N Wireless ExpressCard™ Adapter User Manual F5D8073
Table of Contents 1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Benefits of a Home Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Advantages of a Wireless Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Placement of your Wireless Networking Hardware for Optimal Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction 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 Wir
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.
Introduction Avoid Obstacles and Interference Avoid placing your wireless router (or access point) near devices that may emit radio “noise”, such as microwave ovens.
Introduction 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.
Overview Product Features 1 ® • 2.4GHz ISM (Industrial, Science, and Medical) band operation • Integrated easy-to-use Belkin Wireless Networking 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 • Data rate of up to 300Mbps* (draft 802.11n), 54Mbps (802.11g), or 11Mbps (802.
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.
Overview 1 (a) (c) 3 4 5 6 (a) Power LED Lights up when the Adapter is powered up (b) Link/Activity LED Lights up when the Adapter is connected; flashes when wireless activity is detected (c) Adapter Connector Part of the Adapter that fits into your computer’s CardBus slot System Requirements • PC-compatible computer with one available 32-bit, CardBus slot • Windows 2000, XP with SP2, or Vista *** (clients are not Mac OS compatible) ® ™ • Minimum 64MB of RAM • CD-ROM drive • Internet browser Packa
Installing and Setting up the Adapter A. Installation Process for Windows Vista ***NOTE: At the time of initial release of this product, Windows Vista drivers were not available for release and might not be included on the CD shipped with your product. For information on updated drivers for Windows Vista (if any), please visit the Belkin website at www.belkin.com/support/vista. IMPORTANT: INSTALL THE SOFTWARE BEFORE INSERTING THE CARD. A.1 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive. A.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter A.4 1 2 3 4 5 6 A.5 A Setup Status screen will let you know where you are in the setup process. A.6 A window may appear a second time 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. A.7 When prompted, turn off your computer and plug in your Adapter. Your installation is now complete.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter A.8 When the installation completes, click on “Finish”. A.9 The Found New Hardware Wizard might appear within 3–15 seconds. If it does, continue to follow the prompts. Select “Locate and install the driver software” to continue. A.10 You might see a screen similar to the one pictured below. This DOES NOT mean there is a problem. Our software has been fully tested and is compatible with this operating system.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter A.12 In the Control Panel, click on “View network status and tasks”. 1 2 4 A.13 In the Network and Sharing Center, click on “Connect to a network”. 5 6 A.14 In the next screen, select an available wireless network and click “Connect”. A.15 Your Adapter will attempt to connect to the selected network.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter A.16 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. A.17 After connecting to the network, you can choose to save this network and connect automatically when your Adapter is in range. A.18 The Network and Sharing Center now indicates the network connection that you have just made.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter B.3 The InstallShield Wizard starts the installation process. 1 2 4 B.4 Select a destination folder for the software installation by clicking “Browse”; or, simply click “Next” to select a default location. B.5 A Setup Status screen lets you know where you are in the setup process. B.6 After the software installation is finished, a prompt will instruct you to insert the Adapter into your computer’s ExpressCard slot. B.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter B.9 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. B.10 The Wizard will now install your software. B.11 The installation is now complete. Click “Finish” to close the “Found New Hardware Wizard”. B.12 Click “Finish” again to exit the InstallShield Wizard. B.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter C. Configuration 1 Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 2 After restarting your computer, double-click the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility icon on the desktop screen. Note: The Belkin Wireless Networking Utility icon can also be found on the system tray. C.2 The Belkin Wireless Networking Utility screen will appear. C.3 Select a network to which to connect from the “Available Networks” list and click “Connect”.
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”.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 1 2 3 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).
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.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility The WNU also features a “Solution Tips” section that provides troubleshooting guidelines. 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. 1 2 3 5 6 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.
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). Wired 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 26character hex key. A hex key is a combination of letters, a–f, and numbers, 0–9.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 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.
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.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 1 WPA 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.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility Changing the Wireless Security Settings The Belkin N Wireless ExpressCard Adapter supports the latest WPA security feature as well as the legacy WEP security standard. By default, wireless security is disabled. To enable security, you will first need to determine which standard is used by the router (or access point). (See your wireless router’s or access point’s manual for directions on how to access the security settings.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility WEP Setup 1 64-Bit WEP Encryption 2 Select “WEP” from the “Data Encryption” drop-down menu. 2. After selecting your WEP encryption mode, you can enter your key by typing in the hex key manually. 3 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. 4 For instance: AF 0F 4B C3 D4 = 64-bit WEP key 5 6 3. Click “Save” to finish.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility WARNING: If you are using a wireless client to turn on the security settings in your wireless router (or access point), you will temporarily lose your wireless connection until you activate security on your wireless client. Please record the key prior to applying changes in the wireless router (or access point). If you don’t remember the hex key, your client will be locked out of the wireless router (or access point). 128-Bit WEP Encryption 1.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 3. Click “Save” to finish. Encryption in the wireless router (or access point) is now set. Each of the computers on your wireless network will now need to be configured with the same security settings. WARNING: If you are using a wireless client to turn on the security WPA-PSK (no server) Choose this setting if your network does not use a radius server. WPA-PSK (no server) is typically used in home and small office networking. 1.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 3. Click “Save” to finish. You must now set all clients (network cards) to match these settings. Wireless Networking Utility Options The “Options” tab on the WNU provides the user the ability to customize his or her WNU settings. Wireless Networking Utility Help The WNU “Help” tab provides users with access to online and telephone support, as well as advanced diagnostic tools.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 1 Advanced Diagnostic Tools The “Advanced Diagnostic Tools” section is the central control panel for all the settings of the hardware and software components of the wireless network. It provides an array of tests and connectivity services to ensure optimal network performance.
