WiFi Wireless Ethernet Adapter
AirEZY-2411-BT
(ASR-102/ACR-201)
User Guide
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Table of Contents
AirEZY-2411-BT (ASR-102/ACR-201) User’s Manual
Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION
1
Data Sheet
2
Chapter 2 INSTALLATION
Installing the Hardware
Power
Ethernet connection
Status LEDs
Optional Hardware
Installing the Utility Software
System Requirement
Installation
3
3
3
3
3
5
6
6
6
Chapter 3 UTILITY SOFTWARE
Use the Utility Program
Overview of the Tabs
Configure AirEZY-2411-BT
7
7
7
7
Configure AirEZY-2411-BT as an Access Point (ASR-102) 8
Configure AirEZY-2411-BT as a Station (ACR-201)
Set up the Encryption
Obtain the Link Information
View the Packet Statistics
Uninstall the Utility Software
12
13
15
16
17
Chapter 4 TROUBLESHOOTING
Blank Pages Appear When Open the Utility Program
No Radio Link When Set Up As a Station
No Radio Link When Set Up As an AP
No Network Connection While the Radio Link is Good
Poor Link Quality
18
18
18
18
19
19
20
20
Radio Interference
Technical Support
Appendix A: LIMITED WARRANTY
Wireless LAN Hardware
Wireless LAN Software
21
21
21
Appendix B: REGULATROY COMPLIANCE
GLOSSARY
22
24
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Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
AirEZY-2411-BT is an 802.11b compliant, or WiFi, radio with a 10-BaseT
interface.
Two features separate AirEZY-2411-BT from many other 802.11b-compliant
radios. Firstly, this 802.11b-compliant (WiFi) radio can be configured as
either a Station (ACR-201) or an AP (ASR-102). Secondly, when configured as
a Station, the 10-BaseT interface affords it a true plug-and-play feature that is
unavailable from any other 802.11b Station radios are based on either a PCMCIA
or a USB interface and require the installation of a driver on the host computer.
This driver-less feature also means that the operation of the radio is OS
(operating system) independent.
When configured as a Station, i.e. ACR-201, the driver-less feature enables
wireless connectivity for any computing devices/systems installed with any OS
(operating system), as long as an Ethernet communication port is available.
Ethernet-equipped workstations in a corporate environment, for example, benefit
greatly from this driver-less feature—the IT workforce has one less driver to
worry when upgrading an OS or when salvaging an OS crash. Special
computing/networking devices, such as printer servers, POS (point of sales)
machines may not even have an easy way of installing a driver for a radio.
When configured as an AP, i.e., ASR-102, AirEZY-2411-BT, offers a no-frill,
seamless way of fitting a wireless network into an existing wired LAN
infrastructure. It does not even require the assignment of an extra IP address.
Existing wired-network resources such as DHCP, VPN, firewall, etc., reach
across the ASR-102 to the client workstations with total transparency. Unlike
many other 802.11b APs on the market, which offer network functions that are
duplicative to the existing network, this AP simply wirelessly collects a group of
workstations or other kinds of computing devices into the existing network—just
like a hub.
AirEZY-2411-BT has a compact form-factor that blends easily into a home/office
environment. It also lends particularly well to portable applications. The
specifications are given on the next page.
A Utility program is needed to pre-configure AirEZY-2411-BT prior to putting the
radio in operation. And the Utility program can be used to monitor the
communication condition once the radio is in operation. Once configured, the
radio runs self-sufficiently without the aid of any driver program in the host
computer connected to the radio. This Utility program therefore is intended to be,
in most cases, just a tool for the network operators. An end user simply plugs the
pre-configured radio into a host computer or a network device equipped with a
RJ-45 receptacle without ever being expose to this Utility program. The Utility
program is simple to install and easy to use through its graphic user interface.
The details are described in Chapter 3.
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AirEZY-2411-BT (ASR-102/ACR-201) WiFi Radio
Key Features
‰ Highest degree of security provided by Dynamic WEP encryption key distribution
‰ Configurable as either an Access Point or a Station
‰ Plug & Play as a Station—
o No driver on the host device is required for radio operation
o Radio operation is independent of the operating system on the host device (Windows
98/2000/ME, Linux, Unix, embedded, etc.), as long as an Ethernet port is properly supported
‰ Simple, effective and user selectable network access control methods as an AP
‰ Industry standard IEEE 802.11b-compliant wireless interface; Interoperable with AP and Client
radios from other vendors (WiFi certified)
‰ Ethernet (802.3 compliant) host interface to enable true Plug & Play
‰ 11Mbps data rate and automatic selection of lower data rate (5.5, 2 and 1 Mbps) in degraded RF
environment
‰ Integrated omni-directional-antenna to provide best tradeoff between link-quality and mobility
‰ Microsoft-Windows-based configuration tool
Applications
‰ Standard-compliant wireless networking for computers and equipment with an Ethernet interface
‰ Where Plug & Play is essential
o As rental Internet-access devices in public space: Hotels, motels, cyber-café, airport lounges, etc.
