Wireless Web Pages Group; Performance; Authentication - THOMSON Network Router User Manual

Chapter 3: Advanced Confi guration

Wireless Web Pages Group

Important: Changes to the wireless web pages should be made from a PC that is hard wired to the gateway.
The Wireless web pages group enables a variety of settings that can provide secure and reliable
wireless communications for even the most demanding tech-savvy user.
The DCW725 gateway offers a choice of 802.1X, WPA and WPA-PSK authentication of your PCs
to the gateway, 64 and 128 bit WEP encryption of communication between the gateway and your
PCs to guaranty privacy, and an Access Control List function that enables you to restrict wireless
access to only your specifi c PCs.
The wireless function will probably work in your home as shipped from the factory, but without
the security features activated. In addition, the factory default wireless channel setting may not
provide optimum performance in your home due to interference from other wireless devices.
Therefore, the following minimum changes are recommended from the factory defaults, to secure
your wireless communications and provide optimum performance.

Performance

Because your wireless communication travels through the air, the factory default wireless channel
setting may not provide optimum performance in your home if you or your neighbors have
other interfering 2.4 GHz devices such as cordless phones. If your wireless PC is experiencing very
sluggish or dramatically slower communication compared with the speed you achieve on your
PC that is wired to the gateway, try changing the channel number. See the 802.11b/g Basic Web
Page discussion below for details.

Authentication

Authentication enables you to restrict your gateway from communicating with any remote
wireless PCs that aren't yours. The following minimum authentication-related changes to factory
defaults are recommended. See the 802.11b/g Basic and Access Control Web Page discussions
below for details.
Network Name (SSID) – set to a unique name you choose
Network Type – set to Open
Access Control List - enter your wireless PCs' MAC addresses
46 Chapter 3