Reference Manual for the RangeMax 240 Wireless Router WPNT834

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Connecting the Router to the Internet

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Using the Smart Setup Wizard

You can use the Smart Setup Wizard to assist with manual configuration or to verify the Internet

connection. The Smart Setup Wizard is not the same as the Smart Wizard configuration assistant

(as illustrated in

Figure 3-1

) that only appears when the router is in its factory default state. After

you configure the wireless router, the Smart Wizard configuration assistant will not appear again.

To use the Smart Setup Wizard to assist with manual configuration or to verify the Internet

connection settings, follow this procedure:

1.

Connect to the wireless router by typing

http://www.routerlogin.net

in the address field of your

browser, then click

Enter

.

2.

For security reasons, the router has its own user name and password. When prompted, enter

admin

for the router user name and

password

for the router password, both in lower case

letters. To change the password, see

“Changing the Administrator Password” on page 6-9

.

Once you have entered your user name and password, your Web browser should find the

WPNT834 router and display the home page as shown in

Figure 3-5 on page 3-7

.

3.

Click

Setup Wizard

on the upper left of the main menu.

4.

Click

Next

to proceed. Input your ISP settings, as needed.

5.

At the end of the Setup Wizard, click the

Test

button to verify your Internet connection. If you

have trouble connecting to the Internet, use the

“Troubleshooting Tips” on page 3-4

to correct

basic problems, or see

Chapter 7, “Troubleshooting”

.

Note:

The router user name and password are not the same as any user name or

password you may use to log in to your Internet connection.

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Connecting the Router to the Internet

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v1.0, November 2005

NETGEAR Product Registration, Support, and

Documentation

Register your product at

. Registration is required before you can

use our telephone support service.

Product updates and Web support are always available by going to:

.

Documentation is available on the CD and at

When the wireless router is connected to the Internet, click the

Knowledge Base

or the

Documentation

link under the Web Support menu to view support information or the

documentation for the wireless router.

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Wireless Configuration

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v1.0, November 2005

Chapter 4

Wireless Configuration

This chapter describes how to configure the wireless features of your WPNT834 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 will operate.

•

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

WPA-PSK encryption can consume more battery power on a notebook computer.

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”

.

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Wireless Configuration

v1.0, November 2005

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 WPNT834 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 WPNT834. 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 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.

Figure 4-1