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Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Range Expander
The Setup Tab
Wireless-G Range Expander
someone could easily obtain the SSID information with site survey software and gain unauthorized access to
your network. Click Enable to broadcast the SSID to all wireless devices in range. Click Disable to increase
network security and prevent the SSID from being seen on networked PCs.
• Channel. Select the appropriate channel from the list provided, between 1 and 11, to correspond with your
network settings. All points in your wireless network must use the same channel to function correctly.
• Wireless Security. To enable wireless security, through WEP encryption, select the Enable radio button. To
disable such security, select the radio button by Disable. To change the security settings to match your
network, click the Edit Security Settings button. A notification window will ask if you wish to change the
settings. Clicking the Edit Security Settings button will open the following options:
Default Transmit Key. When using WEP keys and not a Passphrase (described below), this selection
corresponds with the Key used.
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 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.
• Access Point MAC Address. In this field, enter the MAC Address of the access point with which the Range
Expander is communicating.
Figure 6-3: WEP Security screen
encryption: encoding data transmitted in a network
MAC address: the unique address that a
manufacturer assigns to each networking device.
passphrase: used much like a password, a passphrase
simplifies the WEP encryption process by automatically
generating the WEP encryption keys for Linksys products.
software: instructions for the computer.