D-Link Air DWL-520 User manual

D-LinkAir DWLDWL--520520

11Mbps Wireless LAN

PCI Adapter

Manual

Please see the Quick Install Guide, included separately, for installation instructions.

Building Networks for People

Contents

Contents of Package .........................................................................3

Introduction...............................................................................................4

Wireless Basics.....................................................................................5

Configuration Utility.............................................................................8

Troubleshooting...................................................................................15

Networking Basics.............................................................................17

Technical Specifications................................................................42

D-Link locations...................................................................................45

Contacting Technical Support...................................................46

Limited Warranty.................................................................................47

Registration............................................................................................51

Contents of Package

Contents of Package:

•DWL-520 Wireless PCI Adapter

•Manual

•Quick Installation Guides

•Driver CD

If any of the above items are missing, please contact your reseller.

Introduction

The D-Link Air DWL-520 11Mbps Wireless PCI Adapter is an ideal way to

connect your computer to a wireless network or as part of a wired LAN (Local

Area Network) with a wireless segment. After completing the steps outlined

in the Quick Install Guide (included separately) 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 and play!

This DWL-520 comes with drivers for the most popular operating systems

and can be integrated into a larger network, running Windows XP, Windows

2000, Windows ME, or Windows 98 in either Ad Hoc mode (without an

Access Point) or Infrastructure mode (with an Access Point.) Yet the IEEE

802.11b standards compliance means this adapter gives you the flexibility to

connect it to any 802.11b network. The IEEE 802.11b Ethernet standard

allows you to connect computers and devices at speeds up to 11Mbps,

dependent upon the distance between wireless adapters.

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 yourself with wireless technology. But you should

also give yourself some time to become familiar with your new wireless

network.

Wireless Basics

D-Link Air wireless products are based on industry standards to provide easy

to use and compatible high-speed wireless connectivity within your home or

business. Strictly adhering to IEEE 802.11b, the D-Link Air wireless family of

products will allow you to access the data you want, when and where you

want it. No longer will you be tethered to a workstation or forced to run new

wiring. You will be able to enjoy the freedom that wireless networking

delivers.

Standards -Based Technology

The IEEE 802.11b standard designates that devices operate at an optimal

data rate of 11 Megabits per second. 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. This technology works by using multiple

frequencies in the 2.4GHz range utilizing Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum

(DSSS) technology. D-Link Air 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 300 feet (100 meters) indoors and up to 900 feet (273

meters) outdoors, D-Link Air DWL-520 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:

Wireless Basics (continued)

1. 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 D-

Link Air Wireless product’s range from 3-90 feet. For some business or

large residential home deployment, I may be more beneficial to have

more than one access point with overlapping coverage.

2. Be aware of the direct line between Access Points, Residential Gateways,

and Computers -A wall that is 1.5 feet thick, at a 45 degree angle

appears to be almost 3 feet thick. At a 2 degree angle it looks over 42

feet thick! Try to make sure that the AP 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. Again, try to position Access

Points, Residential Gateways, and Computers so that the signal passes

through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.

4. Make sure that the 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) 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.

Wireless Basics (continued)

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.

•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 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 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 allows roaming over a broad area.

Configuration Utility

D-Link Air DWL-520 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. Clicking on the utility icon will start the Configuration Utility.

Another way to start the Configuration Utility is to click on Start>Programs>D-

Link DWL-520.

A new icon -will appear in your Icon tray.

If the icon is in red, it means that DWL-520 NIC 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 DWL-520 and make sure that the computer is within wireless range.

Double-click on the icon shown above. The screen below will be displayed.

Link Info Tab

The Link Info Tab displays the current state of your wireless adapter.

The fields in this menu provide the following information:

•State:shows the association state of your computer with the

wireless LAN. When operating in Infrastructure mode, this field

shows the MAC address of the Access Point with which you are

communicating. When operating in Ad Hoc mode, this field shows

the virtual MAC address used by computers participating in the Ad

Hoc network. In both cases, the MAC address will be shown in

hex format (BSSID.) If the word scanning appears in this field, it

indicates that networking has not been achieved. The adapter is

searching for an available Access Point, within range. (Note: If

there is a problem with driver installation, this field will display an

error message.)

•Rescan: Pressing the rescan button causes the driver to restart

and begin its connection procedure. The connection procedure

differs depending on the mode of the driver.

•Infrastructure Mode: The driver will scan all available

channels continuously until it finds one or more Access

Points that matches its SS ID. It will then try to authenticate

and associate with the Access Point.

•Ad Hoc Mode: The driver will scan for 5 seconds looking

for an existing Ad Hoc network using the same SSID. If one

is not found, the driver will “start” its own Ad Hoc network.

•Current Channel: shows the channel on which the connection is

made. In Infrastructure mode, this number changes as the radio

scans the available channels.

•Current Tx Rate:shows the highest transmit rate of the current

association.

•Throughput: shows the short term transmit and receive

throughput in bytes/second, and is continuously updated.

•Link Quality: is only active when in Infrastructure Mode. The

bar graph displays the quality of the link with the Access Point. If

the Link quality becomes “poor” the driver will begin looking for a

better Access Point. The graph will be labeled for quality as as

shown on the following page:

Link Info Tab continued

•“Poor”

•“Weak”

•“Fair”

•“Good”

•“Excellent”

•Signal Strength: is active only when in Infrastructure Mode.

The graph displays normalized signal strength averaged over all

frames over 100 bytes long that are received by the Access Point.

Configuration Tab

Select the Configuration tab to access the Configuration menu, as shown

below. You can make changes to any of the fields shown below, without the

need to restart your computer.

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