74 | Chapter 5: Fine-Tuning Your Network
N150 Wireless Router User Manual
Note: An incorrect MTU setting can cause Internet communication
problems such as the inability to access certain Web sites, frames
within Web sites, secure login pages, or FTP or POP servers.
If you suspect an MTU problem, a common solution is to change the MTU size to 1400. If you
are willing to experiment, you can gradually reduce the MTU size from the maximum value of
1500 until the problem goes away. Table 1 describes common MTU sizes and applications
Table 1. Common MTU Sizes
MTU Application
1500 The largest Ethernet packet size and the default value. This is the typical setting for
non-PPPoE, non-VPN connections, and is the default value for NETGEAR routers,
adapters, and switches.
1492 Used in PPPoE environments.
1472 Maximum size to use for pinging. (Larger packets are fragmented.)
1468 Used in some DHCP environments.
1460 Usable by AOL if you do not have large e-mail attachments, for example.
1436 Used in PPTP environments or with VPN.
1400 Maximum size for AOL DSL.
576 Typical value to connect to dial-up ISPs.
.
To change the MTU size:
1. In the main menu, under Advanced, select WAN Setup.
2. In the MTU Size field, enter a new size between 64 and 1500.
3. Click Apply to save the new configuration.
Overview of Home and Small Office Networking Technologies
Common connection types and their speed and security considerations are:
Broadband Internet. Your Internet connection speed is determined by your modem type,
such as ADSL or cable modem, as well as the connection speed of the sites to which you
connect, and general Internet traffic. ADSL and cable modem connections are
asymmetrical, meaning they have a lower data rate to the Internet (upstream) than from
the Internet (downstream). Keep in mind that when you connect to another site that also
has an asymmetrical connection, the data rate between your sites is limited by each
side’s upstream data rate. A typical residential ADSL or cable modem connection
provides a downstream throughput of about 1 to 3 megabits per second (Mbps). Newer