Belkin F5D8073 User manual

F5D8073
N Wireless
ExpressCard™ Adapter
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 Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
A — Installation Process for Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
B — Installation Process for Windows Operating Systems
other than Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
C — Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4 Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Accessing the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
from the Windows System Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Network Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Available Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Network Status and Solution Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Setting Wireless Network Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Securing your Wi-Fi Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Configuring your Adapter to use Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6 Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Introduction
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Thank you for purchasing the Belkin N Wireless ExpressCard Adapter.
This Adapter is specifically designed to work with notebooks that
have an ExpressCard slot. 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
• 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
lets 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

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 N Wireless ExpressCard Adapters,
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.

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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.

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
• 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
• 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 indicators
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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: 32-bit CardBus
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. (365.8m)**
*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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Overview
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(a) Power LED
Lights up when the Adapter is powered up
(b) Link/Activity LED
Lights up when the Adapter is connected; flashes when wireless
activity is detected
(c) Adapter Connector
Part of the Adapter that fits into your computer’s CardBus slot
System Requirements
• PC-compatible computer with one available 32-bit, CardBus slot
• Windows® 2000, XP with SP2, or Vista™***
(clients are not Mac OS compatible)
• Minimum 64MB of RAM
• CD-ROM drive
• Internet browser
Package Contents
• N Wireless ExpressCard Adapter
• Quick Installation Guide
• Installation Software and User Manual on CD-ROM
(b)
(c)
(a)

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 CARD.
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”.
A.3 The InstallShield Wizard starts installation process.

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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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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.
A.7 When prompted, turn off your
computer and plug in your
Adapter. Your installation is
now complete.

Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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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.
A.11 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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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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A.13 In the Network and Sharing Center,
click on “Connect to a network”.
A.12 In the Control Panel, click on “View
network status and tasks”.
A.14 In the next screen, select an
available wireless network and
click “Connect”.
A.15 Your Adapter will attempt to
connect to the selected network.

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.
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.
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 N Wireless
ExpressCard Adapter 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”.
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.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.
B.6 After the software installation is
finished, a prompt will instruct
you to insert the Adapter into your
computer’s ExpressCard slot.
B.5 A Setup Status screen lets you know
where you are in the setup process.
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”.

Installing and Setting up the Adapter
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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.
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.

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 >
Belkin Wireless 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.

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
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Connection Failure
Other options will appear during attempts to reconnect. To stop connecting,
click “Stop” and to reattempt connection, click “Retry”.
Network Status and Solution Tips
To further understand the current Network Status, click “Open Wireless Utility”.
The default screen will be the “Current Status” tab and the “Network Status”
section determines which connections are good and/or faulty.