Netgear RANGEMAX WAG302 User Manual download pdf (Page 94)

Reference Manual for the NETGEAR ProSafe Dual Band Wireless Access Point WAG302

B-6 Wireless Networking Basics

202-10078-01

3. Use WEP for Authentication and Encryption: A transmitting 802.11 device encrypts the data

portion of every packet it sends using a configured WEP Key. The receiving device decrypts the

data using the same WEP Key. For authentication purposes, the wireless network uses Shared Key

Authentication.

Note: Some 802.11 access points also support Use WEP for Authentication Only (Shared Key

Authentication without data encryption).

Key Size

The IEEE 802.11 standard supports two types of WEP encryption: 40-bit and 128-bit.

The 64-bit WEP data encryption method allows for a five-character (40-bit) input. Additionally, 24

factory-set bits are added to the forty-bit input to generate a 64-bit encryption key. The 24

factory-set bits are not user-configurable). This encryption key will be used to encrypt/decrypt all

data transmitted via the wireless interface. Some vendors refer to the 64-bit WEP data encryption

as 40-bit WEP data encryption since the user-configurable portion of the encryption key is 40 bits

wide.

The 128-bit WEP data encryption method consists of 104 user-configurable bits. Similar to the

forty-bit WEP data encryption method, the remaining 24 bits are factory set and not user

configurable. Some vendors allow passphrases to be entered instead of the cryptic hexadecimal

characters to ease encryption key entry.

128-bit encryption is stronger than 40-bit encryption, but 128-bit encryption may not be available

outside of the United States due to U.S. export regulations.

When configured for 40-bit encryption, 802.11 products typically support up to four WEP Keys.

Each 40-bit WEP Key is expressed as 5 sets of two hexadecimal digits (0-9 and A-F). For

example, “12 34 56 78 90” is a 40-bit WEP Key.

When configured for 128-bit encryption, 802.11 products typically support four WEP Keys but

some manufacturers support only one 128-bit key. The 128-bit WEP Key is expressed as 13 sets of

two hexadecimal digits (0-9 and A-F). For example, “12 34 56 78 90 AB CD EF 12 34 56 78 90”

is a 128-bit WEP Key.

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Netgear RANGEMAX WAG302 User Manual Page 94