Signal Problems - ZyXEL Communications VMG1312-B Series User Manual

wireless users t o get a valid user nam e and password. Then, t hey can use t hat user nam e and
password t o use t he wireless net work.
7.10.3.4 Encryption
Wireless net works can use encrypt ion t o prot ect t he inform at ion t hat is sent in t he wireless
net work. Encrypt ion is like a secret code. I f you do not know t he secret code, you cannot
underst and t he m essage.
The t ypes of encrypt ion you can choose depend on t he t ype of aut hent icat ion. ( See
7.10.3.3 on page 128
Table 29 Types of Encrypt ion for Each Type of Aut hent icat ion
W e a k e st
St r on ge st
For exam ple, if t he wireless net work has a RADI US server, you can choose W PA or W PA2 . I f users
do not log in t o t he wireless net work, you can choose no encrypt ion, St a t ic W EP, W PA- PSK, or
W PA2 - PSK.
Usually, you should set up t he st rongest encrypt ion t hat every device in t he wireless net work
support s. For exam ple, suppose you have a wireless net work wit h t he Device and you do not have
a RADI US server. Therefore, t here is no aut hent icat ion. Suppose t he wireless net work has t wo
devices. Device A only support s WEP , and device B support s WEP and WPA. Therefore, you should
set up St a t ic W EP in t he wireless net work.
Not e: I t is recom m ended t hat w ireless net works use W PA- PSK, W PA, or st ronger
encrypt ion. The ot her t ypes of encrypt ion are bet t er t han none at all, but it is st ill
possible for unaut horized wireless devices t o figure out t he original inform at ion
pret t y quickly.
When you select W PA2 or W PA2 - PSK in your Device, you can also select an opt ion (W PA
com pa t ible ) t o support WPA as well. I n t his case, if som e of t he devices support WPA and som e
support WPA2, you should set up W PA2 - PSK or W PA2 ( depending on t he t ype of wireless net work
login) and select t he W PA com pa t ible opt ion in t he Device.
Many t ypes of encrypt ion use a key t o prot ect t he inform at ion in t he wireless net work. The longer
t he key, t he st ronger t he encrypt ion. Every device in t he wireless net work m ust have t he sam e key.

7.10.4 Signal Problems

Because wireless net works are radio net works, t heir signals are subj ect t o lim it at ions of dist ance,
int erference and absorpt ion.
Problem s wit h dist ance occur when t he t wo radios are t oo far apart . Problem s wit h int erference
occur when ot her radio waves int errupt t he dat a signal. I nt erference m ay com e from ot her radio
t ransm issions, such as m ilit ary or air t raffic cont rol com m unicat ions, or from m achines t hat are
VMG1312-B Series User's Guide
for inform at ion about t his.)
NO AUTHENTICATION
No Securit y
St at ic WEP
WPA- PSK
WPA2- PSK
RADIUS SERVER
WPA
WPA2
Chapter 7 Wireless
Sect ion
129