Dynex DX-WGNBC Link Information tab, Available Networks tab, Configuring the wireless network

DX-WGNBC_WGDTC_combo.fm Page 4 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 11:53 PM

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Configuring the wireless network

Your Wireless LAN 802.11g card uses its own management software. All functions are controlled by this utility. To make it easier to move from one network environment to another, the utility uses profiles that you create.

To use the wireless utility:

1Click Start, All Programs or Programs, Dynex Wireless LAN Card Utility, then Dynex Wireless LAN Card Utility.

Note: The wireless utility icon should appear in your icon tray. If the

icon is red, it means that the Wireless LAN 802.11g NIC configuration is invalid or incomplete.

2Select the profile you want to use for your network connection. -OR-

Click on the following:

•The tabs to navigate through the different settings.

•The X button to minimize the window.

•The More… button to get more information.

Link Information tab

Configuring the wireless network

Fields on the Link Information tab include:

Connected To Network—This field displays the current status of the connection. Possible status messages include:

•Connected to Network—Indicates normal flow of operation in Infrastructure mode. The computer is connected to an access point and networking is available.

•Scanning—Indicates the computer is searching for an available access point within range.

Note: This field also displays error messages if the driver fails to initialize.

Network Type—Possible network types include:

•Infrastructure Mode—The driver scans all available channels continuously until it finds one or more access points that match its SSID (network name). At that point it tries to authenticate and associate with the access point.

•Peer to Peer Mode—The driver scans for five seconds looking

for an existing Ad Hoc network using the same SSID. Channel—Displays the channel the network is on. Encryption—Displays Off when encryption is turned off, WEP when either 64-bit or 128-bit is turned on, or WPA when WPA is turned on. Link Speed—Displays the current connection data rate.

Signal Strength—The Signal Strength bar graph is only active when the network is in infrastructure mode. The bar graph displays normalized signal strength as reported by the radio, averaged over all frames over 100 bytes long that are received from the access point.

Link Quality—The Link Quality bar graph is only active when the network is in infrastructure mode. The bar graph displays the quality of the link between the computer and access point.

Available Networks tab

The Available Networks tab shows the current status of available access points within the network and lets you select which access point you want to connect to.

To connect to an access point:

1Select an access point from list.

2Click Connect to connect to the access point.

If the access point you want to connect to is not listed, click Refresh to rescan the network and list all available access points within network.