Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802

Wireless Configuration

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•

Country/Region:

It may not be legal to operate the access point in a country/region other than

the country/region shown here. See online help for more details. To change the Country/

Region, select from the drop-down list. The region selection feature may not be available in all

countries.

•

Wireless Network Name (SSID):

The default is NETGEAR. Enter a 32-character

(maximum). The characters are case sensitive.

Note:

You will not get a wireless network connection unless the network SSID matches

exactly what is configured in the access point.

•

Broadcast Wireless Network Name (SSID):

If enabled, the Wireless Access Point will

broadcast its SSID. If set to disable, the SSID is not broadcast.

•

Operating Mode:

Select the desired wireless operating mode. The default is Auto (11g/11b).

You can change this to 11g Only, or 11b Only.

•

Channel/Frequency:

Select the channel for your wireless LAN. This feature is disabled if

AutoCell is enabled. 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 B-7

.

•

Data Rate:

The available transmit data rate of the wireless network. Note that 108 Mbps

option is available when the Channel/Frequency is set to channel 6 and the operating mode

is set to 11g Only.

•

Output Power:

Shows the available transmit power of the access point. The possible Tx

power options are: Full, 50%, 25%, 12.5%, and minimum. The transmit power may varies

depends on the local regulatory regulations. Note that this feature will be disabled if

AutoCell is enabled.

Understanding Advanced Wireless Settings

To configure the advanced wireless settings of your wireless access point, click the Wireless Setup

link in the Advanced section of the main menu of the browser interface. The Wireless Settings

menu appears, as shown below.

Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802

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Wireless Configuration

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Figure 4-3:

Advanced Wireless Settings menu

•

Enable SuperG Mode:

SuperG Mode may increase the overall wireless performance. The

default setting is Yes.

•

RTS Threshold:

Request to Send Threshold. The packet size that is used to determine if it

should use the CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection)

mechanism or the CSMA/CA mechanism for packet transmission. With the CSMA/CD

transmission mechanism, the transmitting station sends out the actual packet as soon as it has

waited for the silence period. With the CSMA/CA transmission mechanism, the transmitting

station sends out an RTS packet to the receiving station, and waits for the receiving station to

send back a CTS (Clear to Send) packet before sending the actual packet data. The default is

2346.

•

Fragmentation Length:

The maximum packet size used for fragmentation. Packets larger

than the size programmed in this field will be fragmented. The Fragment Threshold value must

be larger than the RTS Threshold value. The default is 2346

•

Beacon Interval:

The interval time between 20ms and 1000ms for each beacon transmission.

The default is 100.

•

DTIM Interval:

The Delivery Traffic Indication Message. Specifies the data beacon rate

between 1 and 255. The default is 1.

•

Preamble Type:

A long transmit preamble may provide a more reliable connection or slightly

longer range. A short transmit preamble gives better performance. Auto will automatically

handle both long and short preamble. The default is Auto.

Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802

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 WPN802 Access Point provides highly effective security features which

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

Figure 4-4:

WPN802 wireless data security options

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 WPN802. 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.

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.

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.

Wireless Data

Security Options

Range: Up to 300 Foot Radius

4

Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802

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WPA-PSK.

Wi-Fi Protected Access, Pre-Shared Key (WPA-PSK) 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.

•

AutoCell Enhanced RF Security.

In addition to standard encryption and security

mechanisms such as WEP and WPA, the WG302 AutoCell Feature provides self-organizing

micro cells for an additional level of privacy for enterprises. In this mode, AutoCell shrinks

the size of coverage to the minimum to reach clients but also shrinks the size of the beacons

that access points use to announce their presence. This mode makes an enterprise wireless

LAN nearly invisible to users outside an office building. AutoCell clients such as the

NETGEAR WAG511 are highly recommended for Enhanced RF Security.

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Wireless Configuration

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Information to Gather Before Changing Basic Wireless Settings

Before customizing your wireless settings, print this form and record the following information. If

you are working with an existing wireless network, the person who set up or is responsible for the

network will be able to provide this information. Otherwise, you will choose the settings for your

wireless network. Either way, record the settings for your wireless network in the spaces below.

•

Wireless Network Name (SSID)

:

______________________________

The SSID, identifies

the wireless network. You can use up to 32 alphanumeric characters. The SSID

is

case

sensitive. The SSID in the wireless adapter card must match the SSID of the wireless access

point. In some configuration utilities (such as in Windows XP), the term “wireless network

name” is used instead of SSID.

•

If WEP Authentication is Used.

Circle one:

Open System

,

Shared Key, or Auto

.

Note:

If you select Shared Key, the other devices in the network will not connect unless they

are set to Shared Key as well and are configured with the correct key.

–

WEP Encryption key size

. Choose one:

64-bit

or

128-bit

. Again, the encryption key size

must be the same for the wireless adapters and the wireless access point.

–

Data Encryption (WEP) Keys

. There are two methods for creating WEP data encryption

keys. Whichever method you use, record the key values in the spaces below.

•

Passphrase method

. ______________________________

These characters

are

case

sensitive. Enter a word or group of printable characters and click the Generate Keys

button. Not all wireless devices support the passphrase method.

•

Manual method

. These values

are not

case sensitive. For 64-bit WEP, enter 10 hex

digits (any combination of 0-9 or a-f). For 128-bit WEP, enter 26 hex digits.

Key 1: ___________________________________

Key 2: ___________________________________

Key 3: ___________________________________

Key 4: ___________________________________

•

If WPA-PSK Authentication is Used.

–

Passphrase

: ______________________________

These characters

are

case sensitive.

Enter a word or group of printable characters. When you use WPA-PSK, the other devices

in the network will not connect unless they are set to WPA-PSK as well and are configured

with the correct Passphrase.

Use the procedures described in the following sections to configure the WPN802. Store this

information in a safe place.