PLANET Wire Free Family

11Mbps IEEE802.11 Products

WL-3550

Wireless LAN PCMCIA Adapter


Network Configuration

4.1 Installation of "WLU" utility

  1. Insert WireFree WL-3501 Driver & Utility Diskette into floppy drive, and then execute A:\WLU\setup.exe
  2. Fig. Step1 of Wireless LAN Utility setup.

  3. Click Nextto continue.


Fig. Step2 of Wireless LAN Utility setup.

Fig. Step3 of Wireless LAN Utility setup.


Fig. Step4 of Wireless LAN Utility setup.


Fig. Step5 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 Configurationin the main menu screen and follow the instructions.

Step 2: Diagnose the operation - Using Diagnostics Toolsin 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:

  1. Click Start, point to Programs and run WLA Utility.

  1. 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 (ANYis 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 Disableitem. It will implements a mechanism if packet size that exceeds the value you set. The value range you can set is from 50to 1500, default value is disable.

A Hidden Node Problemis 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 Enableitem 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 Disableitem. It will split the packet size that exceeds the value you set. The value range you can set is from 50to 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

You should input the destination slave test station address before press[Start] button. The slave address can be found from the slave test stations screen. The Master Test Stationwindow will be displayed after pressing [Start] button.

Fig. Act as Master test station

The Master Test Stationwindow 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.
  1. Act as Slave test station:

You can press [Start] button to start the slave test station. The Slave Test Stationwindow will be displayed after pressing [Start] button.

The Slave Test Stationwindow 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.
  1. 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 beaconperiodically. 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.twor contact your local dealer for detail information.

Before doing firmware upgrade, please:

  1. Close all running applications (especially, network applications), or, a reboot of your system is preferred.
  2. 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 Firmwaremessage and refuse to do anything.
  3. Memorize the path and filename to access the new firmware file. The firmware upgrade tool will ask you for that.
  4. 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

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).

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.


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