Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 NETGEAR, Inc.
© 2005 by NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved. May 2005. Trademarks NETGEAR is a trademark of Netgear, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders. Statement of Conditions In the interest of improving internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to make changes to the products described in this document without notice.
Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) Statement This equipment is in the second category (information equipment to be used in a residential area or an adjacent area thereto) and conforms to the standards set by the Voluntary Control Council for Interference by Data Processing Equipment and Electronic Office Machines aimed at preventing radio interference in such residential areas. When used near a radio or TV receiver, it may become the cause of radio interference.
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Contents Chapter 1 About This Manual Audience, Scope, Conventions, and Formats ................................................................1-1 How to Use This Manual ................................................................................................1-2 How to Print this Manual .................................................................................................1-2 Chapter 2 Introduction Key Features ...............................................................................
Understanding Advanced Wireless Settings ..................................................................4-3 Implementing Appropriate Wireless Security ..................................................................4-5 Information to Gather Before Changing Basic Wireless Settings .............................4-7 How to Set Up and Test Basic Wireless Connectivity ..............................................4-8 How to Configure WEP or WPA ................................................................
Appendix A Technical Specifications Appendix B Wireless Networking Basics Wireless Networking Overview ...................................................................................... B-1 Infrastructure Mode ................................................................................................. B-1 Ad Hoc Mode (Peer-to-Peer Workgroup) ................................................................ B-2 Network Name: Extended Service Set Identification (ESSID) ................................
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Chapter 1 About This Manual This chapter describes the intended audience, scope, conventions, and formats of this manual. Audience, Scope, Conventions, and Formats This reference manual assumes that the reader has basic to intermediate computer and Internet skills. However, basic computer network, Internet, firewall, and VPN technologies tutorial information is provided in the Appendices and on the Netgear website. This guide uses the following typographical conventions: Table 1-1.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 How to Use This Manual The HTML version of this manual includes the following: • Buttons, at a time and , for browsing forwards or backwards through the manual one page • A button that displays the table of contents and an button. Double-click on a link in the table of contents or index to navigate directly to where the topic is described in the manual. • A product model.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 • Printing the Full Manual. Use the Complete PDF Manual link at the top left of any page. – – Click the Complete PDF Manual link at the top left of any page in the manual. The PDF version of the complete manual opens in a browser window. Click the print icon in the upper left of the window. Tip: If your printer supports printing two pages on a single sheet of paper, you can save paper and printer ink by selecting this feature.
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Chapter 2 Introduction The NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 provides connectivity between Ethernet wired networks and radio-equipped wireless notebook systems, desktop systems, print servers, and other devices.This chapter describes the features of the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802. Note: This manual provides information on the complete features as of the date of publication. Earlier versions of this product may not have all the features presented in this manual.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 RangeMax is an advanced Smart MIMO (Multi-In, Multi-Out) technology that uses seven internal antennas. RangeMax constantly surveys your home environment for physical barriers and interference and adjusts the wireless signal to compensate for these performance blockers.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Compatible and Related NETGEAR Products NETGEAR products related to the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 are as follows: • • • RangeMax Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter (WPN111) RangeMax Wireless PCI Adapter (WPN311) RangeMax Wireless PC Card (WPN511) Package Contents The product package should contain the following items: • • • • • NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802. AC power adapter. Vertical stand.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 The Front Panel Status Lights You can use the status lights on the front panel of the WPN802 to verify connections. The table below describes the lights on the front panel. Table 2-1. Label Status Light Descriptions Activity Description Power On Green Solid Off Power is supplied and the WPN802 has passed its diagnostic test. Power is not supplied to the WPN802.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Viewed from left to right, the rear panel contains the following features: • • • AC power adapter outlet. Ethernet 10/100 Mbps port for connecting the access point to the network. Factory Default Reset push button for Using the Reset Button to Restore Factory Default Settings.
