Belkin F9L1004 User manual

User Manual
F9L1004 8820xx00894xx Rev. A00
ExtEndEd RangE USB WiRElESS n adaptER
SURF N300 XR
English

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction ............................................ 1
Benefits of a Home Network.................................... 1
Advantages of a Wireless Network .............................. 2
Placement of your Wireless Networking Hardware for
Optimal Performance ......................................... 3
2. Overview .............................................. 7
Product Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Applications and Advantages................................... 8
Product Specifications ........................................ 9
System Requirements........................................ 10
Package Contents ........................................... 10
3. Installing and Setting up the Adapter .................... 11
A — Installation Process for Windows Vista and 7 ................ 11
B — Installation Process for Windows XP ....................... 18
Connecting to a Secure Wi-Fi Network.......................... 16
4. Troubleshooting ....................................... 22
5. Information ........................................... 30
European Compliance Statement:..............................34
Belkin International, Inc., Limited 2-Year Product Warranty ........35

1
Thank you for purchasing the Belkin N300 High Gain Wireless USB Adapter. With its adjustable high-gain antenna, you
can connect farther and faster than standard adapters. 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
or desktop computer to your network. Please be sure to read through this User Manual completely, and pay special
attention to the section titled, “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
INTRODUCTION

2
INTRODUCTION
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

3
INTRODUCTION
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.

4
INTRODUCTION
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.
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
 •Microwaves
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).

5
INTRODUCTION
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.

6
INTRODUCTION
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.

7
Product Features
The Adapter complies with the IEEE 802.11n specification to
communicate with other 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
 •USB2.0interface,foroperationinvirtuallyany
computerwithaUSB2.0bus-powerport
 •Adjustablehigh-gainantennaforgreaterrange
 •WPA,WPA2,64-bitWEP(WiredEquivalent
Privacy),or128-bitencryption
 •Wirelessaccesstonetworkedresources
 •Datarateofupto300Mbps*(802.11n),54Mbps
(802.11g),or11Mbps(802.11b)
 •Easyinstallationanduse
 •LEDpowerandnetworklink/activityindicator
OVERVIEW

8
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*
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
 •MicroEnclosure
The Adapter has been designed to fit neatly into
yourcomputer’sUSBportandsitnicelyontheside
oftheportwithoutblockinganyotherports.

9
OVERVIEW
ProductSpecifications
HostInterface:USB2.0
OperatingTemperature:32–104degreesF(0–40degreesC)
StorageTemperature:-4–158degreesF(-20–70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.
(a)USBConnector
PartoftheAdapterthatfitsintoyourcomputer’sUSBport.
(a)

10
OVERVIEW
SystemRequirements
 •PC-compatiblelaptopwithoneavailableUSB2.0bus-powerport
 •Windows®XPwithSP2orlater,WindowsVista®,orWindows7
PackageContents
 •SURFN300XRExtendedRangeUSBWirelessNAdapter
 •QuickInstallationGuide
 •CDwithInstallationSoftwareandUserManual

11
A. Installation Process for Windows Vista and 7
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 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive.
A.2 Click “Next” to begin the installation process.
INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER
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 “Installer.exe”.

12
INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER
A.3 The InstallShield Wizard will start the installation process. A.4 A window may appear 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. Click
on “Install this driver software anyway” to continue.

13
INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER
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.
A.7 Click “Finish” to restart your computer.

14
INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER
A.8 To connect to the Internet, open the Network and Sharing Center
by first opening the Control Panel from the “Start” menu.
A.9 In the Control Panel, click on “View network status and tasks”.

15
INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER
A.10 In the Network and Sharing Center, click
on “Connect to a network”.
A.11 In the next screen, select an available
wireless network and click “Connect”.

16
INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER
A.12 Your Adapter will attempt to connect to the selected network. A.13 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.

17
INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER
A.14 After connecting to the network, you can choose
to save this network and connect automatically
when your Adapter is in range.
A.15 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.

18
INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE ADAPTER
B. Installation Process for Windows XP
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 Adapter Installer screen will
automatically appear within up to 20 seconds. Click
“Install Software” or “Next” to start the installation.
Note: If the Belkin Wireless 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 “Installer.exe”.