Wireless Settings 47
channel number. Usually the Wireless computers will scan to find the correct channel, but if they don't you must configure them to use the same Channel number as the Gateway.
Valid channels are country dependent. See “Channels” on page 115 for a list of channels approved by each country.
Service Area Name/SSID
This allows you to name your Wireless network. The field will accept any alphanumeric string and has a maximum length of 32 characters. Your Wireless computers must be configured with exactly the same name or you will not establish a connection. The Service Area Name may also be referred to as "ESSID" depending on your networking vendor. By default the Gateway uses the name "3Com". 3Com recommends that you change the default name.
In order that your wireless computers can connect to the Gateway, you must:
■Use Infrastructure Mode not Adhoc Mode.
■Have the same Service Area Name as the Gateway.
■Have the same Channel number as the Gateway.
■Use the same encryption type and keys as the Gateway.
■Ensure that the PC is included in the authorised Wireless PCs list if Connection Control is enabled. See page 50.
Disable Broadcast SSID
This feature can be used to improve the security of your wireless network. When the tickbox is checked, the Gateway will not broadcast the Service Area Name/SSID of your wireless network. This will prevent unauthorised clients from detecting your SSID and attempting to connect to your network.
If you have a wireless client that can detect all the available SSIDs in your area, your client will not list the Gateway SSID when this feature is enabled.
3Com recommends that you install your wireless network with this feature disabled and then enable it once you have set up the Gateway and wireless clients.