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Chapter 3 Basic Installation and Configuration This chapter explains how to install and configure and the WPN802 Access Point on your network. The first time you configure the WPN802 Access Point it must be connected with an Ethernet cable to a computer with a broadband Internet connection. Default Factory Settings The WPN802 default factory settings are shown below. After you install the WPN802 Access Point, customize any of the settings to better meet your networking needs.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 System Requirements Before installing the WPN802, make sure your system meets these requirements. • • • • • • A 10/100 Mbps Local Area Network device such as a hub, router, or switch. The Category 5 UTP straight through Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connector included in the package, or one like it. A 100-240 V, 50-60 HZ AC power source. A Web browser for configuration such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 2. Configure the computer with a static IP address of 192.168.0.210 and 255.255.255.0 as the Subnet Mask. 3. Connect an Ethernet cable from the WPN802 to the computer. Figure 3-1: WPN802 connected to a computer during configuration 4. Turn on your computer, and connect the power adapter to the WPN802. Then check the lights on the front: • Power: The power light should be lit.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Then, Configure the Basic Settings 1. Connect to the WPN802 by opening your browser and entering http://192.168.0.231 in the address field. 2. When prompted, enter admin for the user name and password for the password, both in lower case letters. The Settings page opens.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 3. Click the Basic Settings link to configure the IP Settings for your network. The Basic Settings menu appears: Figure 3-3: Basic Settings menu 4. Configure the Basic Settings for your network. • Access Point Name: The unique NetBIOS name. The default Access Point Name is located on the bottom label of the WPN802. You may modify the default name with a unique name up to 15 characters long.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 • Secondary DNS Server: The Access Point will use this IP address as the secondary Domain Name Server used by stations on your LAN. • Time Zone: Select the appropriate local time zone for your Access Point from a list of all available time zones. The default is GMT. Next, Configure the Wireless Settings After you configure the Basic Settings for the WPN802, then you need to configure the Wireless Settings. 1.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Deploy the WPN802 and Verify Wireless Connectivity When you have configured the Basic Settings and the Wireless Settings, then you can deploy the WPN802. 1. Disconnect the WPN802 and position it where you will deploy it. The best location is elevated, such as wall mounted or on the top of a cubicle, at the center of your wireless coverage area, and within line of sight of all the mobile devices.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 3. Connect the power adapter to the wireless access point and plug the power adapter in to a power outlet. The Power, WLAN and Ethernet lights should light up. 4. Using a computer with an 802.11g or 802.11b wireless adapter with the correct wireless settings, verify connectivity by using a browser such as Netscape® or Internet Explorer to connect to the Internet, or check for file and printer access on your network.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Note: The user name and password for the access point are not the same as any user name or password you may use to log in to your Internet connection. The browser display the WPN802 settings home page.
