FARO Wireless FAQ

1238888

• How fast is the connection?

1 Megabit/second.

• What is the range of the FARO Wireless connection?

Approximately 30 feet or 10 meters.

• How many simultaneous Bluetooth wireless connections can be established with the FaroArm Driver?

Two.

• Can both USB and Bluetooth wireless ScanArms be connected simultaneously?

Yes.

• Can a single ScanArm connect using both Bluetooth wireless and a USB cable at the same time?

No. If both are properly connected, the Bluetooth wireless will be the only active connection for that ScanArm.

• Can I add a Bluetooth wireless connection while the FaroArm Driver is already running?

No, the FaroArm Driver must be unloaded before changing any FARO Wireless settings.

• Why does it take longer for my measuring software to open when I use the FARO Wireless connection?

The FaroArm Driver requires more time to initialize when using a FARO Wireless connection and this translates into slightly increased load times for the measuring software.

• Why does it take longer for the Probes dialog box to go away when I am using a FARO Wireless connection.

Probe data saves in the ScanArm and requires more time for this information to transfer when using the FARO Wireless connection.

• What happens if I go out of range and lose my connection? What happens if I turn off the ScanArm while it is connected using the FARO Wireless connection?

Once the FaroArm Driver detects that the ScanArm is no longer connected, after about 10 seconds, a message appears asking if you want to restore the FARO Wireless connection. If you click No, the connection stops. If you click Yes, attempts are made to restore the connection.

• Why do I continue to see the message asking if I want to continue to use the FARO Wireless connection?

Either the ScanArm has lost power, or it is out of the 30 feet or 10 meters wireless range. After correcting the problem, click Yes to restore the connection.

• Can I use all of the communication options at the same time?

You can use multiple communication protocols with the following limitations:

WLAN Primer

A Design ScanArm node or station can connect to a WLAN that complies with the IEEE 802.11n standard. The Wi-Fi Alliance (an industry group promoting 802.11 networks) has popularized the term Wi-Fi^® for 802.11 compliant networks. The term WLAN, refers to the slightly more generalized concept of the wireless extension of a local area network (LAN), though in practice most implementations use Wi-Fi technology.

The IEEE 802.11 standard specifies a Medium Access Control (MAC) and physical layers (PHY) for wireless connectivity between stations (STAs). A set of stations that have joined the same network have access to the same network services. These services are called a Basic Service Set (BSS). Every BSS has a unique 48-bit identifier called the Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID). The standard specifies two types of BSS; an Independent BSS (IBSS), and an Infrastructure BSS (BSS).

There are several different PHY layers specified in IEEE 802.11. The ScanArm uses 802.11g.

IEEE 802.11 further breaks up the 2.4 GHz frequency band into 14 overlapping channels. Each country in the world has its own rules and regulations regarding radio usage. Many countries join together to coordinate these regulations, forming “Regulatory Domains”. Most European, Middle Eastern, North and South American, and African countries, and Australia and Japan use the same regulations. However, there are differences with regard to which channels and power levels are permitted. The ScanArm can support all 14 channels - factory programming is performed for the specific country where the ScanArm is to be used (this is not a user option).

Independent BSS (IBSS)

An IBSS is used to form an Ad Hoc network between peer STAs. STAs share responsibility for maintaining the IBSS and distributing data to each other. IBSS is NOT supported for the ScanArm WLAN.

Infrastructure BSS (BSS)

In an Infrastructure BSS there is one special STA called the Access Point (AP). The AP is solely responsible for starting and maintaining the BSS and admitting (or excluding) other STAs. The AP receives all traffic either bound for or originating from every STA that it admits into its BSS. (Exception is contained in IEEE 802.11e amendment for Quality of Service - a special QoS BSS).

The STAs are known as Clients, the AP is known as a Server.

A Distribution System (DS) interconnects a set of APs to create an Extended Service Set (ESS). The ESS is a super set of all member STAs. The DS distributes data between ESS STAs. An ESS may include LANs (via a gateway).

The simplest and most common configuration is to have an ESS that includes exactly one AP. It is known as a Small Or Home Office (SOHO). This is the intended configuration for the ScanArm Stations.

In an Infrastructure BSS, the AP broadcasts Beacon frames that announce the identity and capabilities of its BSS.

Joining a WLAN

An STA joins a WLAN using a three-step process:

1. Scanning

2. Association

3. Authentication

Scanning

The STA generates a list of all BSSs (APs in the network) it can detect.

Association

In an Infrastructure BSS the Association process requires a frame exchange between the joining STA and the selected AP. This frame includes the STA’s capabilities. The AP will accept or deny the request (Association Response Frame). The STA (Client) learns the BSSID (SSID - Service Set Identifier or WLAN name) and AP MAC address. If the STA is accepted the AP will issue an Association Identifier (AID - logical port) at this time.

Authentication

Apply Security - establish a secure wireless network. WPA2-Personal is recommended for the FARO WLAN security (based on IEEE 802.11i and Advanced Encryption Standard -AES). The password is the real key to security!

Establishing a FARO WLAN Connection

There are a minimum of three STAs to be configured. This may be performed in any order but the typical order is:

1. Set up an Access Point

2. Set up the ScanArm

3. Set up the Host Computer

Access Point (AP)

Normally the Access Point is configured first. This setup may have been done by your IT department. If this is the case, IT should provide the Network Name (SSID) and Password.

All Clients must use the same SSID and Password as the AP.

The recommended security setting is either WPA-PSK (TKIP encryption algorithm) {Good} or WPA2-PSK (AES-CCMP encryption algorithm) {Better, if available}. You should use a Password of 10 or more random alphanumeric characters.

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).

The Host Computer Setup

The AP should be configured and running.

The ease of configuring client stations depends principally on the configuration utility used. Windows XP comes with its own configuration utility built in, Windows Zero Configuration Utility (WZC). However, there are other configuration utilities that offer better efficiency, easier configuration, and better wireless monitoring. Most Client cards come with their own wireless configuration utility, though others depend on Windows. Here we will describe the configuration of Client stations using WZC, which is the lowest common denominator for most users.

1. Add preferred network - Enter SSID (example here is “My Network SSID”).

2. Configure Client to the same settings as the AP. To do so, click on the Properties button. The Security Properties dialog box appears. The first text box will already be filled in with the SSID selected for the preferred network name.

3. In the Network Authentication drop-down window, select WPA-PSK.

4. In the Data Encryption drop-down window, select TKIP.

5. The last step is most important - the Network Key entered and confirmed must be the same as the network key (password) that was entered on the AP.

Network keys are case sensitive.