Operation Manual

802.11g Wireless Router User’s Manual

Chapter 5: Wireless Configuration

This chapter describes how to configure the wireless features of your wireless router. In planning your

wireless network, you should consider the level of security required. You should also select the appropriate

placement of your Router in order to maximize the wireless performance.

Guidelines to locate your Wireless Router

The operating distance or range of your wireless connection can vary significantly based on the physical

placement of the wireless router. For best performance, place your wireless router:



Near the center of the area in which your PCs will operate.

 Away from sources of interfaces, such as PCs, microwaves, and 2.4GHz cordless phones.

 Away from large metal surfaces.

Understanding the 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 devices. The

wireless router provides effective security features which are covered in detail in this chapter.

There are several ways you can implement the security of your wireless network.

 Restrict access based on MAC address. The wireless MAC filters feature allows you to control

which wireless-equipped PCs may or may not communicate with the Router depending on their MAC

addresses. MAC address filtering adds an obstacle against unwanted access to your network, but the

data broadcast over the wireless link is fully exposed.

 WEP. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is an encryption method used to protect your wireless data

communications. WEP uses 64-bit or 128-bit keys to provide access control to your network and

encryption security for every data transmission. To decode data transmissions, all wireless devices

must use an identical WEP key. Higher encryption levels offer higher levels of security, but due to the

complexity of the encryption, they may decrease network performance.

Understanding the wireless settings

To configure the wireless setting of the wireless router, click “Advanced Setup”, key-in user name and

password, click “LAN” then “Wireless” link in the menu of the browser interface. The wireless settings

menu will appear, as shown below.