Verify System Requirements; Observe Location And Range Guidelines - NETGEAR MA401 Reference Manual

Reference Guide for the Model MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card

Verify System Requirements

Before installing the MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card, please make sure
that these minimum requirements have been met:
• You must have a Pentium Class notebook computer with an available
PCMCIA or Cardbus slot.
• A CD-ROM drive.
• 5 Mbytes of free hard disk space.
• Some versions of Windows may ask for the original Windows operating
system installation files to complete the installation of the MA401 driver
software.

Observe Location and Range Guidelines

Computers can connect over 802.11b wireless networks indoors at a maximum
range of approximately 500 feet. However, the operating distance or range of your
wireless connection can vary significantly based on the physical location of the
computer with the MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card. For best results, avoid
potential sources of interference, such as:
• Large metal surfaces
• Microwaves
• 2.5 GHz Cordless phones
In general, 802.11b wireless devices can communicate through walls. However, if
the walls are constructed with concrete, or have metal, or metal mesh, the 802.11b
wireless network effective range will decrease if such materials are between the
devices.
2-2 Installing the MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card