Belkin F5D8001A User Manual
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N1 Wireless Desktop Card
Connect your notebook computer to a wireless network
User Manual
F5D8001
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Belkin N1 Wireless Desktop 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”.
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
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• 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
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 Desktop 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.
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• 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).
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
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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
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.
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Overview
Applications and Advantages
• Wireless roaming with a laptop around the home or office
Offers the freedom of networking without cables
• Connection rates of up to 300Mbps
• Compatibility with 802.11g and 802.11b products
• 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 PCI
Power Consumption: 802.11b: < 1.3w
802.11g: < 1.2w
Operating Temperature: 32–140 degrees F (0–60 degrees C)
Storage Temperature: -4–176 degrees F (-20–80 degrees C)
Humidity: Max. 90% (non-condensing)
Typical Operating Range: Up to 1,400 ft. (304.8m)*
*Wireless performance
may vary depending on the
networking environment
(a) Power LED
Lights up when the Card is powered up
(b) Activity LED
Lights up when the Card is active
(c) Card Connector
Part of the Card that fits into your computer’s PCI slot
(d) Antenna Connector
Connect to the external antenna
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System Requirements
• PC-compatible laptop with one available CardBus slot
• Windows® 2000 or XP
Package Contents
• N1 Wireless Desktop Card
• External Antenna
• Quick Installation Guide
• Installation Software CD
• User Manual
3 Installing and Setting up the Card
[The following section is same as the QIG]
1. Install
IMPORTANT: Install the software before inserting the Card.
1.1 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive.
1.2 The Belkin Setup Utility screen will automatically appear. (This may take 15–
20 seconds.) Click “install” to start the installation.
[Insert splash page of Belkin Setup Utility screen]
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”.
1.3 Click “INSTALL” from the menu.
1.4 The InstallShield Wizard will now start. Click “Next” to continue.
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1.5 The first in a series of progress-monitoring screens will let you know where
you are in the setup process. Click “Next”.
1.6 When the installer is done installing the software, you will see the following
screen. Click “Finish”.
1.7 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.
2. Insert
Insert the Card into your Computer
2.1 After the software installation is finished, shut down the computer. Unplug
power cable and open computer’s case. Insert the Notebook Card to an
empty PCI slot. Connect the external antenna to the back of the Card. Turn
power on.
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2.2 The Found New Hardware Wizard will appear. (This may take 15–20
seconds.) Select “Install the software automatically” and click “Next” to install
the hardware.
2.3 The Wizard will now install your software.
2.4 The installation is now complete. Click “Finish” to exit.
3.
Configure
Use the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
3.1
After restarting your computer, double-click the Belkin Wireless Networking
Utility icon on the desktop screen.
3.2
The Belkin Wireless Networking Utility screen will appear.
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3.3 Select a network to connect to from the “Available Networks” list and click
“Connect”.
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Note: In order to see your available networks, you must be near a working
wireless router or access point.
3.4 The Belkin Wireless Networking Utility icon can also be found on the system
tray.
Note: Double-clicking on the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility icon on the
system tray will bring up the “Utility” screen.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
After successfully installing the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility (WNU), configurations for
wireless connection and security are just a few easy clicks away.
Accessing the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility from the Windows System Tray
To access the WNU, simply place your mouse pointer and right-click over the WNU icon on the
Windows task tray.
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If the icon is not present, click on “Start > Programs > Belkin > Belkin Wireless Utility”.
The WNU’s default screen is the “Current Status” tab. The “Current Status” tab displays the
current Network Status and Available Networks.
Network Status
This window displays the connectivity status of the current network. It even displays connectivity
between the computer and router, and router and Internet. In the event of a connectivity problem,
this window can be used to determine the problem’s source (e.g. computer, router, or
Internet/modem).
Available Networks
This window displays the available networks at the current location as well as their SSID, Signal
Strength, Security Type, Channel, and Network Type.
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