Belkin F5D8013D N Wireless Notebook Card User Manual P75448 A F5D8013 man indd

Belkin International, Inc. N Wireless Notebook Card P75448 A F5D8013 man indd

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Contents

Manual Part 2

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility28If desired, you may connect manually to a WPS-enabled network. Click on the “Advanced” tab to open the following window: Enter in the encryption key and security method in order to join this network. The following section describes how to connect to a secure network that does not support WPS.

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utilitysection29123456The Belkin N 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 standardis used by the router (or access point). (See your wireless router’sor access point’s manual for directions on how to access thesecurity 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.

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility30WEP Setup64-Bit WEP Encryption1. 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:AF0F4BC3D4 = 64-bit WEP key3. 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.

Installing and Setting up the Cardsection15123456C. ConfigurationUsing the Belkin Wireless Networking UtilityC.1 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”. Note: In order to see your available networks, you must be near a working wireless routeror access point.

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility16After 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 TrayTo 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 Utilitysection17123456The WNU’s default screen is the “Current Status” tab. The“Current Status” tab displays the current network status andavailable networks.Network StatusThis 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 NetworksThis window displays the available networks at the current location as well as their SSID, Signal Strength, Security Type, Channel, and Network Type.Lost Wireless ConnectionIf the current wireless connection is lost, a window will pop up and the WNU will attempt to reconnect.

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility18Connection FailureOther options will appear during attempts to reconnect. To stop connecting, click “Stop” and to reattempt connection, click “Retry”.Network Status and Solution TipsTo 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 Utilitysection19123456The WNU also features a “Solution Tips” section that provides troubleshooting guidelines.Setting Wireless Network ProfilesThe “My Connections” tab on the WNU allows you to add, edit, anddelete connection profiles. It also displays signal strength, security, and network type.Securing your Wi-Fi® NetworkIf 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

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility20Note: 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.

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utilitysection21123456Wireless 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:Name64-Bit Wired Equivalent Privacy128-Bit EncryptionWi-Fi Protected AccessWi-Fi Protected Access 2Acronym64-bit WEP128-bitWPA-TKIP/AESWPA2-AESSecurityGoodBetterBestBestFeaturesStatic keys Static keys Dynamic key encryption and mutual authenticationDynamic key encryption and mutual authenticationEncryption keys based on RC4 algorithm (typically40-bit keys)Added security over 64-bit WEP using a key length of 104 bits, plus 24 additional bits of system-generated dataTKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) added so that keys are rotated and encryption is strengthenedAES (Advanced Encryption Standard) does not cause any throughput lossWEPWEP 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 WEP64-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 Utility22128-Bit EncryptionAs a result of 64-bit WEP’s potential security weaknesses, amore 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 todaysupports both 64-bit WEP and 128-bit WEP encryption, butyou 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 KeysAfter 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:AF0F4BC3D4 = 64-bit WEP keyC3030FAF0F4BB2C3D44BC3D4E7 = 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.

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utilitysection23123456WPAWPA is a new Wi-Fi standard that improves upon the securityfeatures 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 keyas the network key. A network key is a password that is betweeneight 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 ina home environment.WPA (with radius server) works best in a business environment,in which a radius server automatically distributes the network keyto clients.WPA2requires 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 SecurityTo 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.Configuring your Card to use SecurityAt 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 N Wireless Notebook Card to use the same security settings.

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility24Changing the Wireless Security SettingsYour Belkin N Wireless Notebook Card supports advanced security technology, including Wi-Fi Protected AccessTM 2 (WPA2TM), Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), and Wi-Fi Protected SetupTM (WPS), which simplifies the setup of a wireless network. WPS uses familiar methodologies, such as typed Personal Identification Number (PIN) entry and push-button network-name configuration. This automatically enables strong WPA/WPA2 data encryption and authentication. Using Wi-Fi Protected SetupWhen attempting to connect to a WPS-enabled network, the following screen will appear:1. Personal Identification Number (PIN) Method: In this method, your N Wireless Notebook Card generates a PIN to be entered into your router. 2. Push-Button Configuration (PBC) Method.3. Advanced Configuration Method: For manual connection to a secured network.

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utilitysection25123456WPS uses WPA2 (described below) for encryption. It does not provide additional security. Instead, it standardizes the method for securing your wireless network. On your client utility, WPS-enabled networks are denoted with the key icon. You may use either the PBC method or PIN method to allow a device access to your wireless network. The two methods work as follows:PBC: Push and hold the WPS button located on the back of your router for three seconds. Then, initiate the WPS procedure on the client utility within two minutes. Select the network name in the utility and click “Connect”. Your client will automatically exchange the security information and be added to your wireless network. The PBC method can also be initiated from the client device.You will see the following message if the procedure is initiated from the router:

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility26If the process is started from the client, you will see this message:The client will be automatically enrolled into your wireless network within two minutes.PIN: Your notebook computer has an 8-digit PIN that is associated with WPS. Select the WPS-enabled network and click “Connect” to start the WPS process. Choose the PIN-method option and complete the WPS procedure on your router’s setup utility.

Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utilitysection27123456You will see the following message during the connection process:The client will be automatically enrolled into your wireless network within two minutes.