Manuals

Diagnostics Utility: Dell Wireless Home Network

Overview

You use the Wireless Network Diagnostics utility to adjust the settings on your Wireless Network Cards. Run the utility on each computer that contains a Network Card to adjust the card's settings.

Double-click the Wireless Diagnostics icon on your desktop to start the utility. The main window allows you to select Commands and Options from pull-down menus.

Commands

Load New Firmware � Edit Properties � Statistics � Status � TCP/IP Link Test � RF Connection Test � Exit

Load New Firmware

The Load New Firmware command allows you to update the Network Card's firmware. When you select Load New Firmware, this window appears:

Select the firmware file you need and click Open. The utility loads the new firmware into your Network Card.

Edit Properties

The Edit Properties command allows you to change your Computer Name, Radio Network Name, Encryption Key, Data Rate, and Network Type.

Your Radio Network Name and Encryption Key must match the other Network Cards on your network.

To be sure you enter the same settings as the other computers on your network, you can load these settings from the 3.5" floppy disk you made when you set up your network. Insert the disk in your A: drive and click Load From Floppy Drive.

You can also return these settings to their default values. You should only use the default values if the other Network Cards on your network are also set to the default values.

Statistics

The Statistics command allows you to view the Network Card's Receive and Transmit statistics. These numbers can be helpful if a technician needs to troubleshoot your Network Card.

Click Pause to stop collecting data; click Pause again to resume data collection.

Click Reset to start data collection for all the categories at 0.

Status

The Status command allows you to check the Network Card's radio reception and provides a list of the Card's settings and specifications. This window appears when you select Status:

TCP/IP Link Test

You use the TCP/IP Link Test command to test the Network Card's ability to send and receive data.

The IP Address field contains the IP (Internet Protocol) address of another computer on your network.

Click Start to begin testing.

This window appears when you click Start:

Click Stop to end the test.

Click OK or Cancel to return to the main utility window.

RF Connection Test

The RF Connection Test command allows you to conduct a test of the area covered by your radio network. You can conduct a test in Passive Mode, in which the Network Card only receives data, or in Active Mode, in which the Network Card both sends and receives data. The Passive Mode window appears when you select Site Survey from the Commands menu. Click Setup to create an Active Mode test.

The Overall Link Quality rating on the Site Survey window indicates the ability of the Dell Wireless LAN Adapter to successfully communicate with your network. Ratings are Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor. The rating is derived from the Current Signal Strength and Current Signal Quality. The ratings are:

Excellent: Both values are greater than 75%
Good: Both values are greater than 40%, but one or both are less than 75%
Fair: Both values are greater than 20% but one or both are less than 40%
Poor: One or both values are less than 20%

When you click Setup to create an Active Mode test, this window appears:

Each Active Mode Setting is described below:

Destination MAC Address: This parameter specifies the Network Card or Base Station that will be involved in the test. The default is the MAC address of the Base Station the Network Card is currently associated with.
Continuous Link Test: If you click this check box, the Active Mode test will run repeatedly until you press the OK or Stop buttons on the Site Survey window. (The test will loop repeatedly for the number of packets you specify on the Number of Packets setting.)
Destination is Another Dell Device: Click this check box if the Network Card or Base Station you named in the Destination MAC Address field is an Dell device.
Data Rate: This parameter sets the bit rate at which packets will be transmitted. No rate shifting will occur during the test.

Click OK when you have the settings you need.

When you click Start in the Test window to run the Active Mode test, this window appears:

Exit

Select Exit to close the Diagnostics utility.

Options

Install Additional Computer (copy settings to floppy disk) � Set up Base Station � Preferences

Install Additional Computer (copy settings to floppy disk)

You use the Install Additional Computer option to copy the Network Card's settings to a 3.5" floppy disk. When you select Install Additional Computer from the Options menu, this window appears:

Insert a 3.5" floppy disk in your A: drive and click Save to Floppy Drive. The settings are copied to a file on the disk called DellWirelessConfig.rad. You can use the disk when you need to enter the settings on another computer on your network.

Click OK or Cancel to return to the main utility window.

Set up Base Station

You use the Set up Base Station option to apply your network settings to your Base Station if it needs to be reset. When you select Set up Base Station from the Options menu, this window appears:

Reset your Base Station by pressing the recessed reset button on the back of the Base Station.

When the lights on top of the Base Station flash yellow, click OK in the Set up Base Station With My Settings window.

Preferences

You use the Preferences option to determine whether seconds appear on the Diagnostics utility clock in the utility window's status bar.

Select or deselect Display Seconds on Clock and click OK.

Click Cancel to return to the main utility window without making any changes.

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