Netgear WGM511 Installation Guide download pdf (Page 53)

User Manual for the NETGEAR Pre-N Wireless PC Card WGM511

Wireless Networking Basics B-3

December 2004

Note: The available channels supported by the wireless products in various countries are different.

The preferred channel separation between the channels in neighboring wireless networks is 25

MHz (5 channels). This means that you can apply up to three different channels within your

wireless network. There are only 11 usable wireless channels in the United States. It is

recommended that you start using channel 1 and grow to use channel 6, and 11 when necessary, as

these three channels do not overlap.

WEP Wireless Security

The absence of a physical connection between nodes makes the wireless links vulnerable to

eavesdropping and information theft. To provide a certain level of security, the IEEE 802.11

standard has defined two types of authentication methods, Open System and Shared Key. With

Open System authentication, a wireless computer can join any network and receive any messages

that are not encrypted. With Shared Key authentication, only those computers that possess the

correct authentication key can join the network. By default, IEEE 802.11 wireless devices operate

in an Open System network. Recently, Wi-Fi, the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance

(http://www.wi-fi.net) developed the Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), a new strongly enhanced

Wi-Fi security. WPA will soon be incorporated into the IEEE 802.11 standard. WEP and WPA are

discussed below.

WEP Authentication

The 802.11 standard defines several services that govern how two 802.11 devices communicate.

The following events must occur before an 802.11 Station can communicate with an Ethernet

network through an access point such as the one built in to the WGM511:

1. Turn on the wireless station.

8 2447 MHz 2434.5 MHz - 2459.5 MHz

9 2452 MHz 2439.5 MHz - 2464.5 MHz

10 2457 MHz 2444.5 MHz - 2469.5 MHz

11 2462 MHz 2449.5 MHz - 2474.5 MHz

12 2467 MHz 2454.5 MHz - 2479.5 MHz

13 2472 MHz 2459.5 MHz - 2484.5 MHz

Table 6-2. 802.11g Radio Frequency Channels

Channel Center Frequency Frequency Spread

1 2 ... 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 ... 85 86

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Netgear WGM511 Installation Guide Page 53