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TRENDnet User’s Guide

TEW-828DRU

23

Advanced wireless settings

The advanced wireless features provide can provide you with additional options for

setting up your wireless network such as multiple SSID and WDS (Wireless Distribution

System) or wireless bridging.

Multiple SSID

Advanced > Wireless (2.4GHz or 5GHz (5GHz

1

or 5GHz

2

)) > Multiple SSID

The multiple SSID feature allows you to broadcast up to 3 SSIDs (or wireless network

names). When wireless devices are searching for available wireless networks to connect

to, the SSIDs (or wireless network names) will appear as separate and different wireless

networks. Since they appear as separate wireless networks, they are also referred to as

virtual APs (Access Points) since they appear as separate wireless access points but are

actually all being broadcasting and managed by a single wireless access point. Each

virtual AP can be configured each with a different SSID (or wireless network name),

security type and additional settings for wireless devices to connect. You can use the

multiple SSID feature to setup guest wireless accounts with a different security type to

keep your primary wireless network security information private. The diagram shows an

example of a client connecting to SSID 1 and another client connecting to SSID 2.

By default, your router functions in Access Point mode to allow wireless client devices to

connect and access your network resources and access the Internet using a single SSID.

The diagram below shows your router in Access Point mode and clients connecting to

your router using a single SSID.

To configure multiple SSID on your router:

1. Log into your router management page (see “

Access your router management page

”

on page 9).

2. Click on

Advanced

and click on

Wireless (2.4GHz or 5GHz (5GHz

1

or 5GHz

2

))

, then

click on

Multiple SSID.

3. Click on the

Multiple SSID

drop-down list and select SSID to configure.

4.

Next to Enabled, check the

Enabled

option to enable the additional SSID.

5.

Wireless Name (SSID):

Enter the wireless name (SSID) for additional SSID. This

acronym stands for Service Set Identifier and is the name of your wireless network. It

differentiates your wireless network from others around you. By default,

the router’s

wireless name is unique to the device. It is recommended to change it to a name

different from the primary SSID 1 and one that you can easily remember.

Schedule:

The schedule function allows you to define a schedule when the wireless

should be turned on. To define a new schedule, click

Add New

and refer to page 36 “

Create Schedules

”. After you have created a new schedule, you will be returned to the

page to apply the new schedule. If you encounter issues, click the drop-down list and

the new schedule will be available for selection.

Note:

Before applying scheduling,

please ensure your Time settings are configured correct and you have defined a

schedule. See page 35 to configure

Time Settings

and see page 36

“

Create Schedules

”

to

create a schedule.

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24

6.

Security Mode

-

You can configure your wireless security settings for the additional

SSIDs. Please refer to page 18 to find out about different security types and page 19 for

wireless security configuration.

7. To save changes, click

Apply

.

Note:

If you would like to discard the changes, click

Cancel

before you click

Save

.

Note:

You can repeat the steps to enable and configure additional SSIDs.

The diagram shows an example of a client connecting to SSID 1 and another client

connecting to SSID 2.

Wireless bridging using WDS (Wireless Distribution System)

Advanced > Wireless (2.4GHz or 5GHz (5GHz

1

or 5GHz

2

)) > WDS

Wireless bridging using WDS allows the device to create a wireless bridge with other

WDS supported wireless routers and access points configured in WDS mode to bridge

groups of network devices together wirelessly. Simultaneously, the router will also

function in access point mode allowing wireless client devices such as computers, game

consoles, mobile phones, etc. to connect in order to access network resources from

multiple groups of network devices as well as the Internet.

Note:

You can create up to four WDS bridge connections on each wireless band (2.4GHz

and 5GHz (5GHz

1

or 5GHz

2

). WDS (Wireless Distribution System) is not currently

standardized and may not connect to different model wireless routers or access points,

therefore, when using WDS, it is recommended to use the same model and version for

wireless bridging.

By default, your router functions in Access Point mode to allow wireless client devices to

connect and access your network resources and access the Internet.

The diagram below shows your router in Access Point mode and clients connecting to

your router.

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Note:

Before configuring WDS, please ensure the following first:

1. Make sure different IP addresses are assigned to each WDS supported wireless device

used for bridging. (ex. 192.168.10.1,192.168.10.2, 192.168.10.3) to avoid IP address

conflict. See

page 30

for changing the LAN IP address.

2. If you are using more than one WDS supported router, please make sure the LAN

DHCP server is enabled on only one and disabled on all others to avoid IP address

conflict. See

page 31

for DHCP server options.

3. Configure the same wireless channel and use the same on all WDS supported wireless

devices. See

page 10

for configuring basic wireless settings.

4. Configure the same wireless security and key on all WDS supported devices. See page

15 for configuring wireless security settings.

To configure WDS bridging between TEW-828DRU routers:

1. Log into your router management page (see “

Access your router management page

”

on page 9).

2. Click on

Advanced > Wireless (2.4GHz

or

5GHz

),

and click on

WDS

.

3. Next to

Wireless Distribution System (WDS)

, in an empty field, enter the MAC

address of the other WDS supported wireless device you are bridging. (e.g.

00:11:22:AA:BB:CC)

4. To save changes, click

Apply

.

