Network Control Panel Applet (NCPA)

Use the Network Control Panel Applet (NCPA) to view and edit Spectrum24 Network Interface Card (NIC) settings. NCPA displays when a NIC is installed. Access NCPA through the Windows Control Panel.

When a NIC is installed, the system displays an Easy Installation wizard allowing users to set the 802.11 ESS ID. Click the Advanced button to display the following Advanced property pages.

Mobile Unit Settings

Power

Mobile IP Settings

Encryption

WLAN Adapter

Use the WLAN Adapter property page to create an optional Advanced property pages password window that displays when the Advanced button is selected from the Easy Installation window.


Mobile Unit Settings

Click the Mobile Unit tab in the Advanced Properties window to launch the Mobile Unit Settings property page. Use the Mobile Unit Settings property page to configure the NIC operating mode, ESS ID and Mandatory AP address.

Use the Operating Mode pull-down menu to select one of the following operating modes for the NIC:

•	ESS (802.11 Station) - Select ESS (802.11 Station) to enable the MU to transmit and receive data with an access point. ESS is the default mode used by the NIC when NCPA is initially displayed.

•	IBSS (802.11 Ad Hoc) - Select IBSS (802.11 Ad Hoc) to enable MUs to form their own local network where MUs communicate peer-to-peer without access points. Use IBSS to create networks where needed within established cells. In IBSS, MUs take turns generating beacons and handling probe responses. The MU starting the IBSS network (the first MU transmitting a beacon) determines the channel and data rate used within the IBSS network. If a single MU is sending every beacon, it is the only member of the IBSS network and other MUs are needed to communicate peer-to-peer.

•	Pseudo IBSS (Proprietary Ad Hoc) - Select Pseudo IBSS when the highest throughput is required in an IBSS network for testing MU throughput. Pseudo IBSS does not support PSP MUs and does not use beacons or authentication. In Pseudo IBSS mode, each MU is required to be on the same channel. Pseudo IBSS is not recommended as a normal operational mode or for devices operating on battery power.

Note: Selecting an operational mode in NICTT disables the operational mode selected in the NCPA Mobile Unit property page.

Use the ESS ID field to set the 802.11 Extended Service Set Identifier. The ESS ID is a 32-character string (maximum) identifying the wireless local area network. If the ESS ID is unknown, ask the IS department for assistance. The ESS ID assigned to the NIC has to match the AP ESS ID for the NIC to communicate with the AP. Users can also set this value during Easy Installation.

Use the Mandatory AP address field to enter the IEEE MAC address of the access point where the NIC associates. The NIC associates to only this access point when communicating on the network. Enter an access point MAC address to associate to an access point with a compatible ESS ID.


Power

Click the Power tab in the Advanced Properties window to launch the Mobile Unit Power Settings property page. Use the Power property page to control NIC power consumption in the ESS or IBSS operating modes. A NIC has two power consumption modes, Continuous Access Mode (CAM) and Power Save Poll (PSP) mode. CAM yields the best performance but uses the most power. CAM is the preferred mode for systems running on AC power. PSP saves significant amounts of power over CAM. PSP is the preferred mode for systems running on battery power.

Set the slider to the far right to keep the NIC in CAM or set the slider to a PSP performance index (1 to 5). Each mode is described underneath the sliding scale.

Note: Disable the Power Management capabilities in the NICTT utility to use the settings in the NCPA Power property page.

Set the NIC power consumption mode and click OK.


Mobile IP Settings

Click the Mobile IP tab within the Advanced Properties window to view the Mobile IP property page. Use the Mobile IP property page to configure the NIC to support the roaming across routers function. Mobile IP enables an MU to communicate with other hosts using only its home IP address after changing its point-of-attachment to the internet/intranet. Mobile IP enables an MU to change its AP association without restarting applications or disrupting host communications.

To configure an MU for Mobile IP support:

•	Check the Enable Mobile IP checkbox to enable Mobile IP support.

•	Enter the Home Agent IP Address of an AP on the home subnet. This enables the MU to register with a foreign subnet AP and tell the AP where the MU home AP is located.

•	Enter the Mobile Home MD5 Key matching the MD5 key on the AP of the home subnet. Use this password to protect the registration packets from being tampered when forwarded to the home agent AP.

•	Use the Registration Timeout pull-down menu to select a timeout value. When the MU registers with a foreign subnet AP the registration is required to take place within the time specified. The default registration time is 60 seconds. If the MU does not register with the foreign subnet AP within the specified time, the foreign subnet AP removes the MU from its list of registered MUs.

•	Use the Delay Time pull-down menu to select the time an MU waits for a response from a foreign subnet AP when trying to register with that AP. An MU attempts to register with an AP three times before stopping.

Restart the system for the changes made in the Mobile IP property page to take effect.


