Belkin F5D8071 User manual

Belkin Ltd.
4 Pioneer Avenue
Tuggerah Business Park
Tuggerah, NSW 2259, Australia
[phone]
[phone] fax
Belkin B.V.
Boeing Avenue 333
1119 PH Schiphol-Rijk, The Netherlands
[phone]
[phone] fax
Belkin Tech Support
US: 877-736-5771
310-898-1100 ext. 2263
Europe: 00 800 223 55 460
Australia: 1800 235 546
New Zealand: 0800 235 546
Singapore: 800 616 1790
Belkin Corporation
501 West Walnut Street
Los Angeles, CA 90220-5221, USA
310-898-1100
310-898-1111 fax
Belkin Ltd.
Express Business Park, Shipton Way
Rushden, NN10 6GL, United Kingdom
[phone]
[phone] fax
© 2006 Belkin Corporation. All rights reserved. All trade names are registered trademarks of respective
manufacturers listed. Windows is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation
in the United States and/or other countries.
P75321
N1 Wireless
ExpressCard™

User Manual
F5D8071
N1 Wireless
ExpressCard™

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 Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Step 1: Install . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Step 2: Insert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Step 3: Configure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4 Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Accessing the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility from the
Windows System Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Network Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Available Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Network Status and Solution Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Setting Wireless Network Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Securing your Wi-Fi Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Configuring your Card to use Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6 Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Table of Contents

Introduction
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1
Thank you for purchasing the Belkin N1 Wireless ExpressCard (the
Card). Now you can take advantage of this great new technology
and gain the freedom to network your home and office computers
wirelessly. This Card 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
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

2
Introduction
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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.
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.

3
Introduction
Introduction
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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.

4
Introduction
4
Overview
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.

5
Introduction
Product Features
The Card complies with the IEEE draft-802.11n specification to
communicate with other draft-802.11n-compliant wireless devices at
up to 300Mbps*. The Card is also compatible with 802.11g devices at
54Mbps as well as 802.11b products at 11Mbps. The Card 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
• ExpressCard slot with PCI Express interface, for operation in newer
computers with an ExpressCard slot
• 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
Overview
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6
Overview
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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 Card 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
Form Factor: ExpressCard/34 module
Host Interface: PCI Express
Operating Temperature: 32–131 degrees F (0–55 degrees C)
Storage Temperature: -4–176 degrees F (-20–80 degrees C)
Humidity: Max. 90% (non-condensing)
Typical Operating Range: Up to 1,000 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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Overview
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(a) Power LED
Lights up when the Card is powered up
(b) Link/Activity LED
Lights up when the Card is connected; flashes when wireless
activity is detected
(c) Card Connector
Part of the Card that fits into your computer’s ExpressCard slot
System Requirements
• PC-compatible laptop with one available ExpressCard
(ExpressCard/34 or ExpressCard/54) slot
• Windows® 2000 or XP with SP2
• 1GHz processor or greater
• 256MB memory or greater
• 50MB hard-disk space
Package Contents
• N1 Wireless ExpressCard
• Quick Installation Guide
• CD with Installation Software and User Manual
(b)
(c)
(a)

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Installing and Setting up the Card
8
Installing and Setting up the Card
Step 1 Install
IMPORTANT: Install the software before inserting the Card.
1.1 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive.
1.2 The Belkin Wireless Card Installer screen will automatically appear.
(This may take 15–20 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. Double-click on the icon named “Setup.
exe”, if the Installer does not start.
1.3 The InstallShield Wizard will now
start. Click “Next” to continue.

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Installing and Setting up the Card
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1.4 Select a different destination folder
for the software installation, or
simply click “Next”.
1.5 The first in a series of
progress-monitoring screens
will let you know where you are
in the setup process.
1.6 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.

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Installing and Setting up the Card
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Installing and Setting up the Card
Step 2 Insert
Insert the Card into your Computer
2.1 After the software installation is
finished, the message “Please plug in
your ExpressCard now” will appear.
Insert your Card.
If your notebook computer comes with the wider,
universal ExpressCard (ExpressCard/54) slot, align the
Card to the left side of the slot and then insert it straight
into the wide opening. The universal ExpressCard slot
has an internal notch that will gently guide the Card
to the left side of the slot. This allows the Card to link
properly with the ExpressCard connector.
2.2 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 2.7.
2.3 Select “Install the software
automatically” and click “Next”
to install the hardware.
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Installing and Setting up the Card
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2.4 The Wizard will now install
your software.
2.5 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.
2.6 The installation is now complete.
Click “Finish” to exit.
2.7 Your computer must reboot for
the changes to take effect. Close
all other applications and save
your data. Then, click “Finish” to
restart your computer.

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Installing and Setting up the Card
12
Installing and Setting up the Card
Step 3 Configure
Use the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
3.1 After restarting your computer,
double-click the Belkin Wireless
Networking Utility icon on the
desktop screen.
3.2 The Belkin Wireless Networking
Utility screen will appear.
3.3 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.

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Installing and Setting up the Card
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3.4 The Belkin Wireless Networking
Utility icon can also be found on
the system tray.
Note: Double-clicking on the Belkin
Wireless Networking Utility icon on
the system tray will bring up the
“Utility” screen.
Installation is now complete.

14
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
14
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
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 ExpressCard > 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.