1. Introduction
2. Getting Started
3. Verify or install the TCP/IP components
4. Verify or install the Infrared components
5. Connecting to the Network
6. Troubleshooting checklist
7. Futures
8. Appendix A. Default COM Ports for various Laptop Models

1. Introduction

Most portable laptops currently on the market support wireless networking via an Infrared adapter (referred to as an IRDA adapter). With this device it is possible to connect to other laptops to transfer files, wireless printers to print, and wireless "Lan Access Points" (LAP’s) to connect to a network.

With these LAP’s, it is possible for a user with a portable computer to sit down, get connected, and be productive on the network. Now you can have instant access to the world wide web, your email, etc. without busy signals or waiting for a vacant seat.

LAP’s are designed to run at speeds between 115Kbps (about 4 times faster than most modems) to 4Mbps (about 150 times faster than most modems). The speeds you will be able to connect to the LAP depend on your laptop model. Not all models are capable of high-speed connections.

You will need other software, such as Netscape Navigator (or Internet Explorer) to make use of the Internet. CIRCA distributes a software package that contains the programs that can be used with the Infrared adapter. Read the CIRCA Internet Software Package for Windows 95 document for more information. If you are using the Dial-Up adapter to connect to the internet from home then you probably have this software already.

NOTE: CIRCA makes no warranty of any kind on any software we distribute. We claim no responsibility for damage done to your computer by installing this software. The only guarantee we offer is that the Infrared Network Drivers will consume disk space and system resources.

2. Getting Started

You will need the following things to get started on your journey into the world of wireless networking:

• A laptop with an IRDA compatible infrared port and Windows 95
• Windows 95 CD or distribution diskettes
• The CIRCA Infrared Drivers Diskette

If you have all of these items then please skip over to section 3.

IRDA Networking, on 8x86 platforms, currently only works on Windows 95 machines. If your laptop does not have Windows 95 installed, then you will need to first install Windows 95 on it. Contact your local vendor to inquire about purchasing an upgrade to Windows 95.

Most laptops made after January 1996 support IRDA, but not all laptops do. If you are not sure if your laptop supports IRDA Networking, please consult your owner’s manual or contact your vendor for technical support.

Depending on the software drivers already installed in your laptop, you may be asked to provide the Windows 95 CD (or distribution diskettes) during installation. Please have your copy of Windows 95 handy when installing this software.

The "Infrared Drivers Diskette" contains software required to connect your laptop to an IRDA LAP. It is already provided with some versions of Windows 95 (Windows 95 OEM Release 2), but if you are unsure whether or not you have that version of Windows 95, you can make the diskettes online.

From any CIRCA Lab, log in to your Gatorlink account. If you are on a DOS/Windows 3.1 machine (Bryan Hall, JWRU, some machines in CSE) you will need to exit the "Netmenu" (press escape until you are at a DOS prompt). If you are at a Windows 95 machine (Architecture, Weil Hall, some machines in CSE) run the MS-DOS icon.

Once you are at a DOS prompt, insert a blank diskette into drive A:. WARNING!! All data WILL be ERASED from this diskette so please do not put in a diskette containing important documents (term papers, thesis papers, etc).

Now that you have a blank diskette in drive A:, type "JETEYE" and follow the instructions. You now have an Infrared Drivers Diskette.

3. Verify or install the TCP/IP Components

Press the Start button.

Select Settings.

Select Control Panel.

Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.

Select the Windows Setup tab.

Select Communications and press the Details button.

1. Is ‘DIRECT CABLE CONNECTION’ checked?

--YES--

1. Click the Cancel button in the Communications window.
2. Click the Cancel button in the Add/Remove Programs Properties window.

--NO--

1. Put a check in the DIRECT CABLE CONNECTION box.
2. Click the OK button in the Communications window.
3. Click the OK button in the Add/Remove Programs Properties window.
4. If you are prompted for the Windows 95 installation CD (or diskettes), place the CD inside the CD drive and follow the directions in the dialog box.
5. If Windows 95 asks you to restart your computer, press the Yes button.

The Control Panel window should still be open.

Double-click the Network icon.

2. Does TCP/IP appear in the component’s list?

--YES—

Continue on to item 3.

--NO—

1. Press the Add button.
2. Double-click Protocol.
3. Scroll down the Manufacturer’s list and select Microsoft.
4. Double-click TCP/IP from the Network Protocol list.
5. TCP/IP should appear in the components list now.

3. Double-click TCP/IP in the component’s list.

1. Select the WINS Configuration tab.
2. Select the Disable WINS Resolution option.
3. Select the IP Address tab.
4. Select the Obtain an IP Address Automatically option.
5. Press the OK button in the Network dialog box.

4. If Windows 95 asks you to restart you computer, press the Yes button.

4. Verify or install the Infrared components

In many cases, your portable computer is ready to be used with the Infrared Network Adapter. Your portable must have the following to use the network adapter:

• Version 2.0 (or later) of Microsoft Windows 95 infrared drivers installed (located on the Infrared Drivers Diskette and some releases of Windows 95)
• IRDA compatible infrared port enabled.

Verifying Windows 95 Infrared Drivers Are Installed

Select Start, Settings, then Control Panel. Look for the Infrared icon.

If the icon is present, double click on Add/Remove Programs to check the version number. Look for Infrared Support for Windows 95 in the program list. If it is version 2.0 or later, your portable is ready to communicate with the LAP. You do not need to install the Infrared Drivers Diskette.

