User Manual

17
Wireless Channel
A wireless network uses specific channels in the wireless spectrum to handle communication
between clients. Some channels in your area may have interference from other electronic
devices. Choose the clearest channel to help optimize the performance and coverage of your
wireless network.
802.11 Mode
If all of the wireless devices you want to connect with this router can connect in the same
transmission mode, you can improve performance slightly by choosing the appropriate "Only"
mode. If you have some devices that use a different transmission mode, choose the
appropriate "Mixed" mode.
Channel Width
The "Auto 20/40 MHz" option is usually best. The other options are available for special
circumstances.
Transmission Rate
By default the fastest possible transmission rate will be selected. You have the option of
selecting the speed if necessary.
Number of Spatial Streams
Selecting more than one spatial stream can increase throughput, but can in some cases
decrease signal quality. Select the option that works best for your installation.
Visibility Status
The Invisible option allows you to hide your wireless network. When this option is set to Visible,
your wireless network name is broadcast to anyone within the range of your signal. If you're not
using encryption then they could connect to your network. When Invisible mode is enabled,
you must enter the Wireless Network Name (SSID) on the client manually to connect to the
network.
Security Mode
Unless one of these encryption modes is selected, wireless transmissions to and from your
wireless network can be easily intercepted and interpreted by unauthorized users.
WEP
A method of encrypting data for wireless communication intended to provide the same level of
privacy as a wired network. WEP is not as secure as WPA encryption. To gain access to a
WEP network, you must know the key. The key is a string of characters that you create. When
using WEP, you must determine the level of encryption. The type of encryption determines the
key length. 128-bit encryption requires a longer key than 64-bit encryption. Keys are defined by
entering in a string in HEX (hexadecimal - using characters 0-9, A-F) or ASCII (American
Standard Code for Information Interchange - alphanumeric characters) format. ASCII format is
provided so you can enter a string that is easier to remember. The ASCII string is converted to
HEX for use over the network. Four keys can be defined so that you can change keys easily. A
default key is selected for use on the network.
Example:
64-bit hexadecimal keys are exactly 10 characters in length. (12345678FA is a valid string of 10
characters for 64-bit encryption.)
128-bit hexadecimal keys are exactly 26 characters in length. (456FBCDF123400122225271730
is a valid string of 26 characters for 128-bit encryption.)