o As rental Internet-access devices at trade shows, large meetings and other one-time events
o As shared Internet-access devices for visitors to an office
‰ Embedded devices, tools, instruments, equipment and appliances that can benefit from the re-
configurability of wireless link yet are unfriendly to the installation of device-drivers
oPOS equipment for stores where re-configuration is frequent
o Control/monitor equipment where mobility is required
Specifications
Model
AirEZY-2411-BT
Standard
802.11 and 802.11b
Host Interface
Frequency
Ethernet, 802.3, RJ-45 receptacle
2.4GHz – 2.495GHz
RF Channels
Transmission power
Receiver sensitivity
Antenna
11 channels (US, Canada), 13 channels (Europe), 13 channels (Japan)
14dBm at antenna input typical
-80dBm @1e-5 BER typical
Dipole antenna with ~2dBi gain
Data Rate
11, 5.5, 2 or 1 Mbps fixed rate, or configured to automatic rate
selection
Modulation
CCK, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
~1200 ft in open space
Support both the ad hoc mode and the infrastructure mode
Support the standard 64-bit WEP and the optional 128-bit WEP
Support User-enabled Dynamic WEP key generation and
distribution
Link Distance
Network Types
Data Encryption
Network Security
Selectable levels of access control: SSID hidden in beacon, exact SSID
match and MAC-address-based allowed-list; password protected AP
configuration
AC adapter
Current consumption
LED Indicators
Output: 5V, 2.6A; Input:100-120V, 50-60Hz, ~1.0A max
<480mA (max. reached in transmit-mode)
4: Power, Transmission, Receiving, Link/Ethernet-connection
Operating Temperature -10°C – 50°C
Regulation Compliance
FCC part 15, Class B; CE
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Chapter 2
INSTALLATION
Installing the Hardware
Power
This radio is capable of pulling power from either an AC adapter (supplied with
the standard purchase) that plugs into a wall outlet or from the USB or the PS2
port of a notebook computer through special adapter cables (call OTC to find out
more about these optional cables), or through a battery pack.
Power can also be supplied to the AirEZY-2411-BT over the Ethernet cable with
the used of an optional dc-extractor box near the radio and an optional dc-
injector at the NOC side. This scheme is particularly useful when AirEZY-2411-
BT is deployed as Access Point at a location without an installed AC outlet.
Ethernet Connection
When configured as a
Station, , i.e., ACR-201,
the
be
AirEZY-2411-BTcan
connected to
a
computer’s, or a printer-
server’s Ethernet port via
the included Straight-
through
UTP
cable.
Please note that, as
dictated by the 802.11
standards, only one MAC
address can be supported
by a Station radio. As a
result, an AirEZY-2441-
BT configured as
a
Station will not function
properly when connected to a hub plugged in with multiple
computers/network-devices. So as a rule, straight-through cable is always
used to connect an AirEZY-2411-BT Station to a computer or a network device.
When configured as an Access Point, i.e., ASR-102, the AirEZY-2411-BTcan be
connected to a server computer, a hub, a switch or a router. A straight-through
cable must be used when connecting to the Ethernet port of a server computer, a
cross-over cable, however, must be used when connecting to a hub, a switch or
a router.
Status LEDs
Connect the 10BaseT port (which resembles an over-sized telephone jack) on
the bottom panel of the AirEZY 2411 BT to the 10 BaseT port in the client
computer or computing device using the 3-ft straight-through UTP cable included
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in the shipment. Power on the AirEZY 2411 BT, the LEDs on the front panel
should exhibit the following patterns:
LED
Color
Light Blinking Pattern
ON
RED
Steady on
RX
GREEN
RED
Steady on
TX
on, when transmitting RF signal
LINK
YELLOW
Flickering when communicating over the Ethernet
port; steady-on when Ethernet connection is absent
If the yellow LED stays on continuously, then the Ethernet connection to the host
computer or device is not made. Check your UTP cable and make sure that a
straight-through cable is used for connecting directly to a host. A cross-over UTP
cable is needed if connecting to a hub. If the yellow LED is not lit, and power is
on to the device, then the Ethernet connection between the host computer and
the Wireless Ethernet Adapter is correct. If one cannot communicate, and the
yellow LED is off, you may want to re-position the AirEZY-2411-BT to a different
location for better RF reception. You may also want to check if the unit is
configured with the proper RF channel and security settings by using the Utility
software.
Once the hardware is checked out to work properly with the intended host device
or network equipment, the radio can be secured in the desire location by the pair
of Velcro tabs.
Velcro tab
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Three installation examples are shown below.
Ethernet
Adapter
Power drawn
from the USB
AirEZY-2411-BT
Printer
Printer Server
Optional Hardware
Radio with externally mounted antenna (ASR-102E/ACR-201E)
Power over Ethernet:
DC-injector and dc-extractor
9V adapter if up to 120-ft long CAT-5 cable is used
12V adapter if up to 240-ft long CAT-5 cable is used
USB power cable
PS2 power cable
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Installing the Utility Software
System Requirements
To use the AirEZY-2411-BT Wireless Ethernet Adapter’s utilities software, your
computer must meet the following minimum requirements:
Windows® 95 (OSR2)/ 98 (SEC)/ME/2000/XP
Ethernet capable computer with RJ-45 port (either built-in or add-on NIC)
Installation
To install the utility program, simply insert the CD-ROM provided and the
installation process will finish with you clicking a few “OK”. The installation copies
the Utility program and its run-time support (components of Visual Basic) onto
the host computer without altering any settings of the host computer..
Notice that the operation of the AirEZY-2411-BT is independent of the Utility
Program. Therefore, it is NOT necessary to install the Utility on the network-
device/computer that you plan to install the AirEZY-2411-BT. For example, if you
plan to connect a printer server wirelessly to the network with the AirEZY-2411-
BT, you do not need to have the Utility Program installed on the printer server—
you will not be able to! In this example, you configure the AireEZY-2411-BT as a
Station on a PC installed with the Utility Program, disconnect it from the PC, then
connect it to the printer server. While the Utility program must run on a computer
equipped with Microsoft Windows, the radio can operate with computers/devices
of any OS.
Also notice that to configure or monitor the radio with the Utility program, the
computer running the Utility program can be either directly connected to the radio
or connected to the same subnet the radio is connected to.
