User's Manual

ZyAIR Wireless LAN Utility
2-14 Using the ZyAIR Utility
Table 2-5 Security
LABEL DESCRIPTION
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2.7 Advanced Wireless LAN Parameters
The following sections describe the wireless LAN parameters in the Advanced screen.
2.7.1 Fragmentation Threshold
A Fragmentation Threshold is the maximum data fragment size (between 256 and 2432 bytes) that can be
sent in the wireless network before the ZyAIR will fragment the packet into smaller data frames.
A large Fragmentation Threshold is recommended for networks not prone to interference while you
should set a smaller threshold for busy networks or networks that are prone to interference.
If the Fragmentation Threshold value is smaller than the RTS/CTS Threshold value (see previously)
you set then the RTS (Request To Send)/CTS (Clear to Send) handshake will never occur as data frames
will be fragmented before they reach RTS/CTS Threshold size.
2.7.2 RTS/CTS Threshold
A hidden node occurs when two stations are within range of the same access point, but are not within range
of each other. The following figure illustrates a hidden node. Both stations are within range of the access
point (AP) or wireless gateway, but out-of-range of each other, so they cannot “hear” each other, that is
they do not know if the channel is currently being used. Therefore, they are considered hidden from each
other.
Figure 2-9 RTS Threshold
When station A sends data to the AP, it might not know that the station B is already using the channel. If
these two stations send data at the same time, collisions may occur when both sets of data arrive at the AP
at the same time, resulting in a loss of messages for both stations.