Sony PCWA-C800S User Manual

IntroductionNotesThis Help system requires Internet Explorer 5 or later. It may not be displayed properly by earlier versions of Internet Explorer. 

Registering a networkBefore connection, you must register the connected netw ork. You can register several netw orks to the Wireless Panel softw are,

Registering a network(Windows 2000 operating system)When using the Window s 2000 operating system, you must register your netw ork to the Wireless Pan

The access point is registered to the Wireless Panel softw are and connected to the computer.HintsoAn encryption key is a passw ord used for netw orks

NoteFor details about the Wireless Panel icon, refer to Checking the communication status. 2.Click the "Ne tw ork List" tab.The netw ork lis

"Ne tw ork Nam e (SSID)"This is an ID used to identify a w ireless netw ork. You can set a netw ork name for each access point or peer-to-p

oThe encryption key (WEP key) is displayed as asterisks. 6.Click "Connect".The configured netw ork is registered in the netw ork list.If set

Registering a network(Windows XP operating system)Use the Window s XP Wireless Netw ork function to establish a connection to a w ireless netw ork.The

2.Sele ct the Acces s Point to w hich you w ant to connect from the "Available w irele ss netw orks" list. 3.If data encryption (WEP) is en

2.Sele ct the netw ork to w hich you w ant to connect from the "Available netw orks" list. 3.If data encryption (WEP) is enabled for the ac

Netw ork w ith data encryption (WEP) enabled: 2.Click "Advanced".The "Wireless Netw ork Connection Properties" dialog box appears.

What is the Wireless Panel software?The Wireless Panel softw are displays the communication status of the Wireless LAN PC Cards PCWA-C800S, PCWA-C700,

3.Click "Advanced".The "Advanced" dialog box appears. 4.Sele ct "Com puter-to-computer (ad-hoc) netw orks only", and the

6.Enter a netw ork nam e (SSID) of up to 32 ASCII characters (alphanumeric characters or sym bols) for this netw ork. NotesoA netw ork name is an ID u

it is not, select it. 10.Click "OK". The "Wireless Netw ork Connection Properties" dialog box reappears. 11.Click "OK".T

3.Click "Advanced".The "Advanced" dialog box appears. 4.Sele ct "Com puter-to-computer (ad-hoc) netw orks only", and the

6.Enter a netw ork nam e (SSID) of up to 32 ASCII characters (alphanumeric characters or sym bols) for this netw ork. NotesoA netw ork name is an ID u

10.Click "OK".The screen returns to the "Wireless Netw ork Connection Properties" dialog box. 11.Click "OK".The settings

Registering a network(When connecting to an IEEE 802.1X/WPA/WPA-PSK-compliant access point)If you are using a Wireless LAN PC Card PCWA-C800S and/or P

3.In "Available netw orks", se lect an 802.1X-com pliant access point, and then click "Configure".The "Wireless netw ork prop

6.Click (w ireles s netw ork connection icon).The follow ing dialog box appears.7.Click "OK".The connection to the access point is establis

3.In "Available netw orks", se lect a WPA-com pliant access point, and then click "Configure".The "Wireless netw ork properti

About the connection modesThere are tw o connection modes. The Access Point Netw ork connection mode and Peer to Peer Netw ork connection mode. Access

4.Click "OK".5.Make s ure that the Window s XP operating system displays the follow ing m essage.6.Click (w ireles s netw ork connection ic

1.Right-click the "Wirele s s Ne twork Connection" icon on the taskbar, and then click "View Available Wireless Ne tworks" on th

When the access point data encryption is AES4.If data encryption is enabled, enter the e ncryption key (pre-shared key; PSK) in the "Ne tw ork

Configuring wireless networkingThis section explains how to configure registered netw orks, modify their settings, how to sw itch betw een netw ork

Changing the network settingsThe procedure differs according to your operating system. Follow the link corresponding to your operating system. Windo

4.Change each setting as necessary. NoteData encryption (WEP) prevents unauthorized access to data from outside. We strongly recommended that you enab

(The screenshot above show s an example w hen Window s XP Service Pack 1 is installed.) 3.Sele ct the netw ork w hose settings you w ant to change fro

details on how to set up access point, refer to the documentation provided w ith your access point. 5.Click "OK".Page 37

Switching between networksThe procedure differs according to your operating system. Follow the link corresponding to your operating system.Window s

The computer connects to the netw ork.HintsoAn encryption key is a passw ord used for netw orks w ith data encryption enabled. oThe encryption key is

Precautions and limitationsThe follow ing are precautions and limitations regarding the use of the Wireless LAN PC Card and the Wireless Panel softw a

Access point w ith data encryption (WEP) disabled: 2.Sele ct the netw ork to w hich you w ant to connect from the "Available w irele ss netw ork

2.Sele ct the netw ork to w hich you w ant to connect from the "Available netw orks" list. 3.If the netw ork has data encryption (WEP) enab

Removing a registered networkThe procedure differs according to your operating system. Follow the link corresponding to your operating system.Window

The "Wireless Netw ork Connection" dialog box (or "Connect to Wireless Netw ork" dialog box w hen Window s XP Service Pack 1 is no

Displaying the Access Point Setup PageYou can use the follow ing procedure to display the Access Point Setup Page if you are using a w ireless LAN acc