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Chapter 3
UTILITY SOFTWARE
Use the Utility Program
Once the radio is properly turned on and connected either directly to the
computer running the Utility program or
to a port on the same subnet, the Utility
is ready for use. To start the Utility
program from your Microsoft Windows,
click “Start”, then “Program”, move to
locate the “AirEZY-2411-BT” group and
click on the Utility program icon to
launch the Utility program.
Overview of the Tabs
There are five tabs inside the Utility
graphic interface. The “About” tab
displays
the
software
version
information. The “Link Info “, “Station
Configuration”, “WLAN Statistics” and
“Encryption” tabs will be discussed in
detail in the ensuing subsections.
The OK and Exit buttons at the bottom
of the frame are common to all tabs.
Screen-Shot #1
Clicking the OK button signals the successful completion of the use of the Utility
program. The program applies the modifications made to all tabs and exits.
Clicking the Exit button exits the program without changing the setting of the
radio. The Refresh and the Apply buttons are available for the “Configuration”
and the “Encryption” tabs. Clicking the Refresh button at any moment causes the
program to retrieve and display the most updated configuration information from
the radio at that moment. Clicking the Apply button updates the radio setting
without exiting the program. Clicking the Apply button under the “Access Point”
sub-tab of the “Configuration” tab, however, requires correct entry of a password
before the radio settings can be updated. See details below. Clicking the Apply
button also causes the program to automatically perform a function in order to
confirm the updating action by displaying the updated information. Sometimes a
blank screen may appear after the Apply or the Refresh button is clicked. This
indicates that either the radio is extremely busy or there is a problem with the
Ethernet connection. Either try clicking the Apply or the Refresh button again or
check your Ethernet connection.
Configure AirEZY-2411-BT
There are two sub-tabs under the “Configuration” tab, Station and Access Point.
If the “Station” page is displayed, clicking on the “Access Point” sub-tab switch
the display to the Access Point page. If the AirEZY-2411-BT is currently
configured as a Station, all the parameter fields appear dimmed and are not
modifiable. This is illustrated in the screen-shot #2.
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Configure AirEZY-2411-BT as an Access Point (ASR-102)
By checking the “Change Role to AP” (red-arrowed in screen-shot #3), most
Screen-Shot #3
Screen-Shot #2
parameter fields become undimmed and modifiable, as seen in screen-shot #3 .
With the exception of the “MAC” field, and sometimes the “Allowed Station List”
field, each filed can be modified and uploaded into the radio by clicking the Apply
button without exiting the program, or by clicking the
OK button right before exiting the program. This
uploading action, however, is password protected. A
password challenge screen (upper portion of screen-
shot #4) pops up as the Apply button is clicked. The
uploading takes place only after the password
Screen-Shot #4
challenge is successfully met. A “try again” message
appears, as shown in the lower portion of screen-shot
#4, if incorrect password is entered. The radio is
shipped with a default password
entered on your “Quick Start Guide”.
Change this password immediately. Make sure that the new
password is securely saved somewhere. In case the password
is lost, you must call OTC to obtain a temporary password and
a special binary file to get into the radio to reset the password.
Change Password: The password that protects the Access
Point settings can be changed by click this button (red-circled
in screen-shot #3). The pop-out screen for changing password
is shown in screen-shot #5. The new password is uploaded
into the radio, just like other parameters on this sub-tab, when
the old password is correctly verified.
Screen-Shot #5
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Each field on this “Access Point” sub-tab is explained below.
Device Name: Allows the user to enter a user- defined name for the radio. Up to
32 bytes can be used.
MAC: Displays the MAC address of the radio when it is configured as an AP.
This filed cannot be modified.
SSID: Service Set Identity is used by a station radio when issuing
Association/Re-association Requests to the Access Point. The
Access Point uses the match of the SSID as one of the optional conditions for
granting or refuting association. (See more on this topic in “Enhanced Sec.”
below.) A Manager/operator of the network chooses this SSID. When a SSID is
first introduced, it needs to be manually typed in. After a SSID is used once, the
Utility program remembers the SSID and allows it to be selected out of the pull-
down list for re-use. The special SSID name “any”, once selected, allows an
AirEZY 2411 BT to wander across Service Sets with different SSID’s without the
need to manually obtain and reset the SSID every time. Whether the Station
radio’s association request is accepted or rejected by an AP, however, is entirely
determined by the local network management, not guaranteed by the use of
“any” as the SSID. When “any” is chosen, the SSID field display turns blank. The
special role of “any” works only in the Infrastructure mode.
Enhanced Sec.: There are two aspects to the security of a WiFi radio network:
access control and data encryption.
More details on data encryption are
given in the section discussing
Encryption. Independent of whether
data encryption is used or not, the
access of a Station to the network can
be restricted. The AirEZY-2411-BT
Access Point can be set up to offer
four different levels of access control
for the wireless network associated
with it. Refer to screen-shot #6, a pull-
down menu is used to select the level
of network security. Level 0,
[Disabled], basically leaves the access
to the network entirely open. Stations
with
“any”
(see
the
section
“Configuration the AirEZY-2411-BT as
a Station” for more explanations) as
the SSID, for example, is allowed to
Screen-Shot #6
join without any restriction. Selecting Level 1, [Hide SSID in Beacon], causes the
AP radio to send beacons without the SSID. This minimizes the chance for an
eavesdropping radio to capture and utilize the SSID for more damaging intrusion
to the network. At Level 2, [Hide SSID, Match exact SSID], this AP grants a
Station association only when the Station submits in its association request
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exactly the same SSID as the SSID entered in this sub-tab. The tightest level of
network access control is implemented in Level 3, [Hide SSID, Match SSID, Use
Allowed List], add one additional criterion for a Station to gain access to the
network associated with this AP—its MAC address must appear in the “Allowed
Station List” (see below) shown in the lower-right corner of this sub-tab.
