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Chapter 7: Configuring the Router’s Web-Based Utility
The Wireless Tab
Dual-Band Wireless Access Point
Wireless Security
•
Wireless SSID Broadcast. When wireless clients survey the local area for wireless networks to associate with,
they will detect the SSID broadcast by the Router. To broadcast the Router's SSID, keep the default setting,
Enabled
. If you do not want to broadcast the Router's SSID, then select
Disabled
.
•
WEP. An acronym for Wired Equivalent Privacy, WEP is an encryption method used to protect your wireless
data communications. WEP uses 64-bit or 128-bit keys to provide access control to your network and
encryption security for every data transmission. To decode data transmissions, all devices-Wireless-G and
802.11b-in a network must use an identical WEP key. Higher encryption levels offer higher levels of security,
but due to the complexity of the encryption, they may decrease network performance. To enable WEP
encryption, click the
Enabled
radio button. Then click the
Edit WEP Settings
button to configure the WEP
settings. To disable WEP encryption, keep the default setting,
Disabled
.
WEP
The WEP screen allows you to configure your WEP settings. WEP encryption should always be enabled to
increase the security of your wireless network. Default Transmit Key Select which WEP key (1-4) will be used
when the Router sends data. Make sure the receiving device is using the same key.
•
WEP Encryption. Select the level of WEP encryption you wish to use, 64-bit 10 hex digits or 128-bit 26 hex
digits. Higher encryption levels offer higher levels of security, but due to the complexity of the encryption,
they may decrease network performance.
•
Passphrase. Instead of manually entering WEP keys, you can enter a Passphrase. This Passphrase is used to
generate one or more WEP keys. It is case-sensitive and should not be longer than 16 alphanumeric
characters. (This Passphrase function is compatible with Linksys wireless products only. If you want to
communicate with non-Linksys wireless products, enter the WEP key manually on the non-Linksys wireless
products.) After you enter the Passphrase, click the
Generate
button to create WEP keys.
•
Keys 1-4. WEP keys enable you to create an encryption scheme for wireless LAN transmissions. If you are not
using a Passphrase, then manually enter a set of values. (Do not leave a key field blank, and do not enter all
zeroes. These are not valid key values.)
If you are using 64-bit WEP encryption, then the key must be exactly 10 hexadecimal characters in length. If
you are using 128-bit WEP encryption, then the key must be exactly 26 hexadecimal characters in length.
Valid hexadecimal characters are “0”-“9” and “A”-“F”.
When finished making your changes on this tab, click the
Save Settings
button to save these changes, or click
the
Cancel Changes
button to undo your changes.
Figure 7-13:
