NETGEAR MBRN3000-100NAS Wireless Placement and Range Guidelines, Wireless Security Options

Mobile Broadband Wireless-N Router MBRN3000

Wireless Placement and Range Guidelines

The range of your wireless connection can vary significantly based on the physical placement of the router. The latency, data throughput performance, and notebook power consumption of wireless adapters also vary depending on your configuration choices.

For best results, place your router according to the following guidelines:

•Near the center of the area in which your PCs will operate.

•In an elevated location such as a high shelf where the wirelessly connected PCs have line-of-sight access (even if through walls).

•Away from sources of interference, such as PCs, microwave ovens, and 2.4 GHz cordless phones.

•Away from large metal surfaces.

•Put the antenna in a vertical position to provide the best side-to-side coverage. Put the antenna in a horizontal position to provide the best up-and-down coverage.

•If using multiple access points, it is better if adjacent access points use different radio frequency channels to reduce interference. The recommended channel spacing between adjacent access points is 5 channels (for example, use Channels 1 and 6, or 6 and 11).

The time it takes to establish a wireless connection can vary depending on both your security settings and placement. WEP connections can take slightly longer to establish. Also, WEP encryption can consume more battery power on a notebook computer.

Wireless Security Options

Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11g wireless networks at a maximum range of up to 300 feet. Such distances can allow for others outside your immediate area to access your network.

Unlike wired network data, your wireless data transmissions can extend beyond your walls and can be received by anyone with a compatible adapter. For this reason, use the security features of your wireless equipment. The Mobile Broadband Wireless-N Router provides highly effective security features which are covered in detail in this chapter. Deploy the security features appropriate to your needs.

14 Chapter 2: Wireless Network Configuration