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EMINENT ADVANCED MANUAL
network. When you use a wireless network, you can meanwhile use MAC Address
Control to configure for example, your wireless network adapter to be able to connect
to your network without the neighbouring network adapter being able to do so. MAC
Address Control is a possibility, as well as WEP or WPA of providing extra security for
your wireless network.
Making your wireless network secure
WEP encryption is a form of security encoding the wireless signal from your wireless
router or modem so the data cannot be simply intercepted by third parties. The
security level is expressed in bits. 64-Bit WEP encryption is the lowest security level
ranging up to 128-Bit for the highest level of security offered by WEP encryption: 256-
Bit. You must enter a hexadecimal- or an ASCII series of characters in order to set up
WEP encryption. Hexadecimal characters consist of the characters ‘A’ to ‘F’ and ‘0’ to
‘9’. ASCII characters include all characters, including symbols. When you have
selected the correct level of security and entered the key, you must also enter exactly
the same key into all wireless appliances within the same network. Bear in mind that –
when you activate the key in the first appliance – the connection with the network will
be broken. You can re-establish the network by systematically providing all wireless
appliance products with the same key.
WPA is a form of security encoding the wireless signal from your wireless router or
modem so the data cannot be simply intercepted by third parties. WPA stands for ‘Wi-
Fi Protected Access’ and is a big improvement on wireless security. WPA uses a ‘Pre
Shared Key (PSK)’. This is a key that must be put into operation on all appliances
connected to the wireless network. This WPA key may not be any longer than 63
(random) characters and no shorter than 8 (random) characters. The best form of
wireless protection is currently however formed by WPA2. The above-mentioned
standard is only supported by a few manufacturers – including Eminent – and is
therefore difficult to combine with other makes of wireless networks.
If you wish to use WPA or perhaps even WPA2, make sure that all appliances in your
wireless network support this form of security. The combining of various types of
security in a wireless network is not possible and will result in the loss of the
connection.
Expanding the range of your wireless
network
WDS (Wireless Distribution System) or ‘Bridging’ is an option with which you can
easily expand the range of your wireless network should the range of your wireless
network remain limited. Appliances linked via WDS can share your Internet
connection. You therefore do not need to interlink appliances sharing WDS by way of
a physical connection (such as a cable). Appliances supporting WDS or Bridging