Belkin Wireless G Router User manual

UK
FR
DE
NL
ES
IT
User Manual
F5D7010
Connect your notebook computer to a
wireless network
Wireless G
Notebook Card

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Step 3: Configure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4 Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Accessing the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
from the Windows System Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Network Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Available Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Network Status and Solution Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Setting Wireless Network Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Securing your Wi-Fi Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Configuring your Belkin Wireless G
Notebook Card to use Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
5 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6 Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Table of Contents

Introduction
section
1
2
3
4
5
6
Thank you for purchasing the Belkin Wireless G Notebook 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
1

32
Introduction
32
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 Wireless Notebook Cards,
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.

3
Introduction
Introduction
3
Introduction
section
1
2
3
4
5
6
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. 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

54 54
Introduction
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.
Introduction

55
section
1
2
3
4
5
6
Introduction
Product Features
The Card complies with the IEEE 802.11g standard in order to
communicate with other 802.11g-compliant wireless devices at
54Mbps. The Card is compatible with all 802.11g devices as well as
other 802.11b products at 11Mbps. 802.11g products operate on the
same 2.4GHz frequency band as 802.11b Wi-Fi® products.
• 2.4GHz ISM (Industrial, Science, and Medical) band operation
• Integrated easy-to-use Wireless Configuration 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
• Support for both Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc (peer-to-peer)
networking modes
• Data rate of up to 54Mbps (802.11g), or 11Mbps (802.11b)
• Easy installation and use
• External antenna
• LED power and network link indicators
Overview

76
76
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 54Mbps
Provides immediate, higher-speed wireless connectivity at home,
work, and hotspot locations without compromising the use of
existing 802.11b products
• Compatibility with 802.11b products
802.11g wireless LAN solutions are backward-compatible with
existing Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) products and with other products
that display the 54g™ mark
• 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
• Temporary LANs for special projects or peak time
Sets up temporary networks such as at trade shows, exhibitions,
and construction sites, which need networks on a short-term
basis; also companies who need additional workstations for a
peak activity period
• 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
Power Consumption Tx/Rx peak 450/260mA @ 3.3VDC (max)
Operating Temperature 32–185 degrees F (0–85 degrees C)
Storage Temperature -40–194 degrees F (-40–90 degrees C)
Humidity Max. 95% (non-condensing)
Typical Operating Range Up to 400 ft. (231m) (wireless performance
may vary depending on the networking
environment)
Overview

7
7
section
1
2
3
4
5
6
Overview
(a) Link LED
Lights up when the Card links to a wireless network
(b) Activity LED
Lights up when the Card is active
(c) Card Connector
Part of the Card that fits into your computer’s CardBus slot
System Requirements
• PC-compatible laptop with one available CardBus slot
• Windows® 98SE, Me, 2000, XP
Package Contents
• Wireless G Notebook Card
• Quick Installation Guide
• Installation Software CD
• User Manual
(a)
(b)
(c)

98
98
Step 1 Install
WARNING:
Install the Software before Inserting the Card.
1.1 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive.
1. 2 The Belkin Setup Utility screen will automatically appear. (This may
take 15–20 seconds.) Click “install” to start the installation.
Note: If the Belkin Setup Utility 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 folder
named “files”, then double-click on the icon named “setup.exe”.
Installing and Setting up the Card
1.3 The first in a series of
progress-monitoring screens
will let you know where you
are in the setup process.
Click “Next”.

9
9
section
1
2
3
4
5
6
Installing and Setting up the Card
Step 2 Insert
Insert the Card into your Computer
2.1 Please insert your Card, then click
“OK.”
2.2 You will be prompted to select a
country. Click the drop-down box;
select the country you are located
in, then click “OK.”
1.4 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.

1110
1110
2.3 The Found New Hardware Wizard
will appear. (This may take 15–20
seconds.) Select “Install the
software automatically” and click
“Next” to install the hardware.
2.4 The Wizard will now install your
software.
2.5 The installation is now complete.
Click “Finish” to exit.
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.
Installing and Setting up the Card

11
Installing and Setting up the Card
11
section
1
2
3
4
5
6
3.2 The Belkin Wireless Networking
Utility screen will appear.
3.3 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.
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.

1312
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
1312
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 > Belkin
Wireless Utility”.

13
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
13
section
1
2
3
4
5
6
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.

1514
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
1514
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
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.
The WNU also features a “Solution Tips” section that provides
troubleshooting guidelines.

