WaveLAN PC-AT Installation and Operation

This document is the WaveLAN PC-AT Installation and Operation manual, published in July 1993 by Digital Equipment Corporation. It serves as a comprehensive guide for hardware installers and network managers to set up and operate the WaveLAN Network Interface Card (NIC) in PC-AT or PC/ISA compatible systems.

The manual covers:

1. Overview of WaveLAN: Introduces the WaveLAN as a cable-free departmental Local Area Network (LAN) utilizing spread-spectrum radio frequency technology. It details the two versions (WaveLAN 915 MHz for North America and WaveLAN 2400 MHz International) and lists all components, optional features (like encryption and remote boot), technical specifications, and typical operational ranges based on office environments.
2. Installation & Configuration: Provides detailed steps for physically installing the WaveLAN NIC, including handling precautions, installing optional security and remote boot features, verifying hardware configuration switches (I/O base address), and connecting the omnidirectional antenna with advice on optimal placement. It then guides users through software configuration using SETCONF.EXE and INSTCONF.EXE utilities to set network parameters (Network ID, MAC address type, datalink security, IRQ).
3. Radio-Frequency Network Operations & Diagnostics: Explains the unique characteristics of radio-frequency networks, such as signal interference and attenuation, and offers strategies for optimizing network performance. It introduces two key diagnostic utilities:
   • Point-to-Point Diagnostics: Used to verify communication paths between stations, assess link quality, measure local noise, and optimize antenna positioning.
   • Node Diagnostics: Used to monitor network and station performance by displaying diagnostic counters maintained by the network drivers, aiding in troubleshooting and performance assessment.
4. Driver Installation: Contains extensive appendices with specific installation procedures for WaveLAN drivers across various network operating environments, including Novell NetWare (versions 2.1x, 2.2, 3.1x, Lite, and OS/2 Requester) and NDIS-compatible systems such as PATHWORKS (DECnet and TCP/IP), LAN Manager, PC/TCP, StarLAN, and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups.
5. Troubleshooting: Includes a section dedicated to common problems, their causes, and recommended actions, along with an explanation of error and warning messages displayed by the configuration and diagnostic utilities.