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Chapter 4 Wireless Configuration This chapter describes how to configure the wireless features of your WPN802 Access Point. In planning your wireless network, you should consider the level of security required. You should also select the physical placement of your wireless access point in order to maximize the network speed. For further information on wireless networking, refer to Appendix B, “Wireless Networking Basics.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Figure 4-1: Vertical orientation required on metallic surfaces Understanding Wireless Settings To configure the Wireless settings of your wireless access point, click the Wireless link in the main menu of the browser interface. The Wireless Settings menu appears, as shown below.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 • Country/Region: It may not be legal to operate the access point in a country/region other than the country/region shown here. See online help for more details. To change the Country/ Region, select from the drop-down list. The region selection feature may not be available in all countries. • Wireless Network Name (SSID): The default is NETGEAR. Enter a 32-character (maximum). The characters are case sensitive.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Figure 4-3: Advanced Wireless Settings menu • Enable SuperG Mode: SuperG Mode may increase the overall wireless performance. The default setting is Yes. • RTS Threshold: Request to Send Threshold. The packet size that is used to determine if it should use the CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) mechanism or the CSMA/CA mechanism for packet transmission.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Implementing Appropriate Wireless Security 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. Unlike wired network data, your wireless data transmissions can be received well beyond your walls by anyone with a compatible adapter.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 • • WPA-PSK. Wi-Fi Protected Access, Pre-Shared Key (WPA-PSK) data encryption provides strong data security. WPA-PSK will block eavesdropping. Because this is a new standard, wireless device driver and software availability may be limited. AutoCell Enhanced RF Security.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Information to Gather Before Changing Basic Wireless Settings Before customizing your wireless settings, print this form and record the following information. If you are working with an existing wireless network, the person who set up or is responsible for the network will be able to provide this information. Otherwise, you will choose the settings for your wireless network.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 How to Set Up and Test Basic Wireless Connectivity Note: If you use a wireless computer to configure WPA settings, you will be disconnected when you click Apply. Reconfigure your wireless adapter to match the new settings or access the wireless access point from a wired computer to make any further changes. Follow the instructions below to set up and test basic wireless connectivity.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 5. Set the Channel. The default channel is 11. This field determines which operating frequency will be used. It should not be necessary to change the wireless channel unless you notice interference problems with another nearby wireless router or access point. Select a channel that is not being used by any other wireless networks within several hundred feet of your wireless access point.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Note: If you use a wireless computer configure WEP settings, you will be disconnected when you click Apply. You must then either configure your wireless adapter to match the wireless access point WEP settings or access the wireless access point from a wired computer to make any further changes. 1. Log in to the WPN802 at its default LAN address of http://192.168.0.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Select which of the four keys will be active. 6. Enable Wireless Client Security Separator: The associated wireless clients will not be able to communicate with each other if this feature is enabled. The default setting is Disable. 7. Click Apply to save your settings.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 • Fragmentation Length: This is the maximum packet size used for fragmentation. Packets larger than the size programmed in this field will be fragmented. The Fragment Threshold value must be larger than the RTS Threshold value. Default: 2346 • Beacon Interval: The interval time between 20ms and 1000ms for each beacon transmission. Default: 100 • DTIM Interval: The Delivery Traffic Indication Message.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Turning Access Control On 1. Click the Turn Access Control On check box to restrict wireless computers by their MAC addresses. 2. Click Apply to save changes and return to the Wireless Settings page. Note: If Turn Access Control On is enabled and the Access Control List is blank; then no wireless computers can connect to your wireless network. Setting up the Access Control List 1.
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Chapter 5 Management and Information This chapter describes how to use the management and information features of your NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802. These features can be found under the Management heading and Information heading in the main menu of the browser interface. Changing the Password Note: Before changing the WPN802 password, use the backup utility to save your configuration settings.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Upgrading the Wireless Access Point Firmware First, Prepare for the Firmware Upgrade Note: When uploading firmware to the wireless access point, it is important not to interrupt the Web browser by closing the window, clicking a link, or loading a new page. If the browser is interrupted, the upload may fail, corrupt the software, and render the WPN802 completely inoperable.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 The Upgrade Firmware dialog box opens: Figure 5-2: Upgrade Firmware dialog box 4. Click the Browse button and browse to the location of the upgrade file 5. Click Upload. In some cases, you may need to reconfigure the wireless access point after upgrading. Backing up Settings or Restoring Settings This page lets you back up the Access Point’s current settings and restore the factory default settings.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Backing up Settings 1. On the Backup/Restore Settings dialog box, click Backup. • If you don’t have your browser set up to save downloaded files automatically, locate where you want to save the file, rename it if you like, and click Backup. • If you have your browser set up to save downloaded files automatically, the file is saved to the your browser’s download location on the hard disk. 2.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Rebooting the WPN802 Access Point You can reboot the wireless access point from the browser interface or by using the reset button on the rear panel. 1. From the main menu of the browser interface, click the Reboot AP link under the Management heading. The Reboot AP dialog box appears: Figure 5-4: Reboot AP dialog box 2. Select Yes, and then click Apply.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Note that if the wireless access point is rebooted, the table data is lost until the wireless access point rediscovers the devices. To force the wireless access point to look for associated devices, click the Refresh button. Note: A wireless network can include multiple wireless access points, all using the same network name (SSID).