Troubleshooting I can’t connect to the Internet wirelessly. If you are unable to connect to the Internet from a wireless computer, please check the following items: 1. Look at the lights on your wireless router. If you’re using a Belkin Wireless Router, the lights should be as follows: • The “Power” light should be on. • The “Connected” light should be on, and not blinking. • The “WAN” light should be either on or blinking.
Troubleshooting 3. The exact window that opens will vary depending on the model of wireless card you have; however, any of the utilities should have a list of “Available Networks”. Available networks are wireless networks to which you can connect. If you are using a Belkin 802.11g (G Plus) Router, or Belkin 802.11g (54g) Router, “Belkin54g” is the default name. The name of your wireless network appears in “Available Networks”.
Troubleshooting The name of your wireless network DOES NOT appear in the list of “Available Networks”. If the correct network name is not listed, check the SSID settings to see if they match. The SSID is case-sensitive and the spelling on each computer must be exactly the same in order for the Adapter to connect to the wireless router (or access point). Note: To check the SSID settings or look for an available network, double-click the Signal Indicator icon to bring up the “Wireless Networks” screen.
Troubleshooting Link LED is blinking slowly; I cannot connect to a wireless network or the Internet. 1 If your Adapter appears to be functioning properly, but you cannot connect to a network or you have a red wireless icon at the bottom of your screen, the problem may be that there is a mismatch between the network name (SSID) settings in your wireless network properties. 2 Check the SSID settings to see if they match.
Troubleshooting Data transfer is sometimes slow. Wireless technology is radio-based, which means connectivity and the throughput performance between devices decreases when the distance between devices increases. Other factors that will cause signal degradation (metal is generally the worst culprit) are obstructions such as walls and metal appliances. As a result, the typical indoor range of your wireless devices will be between 100 to 200 feet.
Troubleshooting If issues persist even at close range, please contact Belkin Technical Support. Why are there two wireless utilities in my system tray? Which one do I use? There are several features and advantages from using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility over the Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration utility. We offer a site survey, detailed link information, and adapter diagnosis, to name a few. It’s essential to know which utility is managing your Adapter.
Troubleshooting Adapter does not perform or connection is unstable when computer has a second built-in wireless network card (such as a mini PCI or Intel® Centrino™). This condition occurs if your computer has a built-in wireless card while your Belkin N Wireless ExpressCard Adapter is also active. This happens because Windows must now handle two active wireless connections. You need to disable the built-in wireless card from your computer under “Network Adapters” in the Device Manager.
Troubleshooting Belkin Wireless Comparison Chart 1 G (802.11g) G Plus MIMO (802.11g with MIMO MRC) N MIMO (draft 802.11n with MIMO) N1 MIMO (draft 802.11n with MIMO) Speed/Data Rate* Up to 54Mbps* Up to 54Mbps* Up to 300Mbps* Up to 300Mbps* Frequency Common household devices such as cordless phones and microwave ovens may interfere with the unlicensed band 2.4GHz Common household devices such as cordless phones and microwave ovens may interfere with the unlicensed band 2.
Troubleshooting Technical Support You can find technical support information at www.belkin.com/ networking. If you want to contact technical support by phone, please call: US: 877-736-5771 800-223-5546 ext. 2263 UK: 0845 607 77 87 Australia: 1800 235 546 New Zealand: 0800 235 546 Singapore: 65 64857620 Europe: www.belkin.
Information 1 FCC Statement DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY WITH FCC RULES FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY We, Belkin International, Inc., of 501 West Walnut Street, Compton, CA 90220, declare under our sole responsibility that the product, 2 F5D8073 4 Caution: Exposure to Radio Frequency Radiation. Exposure to Radio Frequency Radiation. The radiated output power of this device is far below the FCC radio frequency exposure limits.
Information Modifications The FCC requires the user to be notified that any changes or modifications to this device that are not expressly approved by Belkin International, Inc., may void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. Belkin International, Inc., Limited Lifetime Product Warranty What this warranty covers. Belkin International, Inc. (“Belkin”) warrants to the original purchaser of this Belkin product that the product shall be free of defects in design, assembly, material, or workmanship.
Information Belkin reserves the right to review the damaged Belkin product. All costs of shipping the Belkin product to Belkin for inspection shall be borne solely by the purchaser. If Belkin determines, in its sole discretion, that it is impractical to ship the damaged equipment to Belkin, Belkin may designate, in its sole discretion, an equipment repair facility to inspect and estimate the cost to repair such equipment.
N Wireless ExpressCard™ Adapter Belkin Tech Support US: 877-736-5771 800-233-1100 ext. 2263 310-898-1100 ext. 2263 UK: 0845 607 77 87 Australia: 1800 235 546 New Zealand: 0800 235 546 Singapore: 65 64857620 Europe: www.belkin.com/support Belkin International, Inc. 501 West Walnut Street Los Angeles, CA 90220-5221, USA 310-898-1100 310-898-1111 fax Belkin Ltd. 4 Pioneer Avenue Tuggerah Business Park Tuggerah, NSW 2259, Australia +61 (0) 2 4350 4600 +61 (0) 2 4350 4700 fax Belkin B.V.
