Belkin F5D7010H User Manual

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Belkin Wireless G Notebook Card
User Manual
Table of Contents
1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Benefits of a Home Network………………………………………………1
Advantages of a Wireless Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Placement of your Wireless Networking Hardware for
Optimal Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Product Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Applications and Advantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Product Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3 Installing and Setting up the Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Step 1: Install. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Step 2: Insert …………………………………… 13
Step 3: Configure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4 Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility.. . . . . 16
Accessing the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility from the Windows System Tray….16
Setting Wireless Network Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Securing your Wi-Fi Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Configuring your Belkin Wireless G Notebook Card to use Security….23
5 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6 Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Belkin Wireless G Notebook Card. Now you can take advantage of this great new technology and gain the freedom to network your home and office computers wirelessly. This Card allows you to connect a notebook computer to your network. Please be sure to read through this User Manual completely, and pay special attention to the section entitled “Placement of your Wireless Networking Hardware for Optimal Performance”.
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Benefits of a Home Network
Your Belkin Home Network will allow you to:
• Share one high-speed Internet connection with all the computers in your home
• Share resources, such as files, and hard drives among all the connected computers in your home
• Share a single printer with the entire family
• Share documents, music, video, and digital pictures
• Store, retrieve, and copy files from one computer to another
• Simultaneously play games online, check Internet email, and chat
Advantages of a Wireless Network
• Mobility –you’ll no longer need a dedicated “computer room”—now you can
work on a networked laptop or desktop computer anywhere within your wireless range
• Easy installation – Belkin Easy Installation Wizards make setup simple
• Flexibility – set up and access printers, computers, and other networking
devices from anywhere in your home
• Easy expansion – the wide range of Belkin networking products let you expand your network to include devices such as printers and gaming consoles
• No cabling required – you can spare the expense and hassle of retrofitting Ethernet cabling throughout the home or office
• Widespread industry acceptance – choose from a wide range of interoperable networking products
Placement of your Wireless Networking Hardware for Optimal Performance
Your wireless connection will be stronger the closer your computer is to your wireless router (or access point). Typical indoor operating range for your wireless devices is between 100 and 200 feet. In the same way, your wireless connection and performance will degrade somewhat as the distance between your wireless router (or access point) and connected devices increases. This may or may not be noticeable to you. As you move farther from your wireless router (or access point), connection speed may decrease. Factors that can weaken signals simply by getting in the way of your network’s radio waves are metal appliances or obstructions, and walls.
If you have concerns about your network’s performance that might be related to range or obstruction factors, try moving the computer to a position between five and 10 feet from the wireless router (or access point) in order to see if distance is
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the problem. If difficulties persist even at close range, please contact Belkin Technical Support.
Note: While some of the items listed below can affect network performance, they will not prohibit your wireless network from functioning; if you are concerned that your network is not operating at its maximum effectiveness, this checklist may help.
1. Placement of your Wireless Router (or Access Point)
Place your wireless router (or access point), the central connection point of your network, as close as possible to the center of your wireless network devices.
To achieve the best wireless network coverage for your “wireless clients,” (i.e. computers enabled by Belkin Wireless Notebook Cards, Wireless Desktop Cards, and Wireless USB Adapters):
• Ensure that your wireless router’s (or access point’s) antennas are parallel to each other, and are positioned vertically (toward the ceiling). If your wireless router (or access point) itself is positioned vertically, point the antennas as much as possible in an upward direction.
• In multistory homes, place the wireless router (or access point) on a floor that is as close to the center of the home as possible. This may mean placing the wireless router (or access point) on an upper floor.
• Try not to place the wireless router (or access point) near a cordless 2.4GHz phone.
