Introduction; Overview - Asus SpaceLink WL230 User Manual

Chapter 1 - Introduction

1. Introduction

Overview

Thank you for purchasing the ASUS SpaceLink B&W PCI Card. The ASUS
SpaceLink B&W PCI Card is a PCI compliant "wireless" network interface
card (NIC) for any computer equipped with a PCI slot. For Bluetooth support,
you must also have an ASUS motherboard equipped with a Blue Magic PCI
slot or any motherboard with a USB 2.0 header. The Blue Magic PCI slot has
USB 2.0 built into the slot.
ASUS SpaceLink B&W PCI Card is designed to be fully compliant with both
the IEEE 802.11b and IEE802.11a wireless local area network (Wireless LAN)
standards as well as Bluetooth for interconnecting personal devices. As a result
of the completion of the standard, the interoperability of Wireless LAN products
among multiple manufacturers will be guaranteed. The ASUS SpaceLink B&W
PCI Card product provides high-speed, standards-based Wireless LAN
solutions. The ASUS SpaceLink B&W PCI Card can auto-switch between
802.11b and 802.11a networks, while maintaining Bluetooth connectivity.
The ASUS SpaceLink B&W PCI Card supports data rates up to 11 Mbps, with
automatic fallback to 5.5, 2, and 1 Mbps in 802.11b networks. It operates in the
unlicensed 2.4 GHz frequencies called the Instrumentation, Science, and
Medical (ISM) band. Unlicensed means free of charge to users.
The ASUS SpaceLink B&W PCI Card also supports data rates up to 54 Mbps
in 802.11a networks using 5 GHz frequencies and Orthogonal Frequency
Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology.
The ASUS SpaceLink B&W PCI Card configuration utility is a user-friendly
application that helps you quickly setup multiple roaming nodes using the ASUS
SpaceLink B&W PCI Card. You can even export the configuration settings to
a file and import them to other computers for fast multiple installations. Wireless
LANs are complementary extensions to existing wired LANs, offering complete
mobility while maintaining continuous network connectivity to both corporate
and home Intranets. They add a new level of convenience for LAN users. PC
users stay connected to the network anywhere throughout a building without
being bound by a LAN wires. This is accomplished through the use of SpaceLink
Access Points. SpaceLink Access Points with built-in Internet gateway
capability, allows your family to share a broadband Modem and one ISP account
simultaneously from different rooms without wires! ASUS SpaceLink products
can keep you connected anywhere, any time.
ASUS SpaceLink B&W PCI Card 7