Surf/Share Wireless USB Adapter User Manual F7D2101 8820-00384
Table Of Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Benefits of a Home Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Advantages of a Wireless Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Placement of your Wireless Networking Hardware for Optimal Performance . . .
Introduction Benefits of a Home Network Thank you for purchasing the Belkin Surf/Share 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 or desktop computer to your network. Please be sure to read through this User Manual completely, and pay special attention to the section titled, “Placement of your Wireless Networking Hardware for Optimal Performance.
Introduction Advantages of a Wireless Network • Easy expansion – the wide range of Belkin networking products let you expand your network to include devices such as printers and gaming consoles • 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 • No cabling required – you can spare the expense and hassle of retrofitting Ethernet cabling throughout the home or office • Widespread industry acceptance
Introduction Placement of your Wireless Networking Hardware for Optimal Performance 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.
Introduction 1. Placement of your Wireless Router (or Access Point) 2. Avoid Obstacles and Interference 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. Avoid placing your wireless router (or access point) near devices that may emit radio “noise”, such as microwave ovens.
Introduction 3. Cordless Phone Placement 4. Choose the “Quietest” Channel for your Wireless Network If the performance of your wireless network is impaired after attending to the above issues, and you have a cordless phone: 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.
Introduction 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. 5. Secure Connections, VPNs, and AOL Secure connections typically require a user name and password, and are used where security is important.
Overview Product Features • 2.4GHz ISM (Industrial, Science, and Medical) band operation • USB 2.0 interface, for operation in virtually any computer with a USB 2.0 bus-power port The Adapter complies with the IEEE 802.11n specification to communicate with other 802.11n-compliant wireless devices at up to 300Mbps*. • WPA, WPA2, 64-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), or 128-bit encryption The Adapter is also compatible with 802.11g devices at 54Mbps as well as 802.11b products at 11Mbps.
Overview Applications and Advantages • Difficult-to-wire environments – Enables networking in buildings with solid or finished walls, or open areas where wiring is difficult to install • Wireless roaming with a laptop around the home or office – Offers the freedom of networking without cables • Frequently changing environments – Adapts easily in offices or environments that frequently rearrange or change locations • Connection rates of up to 300Mbps* – Provides immediate high-speed wireless connectivit
Overview Product Specifications Host Interface: USB 2.0 Operating Temperature: 32–104 degrees F (0–40 degrees C) Storage Temperature: -4–158 degrees F (-20–70 degrees C) Humidity: Max. 90% (non-condensing) Typical Operating Range: Up to 1,200 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.
Overview (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. (b) (b) Power/Activity LED Lights when the Adapter is powered on and flashes when it is active. (c) USB Connector (c) Part of the Adapter that fits into your computer’s USB port.
Overview System Requirements Package Contents • PC-compatible laptop with one available USB 2.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter A. Installation Process for Windows Vista and 7 NOTE: For information on updated drivers, please visit the Belkin website at www.belkin.com/support. IMPORTANT: INSTALL THE SOFTWARE BEFORE INSERTING THE ADAPTER. A.1 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive. A.2 Click “Next” to begin the installation process.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter A.3 The InstallShield Wizard will start the installation process. A.4 A window may appear 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. Click on “Install this driver software anyway” to continue.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter A.5 When prompted, plug in your Adapter. A.6 When the installation completes, you will see the following pop-up message on your Windows taskbar.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter A.7 Click “Finish” to restart your computer. A.8 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.9 In the Control Panel, click on “View network status and tasks”. A.10 I n the Network and Sharing Center, click on “Connect to a network”.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter A.11 I n the next screen, select an available wireless network and click “Connect”. A.12 Your Adapter will attempt to connect to the selected network.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter A.13 D epending 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.14 A fter connecting to the network, you can choose to save this network and connect automatically when your Adapter is in range.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter A.15 T he Network and Sharing Center now indicates the network connection that you have just established. The links on the left of the window allow you to configure your network connections.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter B. Installation Process for Windows XP IMPORTANT: INSTALL THE SOFTWARE BEFORE INSERTING THE ADAPTER. B.1 Insert the Installation Software CD into your CD-ROM drive. B.2 The Belkin Wireless Adapter Installer screen will automatically appear within up to 20 seconds. Click “Install Software” or “Next” to start the installation.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter B.3 Select a destination folder for the software installation by clicking “Browse”; or, simply click “Next” to install to the default location. B.4 A Setup Status screen lets you know where you are in the setup process.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter B.5 A window may appear showing the message, “The software you are installing…” This DOES NOT indicate a problem. Our software has been fully tested and is compatible with this operating system. Click on “Continue Anyway” to continue. B.6 When prompted, plug in your Adapter.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter B.7 The Found New Hardware Wizard might appear in 3–15 seconds. If it does, select “Install the software automatically” and click “Next” to install the software. B.8 Click “Finish” to restart your computer.
