Table Of Contents

Error Messages and Trouble Shooting

Accessing the Latest Troubleshooting Information

Interpreting the Indicator LEDs

If Your Radio Fails to Establish Contact

Error Messages and Trouble Shooting

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The wireless LAN client adapter provides LED messages and error codes. This section provides the general procedures for correcting common problems encountered when installing the PC Card system.

These topics are covered in this section:

•Accessing the Latest Troubleshooting Information

•Interpreting the Indicator LEDs

•If Your Radio Fails to Establish Contact

Accessing the Latest Troubleshooting Information

This chapter provides basic troubleshooting tips for your client adapter. For more up-to-date and complex troubleshooting information, refer to the TAC web site at http://www.cisco.com/tac. Select Wireless Technologies under Top Issues.

Interpreting the Indicator LEDs

The client adapter shows messages and error conditions through its two LEDs:

•Link Integrity/Power LED (green)— This LED is on when the client adapter is receiving power and blinks slowly when the adapter is linked with the network.

•Link Activity LED (amber)—This LED blinks quickly when the client adapter is receiving or transmitting data and blinks in a repeating pattern to show an error condition.

Table 5-1 interprets the LED operating messages.

Table 5-1 LED Operating Messages 

	Green LED	Amber LED	Condition
Normal Operation	Blinking quickly	Blinking quickly	Power is on, self-test is OK, and client adapter is scanning for a network.
	Blinking slowly	Blinking quickly	Client adapter is associated to an access point.
	Continuously on or blinking slowly	Blinking	Client adapter is transmitting or receiving data while associated to an access point.
	Off	Blinking quickly	Client adapter is in power save mode.
	On continuously	Blinking quickly	Client adapter is in ad hoc mode.
Error Conditions	Off	Off	Client adapter is not receiving power, or an error has occurred.
	Off	1 blink at 2-second rate	RAM failure. Refer to the "Obtaining Technical Assistance" section in the Preface for technical support information.
	Off	2 fast blinks, 2-second pause	Flash boot block checksum failure. Refer to the "Obtaining Technical Assistance" section in the Preface for technical support information.
	Off	3 fast blinks, 2-second pause	Firmware checksum failure. Reload the firmware.
	Off	4 fast blinks, 2-second pause	MAC address error (error reading MAC chip). Reload the firmware.
	Off	5 fast blinks, 2-second pause	PHY access error. Refer to the "Obtaining Technical Assistance" section in the Preface for technical support information.
	Off	6 fast blinks, 2-second pause	Incompatible firmware. Load the correct firmware version.

If Your Radio Fails to Establish Contact

•Change your location or the location of the antenna by a few feet and try again.

•Make sure the antenna is securely attached.

•Make sure the adapter is properly installed.

•Make sure the receiving equipment is turned on and operating.

•Make sure the receiving equipment is properly connected to the host computer.

•Check that all parameters are set properly for both the adapter and the access point.

If the radio still fails to establish contact, see the "Accessing the Latest Troubleshooting Information" section.