54Mbps Wireless Router Model KWGR614 Reference Manual

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Introduction

v1.2, September 2006

The Router’s Front Panel

The front panel of the 54Mpbs Wireless Router contains the status lights described below.

You can use the status lights to verify connections. Viewed from left to right, the table below

describes the lights on the front panel of the router.

Figure 1-1

Table 1-1. Status Light Descriptions

LED

Activity

Description

1.

Power

On -- Amber

Off

The router integrity test is running.

Power is not supplied to the router.

2.

Test

On

Off

The system is initializing or performing a firmware upgrade.

The system is ready and running.

3.

Wireless

On

Off

Indicates that the Wireless port is initialized.

Indicates that the Wireless port is disabled.

5

1

2

4

54Mbps Wireless Router Model KWGR614 Reference Manual

Introduction

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v1.2, September 2006

The Router’s Rear Panel

The rear panel of the 54Mbps Wireless Router Model KWGR614 contains these connections.

Viewed from left to right, the rear panel contains the following features:

1.

AC power adapter port

2.

Internet (WAN) Ethernet port for connecting the router to a cable or ADSL modem

3.

Four Local (LAN) 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports for connecting the router to the local

computers

4.

Internet

On -- Amber

On -- Green

Blink -- Green

The Ethernet cable is connected but the wireless router has not

gotten an Internet address.

The wireless router has an Internet address.

Data is being communicated with the Internet.

5.

LAN (Local

Area Network)

Lights 1-4

On (Green)

Blink (Green)

On (Amber)

Blink (Amber)

Off

The local port is connected to a 100 Mbps device.

Data is being transmitted at 100 Mbps.

The local port has detected a link with a 10 Mbps device.

Data is being transmitted at 10 Mbps.

No link is detected on this port.

Figure 1-2

Table 1-1. Status Light Descriptions

1

3

4

2

5

54Mbps Wireless Router Model KWGR614 Reference Manual

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Introduction

v1.2, September 2006

4.

Factory Default Reset push button for

Restoring the Default Configuration and Password

5.

Wireless antennae

Installing the 54Mpbs Wireless Router

For installation instructions refer to the setup manual that came on the CD

.

Maintenance and Support

NETGEAR offers the following features to help you maximize your use of the 54Mpbs Wireless

Router:

•

Flash memory for firmware upgrades

•

Free technical support seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day

Wireless Configuration

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v1.2, September 2006

Chapter 2

Wireless Configuration

This chapter describes how to configure the wireless features of your 54Mpbs Wireless Router. In

planning your wireless network, you should consider the level of security required. You should

also select the physical placement of your wireless router in order to maximize the network speed.

For further information on wireless networking, see

“Wireless Communications” in Appendix B

.

Observing Performance, Placement, and Range Guidelines

The operating distance or range of your wireless connection can vary significantly based on the

physical placement of the wireless 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 wireless router as follows:

•

Near the center of the area in which your computers operates.

•

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

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

•

Away from sources of interference, such as computers, microwaves, and 2.4 GHz cordless

phones.

•

Away from large metal surfaces.

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

settings and placement. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) connections can take slightly longer to

establish. Also, WEP and Wi-Fi Protected Access, Pre-Shared Key (WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK)

encryption can consume more battery power on a notebook computer.

When used on a metallic surface,

Multiple Input, Multiple Output (

MIMO) units must be

oriented vertically to ensure proper operation:

Note:

Failure to follow these guidelines can result in significant performance degradation

or inability to wirelessly connect to the router. For complete range and

performance specifications, please see

Appendix A, “Technical Specifications”

.

54Mbps Wireless Router Model KWGR614 Reference Manual

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Wireless Configuration

v1.2, September 2006

Implementing Appropriate Wireless Security

Unlike wired network data, your wireless data transmissions can be received well beyond your

walls by anyone with a compatible adapter. For this reason, use the security features of your

wireless equipment. The 54Mpbs Wireless 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:

•

Restrict access based on MAC address.

You can restrict access to only trusted computers so

that unknown computers cannot wirelessly connect to the KWGR614. MAC address filtering

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

wireless link is fully exposed.

•

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 the wireless network

‘discovery’ feature of some products such as Windows XP, but the data is still fully exposed to

a determined snoop using specialized test equipment like wireless sniffers.

•

WEP.

Provides data security. WEP Shared Key authentication and WEP data encryption will

block all but the most determined eavesdropper.

Note:

Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11b/g wireless networks at a range of up

to three hundred feet. Such distances can allow for others outside of your

immediate area to access your network.

Figure 2-1

KWGR614