Belkin F5D8053 User manual

User Manual
F5D8053
N Wireless
USB Adapter

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 Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
A — Installation Process for Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
B — Installation Process for Windows Operating Systems other than
Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
C — Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4 Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Accessing the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility from the
Windows System Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Network Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Available Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Network Status and Solution Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Setting Wireless Network Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Securing your Wi-Fi Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Configuring your Adapter to use Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6 Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Table of Contents

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Introduction
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Thank you for purchasing the Belkin N Wireless USB 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
Advantages of a Wireless Network
Here are some of the advantages of setting up a Belkin 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

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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 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 Adapters or Cards):
• 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.

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Introduction
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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.

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Introduction
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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 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
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
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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 frequency 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/activity indicator
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Overview
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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*
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 difficult 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
Product Specifications
Host Interface: USB 2.0
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 1,200 ft.**
*
NOTE: The standard transmission rate—300Mbps—is the physical data rate.
Actual data throughput will be lower.
**Wireless performance may vary depending on the networking environment.

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(a) Protective 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 or through the provided Desktop Stand.
(b) Power/Activity LED
Lights when the Adapter is powered on and flashes when it is active.
(c) USB Connector
Part of the Adapter that fits into your computer’s USB port.
(d) Desktop Stand
Lets you move the Adapter away from interfering objects
around your computer.
System Requirements
• PC-compatible laptop with one available USB 2.0 bus-power port
• Windows® 2000, XP with SP2, or VistaTM***
Package Contents
• N Wireless USB Adapter
• Quick Installation Guide
• CD with Installation Software and User Manual
• Desktop Stand
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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A. Installation Process for Windows Vista
***NOTE: At the time of initial release of this product, Windows Vista
drivers were not available for release and might not be included on the
CD shipped with your product. For information on updated drivers
for Windows Vista (if any), please visit the Belkin website at
www.belkin.com/support/vista.
IMPORTANT: INSTALL THE SOFTWARE BEFORE INSERTING
THE ADAPTER.
A.1 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive.
A.2 Click “Next” to begin the installation process.
Note: If the Belkin Wireless 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 “Setup.exe”.

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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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A.3 The InstallShield Wizard starts the
installation process.
A.4 Select a destination folder for the
software installation by clicking
“Browse”; or, simply click “Next” to
select a default location.
A.5 A Setup Status screen will let you
know where you are in the
setup process.
A.6 A window may appear a second time
showing the message, “Windows
can’t verify the publisher of this driver
software”. This DOES NOT indicate a
problem. Our software has been fully
tested and is compatible with this
operating system.

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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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A.7 When prompted, turn off your
computer and plug in your Adapter.
Your installation is now complete.
A.8 When the installation completes,
click on “Finish”.
A.9 The Found New Hardware Wizard
might appear within 3–15 seconds.
If it does, continue to follow the
prompts. Select “Locate and install
the driver software” to continue.
A.10 You might see a screen similar to
the one pictured below. This DOES
NOT mean there is a problem. Our
software has been fully tested and
is compatible with this operating
system. Select “Install this driver
software anyway” and follow the
on-screen instructions.
Next, a screen appears indicating
that hardware installation is taking
place; then, another indicates that
the process is complete.

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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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A.11 To connect to the Internet, open the
Network and Sharing Center by first
opening the Control Panel from the
“Start” menu.
A.12 In the Control Panel, click on “View
network status and tasks”.
A.13 In the Network and Sharing Center,
click on “Connect to a network”.
A.14 In the next screen, select an
available wireless network and click
“Connect”.

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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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A.15 Your Adapter will attempt to
connect to the selected network.
A.16 Depending on the security settings
of your wireless network, you may
be prompted to enter a network
security key or a passphrase. Click
“Connect” after you have done so.
A.17 After connecting to the network,
you can choose to save this
network and connect automatically
when your Adapter is in range.
A.18 The Network and Sharing Center
now indicates the network
connection that you have just
made. The links on the left of the
window allow you to configure your
network connections.

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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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B. Installation Process for Windows Operating Systems other than
Windows Vista
IMPORTANT: INSTALL THE SOFTWARE BEFORE INSERTING THE ADAPTER.
B.1 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive.
B.2 The Belkin Wireless Card Installer
screen will automatically appear
within up to 20 seconds. Click “Install
Software” or “Next” to start
the installation.
Note: If the Belkin Wireless 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. Then,
double-click on the icon
named “Setup.exe”.
B.3 The InstallShield Wizard starts the
installation process.
B.4 Select a destination folder for the
software installation by clicking
“Browse”; or, simply click “Next” to
select a default location.

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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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B.5 A Setup Status screen lets you know
where you are in the setup process.
B.6 After the software installation is
finished, the message “Please plug
in your USB Adapter now” will
appear. Connect the Adapter to your
computer.
B.7 The Found New Hardware Wizard
might appear in 3–15 seconds. If
it does, select “Install the software
automatically” and click “Next” to
install the hardware.
B.8 If the Found New Hardware Wizard
does not appear, click “Finish”.
B.9 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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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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B.10 The Wizard will now install
your software.
B.11 The installation is now complete.
Click “Finish” to close the “Found
New Hardware Wizard”.
B.12 Click “Finish” again to exit the
InstallShield Wizard.
B.13 Depending on which operating
system you are using, you might be
required to reboot your computer
for the changes to take effect.
Save your data and close all other
applications. Then, reboot.

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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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C. Configuration
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
C.1 After restarting your computer,
double-click the Belkin Wireless
Networking Utility icon on the
desktop screen.
Note: The Belkin Wireless
Networking Utility icon can also be
found on the system tray.
C.2 The Belkin Wireless Networking
Utility screen will appear.
C.3 Select a network to which to connect
from the “Available Networks” list
and click “Connect”.
Note: In order to see your available
networks, you must be near a
working wireless router or
access point.
Installation is now complete.

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Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
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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.
If the icon is not present, click on “Start > Programs > Belkin
> N1 Wireless USB Network Adapter > Belkin Wireless
Networking Utility”.

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Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
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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.
Lost Wireless Connection
If the current wireless connection is lost, a window will pop up and the
WNU will attempt to reconnect.