2. Avoid Obstacles and Interference
Avoid placing your wireless router (or access point) near devices that may emit radio “noise”, such as microwave ovens. Other objects that can inhibit wireless communication can include:
• Refrigerators
• Washers and/or dryers
• Metal cabinets
• Large aquariums
• Metallic-based, UV-tinted windows If your wireless signal seems weak in some spots, make sure that objects such
as these are not blocking the signal’s path between your computers and wireless router (or access point).
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3. Cordless Phone Placement
If the performance of your wireless network is impaired after attending to the above issues, and you have a cordless phone:
• Try moving cordless phones away from the wireless router (or access point) and your wireless-enabled computers.
• Unplug and remove the battery from any cordless phone that operates on the
2.4GHz band (check manufacturer’s information). If this fixes the problem, your phone may be interfering.
• If your phone supports channel selection, change the channel on the phone to the farthest channel from your wireless network as possible. For example, change the phone to channel 1 and move your wireless router (or access point) to channel 11. (Your channel selection will vary depending on your region.) See your phone’s user manual for detailed instructions.
• If necessary, consider switching to a 900MHz or 5GHz cordless phone.
4. Choose the “Quietest” Channel for your Wireless Network
In locations where homes or offices are close together, such as apartment buildings or office complexes, there may be wireless networks nearby that can conflict with yours. Use the Site Survey capabilities of your Belkin Wireless Networking Utility to locate any other wireless networks, and move your wireless router (or access point) and computers to a channel as far away from other networks as possible.
Experiment with more than one of the available channels in order to find the clearest connection and avoid interference from neighboring cordless phones or other wireless devices.
For more Belkin wireless networking products, use the detailed Site Survey and wireless channel information included in your User Manual.
5. Secure Connections, VPNs, and AOL
Secure connections typically require a user name and password, and are used where security is important. Secure connections include:
• Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections, often used to connect remotely to an office network
• The “Bring Your Own Access” program from America Online (AOL), which lets you use AOL through broadband provided by another cable or DSL service
• Most online banking websites
• Many commercial websites that require a user name and password to access your account
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Secure connections can be interrupted by a computer’s power management setting, which causes it to “go to sleep.” The simplest solution to avoid this is to simply reconnect by re-running the VPN or AOL software, or by re-logging into the secure website.
A second alternative is to change your computer’s power management settings so it does not go to sleep; however, this may not be appropriate for portable computers. To change your power management setting in Windows, see the “Power Options” item in the Control Panel.
If you continue to have difficulty with Secure Connections, VPNs, and AOL, please review steps 1–4 in the previous pages to be sure you have addressed these issues.
These guidelines should allow you to cover the maximum possible area with your wireless router. Should you need to cover an even wider area, we suggest the Belkin Wireless Range Extender/Access Point.
For more information regarding our networking products, visit our website at www.belkin.com/networking or call Belkin Technical Support.
Overview
Product Features
The Card complies with the IEEE 802.11g standard in order to communicate with other 802.11g-compliant wireless devices at 54Mbps. The Card is compatible with all 802.11g devices as well as other 802.11b products at 11Mbps. 802.11g products operate on the same 2.4GHz frequency band as 802.11b Wi-Fi products.