Note:

If you would like to discard the changes, click

Cancel

before you click

Save

.

For additional routers, make sure to disable the DHCP server first on all additional

routers and configure the LAN IP address to be different on each router. You will

connect devices to the LAN ports 1-4 only on all additional routers and the WAN port is

not used. Then, repeat the steps for additional routers you are bridging.

In the diagram below, the blue color represents the WDS wireless bridged connections

between the routers. The green color represents access point mode connections

between wireless client devices and the routers.

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Advanced Settings

Advanced > Wireless (2.4GHz or 5GHz (5GHz

1

or 5GHz

2

)) > Advanced

These settings are advanced options that can be configured to change advanced

wireless broadcast specifications. It is recommended that these settings remain set to

their default values unless you are knowledgeable about the effects of changing these

values. Changing these settings incorrectly can degrade performance.



Beacon Interval:

A beacon is a management frame used in wireless networks

that transmitted periodically to announce the presence and provide

information about the router’s wireless network. The interval is the amount

time between each beacon transmission.

Default Value: 100 milliseconds (range: 25-1000)



DTIM:

A DTIM is a countdown informing clients of the next window for

listening to broadcast and multicast messages. When the wireless router has

buffered broadcast or multicast messages for associated clients, it sends the

next DTIM with a DTIM Interval value. Wireless clients detect the beacons and

awaken to receive the broadcast and multicast messages. The default value is

1. Valid settings are between 1 and 255.



Fragment Threshold:

Wireless frames can be divided into smaller units

(fragments) to improve performance in the presence of RF interference and at

the limits of RF coverage. Fragmentation will occur when frame size in bytes is

greater than the Fragmentation Threshold. This setting should remain at its

default value of 2346 bytes. Setting the Fragmentation value too low may

result in poor performance.



RTS Threshold:

The Request To Send (RTS) function is part of the networking

protocol. A wireless device that needs to send data will send a RTS before

sending the data in question. The destination wireless device will send a

response called Clear to Send (CTS). The RTS Threshold defines the smallest

data packet size allowed to initiate the RTS/CTS function.

Default Value: 2347 (range: 1-2347)



Short Preamble:

Using a short (400ns) guard interval can increase throughput.

However, it can also increase error rate in some installations, due to increased

sensitivity to radio-frequency reflections. Select the option that works best for

your installation.



20/40 MHz Coexistence (2.4GHz Only)

–

This setting is enabled by default and

allows 2.4GHz to fallback from 40MHz to 20MHz Channel Width operation

depending on neighboring 2.4GHz wireless networks detected which may lower

performance but improve stability. Turning this feature off will allow the

2.4GHz to operate in 40MHz regardless of neighboring networks which may

improve performance but decrease connection stability in busy wireless

environments.



Xpress™ Technology:

A frame bursting technology used to improve wireless

performance. The feature will only work with other

Xpress™

supported devices.

It is recommended to leave this feature On.



Implicit Beamforming:

Technology capable of focusing RF energy directly

toward a receiving client which may significantly improve connectivity,

coverage and performance at slightly further ranges by leveraging information

from the client device on initial connection and determining how to best focus

RF beams toward the client device. This type of beamforming does not require

the client device to support beamforming in order to function. Explicit

beamforming is also supported and requires client devices to support

beamforming in order to function. Explicit Beamforming is enabled by default

and cannot be enabled or disabled in the router management page.

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27

Steps to improve wireless connectivity

There are a number of factors that can impact the range of wireless devices. Follow

these tips to help improve your wireless connectivity:

1.

Keep the number of obstructions to a minimum. Each obstruction can reduce

the range of a wireless device.

Position the wireless devices in a manner that

will minimize the amount of obstructions between them.

a.

For the widest coverage area, install your router near the center of

your home, and near the ceiling, if possible.

b.

Avoid placing the router on or near metal objects (such as file cabinets

and metal furniture), reflective surfaces (such as glass or mirrors), and

masonry walls.

c.

Any obstruction can weaken the wireless signal (even non-metallic

objects), so the fewer obstructions between the router and the

wireless device, the better.

d.

Place the router in a location away from other electronics, motors,

and fluorescent lighting.

e.

Many environmental variables can affect the router’s performance, so

if your wireless signal is weak, place the router in several locations and

test the signal strength to determine the ideal position.

2.

Building materials can have a large impact on your wireless signal. In an indoor

environment, try to position the wireless devices so that the signal passes

through less dense material such as dry wall.

Dense materials like metal, solid

wood, glass or even furniture may block or degrade the signal.

3.

Antenna orientation can also have a large impact on your wireless signal. Use

the wireless adapter’s site survey tool to determine the best antenna

orientation for your wireless devices.

4.

Interference from devices that produce RF (radio frequency) noise can also

impact your signal. Position your wireless devices away from anything that

generates RF noise, such as microwaves, radios and baby monitors.

If possible, upgrade wireless network interfaces (such as wireless cards in computers)

from older wireless standards to 802.11n or 802.11ac. If a wirelessly networked device

uses an older standard, the performance of the entire wireless network may be slower.

If you are still experiencing low or no signal consider repositioning the wireless devices,

installing additional access points or wireless extenders.