User manual

Chapter 5 Wi-Fi

LTE4506 User’s Guide

5.6.3.3 User Authentication

Authentication is the process of verifying whether a wireless device is allowed to use the wireless

network. You can make every user log in to the wireless network before using it. However, every device

in the wireless network has to support IEEE 802.1x to do this.

For wireless networks, you can store the user names and passwords for each user in a RADIUS server. This

is a server used in businesses more than in homes. If you do not have a RADIUS server, you cannot set up

user names and passwords for your users.

Unauthorized wireless devices can still see the information that is sent in the wireless network, even if they

cannot use the wireless network. Furthermore, there are ways for unauthorized wireless users to get a

valid user name and password. Then, they can use that user name and password to use the wireless

network.

5.6.3.4 Encryption

Wireless networks can use encryption to protect the information that is sent in the wireless network.

Encryption is like a secret code. If you do not know the secret code, you cannot understand the

message.

The types of encryption you can choose depend on the type of authentication. (See Section 5.6.3.3 on

page 42 for information about this.)

For example, if the wireless network has a RADIUS server, you can choose WPA or WPA2. If users do not

Usually, you should set up the strongest encryption that every device in the wireless network supports. For

example, suppose you have a wireless network with the LTE4506 and you do not have a RADIUS server.

Therefore, there is no authentication. Suppose the wireless network has two devices. Device A only

supports WEP, and device B supports WEP and WPA. Therefore, you should set up Static WEP in the

wireless network.

Note: It is recommended that wireless networks use WPA-PSK, WPA, or stronger encryption.

The other types of encryption are better than none at all, but it is still possible for

unauthorized wireless devices to figure out the original information pretty quickly.

When you select WPA2 or WPA2-PSK in your LTE4506, you can also select an option (WPA compatible) to

support WPA as well. In this case, if some of the devices support WPA and some support WPA2, you

should set up WPA2-PSK or WPA2 (depending on the type of wireless network login) and select the WPA

compatible option in the LTE4506.

Many types of encryption use a key to protect the information in the wireless network. The longer the

key, the stronger the encryption. Every device in the wireless network must have the same key.

Table 21 Types of Encryption for Each Type of Authentication

NO AUTHENTICATION RADIUS SERVER

Weakest No Security WPA

Static WEP

WPA-PSK

Strongest WPA2-PSK WPA2