Instant Wireless® Series
WEP (Encryption) An acronym for Wired Equivalent Privacy, WEP is an encryption method used to protect your wireless data communications. WEP uses a combination of 64-bit or 128-bit keys to provide access control to your network and encryption security for every data transmission. To decode a data transmission, each device in a network must use an identical 64-bit or 128-bit key. Higher encryption levels offer higher levels of securi- ty, but due to the complexity of the encryption, they may decrease network performance. Click the 2.4GHz WEP Settings button to configure the WEP keys for your 2.4GHz, 802.11b network (see Figure 6-12).
Check all the values, and click the Apply button to save your 2.4GHz, 802.11b settings. To cancel any changes you’ve entered on this page, click the Cancel button. To get more information about the features, click the Help button.
2.4GHz, 802.11b (WEP)
The 2.4GHz, 802.11b (WEP) screen allows you to configure your 2.4GHz, 802.11b WEP settings. WEP encryption is recommended to increase the security of your wireless network.
WEP Encryption Keys 1-4 offer 64-bit or 128-bit encryption; select the type of encryption you want from the drop-down box. To disable WEP Encryption, select Disable.
Figure 6-12
Dual-Band Wireless A+B Broadband Router
Default Transmit Key Select which WEP key (1-4) will be used when the Router sends data. Make sure the receiver is using the same key.
Passphrase Instead of manually entering WEP keys, you can enter a Passphrase. This Passphrase is used to generate one or more WEP keys. It is case-sensitive and should not be longer than 16 alphanumeric characters. This Passphrase function is compatible with Linksys wireless products only. [If you want to communicate with non-Linksys wireless products, enter the WEP key(s) manually on the non-Linksys wireless products.] After you enter the Passphrase, click the Generate button to create WEP keys.
Keys 1-4WEP keys enable you to create an encryption scheme for wireless LAN transmissions. Manually enter a set of values. (Do not leave a key field blank, and do not enter all zeroes. These are not valid key values.) Keys 1-4 offer 64-bit or 128-bit encryption.
If you are using 64-bit WEP encryption, then the key must be exactly 10 hexadecimal characters in length. If you are using 128-bit WEP encryption, then the key must be exactly 26 hexadecimal characters in length. Valid hexadecimal characters are “0”-“9” and “A”-“F”.
Check all the values, and click the Apply button to save your 2.4GHz, 802.11b WEP settings.
To apply any of the settings you change on this page, click the Apply button. To cancel any changes you’ve entered on this page, click the Cancel button. To get more information about the features, click the Help button.