NETGEAR RangeMax™ NEXT Wireless Router WNR854T User Manual
Configuring Basic Connectivity 2-11
v1.1, January 2007
• Channel
This field determines which operating frequency is used. It should not be necessary to change
the wireless channel unless you notice interference problems with another nearby wireless
network. For more information on the wireless channel frequencies, see “Wireless
Communications” in AppendixB .
•Mode
This field determines which data communications protocol is used. You can choose from:
— Up to 54 Mbps
Legacy mode. Allows 802.11b and 802.11g wireless stations to be used, providing speed
of up to 54 Mbps for 802.11b/g networks.
— Up to 145 Mbps
Neighbor Friendly Mode. This setting is the default, providing speed of up to 145 Mbps in
the presence of neighboring wireless networks.
— Up to 300 Mbps
Performance mode. Delivers the maximum Wireless N speed of up to 300 Mbps. The
WNR854T router will use the channel you selected as the primary channel and expand to
a secondary channel (primary channel +4 or –4) to achieve the maximum bandwidth.
• Security Options
Additional security parameter fields will appear, depending on your selection of Security
Option. Instructions for configuring the security options can be found in “Choosing
Appropriate Wireless Security” on page 3-1. A full explanation of wireless security standards
is available in “Wireless Communications” in AppendixB.
Note: The maximum wireless signal rate is derived from the IEEE Standard 802.11
Specifications. Actual data throughput will vary. Network conditions and
environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials
and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate.
Note: The selection of wireless security options can significantly affect your network
performance. The time it takes to establish a wireless connection can vary
depending on both your security settings and router placement. WEP
connections can take slightly longer to establish. Also, WEP, WPA-PSK and
WPA2-PSK encryption can consume more battery power on a notebook
computer, and can cause significant performance degradation with a
slow computer.