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting This chapter gives information about troubleshooting your NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802. After each problem description, instructions are provided to help you diagnose and solve the problem. Troubleshooting Tips Here are some tips for correcting simple problems you may have. No lights are lit on the access point. The access point has no power. • Make sure the power cord is connected to the access point and plugged in to a working power outlet or power strip.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 I cannot configure the access point from a browser. Check these items: • The WPN802 is properly installed, LAN connections are OK, and it is powered on. Check that the LAN port LED is green to verify that the Ethernet connection is OK. • If you are using the NetBIOS name of the WPN802 to connect, ensure that your PC and the WPN802 are on the same network segment or that there is a WINS server on your network.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 • If the WPN802 is configured correctly, check your Internet connection (DSL/Cable modem, etc.) to make sure that it is working. • Try again. • When entering configuration settings, be sure to click the Apply button before moving to another menu or tab, or your changes are lost. • Click the Refresh or Reload button in the Web browser. The changes may have occurred, but the Web browser may be caching the old configuration.
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Appendix A Technical Specifications This appendix provides technical specifications for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 WAN: 10BASE-T or 100BASE-Tx, RJ-45 Wireless Radio Data Rates 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54, and 108 Mbps Auto Rate Sensing Frequency 2.4-2.5Ghz Data Encoding: 802.11b: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) 802.11g: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) Maximum Computers Per Wireless Network: Limited by the amount of wireless network traffic generated by each node. Typically 30-70 nodes.
Appendix B Wireless Networking Basics This chapter provides an overview of Wireless networking. Wireless Networking Overview The WPN802 Access Point conforms to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11b and 802.11g standards for wireless LANs (WLANs). On an 802.11b or g wireless link, data is encoded using direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS) technology and is transmitted in the unlicensed radio spectrum at 2.5GHz. The maximum data rate for the 802.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Ad Hoc Mode (Peer-to-Peer Workgroup) In an ad hoc network, computers are brought together as needed; thus, there is no structure or fixed points to the network - each node can generally communicate with any other node. There is no Access Point involved in this configuration.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 • Shared Key. With Shared Key authentication, only those PCs that possess the correct authentication key can join the network. By default, IEEE 802.11 wireless devices operate in an Open System network. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption is used when the wireless devices are configured to operate in Shared Key authentication mode. 802.11 Authentication The 802.11 standard defines several services that govern how two 802.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 2. The access point authenticates the station. 3. The station associates with the access point and joins the network. This process is illustrated below. 802.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 This process is illustrated below. 802.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Key Size The IEEE 802.11 standard supports two types of WEP encryption: 40-bit and 128-bit. The 64-bit WEP data encryption method allows for a five-character (40-bit) input. Additionally, 24 factory-set bits are added to the forty-bit input to generate a 64-bit encryption key. The 24 factory-set bits are not user-configurable). This encryption key will be used to encrypt/decrypt all data transmitted via the wireless interface.