Step 2
Customizing the Access Point Connection Settings
3 When you are done, click “Next”.
4 Make sure that the settings are correct, and then click “Connect”.
4 Depending on the data encryption settings of the access point, proceed as follows.
• Data encryption at the selected access point is enabled |
Enter the encryption key in the “Network key” text box. (The input is shown only as |
asterisks.) For verification, enter the same string one more time in the “Confirm network |
Using the Wireless Panel Software
The Wireless Panel software shows information about the communication status of the computer connected to the wireless network. Normally, the Wireless Panel runs in the background and only shows the radio signal condition with the signal level indicator on your Windows operating
After installing the necessary software, customize the necessary settings to establish a connection with the access point.
If you want to establish a connection in Peer to Peer Network connection mode, refer to the Wireless Panel Help for details about the necessary settings.
Windows 2000 Operating System
1 Click “Connect to Access Point”.
2 Enter a network name and encryption key.
1
2
1Network Name (SSID)
This unique ID is used to identify wireless networks. The setting can be made individually for Access Point Network connection mode and Peer to Peer Network connection mode. When connecting to an existing network, consult your network administrator regarding the proper settings. When changing an existing network name, you can use up to 32 alphanumeric characters (including symbols).
zHints
•Clicking the “Network Name” list shows the network names of any access points within range. You can then select a network name from the list.
•For details about the default network name of the access point, refer to the documentation provided with the access point.
2WEP
If data encryption (WEP) is enabled for the access point to which you want to connect, select this item. When this item is selected, enter the encryption key (WEP key) in the “Key” and “Confirm key” text boxes.
Data encryption prevents unauthorized access to the network. For security reasons, it is strongly recommended that you enable this feature. The setting can be configured individually for Access Point Network connection mode and Peer to Peer Network connection mode. When connecting to an existing network, consult your network administrator regarding the proper settings. For more information, refer to the documentation provided with the access point.
Key
If data encryption (WEP) is enabled for the access point, enter the encryption key (WEP key) here. Because this key functions as a password that enables communication with the network, the key entered here must be exactly the same as the one of the access point. Only computers for which the key has been configured correctly can join the network. The number of characters depends on the “ASCII/Hexadecimal” and “Length” settings (see table below).
| ASCII | Hexadecimal |
Permissible characters | Alphanumeric characters | 0 to 9, A to F, a to f |
|
|
|
Maximum number | 5 or 13 characters | 10 or 26 characters |
of characters |
|
|
|
|
|
Confirm key
Re-enter the encryption key that you entered in the “Key” text box.
zHint
This product supports a function called “roaming” that allows the creation of a wireless network with multiple access points for wider coverage. When using this function, configure all the access points to the same network name (SSID) and data encryption settings.
Wait until the Wireless LAN PC Card connects to the access point. When the Wireless LAN PC Card establishes the connection with the access point, the following screen appears.
This completes the access point connection settings procedure.
zHint
You can change the connection settings and network connection mode from the Wireless Panel software. For details about how to use the Wireless Panel software, refer to the Wireless Panel Help.
Windows XP Operating System
Notes
Before configuring the Wireless LAN PC Card
•If Windows XP Service Pack 1 is not already installed on your computer, Sony recommends downloading and installing it. To verify whether the service pack is installed, click “Start”, and then click “My Computer”. In the “My Computer” window, click “View system information” on the left. The “System Properties” dialog box appears. If the service pack is installed, “Service Pack 1” appears under “System” on the “General” tab of the dialog box.
•Perform the following steps to confirm that the “Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings” check box is selected. This option is selected by default.
1In “Control Panel”, click “Network and Internet Connections”, and then click “Network Connections”.
zHint
If “Network and Internet Connections” does not appear, click “Switch to Category View” on the left.
2
3Click the “Wireless Network” tab.
4Confirm that the “Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings” check box is selected. If not, select it.
•You must download and install the Windows XP support patch for
(Q815485_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe) from the Microsoft Web site before you can establish a connection to an access point using the WPA security method. For details about the connection method, refer to the Wireless Panel Help.
1 In “Control Panel”, click “Network and Internet Connections”, and then click “Network Connections”.
The “Network Connections” window appears.
zHint
If “Network and Internet Connections” does not appear, click “Switch to Category View” on the left.
2
The “Wireless Network Connection” dialog box appears.
zHint
If the computer is not connected to a wireless network, an “x” appears on the “Wireless Network Connection *” icon in the “Network Connections” window.
3 From the “Available Wireless Networks” list in the “Wireless Network Connection” dialog box, select the access point to which you want to connect.
zHint
The “Available Wireless Networks” list shows the names of the access points within communication range of the computer. For details about the default network name of your access point, refer to the documentation provided with it. If you think that the network name of your access point may have been changed, consult your network administrator.
key” text box. |
The encryption key must be exactly the same as the one of the access point. Permissible |
characters and their maximum number are detailed below. |
When using WEP
| ASCII | Hexadecimal |
Permissible characters | Alphanumeric characters | 0 to 9, A to F, a to f |
|
|
|
Maximum number | 5 or 13 characters | 10 or 26 characters |
of characters |
|
|
|
|
|
•Data encryption at the selected access point is disabled
Select the “Allow me to connect to the selected wireless network, even though it is not secure” check box. (For security reasons, enabling data encryption is recommended.)
zHints
•ASCII and hexadecimal characters are automatically identified.
•The data encryption function prevents unauthorized access to the network. When the function is enabled, only computers configured with the correct encryption key can join the network. For security reasons, it is strongly recommended that you enable this feature. The setting can be customized for the Access Point Network connection mode and Peer to Peer Network connection mode. When connecting to an existing network, consult your network administrator regarding the proper settings. For information on how to control this setting at the access point, refer to the documentation provided with the access point.
•To establish a connection to an access point using the WPA security method, refer to the Wireless Panel Help.
5 Click “Connect”.
The connection to the access point is established.
If the access point is already configured, the setup procedure is complete.
If you want to change the access point settings, refer to the documentation provided with the access point.
Note
To use an access point to connect to the Internet, you must change the access point default settings.
zHint
For additional information on the wireless network capabilities of the Windows XP operating system, refer to Windows XP “Help and Support”. (Click “Start”, and then click “Help and Support”. Enter “wireless” in the “Search” text box, and then click the green arrow.) You can also consult
the Windows XP operating system documentation.
system taskbar. The Wireless Panel window contains more detailed information. When running under the windows 2000 operating system, communication setup and network switching are also performed with the Wireless Panel software.
Notes
•To use the Wireless Panel software with the Windows 2000 operating system to modify communication settings, log on as a user listed in “Administrators”. You cannot modify settings when logged on as any other user.
•On a computer running the Windows XP operating system, communication setup and network switching are not performed with the Wireless Panel software but with
Signal Level Indicator
The communication status is shown by the signal level indicator on your Windows operating system taskbar.
Signal level indicator
Meaning of the indicator
Excellent
Good
Poor
Out of range or not connected
Card not inserted
(The Wireless LAN PC Card is not correctly inserted or it is not detected by the computer)
Peer to Peer
(Communicating in Peer to Peer Network connection mode)
Opening the Wireless Panel Window
To open the Wireless Panel window,
The Wireless Panel window appears.
zHints
•When you move the mouse pointer over an item in the Wireless Panel window, a short description of that item appears.
•For details about how to use the Wireless Panel software, refer to the Wireless Panel Help.