Belkin F5D8235-4 - N+ Wireless Router User manual

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N+ Wireless Router
User Manual
F5D8235-4 V3
PM00736-A
Splash Screen
Table of Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x
Advantages of a Wireless Network…………………………..x
Placement of your N+ Wireless Router. . . . . . . . . . . . . .x
2 Product Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x
Product Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x
3 Knowing your Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx
Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx
Setup Assistant Software System Requirements . . . . . .xx
4 Connecting and Configuring your Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx
5 Alternate Setup Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx
6 Using the Web-Based Advanced User Interface . . . . . . . . . .xx
Changing LAN Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx
Viewing the DHCP Client List Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx
Configuring the Wireless Network Settings . . . . . . . . . . . xx
Setting WPA Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx
Setting WEP Encryption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx
Using the Access Point Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx
Access Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx
Configuring the Firewall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx
Using Dynamic DNS……………………………………….xx
Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx
Restarting the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx
Updating the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx
7 Manually Configuring Network Settings . . . . . . .xx
8 Recommended Web Browser Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx
9 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx
10 Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx

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Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Belkin N+ Wireless Router (the Router). Following
are two short sections—the first discusses the benefits of home networking, and
the other outlines best practices that maximize your wireless home network
range and performance. 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” on the next page. By
following our simple setup instructions you will be able to use your Belkin Home
Network to:
•Share one high-speed Internet connection with all the computers in your
home
•Share a USB storage device (not included) within your network
•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’s Easy Installation Wizard makes 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.
The element that makes Belkin’s N MIMO technology different from a conventional radio is the
use of multiple antennas and two simultaneous data streams to deliver wireless transfers around
your home or office. A conventional radio uses one antenna to transmit a data stream. Belkin’s N
MIMO, on the other hand, uses two antennas. This design helps combat distortion and
interference. Belkin’s N MIMO is multidimensional. It builds on one-dimensional smart-antenna
(This section is copied from P74304-C Introduction)
Revolutionary N+ Wireless Technology with MIMO (N MIMO)
Your Belkin N+ Wireless Router uses a new smart-antenna technology called Multiple Input
Multiple Output (MIMO). N MIMO complies with the IEEE draft 802.11n specification. It increases
speed, range, reliability, and spectral efficiency for wireless networking systems.

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technology by simultaneously transmitting two data streams through the same channel, which
increases wireless capacity.
Another element that enhances Belkin’s N MIMO is the use of aggregation as specified in the
draft 802.11n specification. By shortening the space between packets and combining multiple
smaller packets into one larger packet, Belkin’s N MIMO can transmit more data through
available bandwidth.
Think of conventional radio transmission as a two-lane highway. The speed limit governs the
maximum allowable flow of traffic through that lane. Compared with conventional radios, one-
dimensional smart antenna systems help move traffic through that lane faster and more reliably—
analogous to a four-lane road on which traffic consistently moves at a rate closer to the speed
limit. Belkin’s N MIMO helps traffic move at the speed limit and opens more lanes—to become
the superhighway in this example. The rate of traffic flow is multiplied by the number of lanes that
are opened.
Placement of your N+ Wireless Router
Important Factors for Placement and Setup
Your wireless connection will be stronger the closer your computer is to your
Router. Typical indoor operating range for 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 Router and connected devices
increases. This may or may not be noticeable to you. As you move further from
your Router, 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 Router 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.

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1. Router Placement
Place your Router, 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 Wireless Notebook Network Cards, Wireless
Desktop Network Cards, and Wireless USB Adapters):
•Ensure that your Router’s networking antennas are parallel to each other,
and are positioned vertically (toward the ceiling). If your Router itself is
positioned vertically, point the antennas as much as possible in an upward
direction.
•In multistory homes, place the Router on a floor that is as close to the
center of the home as possible. This may mean placing the Router on an
upper floor.
•Try not to place the Router near a cordless 2.4GHz phone.
2. Avoid Obstacles and Interference
Avoid placing your Router near devices that may emit radio “noise,” such as
microwave ovens. Dense objects that can inhibit wireless communication 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 Router).
3. Cordless Phones
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 your Router 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. For example,
change the phone to channel 1 and move your Router to channel 11. See
your phone’s user manual for detailed instructions.
•If necessary, consider switching to a 900MHz or 5GHz cordless phone.

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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 found in the Wireless Utility of your wireless
adapter to locate any other wireless networks that are available (see your
wireless adapter’s user manual), and move your Router 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 Belkin wireless networking products, use the detailed Site Survey and
wireless channel information included with your wireless network card.
See your network card’s user guide for more information.
These guidelines should allow you to cover the maximum possible area with your
Router. Should you need to cover an even wider area, we suggest the Belkin
Wireless Range Extender/Access Point.
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 rerunning 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 under Windows, see the
“Power Options” item in the Control Panel.
If you continue to have difficulty with Secure Connections, VPNs, and AOL,
please review the steps above to be sure you have addressed these issues.
For more information regarding our networking products, visit our website at
www.belkin.com/networking.

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Product Overview
Product Features
In minutes you will be able to share your Internet connection and network your
computers. The following is a list of features that make your new Belkin N+
Wireless Router an ideal solution for your home or small office network.
Works with Both PCs and Mac®Computers
The Router supports a variety of networking environments including Mac OS®8.x,
9.x, X v10.x, Linux®, Windows®98, Me, NT®, 2000, XP, Vista™, and others. All
that is needed is an Internet browser and a network adapter that supports TCP/IP
(the standard language of the Internet).
USB Port for External Storage Devices
The Router includes a USB port in the back panel for one storage device (flash
drive or external hard drive). You can now have network-attached storage
capabilities without having to purchase an expensive NAS.
Patent-Pending Network Status Display
Lighted LEDs on the front of the Router indicate which functions are in operation.
You’ll know at-a-glance whether your Router is connected to the Internet. This
feature eliminates the need for advanced software and status-monitoring
procedures.

