Wireless-N ADSL2+ Modem Router DGN2000 Reference Manual

1-12

Connecting Your Router to the Internet

v1.0, July 2008

How the Internet Connection Works

Your modem router is now configured to provide Internet access for your network. Your modem

router automatically connects to the Internet when one of your computers requires access. It is not

necessary to run a dialer or login application such as dial-up networking or Enternet to connect,

log in, or disconnect. The modem router performs these functions automatically as needed.

To access the Internet from any computer connected to your modem router, launch an Internet

browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer. You should see the modem router’s Internet LED

blink, indicating communication to the ISP. The browser should begin to display a Web page.

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v1.0, July 2008

Chapter 2

Configuring Your Wireless Network

and Security Settings

This chapter describes how to configure the wireless features of your DGN2000 Wireless-N

ADSL2+ Modem Router.For a wireless connection, the SSID, also called the wireless network

name, and the wireless security setting must be the same for the modem router and wireless

computers or wireless adapters. NETGEAR strongly recommends that you use wireless security.

This chapter includes:

•

“Planning Your Wireless Network

”

•

“Manually Configuring Your Wireless Network

”

•

“Manually Configuring Your Wireless Security

”

•

“Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS) to Configure Your Wireless Network and Security

Planning Your Wireless Network

For compliance and compatibility between similar products in your area, the operating channel

and region must be set correctly.

To configure the wireless network, you can either specify the wireless settings, or you can use

Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) to automatically set the SSID and implement WPA/WPA2 security.

•

To manually configure the wireless settings, you must know the following:

–

SSID. The default SSID for the modem router is NETGEAR.

–

The wireless mode (802.11n, 802.11g, or 802.11b) that each wireless adapter supports.

–

Wireless security option. To successfully implement wireless security, check each wireless

adapter to determine which wireless security option it supports.

See

“Manually Configuring Your Wireless Security” on page 2-10

.

Warning:

Computers can connect wirelessly at a range of several hundred feet. This can

allow others outside of your immediate area to access your network.

Wireless-N ADSL2+ Modem Router DGN2000 Reference Manual

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Configuring Your Wireless Network and Security Settings

v1.0, July 2008

•

Push 'N' Connect (WPS) automatically implements wireless security on the modem router

while, at the same time, allowing you to automatically implement wireless security on any

WPS-enabled devices (such as wireless computers and wireless adapter cards). You activate

WPS by pressing a WPS button on the modem router, clicking an on-screen WPS button, or

entering a PIN number. This generates a new SSID and implements WPA/WPA2 security.

To set up your wireless network using the WPS feature:

–

Use the WPS button on the side of the modem router (there is also an on-screen WPS

button), or enter the PIN of the wireless device.

–

Make sure that all wireless computers and wireless adapters on the network are Wi-Fi

certified and WPA or WPA 2 capable, and that they support WPS configuration.

See

“Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS) to Configure Your Wireless Network and Security” on

page 2-17

.

Wireless Placement and Range Guidelines

The range of your wireless connection can vary significantly based on the physical placement of

the modem router. The latency, data throughput performance, and notebook power consumption of

wireless adapters also vary depending on your configuration choices.

For best results, place your modem router according to the following guidelines:

•

Near the center of the area in which your PCs will operate.

•

In an elevated location such as a high shelf where the wirelessly connected PCs have

line-of-sight access (even if through walls).

•

Away from sources of interference, such as PCs, microwave ovens, and 2.4 GHz cordless

phones.

•

Away from large metal surfaces.

•

Put the antenna in a vertical position to provide the best side-to-side coverage. Put the antenna

in a horizontal position to provide the best up-and-down coverage.

•

If using multiple access points, it is better if adjacent access points use different radio

frequency channels to reduce interference. The recommended channel spacing between

adjacent access points is 5 channels (for example, use Channels 1 and 6, or 6 and 11).

The time it takes to establish a wireless connection can vary depending on both your security

settings and placement. WEP connections can take slightly longer to establish. Also, WEP

encryption can consume more battery power on a notebook computer.

Wireless-N ADSL2+ Modem Router DGN2000 Reference Manual

Configuring Your Wireless Network and Security Settings

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v1.0, July 2008

Wireless Security Options

Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11g wireless networks at a maximum range of up to

300 feet. Such distances can allow for others outside your immediate area to access your network.

Unlike wired network data, your wireless data transmissions can extend beyond your walls and

can be received by anyone with a compatible adapter. For this reason, use the security features of

your wireless equipment. The modem router provides highly effective security features, which are

covered in detail in this chapter. Deploy the security features appropriate to your needs.

There are several ways you can enhance the security of your wireless network:

There are several ways you can enhance the security of your wireless network:

•

Restrict access based on MAC address

. You can allow only trusted PCs to connect so that

unknown PCs cannot wirelessly connect to the modem router. Restricting access by MAC

address adds an obstacle against unwanted access to your network, but the data broadcast over

the wireless link is fully exposed (see

“Restricting access by MAC address” on page 2-11

).

•

Turn off the broadcast of the wireless network name SSID

. If you disable broadcast of the

SSID, only devices that have the correct SSID can connect. This nullifies wireless network

discovery feature of some products, such as Windows XP, but the data is still exposed (see

“Hiding your wireless network name (SSID)” on page 2-11

).

Figure 2-1

DGN2000

Wireless-N ADSL2+ Modem Router DGN2000 Reference Manual

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Configuring Your Wireless Network and Security Settings

v1.0, July 2008

•

WEP

. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption provides data security. WEP Shared

Key authentication and WEP data encryption block all but the most determined eavesdropper.

This data encryption mode has been superseded by WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK (see

“Configuring WEP” on page 2-15

).

•

WPA-802.1x

.

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) with user authentication implemented using

IEE 802.1x and RADIUS servers (see

“Configuring WPA-802.1x” on page 2-16

).

•

WPA-PSK (TKIP) + WPA2-PSK (AES)

. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) using a pre-shared

key to perform authentication and generate the initial data encryption keys. The very strong

authentication along with dynamic per frame re-keying of WPA makes it virtually impossible

to compromise (see

“Configuring Mixed WPA-PSK+WPA2-PSK Security” on page 2-13

).

Manually Configuring Your Wireless Network

You can view or manually configure the wireless settings and wireless security for the modem

router in the Wireless Settings screen. If you want to make changes, make sure to note the current

settings first. Once you have established basic wireless connectivity, you can enable security

settings appropriate to your needs.

To manually configure the wireless settings:

1.

Log in to the modem router 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.

Select the

Wireless Settings

in the main menu. The Wireless Settings screen displays.

Note:

If you use a wireless computer to change the wireless network name (SSID) or

wireless security settings, you will be disconnected when you click

Apply

. To

avoid this problem, use a computer with a wired connection to access the modem

router.