Allowed Station List: The MAC addresses of the Stations in the network need to
be entered here if the Level 3, [Hide
SSID, Match SSID, Use Allowed List],
has been chosen as the access control
method. When Level 3, [Hide SSID,
Match SSID, Use Allowed List], is
selected, the Add, the Delete and the
Exit buttons below the “Allowed List”
panel
become
undimmed
and
selectable (Screen-shot #6). An input
box (screen-shot #7) for entering the
MAC address of a Station to be allowed
to join the network appears when the
Add button is clicked. Type in the MAC
address and click the Done button, the
newly added MAC address should
appear in the list. As usual, the Apply
button needs to be clicked before this
addition truly takes effect. To delete a
MAC address from the “Allowed Station
Screen-shot #7
List”, simply highlight the MAC address and click the Delete button. Clicking on
the Exit button right after either the Add or the Delete action, but before pressing
the Apply button, will cancel either the Add or the Delete action.
Note that if the Station radio is a Wireless PCMCIA Card or a Wireless USB
Adapter, the MAC address is directly associated with the Card or the Adapter.
The MAC addresses can be either read off the labels on the Card/Adapter, or
from the utility programs, or from the host computers (e.g., “ipconfig /all” in DOS,
“ifconfig” in Linux, or the “Network” setting in the “Control Panel” of Microsoft
Windows). However, if the Station is an AirEZY-2411-BT, the MAC address is
NOT the MAC address on the label of the radio, it is, instead, the MAC
address of the Ethernet port of the host computer/device.
Tx Rate: The RF environment sometimes can be hostile to the highest data rate
available to AirEZY 2411 BT. That gives rise to the need for trading off between
data rate and link robustness. The six choices in the pull-down list allow the
network manager to select that optimum trade off.
Authentication Option: When the “open system” option is chosen, no encryption
is applied to the packets exchanged between this Station radio and another
radio. Communication with another radio (a station or an AP), however, can be
successful only if the other radio also is set up to communicate in the “open
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system” mode. When the “shared key” option is chosen, the “Encryption” tab of
the Utility program must be properly filled out.
Fragmentation Threshold: In the presence of hostile RF environment, such as
interference, frames longer than this threshold numbers in bytes are divided prior
to transmission into one or more fragments equal in length to the fragmentation
threshold. The default value is set at 2436 bytes, the maximum 802.11 data
frame size, such that no frames are ever fragmented.
RTS Threshold: To minimize the potential packet collision associated with hidden
nodes in a wireless network, 80211 standard has the option to complete a
“Request to Send(RTS)” and “Clear to Send(CTS)” two-frame exchange prior to
sending the real data. This obviously reduces the throughput of the real data.
Since the probability of packet collision increases with the size of the packets
transmitted, an optimum trade-off between data-throughput and data-integrity
may be reached by turning on the two-frame exchange only for data packets
exceeding a certain size. The number entered in this field is that threshold packet
size in Bytes. For example, if “500” is entered, data packets with sizes less than
500 bytes are transmitted without being preceded by the RTS-CTS exchange
and thereby taking a small risk of getting corrupted by packet collisions. If “2346”
(the maximum 802.11 data frame size) or a larger number is entered, then every
data packet is transmitted without being preceded by the RTS-CTS exchange
and thereby maximizing the data throughput.
Channel: Click on the arrow and highlight the desired frequency (channel) for the
radio network. A minimum of 20MHz separation from the frequency of an
adjacent AP is required.
Beacon Interval: An Access Point periodically sends out “Beacon” packets to
broadcast information for the Stations already associated with the AP or for
Stations yet to associate with it. This field specifies how frequently the beacon
packet is sent. The default value is 100 mSec. For a relatively “fixed” network,
where Stations roaming in and out is infrequent, the interval can be long to
minimize the overhead usage of the bandwidth.
DTIM Period: An Access Point generates a Traffic Indication Map (TIM) to
identify the Stations that have data buffered inside the AP. The TIM is included in
the Beacon sent out by the AP. A Station determines that data packets are
buffered for it by the AP and takes appropriate actions by listening to the beacon
and interpreting a TIM. A special delivery TIM (DTIM) is used to signal that
broadcast/multicast frames buffered at the AP will be sent immediately following
the beacon that contains the DTIM. This is necessary only when the AP detects
that at least one of the Stations associated to it is in the Power Save (PS) mode.
DTIM period is measured in terms of beacon intervals. The default setting is 10
beacon intervals. This means one out every 10 beacons sent by the AP contains
DTIM. If prior knowledge is available that Stations in a particular network rarely
uses the PS mode, a high value for DTIM Period should be entered to minimize
the overhead usage of the bandwidth.
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Configure AirEZY-2411-BT as a Station (ACR-201)
Click on the “Station” sub-tab to display the “Station” page if the “Access Point”
page is on top after clicking the
“Configuration” tab. Similar to the case of
configuring the radio for AP, checking the
“Change Role to Station” undims the page
and makes most fields modifiable.
Some of the fields on the Station sub-tab
are identical to those on the “Access
Point” sub-tab. Please refer to the
“Access Point” section for explanation of
these fields. Those fields not on the
“Access Point” sub-tab and those with a
different usage (red-arrowed items in
screen-shot #8) are described below.