Encryption (Mobile Unit Authentication Options)
Encryption

Click the Encryption tab in the Advanced Properties window to view the Encryption property page. The absence of a physical connection makes wireless links vulnerable to information theft. Encryption is an efficient method of preventing data theft and improving data security. Use the Encryption property page to configure WLAN Adapter data packet Encryption settings.

Note: An access point and MU are required to use the same Encryption algorithm to associate and transmit data. If an access point is set to WEP (Privacy) disabled and an MU is set to 40-bit or 128-bit, no association takes place. If an MU is set to Open System and an access point is set to 40-bit or 128-bit no association takes place.

If an access point is set to 40-bit and an MU is set to 128-bit the devices can associate, but no data transmission can take place between the two devices.

Choose one of the following Encryption options from the Encryption Algorithm pull-down menu:

•	Open System - Use the Open System option as the default setting when no data packet encryption is needed over the network. Selecting Open System provides no security for the data being transmitted over the network. Click OK to enable Open System Encryption.

•	40-bit - Select 40-bit Encryption and enter a 10 Hex digit password that can be entered by spreading the 10 Hex digit characters between the two Encryption key fields provided. Click OK to save and implement the Encryption key data.

•	128-bit - 128-bit Encryption is subject to export restrictions. An access code is required if 128-bit Encryption is selected and an export restrictions dialog box displays. Contact the Symbol Technologies Support Center (1-800-653-5350) for information on acquiring an access code for 128-bit Encryption.

If an access code is required, click the Access Code button to display the Enable 128-bit Encryption dialog box. Enter the access code in the three fields and click OK. Once the access code is entered, the Access Code button is no longer displayed on the Encryption page and the access code is stored.

Once 128-bit Encryption is enabled, select 128-bit Encryption from the Encryption Algorithm pull-down menu and enter a 26 Hex digit password that can be entered by spreading the 26 Hex digit characters across the six Encryption key fields provided. The 128-bit Encryption option provides the highest level of security of the three Encryption options. Click OK to save and implement the Encryption key data.

Click Reset Keys to clear the entries in the Shared Encryption Key fields.


WLAN Adapter (Spectrum24 Adapter Settings)
WLAN Adapter

Click the WLAN Adapter tab within the Advanced Properties window to view the WLAN Adapter property page. Use the WLAN Adapter property page to configure hardware and radio settings and set an optional password for user access to the five Advanced property pages.

NCPA has a password protection feature that can be enabled and disabled from the WLAN Adapter property page. When NCPA is initially launched the password is off (default). To create a case-sensitive password for the Advanced property pages:

1.	Click the Password button from the WLAN Adapter property page.

A password dialog box displays.

2.	Enter a case-sensitive password (10 characters maximum) in the field provided and click OK.

The Advanced property pages password dialog box is enabled and now appears when Advanced is selected from the Easy Setup window.

To disable the password dialog box, enter the current password and leave the two new password fields empty. Click OK.

To change the password, enter the current password and type a new password in the two new password fields. Click OK.

Use the WLAN Adapter Settings property page to configure the following NIC settings:

•	Use the Card Type pull-down menu to specify the type of card in the system, PC Card or PCI Adapter.

•	Use the Interrupt Number pull-down menu to identify the hardware interrupt value the card uses to communicate to the driver. If running Windows NT and the ESSID is correct, an incorrect interrupt number is probably the reason the card cannot communicate over the network. Windows 95 and 98 users cannot see hardware settings other than the Card Type.

•	Use the Diversity pull-down menu to specify antenna support. Select Diversity on if dual antenna support is required. Diversity improves communication in reflective environments. Do not select Diversity on if a secondary antenna is not used. Using diversity without dual antennas can cause poor wireless network performance.


Easy Installation

Use the Easy Installation wizard to install and configure the Spectrum24 WLAN NIC. Enter an ESS ID matching the Access Point (AP) ID in the ESS ID entry field to enable the NIC to communicate with the AP.

The ESS ID is the 802.11 Extended Service Set Identifier. The ESS ID is a 32-character string (maximum) identifying the wireless local area network. Ask the Information Services (IS) department to help identify the ESS ID if necessary. The ESS ID assigned to the NIC has to match the AP ESS ID for the NIC to communicate with the AP.

Advanced Settings

Only system administrators need to modify the advanced settings. Click the Advanced Settings button to view and edit the Advanced property pages and create an optional password for the Advanced property pages. The Advanced property pages control all aspects of the Spectrum24 NIC. Advanced functions include:

•	Mobile Unit settings

•	Power management settings

•	Mobile IP settings

•	Encryption settings

•	WLAN adapter hardware settings

Note:  The Easy Setup and Advanced property pages appear different for the supported Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 and CE operating systems.