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 WEP Configuration Options The WEP settings must match on all 802.11 devices that are within the same wireless network as identified by the SSID. In general, if your mobile clients will roam between access points, then all of the 802.11 access points and all of the 802.11 client adapters on the network must have the same WEP settings.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Table B-2: Channel 802.11b/g Radio Frequency Channels Center Frequency Frequency Spread 4 2427 MHz 2414.5 MHz - 2439.5 MHz 5 2432 MHz 2419.5 MHz - 2444.5 MHz 6 2437 MHz 2424.5 MHz - 2449.5 MHz 7 2442 MHz 2429.5 MHz - 2454.5 MHz 8 2447 MHz 2434.5 MHz - 2459.5 MHz 9 2452 MHz 2439.5 MHz - 2464.5 MHz 10 2457 MHz 2444.5 MHz - 2469.5 MHz 11 2462 MHz 2449.5 MHz - 2474.5 MHz 12 2467 MHz 2454.5 MHz - 2479.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 WPA and WPA2 offer the following benefits: • • • • Enhanced data privacy Robust key management Data origin authentication Data integrity protection The Wi-Fi Alliance is now performing interoperability certification testing on Wi-Fi Protected Access products. Starting August of 2003, all new Wi-Fi certified products have to support WPA. NETGEAR is implementing WPA and WPA2 on client and access point products. The 802.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 How Does WPA Compare to WPA2 (IEEE 802.11i)? WPA is forward compatible with the WPA2 security specification. WPA is a subset of WPA2 and used certain pieces of the early 802.11i draft, such as 802.1x and TKIP. The main pieces of WPA2 that are not included in WPA are secure IBSS (Ad-Hoc mode), secure fast handoff (for specialized 802.11 VoIP phones), as well as enhanced encryption protocols, such as AES-CCMP.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 The primary information conveyed in the Beacon frames is the authentication method and the cipher suite. Possible authentication methods include 802.1X and Pre-shared key. Pre-shared key is an authentication method that uses a statically configured pass phrase on both the stations and the access point.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 WPA/WPA2 Authentication: Enterprise-level User Authentication via 802.1x/EAP and RADIUS Wired Network with Optional 802.1x Port Based Network Access Control Wireless LAN WPA/WPA2 enabled wireless client with “supplicant” WPA/WPA2 enabled Access Point using pre-shared key or 802.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Client with a WPA/ WPA2-enabled wireless adapter and supplicant (Win XP, Funk, Meetinghouse) For example, a WPA/WPA2-enabled AP For example, a RADIUS server Controlled Port Figure B-4: 802.1x Authentication Sequence The AP sends Beacon Frames with WPA/WPA2 information element to the stations in the service set. Information elements include the required authentication method (802.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 3. The client sends an EAP-response packet containing the identity to the authentication server. The access point responds by enabling a port for passing only EAP packets from the client to an authentication server located on the wired side of the access point.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) WPA uses TKIP to provide important data encryption enhancements including a per-packet key mixing function, a message integrity check (MIC) named Michael, an extended initialization vector (IV) with sequencing rules, and a re-keying mechanism. TKIP also provides for the following: • • • The verification of the security configuration after the encryption keys are determined.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Is WPA/WPA2 Perfect? WPA/WPA2 is not without its vulnerabilities. Specifically, it is susceptible to denial of service (DoS) attacks. If the access point receives two data packets that fail the message integrity code (MIC) within 60 seconds of each other, then the network is under an active attack, and as a result, the access point employs counter measures, which include disassociating each station using the access point.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Changes to Wireless Access Points Wireless access points must have their firmware updated to support the following: • • • • • The new WPA/WPA2 information element To advertise their support of WPA/WPA2, wireless APs send the beacon frame with a new 802.11 WPA/WPA2 information element that contains the wireless AP's security configuration (encryption algorithms and wireless security configuration information).
