Appendix A - Troubleshooting
77
Channels
The Wireless Channel sets the radio frequency used for communication.
• Access Points use a fixed Channel. You can select the Channel used. This allows
you to choose a Channel which provides the least interference and best perform-
ance. In the USA and Canada, 11 channel are available. If using multiple Access
Points, it is better if adjacent Access Points use different Channels to reduce inter-
ference.
• In "Infrastructure" mode, Wireless Stations normally scan all Channels, looking for
an Access Point. If more than one Access Point can be used, the one with the
strongest signal is used. (This can only happen within an ESS.)
• If using "Ad-hoc" mode (no Access Point), all Wireless stations should be set to
use the same Channel. However, most Wireless stations will still scan all Chan-
nels to see if there is an existing "Ad-hoc" group they can join.
WEP
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is a standard for encrypting data before it is transmit-
ted.
This is desirable because it is impossible to prevent snoopers from receiving any data
which is transmitted by your Wireless Stations. But if the data is encrypted, then it is
meaningless unless the receiver can decrypt it.
If WEP is used, the Wireless Stations and the Access Point must have the same
settings for each of the following:
WEP
Off, 64 Bit, 128 Bit
Key
For 64 Bit encryption, the Key value must match.
For 128 Bit encryption, the Key value must match
WEP Authentication
Open System or Shared Key.
Wireless LAN Configuration
To allow Wireless Stations to use the Access Point, the Wireless Stations and the
Access Point must use the same settings, as follows:
Mode
On client Wireless Stations, the mode must be set to "Infrastruc-
ture".
(The Access Point is always in "Infrastructure" mode.)
SSID (ESSID)
Wireless Stations should use the same SSID (ESSID) as the
Access Point they wish to connect to. Alternatively, the SSID can
be set to "any" or null (blank) to allow connection to any Access
Point.
WEP
The Wireless Stations and the Access Point must use the same
settings for WEP (Off, 64 Bit, 128 Bit).
WEP Key: If WEP is enabled, the Key must be the same on the
Wireless Stations and the Access Point.
WEP Authentication: If WEP is enabled, all Wireless Stations
must use the same setting as the Access Point (either "Open
System" or "Shared Key").