SMC Networks SMCWAA-B - Manual (Page 43)

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may be out of range of each other. It is recommended to leave this
setting at its default value leaving this feature disabled.
• What is Authentication Algorithm?
o
Authentication Algorithm is the means by which one station is
authorized to communicate with another. In an Open System, any
station can request authorization in accordance with the WECA
standard. In a Shared key system, only stations that possess a
secret encrypted key may participate in the network. This is a low
level security key which allows the equipment with the shared key
algorithm to see each other on the wireless lan.
• What is DBI?
o
The ability of the antenna to shape the signal and focus it in a
particular direction is called Antenna Gain, and is expressed in
terms of how much stronger the signal in the desired direction is,
compared to the worst possible antenna, which distributes the
signal evenly in all directions (an Isotropic Radiator). To express
the relationship to the Isotropic reference, this is abbreviated:
"dBi". The typical omni-directional "stick" antenna is rated at 6-8
dBi, indicating that that by redirecting the signal that would have
gone straight up or down to the horizontal level, 4 times as much
signal is available horizontally. A parabolic reflector design can
easily achieve 24 dBi.
• What is WEP?
o
Short for Wired Equivalent Privacy, WEP is a security protocol for
wireless local area networks (WLANs) defined in the 802.11b and
802.11a standards.
o
WEP is designed to provide the same level of security as that of a
wired LAN. LANs are inherently more secure than WLANs because
LANs are somewhat protected by the physicalities of their structure,
having some or all part of the network inside a building that can be
protected from unauthorized access. WLANs, which are over radio
waves, do not have the same physical structure and therefore are
more vulnerable to tampering.
o
WEP aims to provide security by encrypting data over radio waves
so that it is protected as it is transmitted from one end point to
another. The Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) feature uses the RC4
PRNG algorithm developed by RSA Data Security, Inc.
o
If your wireless access point supports MAC filtering, it is
recommended that you use this feature in addition to WEP (MAC
filtering is much more secure than encryption).