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Microsoft has worked with many wireless vendors to embed the WPA driver update in the wireless adapter driver. So, to update your Microsoft Windows wireless client, all you have to do is obtain the new WPA/WPA2-compatible driver and install the driver.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Glossary Use the list below to find definitions for technical terms used in this manual. 802.11 Standard 802.11, or IEEE 802.11, is a type of radio technology used for wireless local area networks (WLANs). It is a standard that has been developed by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), http://standards.ieee.org.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 The purpose of 11d is to add features and restrictions to allow WLANs to operate within the rules of these countries. Equipment manufacturers do not want to produce a wide variety of country-specific products and users that travel do not want a bag full of country-specific WLAN PC cards. The outcome will be country-specific firmware solutions. 802.11e Standard 802.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Access Point (AP) A wireless LAN transceiver or "base station" that can connect a wired LAN to one or many wireless devices. Access points can also bridge to each other. There are various types of access points, also referred to as base stations, used in both wireless and wired networks. These include bridges, hubs, switches, routers and gateways.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 for cables or wires. Bluetooth is a frequency-hopping technology in the 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum, with a range of 30 feet and up to 11Mbps raw data throughput. Bridge A product that connects a local area network (LAN) to another local area network that uses the same protocol (for example, wireless, Ethernet or token ring). Wireless bridges are commonly used to link buildings in campuses.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Action/Collision Detection) A method of managing traffic and reducing noise on an Ethernet network. A network device transmits data after detecting that a channel is available. However, if two devices transmit data simultaneously, the sending devices detect a collision and retransmit after a random time delay.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 ESSID (more commonly referred to as SSID – Short Set Identifier) The identifying name of an 802.11 wireless network. When you specify your correct ESSID in your client setup you ensure that you connect to your wireless network rather than another network in range. (See SSID.) The ESSID can be called by different terms, such as Network Name, Preferred Network, SSID or Wireless LAN Service Area.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) A membership organization (www.ieee.org) that includes engineers, scientists and students in electronics and allied fields. It has more than 300,000 members and is involved with setting standards for computers and communications. IEEE 802.11 A set of specifications for LANs from The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Most wired networks conform to 802.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 MAC (Media Access Control) Every wireless 802.11 device has its own specific MAC address hard-coded into it. This unique identifier can be used to provide security for wireless networks. When a network uses a MAC table, only the 802.11 radios that have had their MAC addresses added to that network's MAC table will be able to get onto the network.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 NIC (Network Interface Card) A type of PC adapter card that either works without wires (Wi-Fi) or attaches to a network cable to provide two-way communication between the computer and network devices such as a hub or switch. Most office wired NICs operate at 10 Mbps (Ethernet), 100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet) or 10/100 Mbps dual speed. High-speed Gigabit and 10 Gigabit NIC cards are also available. See PC Card.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Range The distance away from your access point that your wireless network can reach. Most Wi-Fi systems will provide a range of a hundred feet or more. Depending on the environment and the type of antenna used, Wi-Fi signals can have a range of up to mile Residential gateway A wireless device that connects multiple PCs, peripherals and the Internet on a home network. Most Wi-Fi residential gateways provide DHCP and NAT as well.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 Site survey The process whereby a wireless network installer inspects a location prior to putting in a wireless network. Site surveys are used to identify the radio- and client-use properties of a facility so that access points can be optimally placed. SSID (also called ESSID) A 32-character unique identifier attached to the header of packets sent over a WLAN that acts as a password when a mobile device tries to connect to the BSS.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 TCP/IP The underlying technology behind the Internet and communications between computers in a network. The first part, TCP, is the transport part, which matches the size of the messages on either end and guarantees that the correct message has been received. The IP part is the user's computer address on a network.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 As a recent development, the debate over the legality of warchalking is still going on. The practice stems from the U.S. Depression-era culture of wandering hobos who would make marks outside of homes to indicate to other wanderers whether the home was receptive to drifters or was inhospitable.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 does not offer. With this feature, WPA provides roughly comparable security to VPN tunneling with WEP, with the benefit of easier administration and use. This is similar to 802.1x support and requires a RADIUS server in order to implement. The Wi-Fi Alliance will call this, 'WPA-Enterprise.' One variation of WPA is called WPA Pre Shared Key or WPA-PSK for short - this provides an authentication alternative to an expensive RADIUS server.
Reference Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless Access Point WPN802 secure transmission and authentication is particularly important to users unknown to each other. The authentication capability defined in the specification enables a secure access control mechanism for the service providers and for mobile users not utilizing VPN connections.
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