NETGEAR DG824M Network Card User Manual


 
Wireless Configuration 3-1
Chapter 3
Wireless Configuration
This chapter describes how to configure the wireless features of your DG824M Wireless ADSL
Modem Gateway.
Considerations For A Wireless Network
In planning your wireless network, you should consider the level of security required. You should
also select the physical placement of your gateway in order to maximize the network speed. For
further information on wireless networking, refer to “Wireless Networking” in Appendix B,
“Network and Routing Basics.”
Implement Appropriate Security
Unlike wired network data, your wireless data transmissions can extend beyond your walls and
can be received by anyone with a compatible adapter. For this reason, use the security features of
your wireless equipment. As a minimum precaution, change the SSID setting of all devices on
your network from the factory setting to a unique password. Restricting access by MAC address
filtering adds another obstacle against unwanted hosts joining your network. To hinder a
determined eavesdropper, you should enable Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption.
However, there may be a significant degradation of the data throughput on the wireless link when
WEP is enabled.
Observe Placement and Range Guidelines
The operating distance or range of your wireless connection can vary significantly based on the
physical placement of the wireless gateway.