• 2.4GHz ISM (Industrial, Science, and Medical) band operation
• Integrated easy-to-use Wireless Configuration Utility
• CardBus interface, for operation in virtually any notebook computer
• WPA, WPA2, 64-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), or 128-bit encryption
• Wireless access to networked resources
• Support for both Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc (peer-to-peer) networking modes
• Data rate of up to 54Mbps (802.11g), or 11Mbps (802.11b)
• Easy installation and use
• LED power and network link indicators
Applications and Advantages
Wireless roaming with a laptop around the home or office Offers the freedom of networking without cables
®
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Connection rates of up to 54Mbps Provides immediate high-speed wireless connectivity at home, work, and hotspot locations without compromising the use of existing 802.11b products
Compatibility with 802.11b products
802.11g wireless LAN solutions are backward-compatible with existing Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) products and with other products that display the 54g™ mark
Difficult-to-wire environments Enables networking in buildings with solid or finished walls, or open areas where wiring is difficult to install
Frequently changing environments Adapts easily in offices or environments that frequently rearrange or change locations
Temporary LANs for special projects or peak time Sets up temporary networks such as at trade shows, exhibitions, and construction sites, which need networks on a short-term basis; also companies who need additional workstations for a peak activity period
SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) networking needs Provides the easy and quick, small network installation SOHO users need
Product Specifications
Host Interface: 32-bit CardBus Power Consumption: Tx/Rx peak 450/260mA @
3.3VDC (max) Operating Temperature: 32–185 degrees F (0–85 degrees C) Storage Temperature: -40–194 degrees F (-40–90 degrees C) Humidity: Max. 95% (non-condensing) Typical Operating Range: Up to 400 ft. (231m) (wireless performance may vary depending on the networking environment)
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(a) Link LED
Lights up when the Card links to a wireless network
(b) Activity LED
Lights up when the Card is active
(c) Card Connector
Part of the Card that fits into your computer’s CardBus slot
System Requirements
• PC-compatible laptop with one available CardBus slot
• Windows® 2000, XP, or Vista™
Package Contents
• Wireless G Notebook Card
• Quick Installation Guide
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• Installation Software CD
• User Manual
Installing and Setting up the Card
For users of Windows Vista, refer to the following installation steps: 1A. Install IMPORTANT: INSTALL THE SOFTWARE BEFORE INSERTING THE CARD.
1A.1 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive. 1A.2 Select the “Run Installer.exe” option. ***Insert screen shot***
1A.3 You may see a window titled, “An unidentified program wants access to your computer”. Click “Allow”.
1A.4 Click “Next” to begin the installation process. (Insert screen shot)
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1A.5 You may see a window titled, “Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software”. This is normal and does not indicate a problem. Our software has been fully tested and is compatible with this operating system. (Insert screen shot)
1A.6 When prompted, plug in your Card. (Insert screen shot)
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1A.7 When the installation completes, click “Finish”. Your installation is now complete. (Insert screen shot)
1A.8 To connect to the Internet, open the Network and Sharing Center by first opening the Control Panel from the “Start” menu. (Insert screen shot)
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1A.9 In the Control Panel, click on “View network status and tasks”. (Insert screen shot)
1A.10 In the Network and Sharing Center, click on “Connect to a network”. (Insert screen shot)
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1A.11 Select an available wireless network and click “Connect”. (Insert screen shot)
1A.12 Your Card will attempt to connect to the selected network. (Insert screen shot)
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1A.13 Depending on the security settings of your wireless network, you may be prompted to enter in a network security key or a passphrase. Click “Connect” after you have done so. (Insert screen shot)
1A.14 After connecting to the network, you may choose to save this network and connect automatically once your Card is in range. (Insert screen shot)
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1A.15 The Network and Sharing Center should now show the network connection that you have just made. The links on the left of the window allow you to configure your network connections. (Insert screen shot)
For users of other Windows operating systems, refer to the following installation steps:
1B. Install IMPORTANT: INSTALL THE SOFTWARE BEFORE INSERTING THE CARD.
1B.1 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive.
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1B.2 The Belkin Wireless Card Installer screen will automatically appear. (This may take 15–20 seconds.) Click “Next” to start the installation.
Note: If the Belkin Setup Utility screen does not appear within 20 seconds, access your CD-ROM by double-clicking on the “My Computer” icon; then double-click on the CD-ROM drive into which the installation CD has been placed. Double-click on the folder named “files”, then double-click on the icon named “setup.exe”.
1B.3 The first in a series of progress-monitoring screens will let you know where you are in the setup process.
1B.4 You might see a screen similar to this one. This DOES NOT mean there is a problem. Our software has been fully tested and is compatible with this operating system. Select “Continue Anyway” and follow the on-screen instructions.
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