Belkin F5D8011B N1 Wireless Notebook Card User Manual P75172 F5D8011 man indd
Belkin International, Inc. N1 Wireless Notebook Card P75172 F5D8011 man indd
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Part 2
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Installing and Setting up the Card
Installing and Setting up the Card
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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 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.
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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.
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”.
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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.
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
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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 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.
At the time of publication, four encryption methods are available:
Encryption Methods:
Name 64-bit Wired
Equivalent Privacy
128-bit
Encryption
Wi-Fi
Protected
Access-TKIP
Wi-Fi
Protected
Access 2
Acronym 64-bit WEP 128-bit 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
authentication
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
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.
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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.
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
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.
WPA2 requires Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for
encryption of data, which offers much greater security than WPA.
WPA uses both Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) and AES
for encryption.
Setting up your Belkin Wireless Router (or Access Point)
to use Security
To start using security, you need to first enable WEP or WPA for
your wireless router (or access point). For Belkin Wireless Routers
(or Access Points), these security features can be configured by using
the web-based interface. See your wireless router’s (or access point’s)
manual for directions on how to access the management interface.
IMPORTANT: You must now set all wireless network cards/adapters
to match these settings.
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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 will need to set your N1 Wireless Notebook Card to
use the same security settings.
Changing the Wireless Security Settings
The Belkin N1 Wireless Notebook Card 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.)
To access the security settings on your Card, click the “My
Connections” tab and point to the connection for which you want to
change security settings. Click “Edit” to change settings.
WEP Setup
64-Bit WEP Encryption
1. 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.
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 instance:
AF 0F 4B C3 D4 = 64-bit WEP key
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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
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).
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 need to 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. 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. Select “WEP” from the drop-down menu.
2. After selecting your WEP encryption mode, you can enter your
key by typing in the hex key manually.
A hex (hexadecimal) key is a combination of numbers and
letters from A–F and 0–9. For 128-bit WEP, you need to enter
26 hex keys.
For instance:
C3 03 0F AF 0F 4B B2 C3 D4 4B C3 D4 E7 = 128-bit WEP key
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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, one-click check for upgrades to updated versions
of software, and advanced diagnostic tools.
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. This same key must be
used on all of the clients (network cards) that you want to include
in your wireless network.