23
Chapter 6: Configuring the Router’s Basic Settings
The Wireless Tab
Dual-Band Wireless Access Point
The Wireless Tab
Before making any changes to the Wireless tab, please check your wireless settings on other systems, as these
changes will alter the effectiveness of the Access Point. In most cases, these settings do not need to be changed.
•
Beacon Interval. This value indicates the frequency interval of the beacon. A beacon is a packet broadcast by
the Access Point to keep the network synchronized. A beacon includes the wireless LAN service area, the AP
address, the Broadcast destination addresses, a time stamp, Delivery Traffic Indicator Maps, and the Traffic
Indicator Message (TIM).
•
RTS Threshold. This setting determines how large a packet can be before the Access Point coordinates
transmission and reception to ensure efficient communication. This value should remain at its default setting
of 2,346. Should you encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor modifications are recommended.
•
Fragmentation Length. This specifies the maximum size a data packet will be before splitting and creating a
new packet and should remain at its default setting of 2,346. A smaller setting means smaller packets, which
will create more packets for each transmission. If you have decreased this value and experience high packet
error rates, you can increase it again, but it will likely decrease overall network performance. Only minor
modifications of this value are recommended.
•
Data Beacon Rate. (5GHz/802.11a only) This value, between 1 and 16384, indicates the interval of the
Delivery Traffic Indication Message. A Data Beacon Rate field is a countdown field informing clients of the
next window for listening to broadcast and multicast messages. When the Access Point has buffered
broadcast or multicast messages for associated clients, it sends the next message with a rate value. Access
Point Clients hear the beacons and awaken to receive the broadcast and multicast messages.
•
Turbo Mode. (5GHz/802.11a only) Click the radio button beside Enable to increase the speed of your wireless
transmissions to 72 Mbps, keeping in mind that the Access Point's range diminishes in Turbo Mode. If you do
not wish to utilize Turbo Mode, make sure the radio button beside Disable is selected.
•
DTIM Interval. (2.4GHz/802.11b only) This value indicates how often the Access Point sends out a Delivery
Traffic Indication Message. Lower settings result in more efficient networking, while preventing your PC from
dropping into power-saving sleep mode. Higher settings allow your PC to enter sleep mode, thus saving
power, but interferes with wireless transmissions.
The Wireless Tab
Before making any changes to the Wireless tab, please check your wireless settings on other systems, as these
changes will alter the effectiveness of the Access Point. In most cases, these settings do not need to be changed.
•
Beacon Interval. This value indicates the frequency interval of the beacon. A beacon is a packet broadcast by
the Access Point to keep the network synchronized. A beacon includes the wireless LAN service area, the AP
address, the Broadcast destination addresses, a time stamp, Delivery Traffic Indicator Maps, and the Traffic
Indicator Message (TIM).
•
RTS Threshold. This setting determines how large a packet can be before the Access Point coordinates
transmission and reception to ensure efficient communication. This value should remain at its default setting
of 2,346. Should you encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor modifications are recommended.
•
Fragmentation Length. This specifies the maximum size a data packet will be before splitting and creating a
new packet and should remain at its default setting of 2,346. A smaller setting means smaller packets, which
will create more packets for each transmission. If you have decreased this value and experience high packet
error rates, you can increase it again, but it will likely decrease overall network performance. Only minor
modifications of this value are recommended.
•
Data Beacon Rate. (5GHz/802.11a only) This value, between 1 and 16384, indicates the interval of the
Delivery Traffic Indication Message. A Data Beacon Rate field is a countdown field informing clients of the
next window for listening to broadcast and multicast messages. When the Access Point has buffered
broadcast or multicast messages for associated clients, it sends the next message with a rate value. Access
Point Clients hear the beacons and awaken to receive the broadcast and multicast messages.
•
Turbo Mode. (5GHz/802.11a only) Click the radio button beside Enable to increase the speed of your wireless
transmissions to 72 Mbps, keeping in mind that the Access Point's range diminishes in Turbo Mode. If you do
not wish to utilize Turbo Mode, make sure the radio button beside Disable is selected.
•
DTIM Interval. (2.4GHz/802.11b only) This value indicates how often the Access Point sends out a Delivery
Traffic Indication Message. Lower settings result in more efficient networking, while preventing your PC from
dropping into power-saving sleep mode. Higher settings allow your PC to enter sleep mode, thus saving
power, but interferes with wireless transmissions.
•
Transmission Rates. The basic transfer rates should be set depending on the speed of your wireless network.
You can select from a range of transmission speeds or select Best to have the Access Point automatically
engage the network's optimum speed.
Figure 6-8: Wireless Tab
