Unbind Network Components

Network bindings enable communication between (wireless) network adapter drivers, protocols, and services. The Windows network architecture uses a series of interdependent layers. The bottom layer of the network architecture ends at the (wireless) network adapter card, which places information on the medium, allowing information to flow between devices. Binding is the process of linking network components on different levels to enable communication between them. A network component can be bound to one or more network components above or below it, which allows the services that each component provides to be shared by all other components that are bound to it. When you install network software, Windows automatically binds all dependent network components accordingly.

The wireless devices included with our diagnostic tools were not intended for communication (with access points or other wireless devices). So, Window's attempt at binding protocols and services to these devices actually interferes with their ability to perform data acquisition and analysis. That is why we strongly suggest you follow the instructions in the Quick Installation Guide and unbind all protocols and services associated with that particular wireless device. Briefly, this procedure is summarized below for Windows XP (it varies somewhat from Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7):

1. Click Start, click Run, type ncpa.cpl, and then click OK.
2. In the Network Connections window, right-click the wireless adapter you wish to modify, and then click Properties.
3. The Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box next appears. In the "This connection uses the following items" list, uncheck *all* the protocols and services.
4. Click OK to close the Connection Properties dialog box.

If you are reading this as a result of the software application issuing a warning and you followed the provided link to this page, then it probably means the application detected that the wireless device was associated with one or more network components.  The recommended course of action is to (a) exit the application, (b) unbind all components from the wireless device, and (c) relaunch the application.

Note that if you remove the a USB wireless device and then reattach it to your machine using a different USB port, then Windows treats this as a new device and will once again automatically bind all dependent network components.  That is why you may have to repeat this process if the wireless device is moved from one USB port to another.