NOTE: To ensure proper agency compliance and compatibility between similar products in your area; the operating channel & region must be set correctly by you.
Placement of the Router to Optimize Wireless Connectivity
The operating distance or range of your wireless connection can vary significantly based on the physical placement of the Router. For best results, place your Router:
Note: Failure to follow these guidelines can result in significant performance degradation or inability to wirelessly connect to the Router.
Wireless Network
Name (SSID)
Enter a value of up to 32 alphanumeric characters. The same Name (SSID) must be assigned to all wireless devices in your network. The default SSID is Wireless, but NETGEAR strongly recommends that you change your networks Name (SSID) to a different value. This value is also case-sensitive. For example, Wireless is not the same as wireless.
Region
Select your region from the drop-down list. This field displays the region of operation for which the wireless interface is intended. It may not be legal to operate the Router in a region other than the region shown here. If your country or region is not listed, please check with your local government agency or check our website for more information on which channels to use.
Channel
This field determines which operating frequency will be used. It should not be necessary to change the wireless channel unless you notice interference problems with another nearby access point.
Mode
Select the desired wireless mode. The options are:
Note:
Protected Mode
In most situations, best performance (throughput) is achieved with Protected Mode Disabled.
If your environment experiences interference, or has heavy 802.11b traffic, enabling Protected Mode can increase 802.11b troughput. But enabling Protected mode will also reduce 802.11g throughput.
Wireless Access Point
Allow Broadcast of Name (SSID)
If Enabled, the SSID will broadcast its name to all Wireless Stations. Stations can then detect this Access Point and adopt the correct SSID to connect to it.
If the SSID is not broadcast, the SSID must be manually entered on each Wireless station to allow it to connect to this Access Point.
Security Options
Select the desired option, and ensure all your Wireless stations have the same setting:
WEP Security Encryption
Authentication Type
Normally this can be left at the default value of "Automatic." If that fails, select the appropriate value - "Open System" or "Shared Key." Check your wireless card's documentation to see what method to use.
Encryption Strength
Select the WEP Encryption level:
WEP Key
You can manually or automatically program the four data encryption keys. These values must be identical on all PCs and Access Points in your network.
Automatic Key Generation (Passphrase)
Enter a word or group of printable characters in the Passphrase box and click the Generate button to automatically configure the WEP Key(s). If encryption strength is set to 64 bit, then each of the four key boxes will automatically be populated with key values. If encryption strength is set to 128 bit, then only the selected WEP key box will automatically be populated with key values.
Manual Entry Mode
Select which of the four keys will be used and enter the matching WEP key information for your network in the selected key box.
For 64 bit WEP - Enter ten hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0-9, A-F).
For 128 bit WEP - Enter twenty-six hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0-9, A-F).
Be sure to click Apply to save your settings in this menu.
WPA-PSK Security Encryption
Network Key
For WPA-PSK, you need to enter the Network Key here. The Key must be from 8 to 63 ASCII characters. Your Wireless Stations must use the same key.
WPA Encryption
Currently, only TKIP is supported. Ensure your Wireless Stations are also using TKIP. Normally, this is the default. If there is no choice of encryption methods for WPA-PSK, then you can assume TKIP will be used.
To Save Or Cancel Changes
Click Apply to have your changes take effect.
Click Cancel to return to the previous unsaved settings.