Owner's Manual

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Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Cable Gateway
The Wireless Tab
Wireless-G Cable Gateway
WEP. WEP is a basic encryption method, which is not as secure as WPA. To use WEP, select WEP from the Security
Mode drop-down menu. Select a level of WEP encryption, 64-Bit Encryption or 128-Bit Encryption. Then select
a Default Key (choose which Key to use). Then either generate a WEP key using a Passphrase or enter the WEP
key manually.
• Wireless Encryption Level. An acronym for 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 devices in a
network 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. To enable WEP, select 64-Bit
Encryption or 128-Bit Encryption.
• Default Key. Select which WEP key (1-4) will be used when the Gateway sends data. Make sure that the
receiving device (wireless client) is using the same key.
• Passphrase for Keys. Instead of manually entering WEP keys, you can enter a passphrase. This passphrase is
used to generate one or more WEP keys. It is case-sensitive and should not be longer than 32 alphanumeric
characters. (This Passphrase function is compatible with Linksys wireless products only and cannot be used
with Windows XP Zero Configuration. If you want to communicate with non-Linksys wireless products or
Windows XP Zero Configuration, make a note of the WEP key you want to use, and enter it manually in the
wireless client.) After you enter the Passphrase, click the Generate Keys button to create WEP keys.
• Wireless WEP Keys #1-4. WEP keys enable you to create an encryption scheme for wireless network
transmissions. If you are not using a Passphrase, then manually enter a set of values. (Do not leave a key field
blank.) If you are using 64-bit WEP encryption, the key must be exactly 10 hexadecimal characters in length.
If you are using 128-bit WEP encryption, the key must be exactly 26 hexadecimal characters in length. Valid
hexadecimal characters are “0”-“9” and “A”-“F”.
When finished making your changes on this tab, click the Save Settings button to save these changes, or click
the Cancel Changes button to undo your changes.
Figure 5-13: WEP