NETGEAR RangeMax™ NEXT Wireless Router WNR834B User Manual

2-12

Configuring Basic Connectivity

v1.2, January 2007

•

Channel

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

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

network. For more information on the wireless channel frequencies, see

“Wireless

Communications” in Appendix B

.

•

Mode

This field determines which data communications protocol is used. You can choose from:

—

g only

Dedicates the WNR834B to communicating with the higher bandwidth 802.11g wireless

devices exclusively.

—

g and b

Provides backward compatibility with the slower 802.11b wireless devices while still

enabling 802.11g communications.

—

Up To 126 Mbps

Provides two transmission streams with different data on the same channel at the same

time.

—

Up To 240 Mbps

Uses channel expansion to achieve the 240 Mbps data rate. The WNR834B router will use

the channel you selected as the primary channel and expand to the secondary channel

(primary channel +4 or –4) to achieve a 40MHz frame-by-frame bandwidth. The

WNR834B router will detect channel usage and will disable frame-by-frame expansion if

the expansion would result in interference with the data transmission of other access

points or clients.

•

Security Options

The selection of wireless security options can significantly affect your network performance.

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

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

WEP, WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK encryption can consume more battery power on a notebook

computer, and can cause significant performance degradation with a slow computer.

Instructions for configuring the security options can be found in

“Choosing Appropriate

Wireless Security” on page 3-1

. A full explanation of wireless security standards is available

in

“Wireless Communications” in Appendix B

.

Note:

The maximum wireless signal rate is derived from the IEEE Standard 802.11

Specifications. Actual data throughput will vary. Network conditions and

environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials

and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate.

NETGEAR RangeMax™ NEXT Wireless Router WNR834B User Manual

Configuring Basic Connectivity

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v1.2, January 2007

Viewing the Advanced Wireless Settings

To view the advanced wireless settings:

From the main menu of the browser interface, under Advanced, click Wireless Settings.

The available settings in this menu are:

•

Enable Wireless Router Radio

If you disable the wireless router radio, wireless devices cannot connect to the WNR834B.

•

Enable SSID Broadcast

If you disable broadcast of the SSID, only devices that know the correct SSID can connect.

Disabling SSID broadcast nullifies the wireless network ‘discovery’ feature of some products,

such as Windows XP.

•

Automatically switch channels to avoid interference

Select this checkbox to have the WNR834B router periodically survey the wireless

environment to ensure that it is using the clearest channel. If a clearer channel is available, it

might automatically switch channels.

Figure 2-7

Note:

After the router switches channels, there could be a slight delay while your

wireless computers reconnect to the router. To avoid this possibility, leave this

checkbox unselected.

NETGEAR RangeMax™ NEXT Wireless Router WNR834B User Manual

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Configuring Basic Connectivity

v1.2, January 2007

•

Wireless Card Access List

When a Wireless Card Access List is configured and enabled, the WNR834B checks the MAC

address of any wireless device attempting a connection, and only allows connections to

computers identified on the trusted computers list. For instructions on configuring the

Wireless Card Access List, see

“Restricting Wireless Access by MAC Address” on page 3-12

.

Note:

The Fragmentation Threshold, CTS/RTS Threshold and Preamble Mode options

are reserved for wireless testing and advanced configuration only. Do not change

these settings.

3-1

v1.2, January 2007

Chapter 3

Safeguarding Your Network

The RangeMax NEXT Wireless Router WNR834B provides highly effective security features

which are covered in detail in this chapter.

This chapter includes:

•

Choosing Appropriate Wireless Security

•

Configuring WEP Wireless Security

•

Configuring WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK Wireless Security

•

Restricting Wireless Access by MAC Address

•

Changing the Administrator Password

•

Backing Up Your Configuration

•

Understanding Your Firewall

Choosing Appropriate Wireless Security

Unlike wired network data, anyone with a compatible adapter can receive your wireless data

transmissions well beyond your walls. Operating an unsecured wireless network creates an

opportunity for outsiders to eavesdrop on your network traffic or to enter your network to access

your computers and files. For this reason, use the security features of your wireless equipment.

Deploy the security features appropriate to your needs.

Note:

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

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

access your network.

NETGEAR RangeMax™ NEXT Wireless Router WNR834B User Manual

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Safeguarding Your Network

v1.2, January 2007

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

increasing effectiveness:

•

Turn Off the Broadcast of the Wireless Network Name SSID.

If you disable the broadcast

of the SSID, only devices that know the correct SSID can connect. This nullifies the wireless

network ‘discovery’ feature of some products such as Windows XP, but your data is still fully

exposed to an intruder using available wireless eavesdropping tools.

•

Restrict Access Based on MAC Address.

You can restrict access to only trusted computers

so that unknown computers cannot wirelessly connect to the WNR834B. MAC address

filtering adds an obstacle against unwanted access to your network by the general public, but

the data broadcast over the wireless link is fully exposed. This data includes your trusted MAC

addresses, which can be read and impersonated by a hacker.

•

WEP.

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

WEP Shared Key authentication and WEP data encryption can be defeated by a determined

eavesdropper using publicly available tools.

•

WPA-PSK

and

WPA2-PSK.

Wi-Fi Protected Access with Pre-Shared Key (WPA-PSK and

WPA2-PSK) data encryption provides extremely strong data security, very effectively

blocking eavesdropping. Because WPA and WPA2 are relatively new standards, older wireless

adapters and devices may not support them. Check whether newer drivers are available from

the manufacturer.

•

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 LAN when you

are away or when other users of your network all use wired connections.

Figure 3-1