Belkin F5D8053V6 User Manual

N Wireless UsB

Network Adapter

User Manual

8820- 00209ea F5D80 53 v6

ENGLISH

FRANÇAIS

DEUTSCH

NEDERLANDS

ESPAÑOL

ITALIANO

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTIONS 1 2 3 4 5 6Table 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 Over view .............................................. 5

Product Features .......................................... 5

Applications and Advantages ................................ 5

Product Specifications ..................................... 6

System Requirements ......................................6

Package Contents ......................................... 6

3 Installing and Setti ng up the Adapter...................... 7

A — Installation Process for Windows Vista .................... 7

B — Installation Proces s for Windows Operating

Systems other than Windows Vista ...................... 14

C — Configuration........................................ 18

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4 Using the Belkin W irel ess N etwo rking Uti lity .............. 19

Accessing the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility from

the Windows System Tray.................................. 19

Network Status .......................................... 20

Available Networks ....................................... 20

Network Status and Solution Tips ........................... 21

Managing Wireless Network Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Connecting to a Secure Wi-Fi Network ....................... 22

5 Troubl eshooting .......................................29

6 Information ........................................... 36

INTRODUCTION

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Thank you for purchasing the Belkin N Wireless USB Network Adapter. Now you can take advantage of this great new technology and gain the freedom to network your home and office computers wirelessly. This Adapter 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

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Advantages of a Wireless Network

• Mobilit y – you’ll no longer ne ed a dedicated “computer room”— now you can work on a networked laptop or desktop computer anywhere within your wirele ss 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 industr y acceptance – choose from a wide range of interoperable networking products

INTRODUCTION

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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 bet ween 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 af fect network performance, they will not prohibit your wireless network from functioning; if you are concerned that your network is not operating at its ma ximum effectiveness, this checklist may help.

1. Placement of your Wireless Router (or Access Point)

Place your wireless router (or acce ss point), the central connection point of your network, as close as possible to the center of your wireless network devices.

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To achieve the best wireless net work coverage for your “wireless clients,” (i.e., computers enabled by Belkin Adapters or Cards):

• Ensure that your wireless router’s (or access point’s) antennas are parallel to each other, and are positioned ver tically (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).

INTRODUCTION

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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 batter y from any cordles s phone that operates on the 2.4GHz band (check manufacturer’s information). If this fixes the problem, your phone may be interfe ring.

• If your phone suppor ts 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 necessar y, consider switching to a 900MHz or 5GHz cordless phone.

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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 Wirele ss Networking Utility to locate any other wireless net works, 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.

INTRODUCTION

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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 conne ct 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 is sues.

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 ww w.belkin.com/networking or call Belkin Technical Support.

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OVERVIEW

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Product Features

The Adapter complies with the IEEE draft 802.11n specification to communicate with other draft 802.11n-compliant wireless devices at up to 300Mbps*. The Adapter is also compatible with 802.11g devices at 54Mbps as well as 802.11b products at 11Mbps. The Adapter operates on the same

2.4GHz fre quency band as 802.11b/g Wi-Fi® products.

• 2.4GHz ISM (Industrial, Science, and Medical) band operation

• Integrated easy-to-use Belkin Wireless Networking Utility

• USB 2.0 interface, for operation in virtually any computer with a

USB 2.0 bus-power port

• WPA, WPA2, 64-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), or 128-bit encryption

• Wireless access to networked resources

• Data rate of up to 300Mbps* (draft 802.11n), 54Mbps (802.11g),

or 11Mbps (802.11b)

• Easy installation and use

• LED power and network link/activit y indicator

Applications and Advantages

• Wireless roaming with a laptop around the home or office

Offers the freedom of networking without cables

• Connect ion r ates of up to 30 0Mbps*

Provides immediate high-speed wireless connectivity at home, work, and hotspot locations without compromising the use of existing

802.11b/g products

• Compatibility with 802.11b/g products

The Adapter is backward-compatible with existing Wi-Fi (IEEE

802.11b/g) products

• Difficult-to-wire environments

Enables networking in buildings with solid or finished walls, or open areas where wiring is dif ficult to install

• Frequently changing environments

Adapts easily in offices or environments that frequently rearrange or change locations

• SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) networking needs

Provides the easy and quick, small network installation SOHO users need

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OVERVIEW

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Product Specifications

Host Interface: USB 2.0

Operating Temperature: 32–104 degrees F (0 –40 degre es C)

Storage Temperature: -4 –158 degrees F (-20 –70 degrees C)

Humidit y: Ma x. 90% (non-condensing)

Typical Operating Range: Up to 1,200 ft.**

*NOTE: The standard transmission rate—300Mbps—is the physical data rate. Actual data throughput will be lower.

**Wireless per formance may vary depending on the networking environment.

(B)

(A)

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(C)

(a) Protect ive Cap

The cap is provided to protect the USB connector during transportation. Remove the cap before inserting the Adapter to your computer’s USB port.

(b) Power/Activity LED

Lights when the Adapter is powered on and flashes when it is active.

Part of the Adapter that fits into your computer’s USB por t.

System Requirements

• PC-compatible laptop with one available USB 2.0

bus-power por t

• Windows® 2000, XP with SP2, or Vista®***

Package Contents

• N Wireless USB Network Adapter

• Quick Installation Guide

• CD with Installation Software and User Manual

INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER

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A. Installation Process for Windows Vista

***NOTE: For information on updated drivers, please visit the Belkin

website at www.belkin.com/support.

IMPORTANT: INSTALL THE SOFTWARE BEFORE INSERTING

THE ADAPTER.

A.1 Inser t the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive.

A.2 Click “Next” to begin the installation process.

Note: If the Belkin Wireles s Card Installer 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. If the Installer does not start automatically, double-click on the icon named “Installer.exe”.

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INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER

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A.3 The InstallShield Wizard will start the installation process.

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A.4 A window may appear showing the message, “Windows can’t verify

the publisher of this driver soft ware”. This DOES NOT indicate a problem. Our software has been fully tested and is compatible with this operating system. Click on “Install this driver sof tware anyway” to continue.

INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER

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A.5 When prompted, plug in your Adapter.

A.6 When the installation completes, you will see the following pop-up

message on your Windows taskbar.

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A.7 Click “Finish” to restar t your computer.

INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER

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A.8 To connect to the Internet, open the Network and Sharing Center

by first opening the Control Panel from the “Start” menu.

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A.9 In the Control Panel, click on “View network status and tasks”.

INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER

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A.10 In the Net work and Sharing Center, click on “Connect to

a network”.

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A.11 In the nex t screen, select an available wireless network and

click “Connect”.

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