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Web-Based Advanced User Interface
You can set up the Router’s advanced functions easily through your web browser,
without having to install additional software onto the computer. There are no
disks to install or keep track of and, best of all, you can make changes and
perform setup functions from any computer on the network quickly and easily.
NAT IP Address Sharing
Your Router employs Network Address Translation (NAT) to share the single IP
address assigned to you by your Internet Service Provider while saving the cost
of adding additional IP addresses to your Internet service account.
SPI Firewall
Your Router is equipped with a firewall that will protect your network from a wide
array of common hacker attacks including IP Spoofing, Land Attack, Ping of
Death (PoD), Denial of Service (DoS), IP with zero length, Smurf Attack, TCP
Null Scan, SYN flood, UDP flooding, Tear Drop Attack, ICMP defect, RIP defect,
and fragment flooding.
Integrated 10/100/1000 4-Port Switch
The Router has a built-in, Gigabit Ethernet, four-port network switch to allow your
wired computers to share printers, data and MP3 files, digital photos, and much
more. The switch features automatic detection so it will adjust to the speed of
connected devices. The switch will transfer data between computers and the
Internet simultaneously without interrupting or consuming resources.
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)
UPnP is a technology that offers seamless operation of voice messaging, video
messaging, games, and other applications that are UPnP-compliant.
Support for VPN Pass-Through
If you connect to your office network from home using a VPN connection, your
Router will allow your VPN-equipped computer to pass through the Router and to
your office network.
Built-In Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
Built-In Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) on-board makes for the
easiest possible connection of a network. The DHCP server will assign IP
addresses to each computer automatically so there is no need for a complicated
networking setup.
Setup Assistant

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The Setup Assistant, second generation of Belkin’s renowned Easy Install
Wizard, takes the guesswork out of setting up your Router. This automatic
software determines your network settings for you and sets up the Router for
connection to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). In a matter of minutes, your
Router will be up and running on the Internet.
Note: Setup Assistant software is compatible with Windows 2000, XP, and Vista;
and Mac OS X v10.x. If you are using another operating system, the Router can
be set up using the Alternate Setup Method described in this User Manual (see
page xx) [VERIFY PAGE NUMBER].
Integrated N+ Wireless Access Point
N MIMO is an exciting new wireless technology based on the draft IEEE 802.11n
specification. It employs MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) smart-antenna
technology that achieves data rates of up to 300Mbps.* Actual throughput is
typically lower than the connected data rate and will vary depending on your
networking environment.
*NOTE: The standard transmission rate—300Mbps—is the physical data rate.
Actual data throughput will be lower.
MAC Address Filtering
For added security, you can set up a list of MAC addresses (unique client
identifiers) that are allowed access to your network. Every computer has its own
MAC address. Simply enter these MAC addresses into a list using the Web-
Based Advanced User Interface and you can control access to your network.

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Knowing your Router
Package Contents
•Belkin N+ Wireless Router
•Quick Installation Guide
•Belkin Setup Assistant Software CD
•RJ45 Ethernet Networking Cable
•Power Supply
•User Manual on the Setup Assistant CD
•Network Status Display Guide
•Wireless Security Setup Guide
System Requirements
•Broadband Internet connection such as a cable or DSL modem with RJ45
(Ethernet) connection
•At least one computer with an installed network interface adapter
•TCP/IP networking protocol installed on each computer
•RJ45 Ethernet networking cable
•Internet browser
Setup Assistant Software System Requirements (including Storage
Manager)
•A computer running Windows® 2000, XP, or Vista®; or Mac OS® X v10.x
•Minimum 1GHz processor and 128MB RAM
•Internet browser

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Knowing your Router
The Router has been designed to be placed on a desktop. All of the cables exit
from the rear of the Router for better organization and utility. The Network Status
Display is easily visible on the FRONT of the Router to provide you with
information about network activity and status. See the Network Status Display
Guide for more detailed information.
[Replace with “final” N+ Wireless Router Network Status Display line art with A to J line up with
LEDs]
[Note, Please update with F5D8235-4 V3 LED artwork, which has slightly different icons]
A. Broadband Download Speedometer
These lights will display a graphic representation of the current download speed
being transferred through the Internet connection. The speed will be measured
on the speedometer against the fastest speed that has been measured by the N+
since being activated.
B. Wireless Security [insert Lock Icon]
C. WPS Push Button (insert the security lock icon)
This button is set aside for the Wi-Fi Protected Setup feature. Refer to the
“Changing the Wireless Security Settings” section for more details.
D. Wireless-Computer Status [insert Laptop Icon]
Off Wireless computer is not present
Solid Blue Wireless computer is connected to the Router
Blinking
Amber Problem with wireless computer connecting properly to the Router
E. Wired-Computer Status [Computer Icon]
Off Wired computer is not present
Solid Blue Wired computer is connected to the Router
Blinking
Amber Problem with wired computer connecting properly to the Router
F. USB Port Status [USB Icon]
Off No device is plugged into the USB port
Flashing Blue Data is being read/written to the storage device
Flashing Amber Unsupported device is plugged into the USB port
Off Wireless security is off
Blinking Blue WPS handshaking in process
Solid Blue Wireless security is on