MAC: This is not a modifiable field. When
set up as a Station, this field displays the
MAC address that is unique to the radio
Screen-Shot #8
immediately after the radio is turned on. Once it is connected to a host
computer/device, however, the MAC address changes to that of the Ethernet port
of the host computer/device. It this host computer/device MAC address that
should be entered into the “Allowed Station List” of an AirEZY-2411-BT Access
Point or a WiFi AP with the “Allowed Station List” feature. Notice that it may be
necessary to initiate the transmission of a network packet from the host
computer/device after the AirEZY-2411-BT Station is connected in order for the
Station radio to capture the MAC address of the host computer/device. Power off
then on or reset the host computer/device while the AirEZY-2411-BT Station is
actively connected can achieve the same.
The need of a AirEZY-2411-BT Station to learn the MAC address of the host
computer/device should be contrasted to absence of such need by a PCMCIA or
a USB Station radio. In the case of the PCMCIA or USB Station radio, higher-
layer packets, such as IP, are delivered to the radio without an Ethernet header.
The PCMCIA or USB radio (in conjunction with its driver) adds the Ethernet
header with a MAC address unique to the radio. In the case of AirEZY-2411-BT,
however, the packets delivered to the radio are already fully 802.3 compliant and
with an Ethernet header, in which the MAC address is that of the Ethernet card of
the host computer/device. If the AirEZY-2411-BT were to encapsulate the
Ethernet packet with another header containing a MAC address unique to the
radio, this header would not have been removed by another target 802.11-
compliant radio and therefore would prevent the proper delivery of these packets.
Network Type: Two possible types to select from: the “Infrastructure” type where
all Stations communicate through an Access Point (AP), and the “Ad hoc” type
where all Stations communicate directly with each other.
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PS Mode: Power Saving can be enabled only when “Infrastructure” is selected
for the “Network Type”.
Channel: This field is modifiable only when the “Ad hoc” type is selected for
“Network Type”. The Station automatically scans for the right channel to join
when operated in the “Infrastructure” mode. In the “Ad hoc” mode, the Station
also automatically scans for the right channel to join an existing “ad hoc” Service
Set. However, when the Station is the first station to start an ad hoc network, it
will stay on the channel selected in this field to wait for other stations to join.
Set up the Encryption
This page allows users to set up the 802.11 Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) to
protect the content of the data frames from eavesdropping.
Encryption: Three selections are available. The 64-bit encryption is currently the
802.11 standard. The 128-bit encryption is supported by equipment from a
limited number of vendors. Notice that the “user-controlled” portion of the 64-bit
encryption is just 40 bits and that for the 128-bit encryption is just 104 bits—3-
bytes of the encryption key are internal to the encryption algorithm.
Default WEP Key Entry: AirEZY-2411-BT currently supports only the default
(shared) WEP key scheme defined in the 802.11 standard, not the mapped key
Screen-Shot #9
Screen-Shot #10
scheme. A set of four keys needs to be created in the default-key scheme. There
are two ways of generating the four keys. Choosing “Create with Pass-Phrase”
and entering a pass-phrase causes the radio to generate the default keys
following a set algorithm--the same pass-phrase applied to another AirEZY-2411-
BT radio will generate an identical set of default keys. The same pass-phrase
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applied to other Wi-Fi radios, however, may result in very different keys. For this
reason, clicking the Apply button after entering the pass-phrase will cause the 4
sets of keys being temporarily displayed under “Manual Entry” as if they were
entered manually. (See screen-shots #9 and #10, the display in screen-shot #10
is dimmed and not modifiable.) These displayed keys can be copied down and
manually entered for radios other than AirEZY-2411-BT to assure interoperability.
Clicking the button or switching to another tab and then return will cause the keys
to be hidden again. Up to 64 characters can be entered for the pass-phrase.
“Manual Entry” requires typing in all four keys. 5 bytes (10 characters) need to be
entered if the 64-bit encryption option is chosen—the other 8 bytes (16
characters are dimmed and not modifiable). 13 bytes (26 characters) need to be
entered if the 128-bit encryption option is chosen.
Use Dynamic WEP Key: The
encryption scheme adopted by the
802.11 standard is static in nature.
Such static scheme has been proven
to be vulnerable to cracking. Internet
downloadable software such as
Airsnort can crack a static encryption
key in as short a time as 15 min.
AirEZY-2411-BT
counters
such
Screen-Shot #11
security hole by generating and
distributing fresh WEP keys in time
intervals less than 12 min.. This
capability is built on top of the default
key scheme. The default keys (64-bit
or 128-bit) are still set up in the same
manner described above. Except that
Key #4 is no longer available as a
selection
for
transmission
(see
Transmission Key Sel below). The
default keys in this situation are only
used in the authentication process. A Station must respond to an authentication
challenge with one of the default keys in the usual manner defined by the 802.11
standards. Upon successful authentication, the AP uses one of the default keys
to send the seed of the Current WEP key (the one generated by the AP and has
no relation to any of the default keys) to the Station. From that point on, the data
exchanged between the AP and the Station are encrypted with this AP controlled
WEP key. In a time interval shorter than 12 min., the seed of a fresh key is sent
to the Station encrypted with the Current Key. The static default keys are NOT
used for data encryption when the dynamic WEP key is enabled. Note that the
highest level of Access Control (Hide SSID, Match SSID, Use Allowed List)
should be selected on the AP in order to benefit the most from the use of the
Dynamic WEP Key feature.
Transmission Key Sel: (Transmission Key Selection) One of the 4 default keys
needs to be selected for transmitting data frames. The radio can de-encrypt
received data encrypted in any one of the four default keys, but it uses only one
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of the default keys for transmitting its
data. When Use Dynamic WEP Key is
checked, only 3 default keys are
available for selection (Screen Shot
#11). Note that once the Dynamic
WEP Key is in force, the Transmission
Key Selection (Screen Shot#12) made
by the user is only used in the
authentication
process
and
is
irrelevant in the encryption of
transmitted data.
