Determine the Network Configuration
To set up the wireless adapter, you need to determine the network setting of your wireless network.
Are you running the wireless network in ad-hoc mode or
infrastructure mode?
There are two modes of configuring your wireless adapter: ad-hoc mode or infrastructure mode. In
an ad-hoc wireless network, there is no access point. Each node communicates with any other node
directly. (A node is a network connection point. For example, a PC in a LAN is a node.)
In the infrastructure mode, the wireless access point bridges between the wired LAN and wireless
network. Connecting multiple access points via a wired Ethernet backbone can further extend the
wireless network coverage. As a mobile computing device moves out of the range of one access
point, it moves into the range of another. As a result, wireless clients can freely roam from one
Access Point domain to another and still maintain a seamless network connection.
If you are running a wireless network in infrastructure mode, please set up the access point (such as
the NETGEAR HE102 802.11a Wireless Access Point) first, before you set up this wireless adapter.
Ad-hoc mode or infrastructure mode: _________________________________________
3
What’s in the Box
When you open the box, verify that you received everything.
The package includes:
• HA501 802.11a Wireless CardBus Adapter
• HA501 Resource CD-ROM, including a full reference guide
• HA501 Installation Guide (this document)
• Warranty and registration card
• Support information card
If you don’t have everything listed above, see the Support information card for contact
information. If the support information card is missing, go to
www.NETGEAR.com/support_contacts.html to obtain contact information.
2
1
1
NOTEBOOK with
HA501
Wireless Adapter
NOTEBOOK with
HA501
Wireless Adapter
NOTEBOOK with
HA501
Wireless Adapter
Ad Hoc
DSL or cable modem
10 Mbps
Ethernet
10/100 Mbps
FR318 Firewall Router
HE102 Wireless Access Point
PC with
FA311
PC with
FA311
Internet
MR314
MODEL
Cable/DSL
Wireless Router
LOCALINTERNET
LNK
ACT
100
LNK/ACT
PWR TEST
4
321
WIRELESS
LNK
ACT
HE 102
802.11a Access Point
NOTEBOOK with
HA501
Wireless Adapter
NOTEBOOK with
HA501
Wireless Adapter
NOTEBOOK with
HA501
Wireless Adapter
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