NETGEAR WG511U user manual Chapter Introduction, Key Features and Related Netgear Products

User’s Manual for the NETGEAR Double 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card 32-bit CardBus WG511U

Chapter 2

Introduction

This chapter introduces the features, package contents, and a road map of typical applications for the NETGEAR Double 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card 32-bit CardBus WG511U.

The WG511U gives you ultimate mobility in your office or while you are traveling. It frees you from traditional Ethernet wiring and helps you create a wireless network for sharing your broadband Internet access in and around your home. It is designed for notebook computers running Microsoft® Windows®. It is 32-bit CardBus compatible and works in any available CardBus slot.

Its auto-sensing capability allows high packet transfer at up to 108 Mbps for maximum throughput or dynamic range shifting to lower speeds due to distance or operating limitations in an environment with a lot of electromagnetic interference.

The WG511U provides reliable, standards-based 802.11a/b/g wireless connectivity that is protected with the strongest industry-standard WPA and WEP security. In addition, it offers the faster 54 Mbps speeds of the 802.11a and g standards and can aggregate the 802.11a and 802.11g communications to deliver double the 108 Mbps of either alone. It works with Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP operating systems.

Key Features and Related NETGEAR Products

The WG511U Wireless PC Card provides the following features:

•802.11a and 802.11b/g standards-based wireless networking.

•Supports roaming between access points when configured in Infrastructure mode.

•Double 108 Mbps aggregation for ultra high speed data transfer. Wireless nodes negotiate to operate in the optimal data transfer rate. In a noisy environment or when the distance between the wireless nodes is far, the wireless nodes automatically fall back to operate at lower transfer rates.

•High level of data encryption using the strong WPA-PSK standard or the older 128-bit Shared Key WEP data encryption method. A lower level of data encryption or no data encryption is available to simplify your network setup or to improve data transfer rate.

Introduction 2-1

August 2004