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Chapter 4

Wireless Configuration

This chapter describes how to configure the wireless features of your MR814 v3 router. In

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

also select the physical placement of your firewall in order to maximize the network speed. For

further information on wireless networking, refer to in

Appendix D, “Wireless Networking

Basics

.”

Observe 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 firewall. The latency, data throughput performance, and

notebook power consumption also vary depending on your configuration choices.

For best results, place your firewall:

•

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, 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. WEP connections can take slightly longer to establish. Also, WEP

encryption can consume more battery power on a notebook PC.

Note:

Failure to follow these guidelines can result in significant performance

degradation or inability to wirelessly connect to the router. For complete range/

performance specifications, please see

Appendix A, “Technical Specifications

.”

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Implement 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 MR814 v3 router provides highly effective security features which are

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

Figure 4-1:

MR814 v3 wireless data security options

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

•

Restrict Access Based on MAC Address.

You can restrict access to only trusted computers o

that unknown computers cannot wirelessly connect to the MR814 v3. MAC address filtering

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

wireless link is fully exposed.

•

WEP.

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

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

eavesdropper.

•

WPA-PSK.

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) data encryption provides strong data security.

WPA-PSK will block eavesdropping. Because this is a new standard, wireless device driver

and software availability may be limited.

Note:

Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11 wireless networks at ranges

of up to 300 feet.

Such distances can allow for others outside of your immediate area to

access your network.

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•

Turn Off the Wireless LAN.

If you disable the wireless LAN, wireless devices cannot

communicate with the router at all. You might choose to turn off the wireless the LAN when

you are away and the others in the household all use wired connections.

•

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.

Understanding Wireless Settings

This section identifies the default factory settings and introduces each wireless option.

Default Factory Settings

When you first receive your MR814 v3, the default factory settings are shown below. You can

restore these defaults with the Factory Default Restore button on the rear panel. After you install

the MR814 v3 router, use the procedures below to customize any of the settings to better meet

your networking needs.

Basic Wireless Settings

To configure the wireless settings of your router, click the Wireless link in the main menu of the

browser interface. The Wireless Settings menu will appear, as shown below.

FEATURE

DEFAULT FACTORY SETTINGS

Wireless Access Point

Enabled

Wireless Access List (MAC Filtering)

All wireless stations allowed

SSID broadcast

Enabled

SSID

NETGEAR

11b RF Channel

11

Authentication Type

Automatic

Wireless Security Options

Disabled

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Figure 4-2:

Wireless Settings menu

•

Name (SSID).

The SSID is also known as the wireless network name. Enter a value of up to

32 alphanumeric characters. In a setting where there is more than one wireless network,

different wireless network names provide a means for separating the traffic. Any device you

want to participate in a particular wireless network will need to use this SSID for that network.

The MR814 v3 default SSID is:

NETGEAR

.

•

Region.

This field identifies the region where the MR814 v3 can be used. It may not be legal

to operate the wireless features of the router in a region other than one of those identified in

this field.

•

Channel.

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 access point. For more information on the wireless channel frequencies please refer to

“Wireless Channels” on page D-2

.

•

Security Options.

These options are the wireless security features you can enable. The table

below identifies the various basic wireless security options. A full explanation of these

standards is available in

Appendix D, “Wireless Networking Basics

.

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Table 4-1.

Security Options

Field

Description

Disable

No wireless security.

WEP

WEP offers the following options:

• Automatic

Normally, this can be left to the default setting of automatic. When set to Automatic, the

MR814 v3 will make a best effort attempt to use whatever options the wireless station is

using. If this fails, you may need to configure this setting so that the MR814 v3 router and

wireless stations match.

•

Open System

With Open Network Authentication and 64- or 128-bit WEP Data Encryption, the MR814 v3

does

perform 64- or 128-bit data encryption but

does not

perform any authentication.

•

Shared Key

Shared Key authentication encrypts the SSID and data.

Choose the Encryption Strength (64- or 128-bit data encryption). Manually enter the key

values or enter a word or group of printable characters in the Passphrase box. Manually

entered keys

are

case sensitive but passphrase characters

are not

case sensitive.

Note

: Not all wireless adapter configuration utilities support WEP passphrase key

generation.

WPA-PSK

WPA-Pre-shared Key performs authentication, uses 128-bit data encryption, and dynamically

changes the encryption keys making it nearly impossible to circumvent.

• Passphrase

Enter a word or group of between 8-63 printable characters in the Passphrase box. These

characters

are

case sensitive.

•

Key Lifetime

This setting determines how often the encryption key is changed. Shorter periods provide

greater security, but adversely affect performance. If desired, you can change the default

value.

Note

: Not all wireless adapter configuration utilities support WPA. Furthermore, client software

is required on the client. Windows XP and Windows 2000 with Service Pack 3 do include the

client software that supports WPA. Nevertheless, the wireless adapter hardware and driver

must also support WPA.