Appendix A - Troubleshooting

Channels

The Wireless Channel sets the radio frequency used for communication.

∙Access Points use a fixed Channel. You can select the Channel used. This allows you to choose a Channel which provides the least interference and best perform- ance. In the USA and Canada, 11 channel are available. If using multiple Access Points, it is better if adjacent Access Points use different Channels to reduce inter- ference.

∙In "Infrastructure" mode, Wireless Stations normally scan all Channels, looking for an Access Point. If more than one Access Point can be used, the one with the strongest signal is used. (This can only happen within an ESS.)

∙If using "Ad-hoc" mode (no Access Point), all Wireless stations should be set to use the same Channel. However, most Wireless stations will still scan all Chan- nels to see if there is an existing "Ad-hoc" group they can join.

WEP

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is a standard for encrypting data before it is transmit- ted.

This is desirable because it is impossible to prevent snoopers from receiving any data which is transmitted by your Wireless Stations. But if the data is encrypted, then it is meaningless unless the receiver can decrypt it.

If WEP is used, the Wireless Stations and the Access Point must have the same settings for each of the following:

WEP

Off, 64 Bit, 128 Bit

 

 

Key

For 64 Bit encryption, the Key value must match.

 

For 128 Bit encryption, the Key value must match

WEP Authentication

Open System or Shared Key.

 

 

Wireless LAN Configuration

To allow Wireless Stations to use the Access Point, the Wireless Stations and the Access Point must use the same settings, as follows:

Mode

On client Wireless Stations, the mode must be set to "Infrastruc-

 

ture".

 

(The Access Point is always in "Infrastructure" mode.)

SSID (ESSID)

Wireless Stations should use the same SSID (ESSID) as the

 

Access Point they wish to connect to. Alternatively, the SSID can

 

be set to "any" or null (blank) to allow connection to any Access

 

Point.

WEP

The Wireless Stations and the Access Point must use the same

 

settings for WEP (Off, 64 Bit, 128 Bit).

 

WEP Key: If WEP is enabled, the Key must be the same on the

 

Wireless Stations and the Access Point.

 

WEP Authentication: If WEP is enabled, all Wireless Stations

 

must use the same setting as the Access Point (either "Open

 

System" or "Shared Key").

77