Wep Wireless Security; Wep Authentication - NETGEAR WGM511 User Manual

Table 6-2. 802.11g Radio Frequency Channels
Channel Center Frequency
8 2447 MHz
9 2452 MHz
10 2457 MHz
11 2462 MHz
12 2467 MHz
13 2472 MHz
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:
Turn on the wireless station.
1.
Wireless Networking Basics
User Manual for the NETGEAR Pre-N Wireless PC Card WGM511
Frequency Spread
2434.5 MHz - 2459.5 MHz
2439.5 MHz - 2464.5 MHz
2444.5 MHz - 2469.5 MHz
2449.5 MHz - 2474.5 MHz
2454.5 MHz - 2479.5 MHz
2459.5 MHz - 2484.5 MHz
December 2004
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