Netgear RANGEMAX WPN511 User Manual download pdf (Page 52)

User Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless PC Card WPN511

B-6 Wireless Networking Basics

February 2005

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, 802.11b 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.

Note: Typically, 802.11 access points can store up to four 128-bit WEP Keys but some 802.11

client adapters can only store one. Therefore, make sure that your 802.11 access and client

adapters configurations match.

WEP Configuration Options

The WEP settings must match on all 802.11 devices that are within the same wireless network as

identified by the SSID. In general, if your mobile clients will roam between access points, then all

of the 802.11 access points and all of the 802.11 client adapters on the network must have the same

WEP settings.

Note: Whatever keys you enter for an AP, you must also enter the same keys for the client adapter

in the same order. In other words, WEP key 1 on the AP must match WEP key 1 on the client

adapter, WEP key 2 on the AP must match WEP key 2 on the client adapter, etc.

Note: The AP and the client adapters can have different default WEP Keys as long as the keys are

in the same order. In other words, the AP can use WEP key 2 as its default key to transmit while a

client adapter can use WEP key 3 as its default key to transmit. The two devices will communicate

as long as the AP’s WEP key 2 is the same as the client’s WEP key 2 and the AP’s WEP key 3 is

the same as the client’s WEP key 3.

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Netgear RANGEMAX WPN511 User Manual Page 52