Linksys WCF11 User Manual page 10

ENCRYPTION
The 64-bit or 128-bit WEP keys can be generated here from a user-defined
passphrase or entered manually.
An acronym for Wired Equivalent Privacy, WEP is an encryption scheme used
to protect your wireless data communications. WEP uses a combination of 64-
bit or 128-bit keys to provide access control to your network and encryption
security for every data transmission. To decode a data transmission, each point
in a network must use an identical 64-bit or 128-bit key. Higher encryption
levels mean higher levels of security, but, due to the complexity of the encryp-
tion, they may mean decreased network performance.
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Instant Wireless TM Series
Wireless Network CF Card
Encryption (WEP) can be Disabled, or set to 64-bit or 128-bit encryption as
a hexadecimal number for each key that you wish to encrypt. Make sure that
the values entered in these fields for WEP is identical to the encryption keys
used on the other wireless devices on the network.
Once enabled, you can create an encryption key by using a Passphrase, or by
entering the key manually. The Passphrase can be any text string with a max-
imum of 31 alphanumeric characters.
Creating and using the passphrase is recommended for easy WEP con-
Note:
figuration and security purposes.
If you select to Create Keys Manually, enter a hexadecimal number for each
key that you wish to encrypt. Make sure that the values entered in these fields
for WEP are identical to the encryption keys used on the other wireless devices
on the network.
Once you have chosen your key encryption method and entered either the
Passphrase or manual key, click the Apply button to save your changes or
Undo to delete them. To save your changes and close the Configuration Utility,
click the OK button.
LINK
The Link screen provides information about the current link between the
Network CF Card and the wireless network.
The State field displays information on the Access Point with which the
Network CF Card is communicating.
The Current Channel field shows to what channel the Network CF Card is set.
The Current Tx Rate field shows the transfer rate in megabits per second.
Clicking the Rescan button refreshes the information displayed.
The Throughput fields show the rate at which data is transferred and received
in bytes per second.
The Link Quality field will display a bar indicating the percentage, between 0
and 100 percent, of the quality of the link. The higher the percentage, the bet-
ter the link.
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