Linksys WAP54GP manual Wireless Advanced Wireless Settings Tab

Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet

The Wireless - Advanced Wireless Settings Tab

This screen allows you to configure the advanced settings for the Access Point. In most cases, these settings do not need to be changed.

Advanced Wireless

You can change the data transmission and output power settings for the Access Point.

CTS Protection Mode. The CTS (Clear-To-Send) Protection Mode function boosts the Access Point’s ability to catch all Wireless-G transmissions but will severely decrease performance. Keep the default setting, Auto, so the Access Point can use this feature as needed, when the Wireless-G products are not able to transmit to the Access Point in an environment with heavy 802.11b traffic. Select Enabled if you want to permanently enable this feature, or select Disabled if you want to permanently disable this feature.

Wireless Isolation. When this feature is enabled, PCs using different SSIDs cannot see each other, so the different wireless networks are kept separate from each other. In most cases, including wireless hotspots, keep the default, Enabled. If you want PCs from different wireless networks to communicate, select Disabled.

Basic Data Rates. This setting is not actually one rate of transmission but a series of rates that are advertised to the other wireless devices in your network, so they know at which rates the Access Point can transmit. At the Default setting, the Access Point will advertise that it will automatically select the best rate for transmission. Other options are 1-2Mbps, for use with older wireless technology, and All, when you wish to have all rates advertised. The Basic Data Rates are not the rates transmitted; the rates transmitted can be configured through the TX Rate setting on the Wireless - Basic Wireless Settings tab.

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 synchronized. A beacon includes the wireless networks service area, the Access Point address, the Broadcast destination addresses, a time stamp, Delivery Traffic Indicator Maps, and the Traffic Indicator Message (TIM).

DTIM Interval. This value indicates how often the Access Point sends out a Delivery Traffic Indication Message (DTIM). Lower settings result in more efficient networking, while preventing your PC from dropping into power- saving sleep mode. Higher settings allow your PC to enter sleep mode, thus saving power, but interferes with wireless transmissions.

RTS Threshold. This setting determines how large a packet can be before the Access Point coordinates transmission and reception to ensure efficient communication. This value should remain at its default setting of 2347. Should you encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor modifications are recommended.

Figure 5-11: Wireless - Advanced Wireless

Settings Screen

cts (clear-to-send): a signal sent by a wireless device, signifying that it is ready to receive data.

beacon internal: data transmitted on your wireless network that keeps the network synchronized.

packet: a unit of data sent over a network.

dtim (delivery traffic indication message): a message included in data packets that can increase wireless efficiency.

rts (request to send): a networking method of coordinating large packets through the RTS Threshold setting.

Chapter 5: Configuring the Wireless-G Access Point with Power Over Ethernet 21

The Wireless - Advanced Wireless Settings Tab