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Chapter 5: Configuring the Router
The Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings
Broadband Router with 2 Phone Ports
The Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings
This tab is used to set up the Router’s advanced wireless functions. These settings should only be adjusted by an
expert administrator as incorrect settings can reduce wireless performance.
Authentication Type. The default is set to Auto, which allows either Open System or Shared Key authentication
to be used. With Open System authentication, the sender and the recipient do NOT use a WEP key for
authentication. With Shared Key authentication, the sender and recipient use a WEP key for authentication.
Transmission Rate. The rate of data transmission should be set depending on the speed of your wireless
network. You can select from a range of transmission speeds, or you can select Auto to have the Router
automatically use the fastest possible data rate and enable the Auto-Fallback feature. Auto-Fallback will
negotiate the best possible connection speed between the Router and a wireless client. The default value is Auto.
Beacon Interval. Enter a value between 1 and 65,535 milliseconds. The Beacon Interval value indicates the
frequency interval of the beacon. A beacon is a packet broadcast by the Router to synchronize the wireless
network. The default value is 100.
DTIM Interval. This value, between 1 and 255, indicates the interval of the Delivery Traffic Indication Message
(DTIM). A DTIM field is a countdown field informing clients of the next window for listening to broadcast and
multicast messages. When the Router has buffered broadcast or multicast messages for associated clients, it
sends the next DTIM with a DTIM Interval value. Its clients hear the beacons and awaken to receive the broadcast
and multicast messages. The default value is 3.
Fragmentation Threshold. This value specifies the maximum size for a packet before data is fragmented into
multiple packets. If you experience a high packet error rate, you may slightly increase the Fragmentation
Threshold. Setting the Fragmentation Threshold too low may result in poor network performance. Only minor
reduction of the default value is recommended. In most cases, it should remain at its default value of 2346.
RTS Threshold. Should you encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor reduction of the default value, 2347, is
recommended. If a network packet is smaller than the preset RTS threshold size, the RTS/CTS mechanism will
not be enabled. The Router sends Request to Send (RTS) frames to a particular receiving station and negotiates
the sending of a data frame. After receiving an RTS, the wireless station responds with a Clear to Send (CTS)
frame to acknowledge the right to begin transmission. The RTS Threshold value should remain at its default value
of 2347.
When you have finished making changes to this screen, click the Save Settings button to save the changes, or
click the Cancel Changes button to undo your changes. For help information, click Help.
Figure 5-18: Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings