Broadcom Wireless LAN Adapter User Guide

A Quick look at the Advanced Setting of the Broadcom Wireless Adapter Settings. This review
was due to the release of Broadcom Adaptor Drivers from other vendors. The latest so far of
these drivers is v3.100.65.1 these can be found here: Broadcom 3.100.65.1 Drivers
These are Updated driver that Include WPA2 support and other new features. Here is a list of the
Additional Settings from the Advanced Settings of the Wireless Adaptor. To access the
Advanced tab to view the available properties, right-click the Wireless Network Connection icon
in the notification area, click Properties, then click Configure from the General tab, and then
click Advanced. You will then see the Advanced Menu.

The Advanced tab from the Broadcom 802.11 Wireless LAN Adapter Properties allows
you to view and change the values of the available properties.
To access the Advanced tab to view the available properties, right-click the Wireless
Network Connection icon in the notification area, click Properties, click Configure from
the General tab, and then click Advanced.

To view the value of a property, click the name of the property in the Property list. The
property value is displayed in the Value box. To change the value, click an option in the
Value list or type a new value, as appropriate (selection options are different for different
properties).

The available properties and their respective settings are described below.
NOTE: Some of the properties may not be available on your model of Broadcom 802.11
Wireless LAN Adapter. For those properties that are available, the default value may be
different than indicated.

802.11a
This property allows you to specify the rate (in Mbit/s) at which data is transmitted for
IEEE 802.11a operation. The possible values are: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54. The
default is set to Use best Rate.
NOTE: The default value for this property is set for maximum performance. Therefore, It
is not recommended for home users to change the value. Only network administrators
or technicians with wireless LAN experience should attempt to make any changes.

802.11b/g
This property allows you to specify the rate (in Mbit/s) at which data is transmitted for
IEEE 802.11b/g operation. The possible values are: 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 18, 24, 36 48,
and 54 . The default is set to Use best Rate.
NOTE: The default value for this property is set for maximum performance. Therefore, It
is not recommended for home users to change the value. Only network administrators
or technicians with wireless LAN experience should attempt to make any changes.
802.11h
The 802.11h property configures the advanced radio control of the Broadcom 802.11
Wireless LAN Adapter by an associated access point. The features are enabled when
set to either Loose or Strict. When set to Strict, the Broadcom 802.11 Wireless LAN
Adapter will only associate to access points supporting IEEE 802.11h protocols when
operating in regions with special restrictions on radio operation. When set to Loose, the
Broadcom 802.11 Wireless LAN Adapter will not restrict associations based on the
access point IEEE 802.11h support.
Disabled (default)
Loose
Strict

Antenna Diversity
Antenna Diversity is a function included in most wireless LAN equipment that has two
antennas, Main and Aux. When set to Auto, Antenna Diversity monitors the signal from
each antenna and automatically switches to the one with the better signal.
Auto (default).
Aux.
Main.

Bluetooth Collaboration
Bluetooth Collaboration enables general purpose input/output transmit suppression
protocol between the IEEE 802.11 media access control (MAC) and an external
Bluetooth chip to minimize transmit interference. Bluetooth Collaboration is enabled by
default.
Enable (default)
Disable

BSS Mode
BSS mode is used to to restrict the IEEE 802.11b/g band to IEEE 802.11b only mode.
BSS Mode applies to access point configured networks.
Default (default)
802.11b Only

IBSS 54g™ Mode

IBSS mode is used to restrict the IEEE 802.11b/g band to IEEE 802.11b only mode, to
enable the Broadcom 802.11 Wireless LAN Adapter to automatically select the IEEE
802.11 b/g band, and to assign other preferences. IBSS Mode applies to ad hoc
configured networks.
802.11b Only (default)
54g - Auto
54g - LRS
54g - Performance

IBSS 54g™ Protection Mode

A mechanism of prefixing each OFDM data frame with a request to send/clear to send
(RTS/CTS) complimentary code keying (CCK) frame sequence. The duration fields of
the RTS and CTS frames should allow the IEEE 802.11b node to correctly set its
network allocation vector (NAV) and avoid collisions with the subsequent OFDM frames.
As required for Wi-Fi®, protection mechanisms are enabled automatically whenever an
IEEE 802.11b STA joins the BSS. If no IEEE 802.11b STA joins, then no protection
mechanism is used and full IEEE 802.11g performance is attained.
Auto
Disabled

IBSS Channel Number

IBSS Channel Number selects the independent basic service set (IBSS) channel
number on which to operate. The default channel for ad hoc networks is channel 11.

IBSS Mode
IBSS Mode is used to set the connection type in an ad hoc network. The following
options are available:
802.11b Mode (default). Links only with IEEE 802.11b networks at the highest rate.
Also, it excludes IEEE 802.11g networks.
Normal

AP Compatibility Mode
Some older APs may have implementations that deviate from IEEE 802.11 standards.
Setting this property to Broader Compatibility enables your Broadcom 802.11 Wireless
LAN Adapter to better communicate with such APs, but at the expense of some
performance loss. The default setting is Higher Performance.
Higher Performance (default)
Broader Compatibility

Locally Administered MAC Address

Locally Administered MAC Address is used to override the MAC address of the
Broadcom 802.11 Wireless LAN Adapter. The Locally Administered MAC Address is a
user-defined MAC address that is used in place of the MAC address originally assigned
to the network adapter. Every adapter in the network must have its own unique MAC
address. This locally administered address consists of a 12-digit hexadecimal number.
Value. Assigns a unique node address for the adapter.
Not Present (Default). Uses the factory-assigned node address on the adapter. The
appropriate assigned ranges and exceptions for the locally administered address
include the following:
The range is 0000 0000 0001 to FFFF FFFF FFFD.
Do not use a multicast address (least significant bit of the high byte = 1).
Do not use all 0s or all F's.