WEP Key Factor: The number here
determines how frequently a certain
register for the encryption is changed.
The smaller the number is the securer
the communication.
Screen Shot#12
Obtain Link Information
Screen-shot #13
Screen-shot #14
This page provides an overview of the setup of the radio. The “Device” field
displays the Device Name assigned to the radio and the firmware installed. The
“Current Status” field displays the few configuration parameters most pertinent to
setting up a WiFi link. In addition, if the radio’s role is Station, the “Link Quality”
and “Signal Strength” are automatically retrieved from the radio and displayed
every 2 seconds. “Link Quality” measures the percentage of accurately
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transmitted data packets. “Signal Strength” directly measures the amount of RF
energy received relative to a “maximum” expected for the best condition. The two
measures are related, but could differ due to various reasons. In general, as a
first step toward maximizing Link Quality, one should try to maximize the Signal
Strength by moving the radio around. If the radio’s role is AP, the “Link Quality”
and “Signal Strength” are not displayed (Screen Shot #14).
View Packet Statistics
In addition to the “Link Quality” on the “Link Info” tab, which is available only
Screen-Shot #15
Screen-Shot #16
when the radio is set as a Station, several statistics on the packet (frame) traffic
through the radio, either as a Station or as an AP, are displayed on the “WLAN
Statistics” tab. From the “Total Transmitted Frames” and the “Total Transmitted
Retry Frames”, one can get a picture of the transmission frame-error-rate.
Similarly, from the “Total Received Frames” and the “Total Received Error
Frames”, one can get a picture of the receiving frame-error-rate. The “Total
Transmitted Octets” and “Total Received Octets” provide a measure of the total
traffic through the radio during the “Refresh Time Interval”. The calculated traffic
is displayed in KB/Sec. Note that these traffic numbers are a measure of the
amount of data passing through the radio at a given moment, and it should not
be confused with the “throughput capability” of the radio. To automatically display
these statistics on a regular interval, simply enter the desired “Refresh Time
Interval” and then press the Go button. Notice that in this mode the Refresh
button at the bottom of the tab is dimmed and unavailable (Screen Shot#15). If
the “Refresh Time Interval” is left empty, the Refresh button at the bottom of the
tab is undimmed (Screen Shot#16) and can be pressed to display the statistics
accumulated inside the radio up to that point. Clicking the Refresh button at this
point also clears, upon the completion of the retrieval of, the statistics inside the
radio. The display stays unchanged until the Refresh button is pressed again.
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Notice also that in this manual mode throughputs in Bits/Sec are not calculated
due the imprecise timing.
Uninstall the Utility Software
If you need to uninstall the Utility software for any reason, complete the following
steps:
1. Close all programs that are currently running.
2. Click the Window Start button, point to Settings and then click the
Control Panel.
2. Double click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
3. Click the AirEZY-2411-BT.
This will uninstall the utility program from your computer.
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Chapter 4
TROUBLESHOOTING
Blank Pages Appear When Open the Utility Program
This is either because the radio is extremely busy on the RF side or because the
Ethernet connection is problematic. Try to hit the Refresh button a few times. If
the blank-page condition persists, it is unlikely that the problem is caused by a
busy radio. Check your Ethernet connection. Make sure you use at least a
legitimate CAT-3 cable, but preferably a CAT-5. Make sure that it is a straight-
through cable between the radio and the computer, or a crossover cable between
the radio and the hub, if a hub is involved. Check to make sure that the Ethernet
card of the computer running the Utility program is functional.
No Radio Link When Set Up As a Station (ACR-201)
If the AirEZY-2411-BT is intended to function as a Station but the “Link Quality”
indicator on the “Link Info” tab shows 0%, check the following possible causes:
• Make sure that a target radio, an AP or another Station, is turned on and
operating properly.
• Make sure that the “Signal Strength” indicator on the “Link Info” tab is not
zero. A minimum of 20% is recommended. If the “Signal Strength” is less
than 20%, the distance between the AirEZY-2411-BT and the targeted
radio (an AP or another Station) may be too far. Decrease the distance to
see if the radio link can be established.
• Make sure that the AirEZY-2411-BT is set up as a Station, not an AP.
• Make sure that the SSID is “any” or the same as that for the Access Point
if operating in the infrastructure mode, or the same as that of the other
Stations if operating in the Ad Hoc mode.
• Make sure that all the access controls are satisfied if operating in an
infrastructure mode (i.e., connecting to an AP). For example, is the MAC
address of the host computer/device of the AirEZY-2411-BT Station
entered in the AP?
• Make sure that the encryption keys are entered correctly if WEP is
enabled.
• Make sure that there is no RF interference present in the radio network.
No Radio Link When Set Up As an AP (ASR-102)
If the AirEZY-2411-BT is set up as an AP, but one or more target Station radios
cannot link with it, check the following:
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• Make sure that the MAC address of the Station in question is properly
entered into the “Allowed Station List” of the AP if enhanced security level
3, [Hide SSID, Match SSID, Use Allowed List], is chosen.
• Make sure that the Station in question has exactly the same SSID as the
AP if enhanced security level 2 or 3 is chosen.
• Make sure that the Station in question has exactly the same WEP keys as
the AP. Special attention should be paid to this item if “pass-phrase” is
used to generate the WEP keys and the Station radios in question are
NOT an AirEZY-2411-BT.
No Network Connection While the Radio Link is Good
If the “Link Quality” indicator shows good link quality on the “Link Info” tab, but
the host computer/device cannot be connected to the network
• Make sure that the Yellow LED on the radio is NOT constantly ON. If it is,
Ethernet connection is questionable.
• Make sure the Ethernet Adapter of the host computer/device is properly
installed.
