Quick Reference Guide

NETGEAR RangeMax™ NEXT Wireless Router WNR834B Reference Manual
Wireless Configuration 3-7
v1.0, May 2006
access point. For more information on the wireless channel frequencies, see “Wireless
Communications” in Appendix B.
• Mode. You can select “g and b”, “Up To 130 Mbps”, and “Up To 270 MBps”. The “g and b”
mode provides backward compatibility with the slower 802.11b wireless devices while still
enabling 802.11g communications. The “Up to 130 Mbps” mode provides transmission
streams that communicate at up to 130 Mbps. The “Up to 270 Mbps” mode will automatically
optimize performance based on interference from other access points or clients.
• Security Options. These options are described below. A full explanation of these standards is
available in “Wireless Communications” in Appendix B.
Note: The maximum wireless signal rate is derived from the IEEE Standard 802.11
Specifications. Actual data throughput will vary. Network conditions and
environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials
and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate.
Table 3-1. Basic Wireless Security Options
Field Description
None
No wireless security.
WEP WEP offers the following options:
• Open System
With Open Network Authentication and 64- or 128-bit WEP Data Encryption, the WNR834B
does perform 64- or 128-bit data encryption but does not perform any authentication.
• Shared Key
Shared Key authentication encrypts the SSID and data.
Choose the Encryption Strength (64- or 128-bit data encryption). Manually enter the key
values or enter a word or group of printable characters in the Passphrase box. Manually
entered keys are case sensitive but passphrase characters are not case sensitive.
Note: Not all wireless adapter configuration utilities support passphrase key generation.
•Auto
The wireless router automatically detects whether Open System or Shared Key is used.
WPA-PSK
WPA2-PSK
WPA-Pre-shared Key does perform authentication. WPA-PSK uses TKIP (Temporal Key
Integrity Protocol) data encryption and WPA2-PSK uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)
data encryption. Both dynamically change the encryption keys making them nearly impossible
to circumvent.
Enter a word or group of printable characters in the Password Phrase box. These characters
are case sensitive.
Note: Not all wireless adapter configuration utilities support WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK.
Furthermore, client software is required on the client. Windows XP Service Pack 2 and
Windows XP Service Pack 1 with WPA patch do include the client software that supports WPA.
Nevertheless, the wireless adapter hardware and driver must also support WPA.