Genius Products U.S.A BEFW11S4 What is Spread Spectrum?, What is WEP?, What is a MAC Address?

Page 49

Wireless-B Broadband Router

What is Spread Spectrum?

Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communications systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability, integrity, and security. In other words, more bandwidth is consumed than in the case of narrowband transmission, but the trade-off produces a signal that is, in effect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the receiver knows the parameters of the spread-spectrum signal being broadcast. If a receiver is not tuned to the right frequency, a spread-spectrum signal looks like background noise. There are two main alternatives, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).

What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences?

Frequency-Hopping Spread-Spectrum (FHSS) uses a narrowband carrier that changes frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver. Properly synchronized, the net effect is to maintain a single logical channel. To an unintended receiver, FHSS appears to be short-duration impulse noise. Direct-Sequence Spread- Spectrum (DSSS) generates a redundant bit pattern for each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chipping code). The longer the chip, the greater the probability that the original data can be recovered. Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmission, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the original data without the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appears as low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowband receivers.

Will the information be intercepted while it is being transmitted through the air?

WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, as with Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology, it has the inherent security feature of scrambling. On the software side, WLAN offers the encryption function (WEP) to enhance security and access control.

What is WEP?

WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a 64-bit or 128-bit shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11 standard.

What is a MAC Address?

The Media Access Control (MAC) address is a unique number assigned by the manufacturer to any Ethernet networking device, such as a network adapter, that allows the network to identify it at the hardware level. For all practical purposes, this number is usually permanent. Unlike IP addresses, which can change every time a computer logs onto the network, the MAC address of a device stays the same, making it a valuable identifier for the network.

How do I reset the Router?

Press the Reset button on the back panel for about ten seconds. This will reset the Router to its default settings.

Appendix A: Troubleshooting

43

Frequently Asked Questions

Image 49
Contents Wireless- B Word definition Copyright and TrademarksTable of Contents Appendix B Wireless Security Appendix ATroubleshootingAppendix C Upgrading Firmware Appendix D Windows Help Broadband Router’s Back Panel List of Figures26 Applications and Gaming UPnP Forwarding Welcome IntroductionWhat’s in this Guide? Wireless-B Broadband Router Roaming Network TopologyNetwork Layout Back Panel Getting to Know the Wireless-B Broadband RouterFront Panel Wireless-BHardware Installation Connecting the Wireless-B Broadband RouterOverview Configuring the Wireless-B Broadband RouterInternet Setup Setup Tab Basic SetupPPPoE Connection Type Optional Settings Required by some ISPs Wireless-B Broadband Router 10 Setup Tab MAC Address Clone Setup Tab MAC Address Clone11 Setup Tab Advanced Routing Setup Tab Advanced Routing13 Wireless Tab Basic Wireless Settings Wireless Tab Basic Wireless Settings14 WPA Pre-Shared Key Wireless Tab Wireless Security17 Wireless Tab WEP 18 Wireless Tab Wireless Network Access Wireless Tab Wireless Network AccessPreamble type, Long Preambledefault or Short Preamble Wireless Tab Advanced Wireless Settings21 Security Tab Filter Security Tab Filter23 Security Tab VPN Passthrough Security Tab VPN Passthrough24 Applications and Gaming Tab Port Range Forwarding Applications and Gaming Tab Port Range ForwardingApplications and Gaming Tab UPnP Forwarding Applications and Gaming Tab Port TriggeringApplications and Gaming Tab DMZ Administration Tab Management29 Backup & Restore Administration Tab LogAdministration Tab Firmware Upgrade 33 Administration Tab Factory Defaults Administration Tab Factory DefaultsBy the Router Status Tab Router35 Status Tab Local Network Status Tab Local NetworkCommon Problems and Solutions Appendix a TroubleshootingNeed to set a static IP address on a PC Want to test my Internet connection Wireless-B Broadband Router TCP UDP Can’t get the Internet game, server, or application to work VPN IpsecNeed to upgrade the firmware To start over, I need to set the Router to factory defaultFirmware upgrade failed, and/or the Power LED is flashing My DSL service’s PPPoE is always disconnecting Power LED keeps flashing Frequently Asked QuestionsWhere is the Router installed on the network? Is IPSec Pass-Through supported by the Router?Does the Router support ICQ send file? What is Network Address Translation and what is it used for?How can I block corrupted FTP downloads? What are the advanced features of the Router? What is DMZ Hosting?What is the Ieee 802.11g standard? What Ieee 802.11b features are supported?What is infrastructure mode? What is ad-hoc mode?What is roaming? What is ISM band?What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences? What is Spread Spectrum?What is WEP? What is a MAC Address?Have excellent signal strength, but I cannot see my network How do I resolve issues with signal loss?Security Precautions Appendix B Wireless SecuritySecurity Threats Facing Wireless Networks Appendix B Wireless Security Wireless-B Broadband Router Appendix C Upgrading Firmware Figure C-1 Upgrade FirmwareTCP/IP Appendix D Windows HelpWindows 2000 or XP Instructions Windows 98 or Me InstructionsFigure E-3 MAC Address/Physical Address For the Router’s Web-based UtilityAppendix F Glossary Wireless-B Broadband Router Wireless-B Broadband Router Wireless-B Broadband Router Wireless-B Broadband Router Wireless-B Broadband Router Appendix G Specifications Appendix H Warranty Information FCC Statement Appendix I Regulatory InformationWireless-B Broadband Router Europe Mail Address Appendix J Contact Information