If the Infrared icon is not present in the Control Panel or your infrared drivers are older then version 2.0, such as 1.0, you must install the infrared drivers from the Infrared Drivers Diskette. Follow the instructions titled Installing Windows 95 Infrared Drivers.

Verifying the Infrared Port is Enabled

As a default, the infrared port on your portable computer is ready to be used. However, some computers, such as IBM Thinkpads, allow you to disable the infrared port. The infrared port on your computer must be enabled before the infrared drivers can be installed or before infrared can be used. If you are unsure of whether or not the infrared port on your laptop is ready to be used, consult your owners manual or contact the vendor you purchased it from.

Installing the Windows 95 Infrared Drivers

1. Insert the Infrared Drivers Diskette into the floppy drive of your portable computer.
2. Select Start, Run, then type A:\SETUP. Click on OK to start the Infrared adapter setup program.
3. Proceed through the introductory and following screens. It is recommended you select the defaults in each screen until you reach the Add Infrared Device Wizard screen.

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NOTE: If a previous version of infrared drivers exists on your portable computer, it must be removed prior to installing the Windows 95 infrared drivers. If infrared drivers exist, the installation program will prompt you to remove them.

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4. Once in the Add Infrared Device Wizard screen, select the manufacturer and model of your portable computer. It is important that the exact manufacturer and model is selected. If your portable computer is not listed, select under the Manufacturers heading (Standard infrared devices), then select the default under the Models heading.

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NOTE: If your specific computer model is listed and selected, high-speed (1.15Mbs or 4Mbs) infrared drivers are installed. If your specific model is not listed and you select (Standard infrared devices), then your portable computer likely only supports low speed (115Kbs) infrared data transfer, and low speed drivers are installed.

IMPORTANT: Extended Systems should not be selected under the Manufacturers heading. In this section, you are configuring the infrared port for your portable computer.

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After selecting the correct manufacturer and model of your portable computer, click on Next>

5. Select the COM port your portable computer uses for infrared. You may identify the default COM port your portable uses for infrared in one of two ways: 1) Refer to the Default COM Ports appendix in this handout, 2) see the manual provided with your portable computer. Once the COM port is selected, click on Next>
6. Select the button labeled Use default ports, then click on Next>. Wait for Windows 95 to install your infrared device and its associated paths, then click on Finish.

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NOTE: If you are prompted to insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM, you will need to gather your original Windows 95 software and perform one of the following:

• Insert your Windows 95 CD, then type D:\WIN95

OR

• Insert diskette 12 and type A:\

(You may also need diskettes 1,2,7 and 13.)

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1. You will be prompted to place a shortcut to infrared in the Startup folder. By placing the shortcut in the startup folder, infrared will be activated automatically whenever your portable computer is restarted. We do not recommend you do this.
2. During installation, you will be prompted to review a README file. The readme file has information specific to particular portable computers. We suggest you take a few minutes to read the README file.
3. You will be prompted to restart your computer. Select Yes, I want to restart my computer now. It is important to restart your computer in order for the Infrared drivers and utility to function correctly.

After your portable computer has restarted, the infrared drivers will load. Windows 95 will then recognize the Infrared network adapter as new hardware and start the Plug and Play installation process. If the infrared drivers do not load automat ically, double click on the Infrared icon located in your Start menu.

5. Connecting to the Network

Now that you have the Infrared Network drivers loaded, and TCP/IP configured, it’s time to connect to the network. Take your laptop to one of the LAP locations in one of the CIRCA labs.

Set your laptop down on the table. Make sure there are no obstructions between the "Jet Eye" and the infrared port on your laptop. Plug your laptop into the power strip provided (you can run on battery if you prefer).

Turn your laptop on. Select Start, select Infrared. In a few seconds your laptop should be communicating with the LAP. Once it says you are communicating, go ahead and select OK.

You may now start using Internet tools (Telnet, FTP, Netscape, Email) already installed on your system.

6. Troubleshooting Checklist

Problems Connecting to the Network

There are three scenarios outlined under Problems Connecting to the Network. Any other problems contact the UF Computing Help Desk, 392-HELP.

Scenerio 1: No Available Infrared Devices Are in Range

Verify the infrared link is secure by checking the Infrared Monitor. You can view the Infrared Monitor by double clicking on the Windows 95 Infrared icon located in the Start menu.

Restart your portable computer to verify that the infrared drivers are properly installed and loaded. Run the Infrared icon from the start menu to load the drivers.

Your portable computer may be out of range or misaligned with the LAP. Try repositioning the infrared devices.

Load infrared through a different COM port. To change the infrared COM port, do the following:

• Double click on the Infrared icon in the Start menu
• In the Infrared Monitor screen, select the tab labeled Options.
• Select a different COM port.
• Click on Apply.

Scenerio 2: One Available Infrared Device Is in Range

Try breaking the beam for 40 seconds, then let it reconnect.

This error may occur if the wrong model is picked while setting up the portable computer. Reinstall the software using the Infrared Drivers Diskette.

Scenerio 3: Infrared Communication Is in Progress

Contact the UF Computing Help Desk, 392-HELP.

7. Futures

Currently we are not supporting Novell Directory Services through the Infrared Lan Adapters. When we can support NDS through the LAP’s you will be able to take advantage of things like personal home directory space, running applications as if you were sitting in a lab seat, and more. We hope to have this available by Spring, 1998.

Other future plans include expanding the operating system list to include Windows NT, OS/2 and various flavors of Unix (Linux, Free BSD).

Appendix A: Default COM Ports for various computers