20

Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet

The Wireless - Wireless Network Access Tab

Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet

The Wireless - Wireless Network Access Tab

This screen allows you to permit or block wireless access for computers with specific MAC addresses.

Wireless Network Access

You can allow or block access for the MAC addresses you have entered.

Access List

. To permit access, click

Permit to access

. To deny access, click

Prevent from accessing

. If you do

not wish to filter users by MAC address, select

Disabled

.

MAC 1-20

. Enter the MAC addresses of the computers whose access you want to control.

Select MAC Address from Networked Computers

. If you want to select a MAC address from a list, click this

button. The MAC addresses for your computers will be automatically displayed. Click the checkboxes of the MAC

addresses you want to add to your access list. Change these settings as described here and click

Apply

to apply

your changes. Click

Refresh

to retrieve the latest MAC addresses. Click

Close

to close this screen and return to

the

Wireless Network Access

screen.

Change these settings as described here and click

Save Settings

to apply your changes, or click

Cancel

Changes

to cancel your changes. Click

Help

for more information.

Figure 5-9: Wireless - Wireless Network Access Screen

mac address:

the unique address that a manufacturer

assigns to each networking device.

Figure 5-10: Select MAC Address Screen

21

Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet

The Wireless - Advanced Wireless Settings Tab

Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet

The Wireless - Advanced Wireless Settings Tab

This screen allows you to configure the advanced settings for the Access Point. In most cases, these settings do

not need to be changed.

Advanced Wireless

You can change the data transmission and output power settings for the Access Point.

CTS Protection Mode

. The CTS (Clear-To-Send) Protection Mode function boosts the Access Point’s ability to

catch all Wireless-G transmissions but will severely decrease performance. Keep the default setting,

Auto

, so the

Access Point can use this feature as needed, when the Wireless-G products are not able to transmit to the Access

Point in an environment with heavy 802.11b traffic. Select

Enabled

if you want to permanently enable this

feature, or select

Disabled

if you want to permanently disable this feature.

Wireless Isolation

. When this feature is enabled, PCs using different SSIDs cannot see each other, so the

different wireless networks are kept separate from each other. In most cases, including wireless hotspots, keep

the default,

Enabled

. If you want PCs from different wireless networks to communicate, select

Disabled

.

Basic Data Rates

. This setting is not actually one rate of transmission but a series of rates that are advertised to

the other wireless devices in your network, so they know at which rates the Access Point can transmit. At the

Default

setting, the Access Point will advertise that it will automatically select the best rate for transmission.

Other options are

1-2Mbps

, for use with older wireless technology, and

All

, when you wish to have all rates

advertised. The Basic Data Rates are not the rates transmitted; the rates transmitted can be configured through

the TX Rate setting on the Wireless - Basic Wireless Settings tab.

Beacon Interval.

This value indicates the frequency interval of the beacon. A beacon is a packet broadcast by

the Access Point to keep the network synchronized. A beacon includes the wireless networks service area, the

Access Point address, the Broadcast destination addresses, a time stamp, Delivery Traffic Indicator Maps, and

the Traffic Indicator Message (TIM).

DTIM Interval

. This value indicates how often the Access Point sends out a Delivery Traffic Indication Message

(DTIM). Lower settings result in more efficient networking, while preventing your PC from dropping into power-

saving sleep mode. Higher settings allow your PC to enter sleep mode, thus saving power, but interferes with

wireless transmissions.

RTS Threshold.

This setting determines how large a packet can be before the Access Point coordinates

transmission and reception to ensure efficient communication. This value should remain at its default setting of

2347

. Should you encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor modifications are recommended.

Figure 5-11: Wireless - Advanced Wireless

Settings Screen

cts

(clear-to-send): a signal sent by a wireless device,

signifying that it is ready to receive data.

beacon internal:

data transmitted on your wireless network

that keeps the network synchronized.

rts

(request to send): a networking method of coordinating

large packets through the RTS Threshold setting.

dtim

(delivery traffic indication message): a message

included in data packets that can increase wireless

efficiency.

packet:

a unit of data sent over a network.

22

Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet

The Wireless - Advanced Wireless Settings Tab

Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet

Fragmentation Threshold

.

This specifies the maximum size a data packet can be before splitting and creating

a new packet. It should remain at its default setting of

2346

. A smaller setting means smaller packets, which will

create more packets for each transmission. If you have decreased this value and experience high packet error

rates, you can increase it again, but it will likely decrease overall network performance. Only minor modifications

of this value are recommended.

Output Power

. You can adjust the output power of the Access Point to get the appropriate coverage for your

wireless network. Select the level you need for your environment. If you are not sure which setting to choose,

then keep the default setting,

100%

.

Change these settings as described here and click

Save Settings

to apply your changes, or click

Cancel

Changes

to cancel your changes. Click

Help

for more information.

fragmentation:

breaking a packet into smaller units

when transmitting over a network.

23

Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet

The AP Mode Tab

Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet

The AP Mode Tab

On this screen you can change the Access Point’s mode of operation. In most cases, you can keep the default,

Access Point

. You may wish to do this if you want to use the Access Point as a wireless repeater to extend the

range of your wireless network. You may also wish to do this if you want to use the Access Point as a wireless

bridge; for example, you can use two Access Points in Wireless Bridge mode to connect two wired networks that

are in two different buildings.

AP Mode

The Access Point offers three modes of operation: Access Point, Wireless Repeater, and Wireless Bridge. For the

Repeater and Bridge modes, make sure the SSID, channel, and security settings are the same for the other

wireless access points/devices.

MAC Address

The MAC address of the Access Point is displayed here.

Access Point

. The Mode is set to

Access Point

by default. This connects your wireless PCs to a wired network.

In most cases, no change is necessary.

If you want to let the Access Point’s signal be repeated, then click the checkbox next to

Allow wireless signal to

be repeated by a repeater

. Enter the MAC addresses of the repeaters in the

MAC 1-3

fields. Repeaters can be

another access point or the Wireless-G Range Expander (model number: WRE54G).

Change these settings as described here and click

Save Settings

to apply your changes, or click

Cancel

Changes

to cancel your changes. Click

Help

for more information.

Figure 5-12: AP Mode Screen

IMPORTANT:

For Wireless Repeater and Wireless Bridge modes, the remote access point must be a

second Linksys Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet (model number: WAP54GP) or a

Linksys Wireless-G Exterior Access Point with Power Over Ethernet (model number: WAP54GPE). The

Access Point will not communicate with any other kind of remote access point.

24

Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet

The AP Mode Tab

Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet

Wireless Repeater

. When set to Wireless Repeater mode, the Wireless Repeater is able to talk to up a remote

access point within its range and retransmit its signal. This feature only works with the Linksys Wireless-G

Exterior Access Point with Power Over Ethernet (model number: WAG54GPE) or another Wireless-G Access Point

with Power Over Ethernet (model number: WAP54GP).

To configure a Wireless Repeater environment, select

Wireless Repeater

and enter the MAC address of the

remote access point in the

MAC 1

field. If you do not know the access point’s MAC address, click the

Site Survey

button. Select the access point you want to use and click the

Apply

button. Then click the

Close

button to return

to the

AP Mode

screen. If you do not see the access point you want, click the

Refresh

button to search for access

points again.

Change these settings as described here and click

Save Settings

to apply your changes, or click

Cancel

Changes

to cancel your changes. Click

Help

for more information.

Figure 5-13: Wireless Repeater Diagram

Figure 5-14: Site Survey Screen