RangeMax NEXT Wireless Router Model WNR854T Reference Manual

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Introduction

v1.0, 2006-04

Installing the RangeMax NEXT Wireless Router

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

version at

Maintenance and Support

NETGEAR offers the following features to help you maximize your use of the RangeMax NEXT

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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v1.0, 2006-04

Chapter 2

Wireless Configuration

This chapter describes how to configure the wireless features of your RangeMax NEXT Wireless

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, 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 firewall. The latency, data throughput performance, and

notebook power consumption of wireless adapters also vary depending on your configuration

choices.

For best results, place your firewall:

•

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”

.

RangeMax NEXT Wireless Router Model WNR854T Reference Manual

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Wireless Configuration

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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 RangeMax NEXT 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 WNR854T. 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

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

immediate area to access your network.

Figure 2-1

WNR854T

RangeMax NEXT Wireless Router Model WNR854T Reference Manual

Wireless Configuration

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v1.0, 2006-04

•

WPA-PSK

and

WPA2-PSK.

Provides strong data security. WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK will

block eavesdropping. Because these are new standards, wireless device driver and software

availability may be limited.

•

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 and others on the network all use wired connections.

Understanding Wireless Settings

To configure the Wireless settings of your wireless router, type

http://www.routerlogin.net

into

your internet browser

.

Enter the default user name of

admin

and default password of

password

, or

whatever LAN address and password you have set up. Click the

Wireless

link in the main menu of

the browser interface. The Wireless Settings menu appears, as shown below.

Figure 2-2

RangeMax NEXT Wireless Router Model WNR854T Reference Manual

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Wireless Configuration

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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 WNR854T default SSID is:

NETGEAR

.

•

Region.

This field identifies the region where the WNR854T can be used. It may not be legal

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

identified in this field.

•

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

access point. For more information on the wireless channel frequencies, please see

“Wireless

Communications” in Appendix B

.

•

Mode.

The “11g/b/Next(20/40 MHz)” mode provides backward compatibility with the slower

802.11b and 802.11g wireless devices while still enabling 802.11n communications. The “11b/

g” mode supports the older and slower 802.11b and 802.11g wireless modes only. The default

and recommended mode is the “11g/b/Next(20/40 MHz)” mode.

•

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

“Wireless Communications” in Appendix B

.

Note:

The region selection feature may not be available in all countries.