Belkin N1 MIMO User manual

F5D8051ea
User Manual
N1 Wireless
USB Adapter

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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............................................. 14
C — Insert .................................................... 16
D — Configure ................................................. 18
4 Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility ....................20
Accessing the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility from the
Windows System Tray ........................................... 20
Network Status ................................................ 21
Available Networks ............................................. 21
Network Status and Solution Tips ................................. 22
Setting Wireless Network Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Securing your Wi-Fi Network ..................................... 23
Configuring your Adapter to use Security ........................... 28
5 Troubleshooting ..............................................36
6 Information...................................................44
Table of Contents

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Thank you for purchasing the Belkin N1 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 no longer need a dedicated “computer
room”—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
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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.
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:
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•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 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.
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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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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indicators
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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
• 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 425m**
*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.
Overview

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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 (SP4), XP with SP2, or Vista™
Package Contents
• N1WirelessUSBAdapter
• QuickInstallationGuide
• InstallationSoftwareCD
• DesktopStand
• UserManual
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Overview
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A. Installation Process for Windows Vista
IMPORTANT:INSTALLTHESOFTWAREBEFOREINSERTINGTHEADAPTER.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter
A.1 Insert the Installation Software
CD into your CD-ROM drive.
A.2 Select the “Run Installer.exe” option.
A.3 You may see a window titled, “An
unidentified program wants access
to your computer”. Click “Allow”.
A.4 Click “Next” to begin the installation process.
A.5 Click “Next” to continue the
installation process.

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A.6 The software will automatically
install the driver.
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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
A.7 You may see a window titled, “Windows
can’t verify the publisher of this
driver software”. This is normal and
does not indicate a problem. Our
software has been fully tested and is
compatible with this operating system.
A.8 When prompted, plug
in your Adapter.
A.9 When the installation completes,
click on “Finish”. Your
installation is now complete.

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A.10 To connect to the Internet, open the Network and Sharing Center
by first opening the Control Panel from the “Start” menu.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter
A.11 In the Control Panel, click on “View network status and tasks”.

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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
A.12 In the Network and Sharing Center, click on “Connect to a network”.
A.13 Select an available wireless network and click “Connect.”

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A.14 Your Adapter will attempt to connect to the selected network.
A.15 Depending on the security settings of your wireless network,
you may be prompted to enter in a network security key or a
passphrase. Click “Connect” after you have done so.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter

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A.16 After connecting to the network, you may choose to save this network
and connect automatically once your Adapter is in range.
A.17 The Network and Sharing Center should now show the network
connection that you have just made. The links on the left of the
window allow you to configure your network connections.
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
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. Double-click on the
icon named “Setup.exe”, if
the Installer does not start.
B.3 The InstallShield Wizard will now
start. Click “Next” to continue.
B.1 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive.
B.2 The Belkin Wireless Adapter Installer screen will automatically appear. (This may
take 15–20 seconds.) Click “Install Software” or “Next” to start the installation.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter

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B.5 The first in a series of progress-
monitoring screens will let you know
where you are in the setup process.
B.4 Select a different destination
folder for the software installation,
or simply click “Next”.
B.6 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.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter

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C. Insert Insert the Adapter into your Computer
C.1 After the software installation is finished, the
message “Please plug in your USB Adapter
now” will appear. Insert your Adapter.
C.2 The Found New Hardware Wizard might
appear. (This may take 3–15 seconds.)
If it does, continue with the following
instruction. Select “Yes, this time only”
and click “Next” to install the hardware.
If the Found New Hardware Wizard
does not appear, skip to step C.7.
C.3 Select “Install the software automatically”
and click “Next” to install the hardware.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter

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Installing and Setting up the Adapter
C.4 The Wizard will now install
your software.
C.5 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.
C.6 The installation is now complete.
Click “Finish” to exit.
C.7 Your computer must reboot for the changes
to take effect. Close all other applications and
save your data. Then, click “OK” to reboot.

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D Configure Use the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
D.1 After restarting your computer, double-
click the Belkin Wireless Networking
Utility icon on the desktop screen.
D.2 The Belkin Wireless Networking
Utility screen will appear.
D.3 Select a network to connect to 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.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter