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Chapter 5: Configuring the Router
The Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings
Wireless-G Broadband Router with 2 Phone Ports
The Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings
This tab is used to set up the Router’s advanced wireless functions. These settings should only be adjusted by an
expert administrator as incorrect settings can reduce wireless performance.
Basic Rate
. The Basic Rate setting is not actually one rate of transmission but a series of rates at which the
Router can transmit. The Router will advertise its Basic Rate to the other wireless devices in your network, so
they know which rates will be used. The Router will also advertise that it will automatically select the best rate
for transmission. The default setting is
Default
, when the Router can transmit at all standard wireless rates
(1-2Mbps, 5.5Mbps, 11Mbps, 18Mbps, and 24Mbps). Other options are
1-2Mbps
, for use with older wireless
technology, and
All
, when the Router can transmit at all wireless rates.
CTS Protection Mode
. CTS (Clear-To-Send) Protection Mode should remain disabled unless you are having
severe problems with your Wireless-G products. If these products are not able to transmit to the Router in an
environment with heavy 802.11b traffic, then enable CTS Protection Mode. This function boosts the Router’s
ability to catch all Wireless-G transmissions but will significantly decrease performance.
Beacon Interval
. Enter a value between 1 and 65,535 milliseconds. The Beacon Interval value indicates the
frequency interval of the beacon. A beacon is a packet broadcast by the Router to synchronize the wireless
network. The default value is
100
.
DTIM Interval
. This value, between 1 and 255, indicates the interval of the Delivery Traffic Indication Message
(DTIM). A DTIM field is a countdown field informing clients of the next window for listening to broadcast and
multicast messages. When the Router has buffered broadcast or multicast messages for associated clients, it
sends the next DTIM with a DTIM Interval value. Its clients hear the beacons and awaken to receive the broadcast
and multicast messages. The default value is
1
.
Fragmentation Threshold
. This value specifies the maximum size for a packet before data is fragmented into
multiple packets. If you experience a high packet error rate, you may slightly increase the Fragmentation
Threshold. Setting the Fragmentation Threshold too low may result in poor network performance. Only minor
reduction of the default value is recommended. In most cases, it should remain at its default value of
2346
.
RTS Threshold
. Should you encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor reduction of the default value,
2347
, is
recommended. If a network packet is smaller than the preset RTS threshold size, the RTS/CTS mechanism will
not be enabled. The Router sends Request to Send (RTS) frames to a particular receiving station and negotiates
the sending of a data frame. After receiving an RTS, the wireless station responds with a Clear to Send (CTS)
frame to acknowledge the right to begin transmission. In most cases, keep its default value of
2347
.
When you have finished making changes to this screen, click the
Save Settings
button to save the changes, or
click the
Cancel Changes
button to undo your changes. For help information, click
More
.
Figure 5-22: Wireless Tab - Advanced Wireless Settings