• Make sure that the UTP cable connecting the radio and the host device
meets at least the CAT-3 standard and has a Straight-through connection,
not a Cross-over.
• Make sure that the AirEZY-2411-BT, when set up as a Station, is not
connected to a hub with multiple computers/devices plugged in.
• Make sure that the IP address of the host computer/device is properly set
up for the network.
• Make sure that the host computer/device has initiated some packet traffic
since the radio was turned on. (That is the failure of the network
connection is not just determined by trying to access the host from a
remote point in the network.) Reset or re-power the host with the AirEZY-
2411-BT turned on may be necessary in order for the AirEZY-2411-BT to
“learn” the MAC address of the host computer.
Poor Link Quality
If the “Signal Strength” is reasonably high (>20%) and the “Link Quality” is not
zero, but the “Link Quality” stays in the Poor range, it could be due to one of the
following reasons:
• Make sure that radio interference is not present in the radio network.
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• Make sure that the radio is not surrounded by many strongly reflecting
(metallic) surfaces. With multiple reflecting surfaces between the radio in
question and the target radio, a severe “multi-path” problem may
introduce high bit error rate despite a strong “Signal Strength”.
• Make sure that there is not a condition of severe packet collision caused
by a “hidden node” problem. A “hidden node” problem is the situation
where the RF signal from two or more Station radios cannot reach each
other (but can reach the AP). In such situation, multiple Stations may
attempt to transmit data packet to the AP at the same time and therefore
cause packet collision. To solve this problem, either re-arrange the
Stations in question such that the RF signals are mutually sensible by all
Stations, or turn-on the RTS/CTS protocol by setting the “RTS threshold”
on the “Station” sub-tab to a reasonably small value (500, for example).
There is no guarantee that the packet collision can be entirely eliminated
by invoking RTS/CTS protocol, but the severity can be reduced enough to
see visible improvement of the link quality.
Radio Interference
You may be able to eliminate RF interference by trying the following:
• Find the “channel” used by the source of the interference and coordinate
your network and the interference source to be on channels that are at
least 20MHz, but preferably 30MHz, apart.
• Reseat the AirEZY-2411-BT radio to a location where the interference is
minimized; in general, increase the distance between the wireless
computers and the device causing the radio interference.
• Avoid using 2.4GHz cordless phone in the vicinity of the radio
• Keep the computer with the AirEZY-2411-BT radio away from the
microwave oven and large metal objects.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio technician for help.
Technical Support
If problems are still not solved, please contact our Technical Support to obtain
futher assistance.
Call: 1-800-770-6698 in USA
Call: 011-510-490-8288 outside of USA
E-mail: [email protected]
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Appendix A:
LIMITED WARRANTY
Wireless LAN Hardware
The seller warrants to the end user (“Customer”) that this hardware product will
be free from defects in workmanship and materials, under normal use and
service, for one (1) year from the date of purchase from the seller or its
authorized reseller. The seller’s sole obligation under this express warranty shall
be, at the seller’s option and expense, to repair the defective product or part,
deliver to Customer an equivalent product or part to replace the defective item, or
if neither of the two foregoing options is reasonably available, The seller may, in
its sole discretion, refund to the Customer the purchase price paid for the
defective product.
All products that are replaced will become the property of the seller.
Replacement products may be new or reconditioned.
Wireless LAN Software
The seller warrants to Customer that each software program licensed from it ,
except as noted below, will perform in substantial conformance to its program
specifications, for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase from the
seller or its authorized reseller. The seller warrants the media containing
software against failure during the warranty period. No updates are provided. The
seller’s sole obligation under this express warranty shall be, at the seller’s option
and expense, to refund the purchase price paid by Customer for any defective
software product, or to replace any defective media with software which
substantially conforms to applicable seller published specifications. Customer
assumes responsibility for the selection of the appropriate application programs
and associated reference materials. The seller makes no warranty or
representation that its software products will meet Customer’s requirements or
work in combination with any hardware or software applications products
provided by third parties, that the operation of the software products will be
uninterrupted or error free, or that all defects in the software products will be
corrected. For any third party products listed in the seller software product
documentation or specifications as being compatible, the seller will make
reasonable efforts to provide compatibility, except where the non-compatibility is
caused by a defect in the third party’s product or from use of the software product
not in accordance with the seller’s published specifications or user manual.
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Appendix B:
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
FCC Part 15 Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
The following equipment:
Product Name: Wireless Ethernet Adapter
Model Number: AirEZY-2411-BT WLAN is herewith confirmed to comply with the
requirements of FCC Part 15 rules. The operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
FCC ID: MKZAZY2411BT
FCC Rules and Regulations - Part 15
Warning: This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the Federal Communications
Commissions Rules and Regulations. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is
operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and
on, the user is encouraged to try and correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures:
. Relocate your WLAN equipped laptop computer.
. Increase the separation between the WLAN equipped laptop computer and
other electronics.
. Connect the WLAN equipped laptop computer into an outlet on a circuit
different from that of other electronics.
. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
FCC Radiation Exposure Statement
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an
uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with
minimum distance of 20cm between the radiator & your body.
Caution: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by OTC
Wireless could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction
with any other antenna or transmitter.
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European Community (EC) Directives Conformity and Restrictions
This product is in conformity with the protection requirements of EC Council
directives 89/336/EEC, 73/23/EEC, and 1999/5/EC on the approximation and
harmonization of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic
compatibility, safety of electrical equipment designed for use within certain
voltage limits and on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal
equipment. Compliance is indicated by the CE marking
. This product
satisfies the radio spectrum requirements of EN 300 328-1, the EMC
requirements of EN 301 489-17 and the safety requirements of EN 60950.