Wireless Panel window and functionsThis sections describes the Wireless Panel w indow and functions by tab and dialog box."Status" tab &q

"Status" tabInformation about the w ireless netw ork to w hich you are currently connected appears on the "Status" tab. The inform

"IP Address"Indicates the computer's IP address. "Fram es Se nt"Indicates the total number of frames sent. "Fram es Re c

The "AP Setting" button can only be used w hen using the follow ing w ireless LAN access points.The follow ing access points support the &qu

HintIf you point to a button or item in the Wireless Panel w indow , a short explanation appears. 1.StatusThis area indicates the connection status. &

Windows 2000 and Windows XP operating system user limitationsWhen using the Window s 2000 or Window s XP operating system, the operations that can be

"Link Rate (RX)"Indicates the rate of frames received. "Throughput (TX)"Indicates the throughput of the current data transmission

"Network List" tabDetected 2.4 GHz/5 GHz w ireless netw orks appear on the "Netw ork List" tab. You can connect to a netw ork in t

Peer-to-peer netw ork w ith data encryption (WEP) enabled.Peer-to-peer netw ork w ith data encryption (WEP) disabled.Currently connected peer-to-peer

(The button changes depending on the status.) HintThis function is only available if you are using the Window s 2000 operating system. "Re gister

Currently connected access point.(This icon indicates that the access point has data encryption disabled.)Peer-to-peer netw ork w ith data encryption

"Setting" tabModify the Wireless Panel settings on the "Setting" tab. The information displayed on this tab depends on your operat

When using the PCWA-C800SWhen using a Wireless LAN PC Card other than the PCWA-C800SNoteThe grayed out items in the screenshots above are only availa

Select the type of w ireless communication mode that you w ant to use. You can select "11a", "11b", or "11b, 11g". "

"Registering Network" dialog boxYou can open the "Registering Netw ork" dialog box by clicking the "New ", "Registe

"Registering Network" dialog boxEasy Setting displayThe "Registering Netw ork" dialog box is displayed w hen you click the "N

Basic useThis sections describes the Wireless Panel w indow , and explains how to check the communication status and register netw orks.NoteTo config

"Registering Network" dialog box"Wireless LAN" tab of the Advanced displayThe "Registering Netw ork" dialog box is displ

If you selected the "WEP" check box, enter an encryption key in this text box. "Confirm k ey"Re-enter the encryption key. HintIf y

"Registering Network" dialog box"TCP/IP" tab of the Advanced displayThe "Registering Netw ork" dialog box is displayed w

"Preferred DNS s e rver"Enter the IP address of the preferred DNS server. "Alternate DNS s e rver"Enter the IP address of an alter

"Registering Network" dialog box"Proxy" tab of the Advanced displayThe "Registering Netw ork" dialog box is displayed w

Enter the port used by the proxy server. "Bypass proxy server for local addresses"Select this check box to not use a proxy for the local IP

TroubleshootingThis section contains answ ers to common problems encountered w ith the Wireless LAN PC Card. Read this section carefully before contac

I cannot input the encryption keyYou must enter the correct encryption key (WEP key). Permissible encryption key characters and their maximum number a

I forgot the encryption keyIf you forget the encryption key and are unable to establish a connection to the access point, reinitialize it, and then re

I cannot establish a connectionIf you cannot connect to the Internet for example, verify the follow ing, in order. 1.Make s ure that the Wireless Pan

Displaying the Wireless Panel windowDisplay the Wireless Panel w indow as follow s. Display the Wireless Panel windowDouble-click the Wireless Panel

2.Confirm that the w ireless netw ork connection in question is not acting as a netw ork bridge. 3.If the w ireless netw ork connection is configured

I do not know how to configure the access pointIf the Access Point Setup Page does not open w hen you click the Wireless Panel w indow "AP Setti

Why does the dial-up dialog box appear when I click the "AP Setting" button?When clicking the "AP Setting" button opens the dial-u

Why can't I establish a connection after changing the access point settings?If you change the access point netw ork name (SSID) or the data encry

I cannot switch networksWhen using the Windows 2000 operating systemIf you logged on to your Window s operating system as a user w ith limited access

Why can't I use some functions and settings?Under the Window s 2000 and Window s XP operating system, some functions are restricted depending on

Why is communication speed low?The actual maximum throughput of each Wireless LAN PC Card is as follow s.PCWA-C800S (2.4 GHz (802.11b)): approx. 5 Mb

When I play back MPEG2 files, the contents are fragmented. What can I do to correct this problem?Verify the follow ing.1.With the Window s XP operatin

Can I use my Wireless LAN PC Card and an Ethernet connection at the same time?When a problem occurs w ith a Wireless LAN PC Card, you may be able to s

Additional InformationGlossary Trademarks Page 79

Checking the communication statusYou can check the w ireless netw ork communication status w ith the Wireless Panel icon on the Window s taskbar or on

GlossaryAccess Point Netw ork connection m odeYou can use this mode to create a w ireless netw ork using access point. For details, see About the conn

TrademarksProgram Copyright 2001 2002 2003 2004 Sony CorporationDocumentation Copyright 2004 Sony CorporationVAIO, , and are trademarks of Sony Corp

Detailed netw ork informations are displayed. (The screenshot above show s an example w hen using a Wireless LAN PC Card PCWA-C800S w ith a computer r