15
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
15
1
2
3
4
5
6
section
Setting Wireless Network Profiles
The “My Connections” tab on the WNU allows you to add, edit, and
delete connection profiles. It also displays signal strength, security,
and network type.
Securing your Wi-Fi® Network
If you choose to connect to a secure network, determine the type of
security (WPA or WEP*) and use the appropriate field in the dialog
box.
*Note: Types of security

1716
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
1716
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
Note: When you select a network using encryption, you will first see
the simple security screen. Click the “Advanced” button to see other
security options (below).
Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a less secure, but more widely
adopted wireless security protocol. Depending on the security level
(64- or 128-bit), the user will be asked to input a 10- or 26-character
hex key. A hex key is a combination of letters, a–f, and numbers, 0–9.
Wireless Protected Access (WPA) is the new standard in the
wireless security. However, not all wireless cards and adapters
support this technology. Please check your wireless adapter’s user
manual to check if it supports WPA. Instead of a hex key, WPA uses
only passphrases, which are much easier to remember.
The following section, intended for the home, home-office, and small-
office user, presents a few different ways to maximize the security of
your wireless network.

17
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
17
1
2
3
4
5
6
section
At the time of publication, four Encryption Methods are
available:
Encryption Methods:
Name 64-Bit Wired
Equivalent Pri-
vacy
128-Bit Wired
Equivalent Pri-
vacy
Wi-Fi Protected
Access-TKIP
Wi-Fi Protect-
ed Access 2
Acronym 64-bit WEP 128-bit WEP WPA-TKIP/AES
(or just WPA)
WPA2-AES (or
just WPA2)
Security Good Better Best Best
Features Static keys Static keys Dynamic key
encryption and
mutual authenti-
cation
Dynamic key
encryption
and mutual
authentication
Encryption
keys based on
RC4 algorithm
(typically 40-bit
keys)
More secure
than 64-bit
WEP using a
key length of
104 bits plus
24 additional
bits of system-
generated data
TKIP (Temporal
Key Integrity
Protocol) added
so that keys
are rotated and
encryption is
strengthened
AES
(Advanced
Encryption
Standard)
does not
cause any
throughput
loss
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
WEP is a common protocol that adds security to all Wi-Fi-compliant
wireless products. WEP gives wireless networks the equivalent level
of privacy protection as a comparable wired network.
64-Bit WEP
64-bit WEP was first introduced with 64-bit encryption, which includes
a key length of 40 bits plus 24 additional bits of system-generated
data (64 bits total). Some hardware manufacturers refer to 64-bit
as 40-bit encryption. Shortly after the technology was introduced,
researchers found that 64-bit encryption was too easy to decode.

1918
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
1918
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
128-Bit Encryption
As a result of 64-bit WEP’s potential security weaknesses, a more
secure method of 128-bit encryption was developed. 128-bit encryption
includes a key length of 104 bits plus 24 additional bits of system-generated
data (128 bits total). Some hardware manufacturers refer to 128-bit as
104-bit encryption. Most of the new wireless equipment in the market
today supports both 64-bit WEP and 128-bit WEP encryption, but you
might have older equipment that only supports 64-bit WEP. All Belkin
wireless products will support both 64-bit WEP and 128-bit encryption.
Encryption Keys
After selecting either the 64-bit WEP or 128-bit encryption mode, it is
critical that you generate an encryption key. If the encryption key is
not consistent throughout the entire wireless network, your wireless
networking devices will be unable to communicate with one another.
You can enter your key by typing in the hex key. A hex (hexadecimal)
key is a combination of numbers and letters from A–F and 0–9. For
64-bit WEP, you need to enter 10 hex keys. For 128-bit WEP, you
need to enter 26 hex keys.
For instance:
AF 0F 4B C3 D4 = 64-bit WEP key
C3 03 0F AF 0F 4B B2 C3 D4 4B C3 D4 E7 = 128-bit WEP key
Write down the hex WEP key from your wireless router (or access
point) and enter it manually into the hex WEP key table in your Card’s
configuration screen.
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
WPA is a new Wi-Fi standard that improves upon the security
features of WEP. To use WPA security, the drivers and software of your
wireless equipment must be upgraded to support it. These updates
will be found on your wireless vendor’s website. There are three types
of WPA security: WPA-PSK (no server), WPA (with radius server), and
WPA2.
WPA-PSK (no server) uses what is known as a pre-shared key as the
network key. A network key is a password that is between eight and
63 characters long. It can be a combination of letters, numbers, or
characters. Each client uses the same network key to access the network.
Typically, this is the mode that will be used in a home environment.
WPA (with radius server) works best in a business environment, in
which a radius server automatically distributes the network key to clients.