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GLOSSARY
10BaseT An IEEE standard (802.3) for operating 10 Mbps Ethernet networks
(LANs) with twisted pair cabling and a wiring hub.
Access Point An internetworking device that seamlessly connects wired and
wireless networks. Access Points combined with a distributed system support the
creation of multiple radio cells that enable roaming throughout a facility.
Ad Hoc Network A network composed solely of stations within mutual
communication range of each other (no Access Point connected). The Ad Hoc
network offers peer-to-peer connections between workstations, allowing
communication between computers within range that have an 802.11
DSSS compatible PC card installed.
BSS Basic Service Set. A set of stations controlled by a single coordination
function.
Channel A medium used to pass data units that can be used simultaneously in
the same volume of space by other channels of the same physical layer, with an
acceptably low frame error ratio due to the absence of mutual interference.
CSMA/CA Carrier Sensing Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance The medium
access control method used by the 802.11 standard. Basically, a radio can start
transmitting signal only when no carrier from another radio is sensed and after a
randomized wait time has expired.
DTIM Delivery Traffic Indication Map The Stations that currently have data held
in an AP are identified by a Traffic Indication Map (TIM). This TIM is included in
the beacon sent by an AP. DTIM is a special type of TIM. When a DTIM is sent in
a beacon frame, it signals that all the broadcast and multicast data held for
Stations in PS mode will be sent immediately following the beacon frame.
Encapsulated An Ethernet address mode that treats the entire Ethernet packet
as a whole and places it inside an 802.11 frame along with a new header.
ESS Extended Service Set. A set of one or more interconnected Basic Service
Sets (BSSs) and integrated Local Area Networks (LANs) can be configured as an
Extended Service Set.
Ethernet The most widely used medium access method, which is defined by the
IEEE 802.3 standard. Ethernet is normally a shared media LAN; i.e., all the
devices on the network segment share the total bandwidth. Ethernet networks
operate at 10Mbps/100Mbps using CSMA/CD to run over 10BaseT/100BaseT
cables.
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Hidden Node The situation where two or more radios in a multiple-radio network
fail to detect the RF signals from each other. For example, in a 3-radio network,
radio 2 and 3 both have good link to radio 1. Radio 2 and 3, however, are
isolated from each other by, say, a metal wall. Radio 2 therefore is a “hidden
node” to radio 3, and vice versa. Since an 802.11 network relies on the
CSMA/CA protocol to control network access, hidden nodes break down the
Carrier Sensing mechanism of controlling medium access because two or more
radios cannot sense the carrier from each other.
IEEE 802.11 The IEEE 802.xx is a set of specifications for LANs from the
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). Most wired networks
conform to 802.3, the specification for CSMA/CD-based Ethernet networks or
802.5, the specification for token ring networks. 802.11 defines the standard
for wireless LANs encompassing three incompatible (non-interoperable)
technologies: Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), Direct Sequence
Spread Spectrum (DSSS), and Infrared. IEEE standards ensure interoperability
between systems of the same type.
Infrastructure Network A wireless network centered about an Access Point. In
this environment, the Access Point not only provides communication with the
wired network but also mediates wireless network traffic in the immediate
neighborhood.
IP Internet Protocol. The standard protocol within TCP/IP that defines the basic
unit of information passed across an Internet connection by breaking down data
messages into packets, routing and transporting the packets over network
connections, then reassembling the packets at their destination. IP corresponds
to the network layer in the ISO/OSI model.
IP Address An IP address is a 32-bit number that identifies each sender or
receiver of information sent across the Internet. An IP address has two parts: the
identifier of a particular network on the Internet and an identifier of the particular
device (which can be a server or a workstation) within that network.
ISP Internet Service Provider. An organization that provides access to the
Internet. Small ISPs provide service via modem and ISDN while the larger ones
also offer private line hookups (T1, fractional T1, etc.).
LAN Local Area Network. A communication network that serves users within a
defined geographical area. The benefits include the sharing of Internet access,
files, and equipment, such as printers and storage devices. Special network
cabling (10BaseT) is often used to connect the PCs together.
NAT Network Address Translation. The translation of an Internet Protocol
address (IP address) used within one network to a different IP address known
within another network. One network is designated the internal network and the
other is the external. The internal network then appears as one entity to the
outside world.
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PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. This
Association develops standards for PC cards, formerly known as PCMCIA cards.
These cards are available in three types, and are about the same length and
width as credit cards. However, the different cards range in thickness from 3.3
mm (Type I) to 5.0 mm (Type II) to 10.5 mm (Type III). These cards can be used
for various functions, including memory storage, landline modems, and wireless
modems.
PS Mode Power Save Mode. This mode is recommended for devices where
power consumption is a major concern, such as battery-powered devices.
Radio Frequency RF, Terms: GHz, MHz, Hz —The international unit for
measuring frequency is Hertz (Hz), equivalent to the older unit of cycles per
second. One megahertz (MHz) is one Million-Hertz. One gigahertz (GHz) is one
Billion-Hertz. The standard U.S. electrical power frequency is 60 Hz, the
AM broadcast radio frequency band is 0.55–1.6 MHz, the FM broadcast radio
frequency band is 88–108 MHz, and wireless 802.11 LANs operate at 2.4GHz.
SSID Service Set ID. A group name shared by every member of a wireless
network.
Station The Station is the component that connects a host computer or device
to the wireless medium. It may be referred to as the Wireless Network Adapter or
the Wireless Network Interface Card.
WEP Wired Equivalent Privacy. The optional cryptographic confidentiality
algorithm specified by 802.11 used to provide data confidentiality that is
subjectively equivalent to the confidentiality of a wired LAN medium that does not
employ cryptographic techniques to enhance privacy.
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