Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802

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Wireless Configuration

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How to Set Up and Test Basic Wireless Connectivity

Follow the instructions below to set up and test basic wireless connectivity. Once you have

established basic wireless connectivity, you can enable security settings appropriate to your needs.

1.

Log in to the WPN802 at its default LAN address of

with its default user

name of

admin

and default password of

password

, or using whatever LAN address and

password you have set up.

2.

Click

Wireless Settings

in the main menu of the WPN802.

Figure 4-5:

Wireless Settings menu

3.

Choose a suitable descriptive name for the wireless network name (SSID). In the SSID box,

enter a value of up to 32 alphanumeric characters. The default SSID is NETGEAR.

Note:

The SSID is case sensitive; NETGEAR is not the same as nETgear. Also, the SSID of

any wireless access adapters must match the SSID you configure in the NETGEAR

RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802. If they do not match, you will not get a

wireless connection to the WPN802.

4.

Set the Region. Select the region in which the wireless interface will operate.

Note:

If you use a wireless computer to configure WPA settings, you will be

disconnected when you click Apply. Reconfigure your wireless adapter to match the

new settings or access the wireless access point from a wired computer to make any

further changes.

Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802

Wireless Configuration

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202-10101-01, 4 May 2005

5.

Set the Channel. The default channel is 11.

This field determines which operating frequency will be used. It should not be necessary to

change the wireless channel unless you notice interference problems with another nearby

wireless router or access point. Select a channel that is not being used by any other wireless

networks within several hundred feet of your wireless access point. For more information on

the wireless channel frequencies please refer to

“Wireless Channels” on page B-7

.

6.

For initial configuration and test, leave the Wireless Card Access List set to “Everyone” and

the Encryption Strength set to “Disabled.”

7.

Click

Apply

to save your changes.

8.

Configure and test your computers for wireless connectivity.

Program the wireless adapter of your computers to have the same SSID and channel that you

configured in the WPN802. Check that they have a wireless link and are able to obtain an IP

address by DHCP from the WPN802.

Warning:

The Network Name (SSID) is case sensitive. If NETGEAR is the Network Name

(SSID) in your wireless access point, you must enter NETGEAR in your computer's wireless

settings. Typing nETgear will not work.

Once your computers have basic wireless connectivity, you can configure the advanced wireless

security functions.

How to Configure WEP or WPA

Not all wireless adapters support WPA. Furthermore, client software is also required. Windows XP

and Windows 2000 with service pack 3 do include WPA support. Nevertheless, the wireless

adapter hardware and driver must also support WPA. For instructions on configuring wireless

computers or PDAs for WPA-PSK security, consult the documentation for the product you are

using.

To configure WEP or WPA data encryption, follow these steps:

Note:

If you are configuring the WPN802 from a wireless computer and you change the

WPN802’s SSID, channel, or security settings, you will lose your wireless connection

when you click on Apply. You must then change the wireless settings of your computer

to match the WPN802’s new settings.

Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802

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Wireless Configuration

202-10101-01, 4 May 2005

1.

Log in to the WPN802 at its default LAN address of

with its default user

name of

admin

and default password of

password

, or using whatever LAN address and

password you have set up.

2.

Click

Wireless Settings

in the main menu of the WPN802.

3.

From the Security Options menu, select

WEP/WPA

. The WEP/WPA Settings page opens.

Figure 4-6:

Wireless Settings encryption menu

4.

Select the Network Authentication and Data Encryption from the drop-down lists.

Please refer to

“Authentication and WEP Data Encryption” on page B-2

for a full explanation

of each of these options, as defined by the IEEE 802.11 wireless communication standard.

5.

Either enter a Passphrase and click Generate Keys, or manually enter the keys. The keys must

be identical on all computers and access points in your network.

•

Passphrase - The passphrase is case sensitive; NETGEAR is not the same as nETgear. The

four key boxes will be automatically populated with key values.

•

Manual - Enter ten hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0-9, a-f, or A-F). These entries

are not case sensitive; AA is the same as aa.

Note:

If you use a wireless computer configure WEP settings, you will be disconnected

when you click Apply. You must then either configure your wireless adapter to match

the wireless access point WEP settings or access the wireless access point from a wired

computer to make any further changes.

Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802

Wireless Configuration

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Select which of the four keys will be active.

6.

Enable Wireless Client Security Separator: The associated wireless clients will not be able to

communicate with each other if this feature is enabled. The default setting is Disable.

7.

Click

Apply

to save your settings.

Configuring Advanced Wireless Settings

Click on Wireless Settings under the Advanced Heading in the Main Menu to go to the Advanced

Wireless Settings page:

Figure 4-7:

Advanced Wireless Settings page

Warning

: The wireless access point is already configured with the optimum settings. Do not alter

these settings unless directed by NETGEAR support. Incorrect settings may disable the wireless

access point unexpectedly.

The advanced wireless settings are explained below:

•

Enable SuperG Mode:

Enable SuperG mode may increase the overall wireless performance.

Default: Disabled.

•

RTS Threshold:

Request to Send Threshold. The packet size that is used to determine if it

should use the CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection)

mechanism or the CSMA/CA mechanism for packet transmission. With the CSMA/CD

transmission mechanism, the transmitting station sends out the actual packet as soon as it has

waited for the silence period. With the CSMA/CA transmission mechanism, the transmitting

station sends out an RTS packet to the receiving station, and waits for the receiving station to

send back a CTS (Clear to Send) packet before sending the actual packet data. Default: 2346.

Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802

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Wireless Configuration

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•

Fragmentation Length:

This is the maximum packet size used for fragmentation. Packets

larger than the size programmed in this field will be fragmented. The Fragment Threshold

value must be larger than the RTS Threshold value. Default: 2346

•

Beacon Interval:

The interval time between 20ms and 1000ms for each beacon transmission.

Default: 100

•

DTIM Interval:

The Delivery Traffic Indication Message. Specifies the data beacon rate

between 1 and 255. Default: 1

•

Preamble Type:

A long transmit preamble may provide a more reliable connection or slightly

longer range. A short transmit preamble gives better performance. Auto will automatically

handle both long and short preamble. Default: Auto.

Wireless Card Access (Restricting by MAC Address)

The Wireless Card Access Setup page displays a list of wireless computers that are allowed to

connect to the wireless access point based on their MAC addresses. These wireless computers

must also have the correct SSID and WEP settings configured on the Wireless Settings page to

access the wireless network.

From the Wireless Settings menu, click the Setup Access List button to display the Wireless

Access List screen:

Figure 4-8:

Wireless Access Control List screen

By default, any wireless computer that is configured with the correct SSID will be allowed access

to your wireless network. For increased security, you can restrict access to the wireless network to

only allow specific computers based on their MAC addresses.