Installing and Setting up the Adapter Connecting to a Secure Wi-Fi ® Network If you choose to connect to a secure network, determine the type of security (WPA/WPA2 or WEP) and use the appropriate field in the dialog box. 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.
Troubleshooting I can’t connect to the Internet wirelessly. Power LED does not come ON; Adapter is not working. If you are unable to connect to the Internet from a wireless computer, please check the following items: 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 and not blinking. If the LED indicators are not ON, the problem may be that the Adapter is not connected or installed properly.
Troubleshooting Link LED is blinking slowly; I cannot connect to a wireless network or the Internet. Link LED is solid but I cannot connect to the Internet. If you have a signal but can’t get online or obtain an IP address, the problem may be that there is a mismatch between the encryption key settings in your computer and wireless router (or access point). Check the WEP, WPA, or WPA2 key settings to see if they match.
Troubleshooting Data transfer is sometimes slow. Signal strength is poor. 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 Limiting the wireless transmit rate – Limiting the wireless transmit rate can help improve the maximum wireless range, and connection stability. Most wireless cards have the ability to limit the transmission rate. To change this property, go to the Windows Control Panel, open “Network Connections” and double-click on your Adapter’s connection.
Troubleshooting The Adapter does not perform or connection is slow when computer has a built-in wired Ethernet card. What’s the difference between 802.11g and 802.11n? Currently there are three commonly used wireless networking standards, which transmit data at very different maximum speeds. Each is based on the designation for certifying network standards. The most common wireless networking standard, 802.11g, can transmit information up to 54Mbps; 802.
Troubleshooting Belkin Wireless Comparison Chart Wireless Technology G (802.11g) Basic (1x1 802.11n) Surf/Share N MIMO 802.11n Play Dual-Band MIMO 802.11n Speed/ Data Rate* Up to 54Mbps* Up to 150Mbps* 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 US http://www.belkin.com/support UK http://www.belkin.com/uk/support Australia http://www.belkin.com/au/support New Zealand http://www.belkin.com/au/support Singapore 1800 622 1130 Europe http://www.belkin.
Information FCC Statement Federal Communications Commission Notice This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY WITH FCC RULES FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY We, Belkin International, Inc.
Information FCC Caution: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment. 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.
Information Belkin International, Inc., Limited 2-Year Product Warranty What is not covered by this warranty? All above warranties are null and void if the Belkin product is not provided to Belkin for inspection upon Belkin’s request at the sole expense of the purchaser, or if Belkin determines that the Belkin product has been improperly installed, altered in any way, or tampered with.
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.
Information How state law relates to the warranty. THIS WARRANTY CONTAINS THE SOLE WARRANTY OF BELKIN. THERE ARE NO OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR, EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY LAW, IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND SUCH IMPLIED WARRANTIES, IF ANY, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE TERM OF THIS WARRANTY. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to you.
© 2010 Belkin International, Inc. All rights reserved. All trade names are registered trademarks of respective manufacturers listed. Windows and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
