Linksys WAP11 v.2.6 Instant Wireless Series, The Wireless Tab, Wireless Network Access Point

Instant Wireless® Series

The Wireless Tab

Figure 6-12

Before making any changes to the Wireless tab, shown in Figure 6-12, please check your wireless settings on your other systems, as these changes will alter the effectiveness of the Access Point. In most cases, these wireless settings do not need to be changed.

•Beacon Interval. This value indicates the frequency interval of the beacon. A beacon is a packet broadcast by the Access Point to keep the network syn- chronized. A beacon includes the wireless LAN service area, the AP address, the Broadcast destination addresses, a time stamp, Delivery Traffic Indicator Maps, and the Traffic Indicator Message (TIM).

Wireless Network Access Point

•RTS Threshold. This value should remain at its default setting of 2346. Should you encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor reductions are rec- ommended.

•Fragmentation Threshold. This value specifies the maximum size for a packet before data is fragmented into multiple packets. It should remain at its default setting of 2346. A smaller setting means smaller packets, which will create more packets for each transmission. Only minor reductions of this value are recommended.

•DTIM Interval. This value indicates the interval of the Delivery Traffic Indication Message (DTIM). A DTIM field is a countdown field informing clients of the next window for listening to broadcast and multicast mes- sages. When the Access Point has buffered broadcast or multicast messages for associated clients, it sends the next DTIM with a DTIM Interval value. Access Point Clients hear the beacons and awaken to receive the broadcast and multicast messages.

•Basic Rates. The basic rate is the minimum speed at which a wireless client is allowed to connect to the Access Point.

•Transmission Rates. The transmission rates should be set depending on the speed of your wireless network. You must select 1-2 (Mbps) if you have older 802.11 compliant equipment on your network, such as wireless adapters that support only 1 or 2 Mbps. Selecting 1-2 (Mbps), however, does NOT limit the transmission rates of faster adapters.

•Preamble Type. The preamble defines the length of the CRC block for communication between the Access Point and a roaming wireless network adapter. (High network traffic areas should use the shorter preamble type.) Select the appropriate preamble type and click the Apply button to set it. All wireless points (nodes) on your network should use the same preamble type.

•Authentication Type. You may choose between Open System, Shared Key, and Both. The Authentication Type default is set to Open System. Shared Key is when both the sender and the recipient share a secret key. All points on your network must use the same authentication type. It is recom- mended that you use the default setting.

•Antenna Selection. This selection is for choosing which antenna transmits data. By default, the Diversity Antenna selection, used to increase recep- tion, is chosen.

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