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Setting up a secure wireless network with the Asante FR1104-G





 



Open a web browser like internet explorer or Netscape. Enter the ip address of your router in the address bar of your browser. In the picture above the address bar has http://www.google.com in it. Just replace all of that with the ip address of your router. By default the ip address should be set to 192.168.123.254.




You should see a box prompting you for your password. Enter your password now. By default your password is admin. Click the Log in button to log in to your router.




Click the Basic Setting link near the left side of the page.

You should now see a new menu. In this new menu, click Wireless.




In the box called SSID put a name that you make up. You will need to remember this name because it will be used to connect to your wireless network. Do not make it obvious to guess, the network name should be difficult for your neighbors to guess. If you can not think of anything, simply use your first name.

Turn on the option called Hide SSID.

In the box called Channel, pick a random channel number. Channels make it so that you and your neighbors can use your own wireless networks without interfering with each other. By picking a random channel you reduce the chance of your neighbor using the same channel as you.

Choosing your network security type can be challenging. Use the table below to help you decide which encryption type is best for you.

Security Strength Encryption Type Description
Best WPA2 Stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access. This is the newest version of WPA, and is generally considered the most secure. However, most users do not have WPA2 available yet. If your router supports WPA2, and you are running Windows XP SP2, then this is most likely your best choice for security. WPA2 is generally not compatible with small, standalone devices like game consoles, MP3 players, phones, and cameras.
Excellent WPA Stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access and is generally the best choice right now for most users. If your router supports WPA, and you are running Windows XP SP2, then this is most likely your best choice for security. WPA2 is generally not compatible with small, standalone devices like game consoles, MP3 players, phones, and cameras.
Better than nothing WEP - Open Key Stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy. This is the old security method and should only be used if WPA is not available to you. WEP comes in different bit lenghts, usually 64 bit (sometimes called 40 bit) and 128 bit. Pick the largest number that you see. There is no reason to use a small bit lenght anymore. Shared Key means that you must share your key (password) with other users before they can use your network.
Not secure WEP - Shared Key This version of WEP is generally considered not secure. Do not use it, unless it is your only choice.


Put a dot into the Enable IEEE 128 bit Shared Key security radio button.

Put a dot into the WEP Key 1 radio button.

If you are using WPA

Now you need to make up a passphrase.

Your WPA key can be a plain text, human readable sentence. Make sure it is long, however, because recent hack attempts have exploited short WPA passphrases. Your WPA passphrase should be at least 30 letters long.

Onnce you have made up your passphrase, write it down somewhere. You will need it at each computer that you are going to connect to your network.

If you are using WEP

Now you need to make up your network key.

It doesn't matter what this key is, as long as it is random. A network key is a password that is 26 characters long, and made up of only the letters A,B,C,D,E,F and the numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. If you are using 128 bit WEP, then your key must be exactly 26 characters long, and the more random it is, the better it is. Here is an example of a random 128 bit network key:

7F5B3FD23A8EC290AC682DF8FA


Onnce you have made up your key, write it down somewhere. You will need it at each computer that you are going to connect to your network.


Now put the key you made up in the box called WEP Key 1.

When you're finished, click Save near the bottom of the screen to save your changes.

And that's it! You're done!

Connecting to your Secure Wireless Network

You may want to read our guide on how to Configure Windows XP to connect to your wireless network.