Location
Location selects the operating characteristics that comply with the regulations that apply
in a particular country. The Location value in the Broadcom 802.11 enabled computer
comes preset for the country in which the computer is sold. Before connecting to a
wireless network, verify that the Location value is correct. If you travel to different
countries with the Broadcom 802.11 enabled computer, change the Location value to
match the destination country. If the destination country is not listed, change the
Location value to Worldwide. Reset the Location value after returning. Residents of both
Canada and the United States should reset the value to USA.

Minimum Power Consumption

When enabled, this property enables the wireless client to either turn off the radio or to
not scan when the wireless client network is unassociated or when the computer is in
the IDLE state.
Disabled
Enabled (default)

PLCP Header
PLCP Header is used to set the header type used for CCK rates. The type can be Long
or Auto (short/long).
Auto (Short/Long) (default)
Long

Power Output
This property allows you to adjust the output power of the radio to 100%, 75%, 50%, or
25% of its normal output power.

Power Save Mode

Power Save Mode is used to put the Broadcom 802.11 Wireless LAN Adapter enabled
computer into the IEEE 802.11 Power Save mode. In Power Save mode, the radio is
periodically powered down to conserve power. When the radio is in Power Save mode,
packets are stored in the AP until the radio comes on. Power Save Fast allows full
throughput with power savings.
Disabled (default)
Enabled
Fast

Rate
This property allows you to specify the rate (in Mbit/s) at which data is transmitted. The
possible values are: 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 18, 24, 36 48, and 54 . The default is set to Use
best Rate. This setting automatically adjusts the transmission rate to the optimal rate
based on the capabilities of the other wireless clients and access points.
NOTE: The default value for this property is set for maximum performance. Therefore, It
is not recommended for home users to change the value. Only network administrators
or technicians with wireless LAN experience should attempt to make any changes.

Afterburner
Afterburner is a Broadcom proprietary high-performance implementation of a faster
throughput added to wireless products that conform to IEEE 802.11g.
Disabled (default). Disables Afterburner.
Enabled. Enables Afterburner

Association Roam Preference

This property is available only on Broadcom 802.11 Wireless LAN Adapter models that
have dual-band capability. When enabled, this property works in conjunction with the
Band Preference property and is triggered only when Band Preference is not set to
None. Enabling Association Roam Preference maintains your band preference through
roam transitions between access points using the same SSID.
Disabled (default)
Enabled

Band Preference
This property is available only on Broadcom 802.11 Wireless LAN Adapter models that
have dual-band capability. Band Preference allows users to specify the IEEE 802.11
band preference while roaming. This allows the Broadcom 802.11 Wireless LAN
Adapter to associate with another AP based on band preference even if the signal from
the currently associated AP is strong enough to sustain the association.
None (default) Roams without regard to the frequency band of the available APs.
Prefer 802.11a (5 GHz)
Prefer 802.11g/b band (2.4 GHz)

Disable Bands
This property is available only on Broadcom 802.11 Wireless LAN Adapter models that
have dual-band capability.
None (default)
Disable 802.11g/b
Disable 802.11a

Fragmentation Threshold
The maximum size in bytes at which packets are fragmented and transmitted a piece at
a time instead of all at once. Available values range from 256 to 2346. The default value
is 2346.

Roaming Decision
The signal strength value that determines when the Broadcom 802.11 Wireless LAN
Adapter starts scanning for other APs.
Default (default). -70 dB
Optimize Bandwidth. -60 dB
Optimize Distance. -80 dB

Roam Tendency
This property adjusts the roaming thresholds for the Broadcom 802.11 Wireless LAN
Adapter.
Moderate (default). Roams to APs having a signal strength at least 20 dB greater than
the current access point.
Aggressive. Roams to APs having a signal strength at least 10 dB greater than the
current access point.
Conservative. Roams to APs having a signal strength at least 30 dB greater than the
current access point.

RTS Threshold
If the number of frames in the data packet is at or above the RTS Threshold, a request
to send/clear to send handshake is turned on before sending the data packet. The
default value is 2347. The range is 0 to 2347.

WME
Wireless Multimedia Extensions, now known as Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM™). WME
enables quality of service for audio, video, and voice applications over a wireless
network by prioritizing streams of content and optimizing the way the network allocates
bandwidth among competing applications.
Disabled (default)
Enabled

WZC Managed Ethernet

If enabled, Windows Zero Configuration Service (WZC), which is Windows wireless
management software, will not be disabled, but will be configured to manage 802.1x
connections for Ethernet devices in your system. This setting only applies if the Dell
Wireless WLAN Card Utility is enabled to manage your Dell Wireless WLAN Card.
Disabled (default).
Enabled.

Xpress™ Technology
Xpress™ Technology is a proprietary frame bursting technology that improves
throughput by repackaging data so that more data can be sent in each frame. Xpress™
Technology is disabled by default.
Disabled (default). Disables Xpress™ Technology.
Enabled. Enables Xpress™ Technology.