N1 Wireless ExpressCard™ 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. 4 Pioneer Avenue Tuggerah Business Park Tuggerah, NSW 2259, Australia +61 (0) 2 4372 8600 +61 (0) 2 4372 8603 fax Belkin B.V.
N1 Wireless ExpressCard™ User Manual F5D8071
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 1 2 3 4 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
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.
Overview 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 • 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.
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.
Overview 1 3 (b) (c) 4 5 6 (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 Packag
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.
Installing and Setting up the Card 1 2 for the software installation, or simply click “Next”. 3 4 5 6 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. 9 section 1.
Installing and Setting up the Card Insert Insert the Card into your Computer ���������������������� Step 2 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.
Installing and Setting up the Card 2.4 The Wizard will now install your software. 1 2 4 5 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.
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.
Installing and Setting up the Card 1 2 Utility icon can also be found on the system tray. 3 Note: Double-clicking on the Belkin 4 Wireless Networking Utility icon on the system tray will bring up the “Utility” screen. Installation is now complete. 13 5 6 section 3.
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.
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 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).
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 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 26-character hex key. A hex key is a combination of letters, a–f, and numbers, 0–9. 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.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 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.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 1 WPA 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.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility Configuring your Card to use Security At this point, you should already have your wireless router (or access point) set to use WPA or WEP. In order for you to gain wireless connection, you must set your N1 Wireless ExpressCard to use the same security settings. Changing the Wireless Security Settings The Belkin N1 Wireless ExpressCard supports the latest WPA security feature as well as the legacy WEP security standard. By default, wireless security is disabled.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 1 WEP Setup 64-Bit WEP Encryption 1. Select “WEP” from the “Data Encryption” drop-down menu. 2 2. After selecting your WEP encryption mode, you can enter your key by typing in the hex key manually. 3 For instance: AF 0F 4B C3 D4 = 64-bit WEP key 4 5 6 23 section A hex (hexadecimal) key is a combination of numbers and letters from A–F and 0–9. For 64-bit WEP, you must enter 10 hex keys.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 3. Click “Save” to finish. Encryption in the wireless router (or access point) is now set. Each of your computers on your wireless network will now must be configured with the same security settings. 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.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 1 2 3 5 6 3. Click “Save” to finish. Encryption in the wireless router (or access point) is now set. You must now configure each of the computers on your wireless network with the same security settings. 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.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 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. From the “Network Authentication” drop-down menu, select “WPA-PSK (no server)”. 2. Enter your network key. This can be from eight to 63 characters and can be letters, numbers, or symbols.
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 1 2 3 5 6 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, one-click check for upgrades to updated versions of software, and advanced diagnostic tools.
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility 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.
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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 The name of your wireless network appears in “Available Networks”. 1 If the correct network name is listed in the “Available Networks” list, please follow the steps below to connect wirelessly: 2 1. Click on the correct network name in the “Available Networks” list. 2. If the network has security (encryption) enabled, you must 3 If you are still unable to access the Internet after connecting to the wireless network, please contact Belkin Technical Support.
Troubleshooting Installation CD-ROM does not start Belkin Wireless Networking Utility. If the CD-ROM does not start the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility automatically, it could be that the computer is running other applications that are interfering with the CD drive. If the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility screen does not appear within 15-20 seconds, open up your CD-ROM drive by double-clicking on the “My Computer” icon.
Troubleshooting 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. The key is case-sensitive and the spelling on each computer and wireless router (or access point) must be exactly the same in order for the Card to connect to the router.
Troubleshooting Changing the wireless channel – Depending on local wireless traffic and interference, switching the wireless channel of your network can improve performance and reliability. The default channel the router is shipped with is channel 6. You may choose from several other channels depending on your region; see your router’s (or access point’s) user manual for instructions on how to choose other channels.
Troubleshooting The Card 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 N1 Wireless ExpressCard is also active. This happens because Windows must now handle two active wireless connections. The Card does not perform or connection is slow when computer has a built-in wired Ethernet card.
Troubleshooting 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 2.4GHz 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 1 You can find technical support information at www.belkin.com or www.belkin.com/networking.
Information FCC Statement DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY WITH FCC RULES FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY We, Belkin Corporation, of 501 West Walnut Street, Compton, CA 90220, declare under our sole responsibility that the product, F5D8071 to which this declaration relates, complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
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 Corporation may void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. Belkin Corporation Limited Lifetime Product Warranty What this warranty covers. Belkin Corporation 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 Corporation reserves the right to review the damaged Belkin product. All costs of shipping the Belkin product to Belkin Corporation 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 Corporation, Belkin may designate, in its sole discretion, an equipment repair facility to inspect and estimate the cost to repair such equipment.
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