculated as the percentage of its signal level measurement relative to the full signal level.
Act as Slave test station:
You can press [Start] button to start the slave test station. The Slave Test Station window will be displayed after pressing [Start] button.
The Slave Test Station window contains following status/statistical information during the Link Quality Test session:
Fig. Act as Slave test station
My Address: The slave test stations physical address.Packet Received: Total test packets received.Elapsed Time: Total testing time.Signal Level: The signal level when receiving last test packet. The signal level is calculated as the percentage of its signal level measurement relative to the full signal level.
Loopback through Access Point:
If you use the infrastructure wireless LAN configuration, you can select the Access Point loopback test. The loopback test is between this wireless station and the associated Access Point.
Fig. Loopback through Access Point
- Packet Sent: Total test packets sent.
- Packet Received: Total responding packets received.
- Elapsed Time: Total testing time.
- Signal level: The signal level when receiving last responding packet. The signal level is calculated as the percentage of its signal level measurement relative to the full signal level.
The "Access Point Loopback Test" window will be displayed after pressing the [Start] button. This window contains same status / statistical information in the "Master Test Station" window. It works only in "Infrastructure Mode".
C-3. Access Point Browser
Select the [Access Point Browser] and you will see a screen shown as below. Choose [Go], all the active Access Points will be shown.
Fig. Access Point Browser. Each row of the Access Point information contains the following columns:
- BSS_ID: The BSS ID (MAC address) of the Access Point.
- ESS_ID: The ESS ID of the Access Point.
- Channel: The operating channel number of the respective access point.
- Beacon: Each Access Point broadcasts beacon periodically. The wireless station will process these beacons to keep in touch with the network. It counts the beacons cumulatively from the beginning of the Access Point Browser session. This item only shows in the Single-Channel browser screen.
D. Firmware Upgrade
WireFree WL-3550 Utility provides the function of upgrading the firmware in the wireless adapter to newer version. Choose the [Firmware Upgrade] button in Main Menu, and follow the directions on the screen.
CAUTION: Improper operation of firmware upgrade could damage your adapter. We strongly suggest that the firmware upgrade is done by experienced computer personnel and follows this instruction well to upgrade the firmware of your wireless LAN adapter.
The latest version of WireFree firmware can be obtained from PLANETs home page at www.planet.com.tw or contact your local dealer for detail information.
Before doing firmware upgrade, please:
- Close all running applications (especially, network applications), or, a reboot of your system is preferred.
- Make sure the new firmware file is for your type of wireless LAN adapter (i.e., WL-3550/PCMCIA). Otherwise, the firmware upgrade tool will show up an Invalid Firmware message and refuse to do anything.
- Memorize the path and filename to access the new firmware file. The firmware upgrade tool will ask you for that.
- Always use the WLU program that works on your current version of firmware to do firmware upgrade. After firmware being upgraded, please read the documentation of the new firmware to determine if you need to upgrade your WLU program and drivers.
Fig. Firmware Upgrade
CAUTION: Do not power off, reset, or try anything to terminate the firmware upgrade while Install New Firmware pop-up dialog box is in progress. Otherwise, your wireless LAN adapter will be damaged.It will take about 5 seconds to finish the installation and verification. (If you access the new firmware file via a floppy drive, the process can take much longer than just 5 seconds).
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