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Antenna Characteristics, Frequency, Radiation Pattern, Antenna Gain, Types of Antennas for WLAN,

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Appendix D Wireless LANs Positioning the antennas properly increases the range and coverage area of a wireless LAN. Antenna Characteristics Frequency An antenna in the frequency of 2.4GHz or 5GHz is needed to communicate efficiently in a wireless LAN Radiation Pattern A radiation pattern is a diagram that allows you to visualize the shape of the antenna's coverage area. Antenna Gain Antenna gain, measured in dB (decibel), is the increase in coverage within the RF beam width. Higher antenna gain improves the range of the signal for better communications. For an indoor site, each 1 dB increase in antenna gain results in a range increase of approximately 2.5%. For an unobstructed outdoor site, each 1dB increase in gain results in a range increase of approximately 5%. Actual results may vary depending on the network environment. Antenna gain is sometimes specified in dBi, which is how much the antenna increases the signal power compared to using an isotropic antenna. An isotropic antenna is a theoretical perfect antenna that sends out radio signals equally well in all directions. dBi represents the true gain that the antenna provides. Types of Antennas for WLAN There are two types of antennas used for wireless LAN applications. • Omni-directional antennas send the RF signal out in all directions on a horizontal plane. The coverage area is torus-shaped (like a donut) which makes these antennas ideal for a room environment. With a wide coverage area, it is possible to make circular overlapping coverage areas with multiple access points. • Directional antennas concentrate the RF signal in a beam, like a flashlight does with the light from its bulb. The angle of the beam determines the width of the coverage pattern. Angles typically range from 20 degrees (very directional) to 120 degrees (less directional). Directional antennas are ideal for hallways and outdoor point-to-point applications. Positioning Antennas In general, antennas should be mounted as high as practically possible and free of obstructions. In point-to-point application, position both antennas at the same height and in a direct line of sight to each other to attain the best performance. For omni-directional antennas mounted on a table, desk, and so on, point the antenna up. For omni-directional antennas mounted on a wall or ceiling, point the antenna down. For a single AP application, place omni-directional antennas as close to the center of the coverage area as possible. NBG-418N User's Guide 207

Section	Page
NBG-418N	1
Contents Overview	3
Table of Contents	5
User’s Guide	11
Introduction	13
1.1 Overview	13
1.2 Securing the NBG-418N	14
1.3 LEDs	15
1.4 The WPS Button	15
1.5 Wall Mounting	16
The Web Configurator	17
2.1 Overview	17
2.2 Accessing the Web Configurator	17
2.3 Resetting the NBG-418N	19
2.3.1 Using the RESET Button	19
Connection Wizard	21
3.1 Wizard Setup	21
3.2 Connection Wizard: STEP 1: System Information	22
3.2.1 System Name	22
3.2.2 Domain Name	23
3.3 Connection Wizard: STEP 2: Wireless LAN	23
3.3.1 WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK Security	24
3.4 Connection Wizard: STEP 3: Internet Configuration	25
3.4.1 Ethernet Connection	26
3.4.2 PPPoE Connection	26
3.4.3 PPTP Connection	27
3.4.4 Your IP Address	28
3.4.5 WAN IP Address Assignment	29
3.4.6 IP Address and Subnet Mask	30
3.4.7 DNS Server Address Assignment	30
3.4.8 WAN IP and DNS Server Address Assignment	30
3.4.9 WAN MAC Address	31
3.5 Connection Wizard Complete	32
Modes	35
4.1 Overview	35
4.2 Setting your NBG-418N to Router Mode	36
4.2.1 Status Screen (Router Mode)	37
4.2.2 Router Mode Navigation Panel	42
4.3 Setting your NBG-418N to AP Mode	44
4.3.1 Status Screen (AP Mode)	45
4.3.2 AP Navigation Panel	47
4.4 Setting your NBG-418N to Universal Repeater Mode	48
4.4.1 Status Screen (Universal Repeater Mode)	49
4.4.2 Universal Repeater Navigation Panel	51
4.5 Setting your NBG-418N to Client Bridge Mode	52
4.5.1 Status Screen (Client Bridge Mode)	53
4.5.2 Client Bridge Navigation Panel	54
Tutorials	57
5.1 Overview	57
5.2 How to Connect to the Internet from an AP	57
5.2.1 Configure Wireless Security Using WPS on both your NBG-418N and Wireless Client	57
5.3 Enable and Configure Wireless Security without WPS on your NBG-418N	61
Technical Reference	65
Wireless LAN	67
6.1 Overview	67
6.2 What You Can Do	68
6.3 What You Should Know	69
6.3.1 Wireless Security Overview	69
6.4 General Wireless LAN Screen	70
6.4.1 No Security	72
6.4.2 WEP Encryption	73
6.4.3 WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK	74
6.5 MAC Filter	75
6.6 Wireless LAN Advanced Screen	76
6.7 Quality of Service (QoS) Screen	78
6.8 WPS Screen	79
6.9 WPS Station Screen	80
6.10 Scheduling Screen	81
6.11 AP Select Screen	82
6.12 WLAN Info Screen	83
WAN	85
7.1 Overview	85
7.2 What You Need To Know	85
7.2.1 Configuring Your Internet Connection	85
7.3 Internet Connection	86
7.3.1 Ethernet Encapsulation	86
7.3.2 PPPoE Encapsulation	88
7.3.3 PPTP Encapsulation	90
LAN	93
8.1 Overview	93
8.2 What You Need To Know	93
8.2.1 IP Pool Setup	94
8.2.2 LAN TCP/IP	94
8.3 LAN IP Screen	94
DHCP Server	97
9.1 Overview	97
9.2 What You Can Do	97
9.3 What You Need To Know	97
9.4 General Screen	97
9.5 Advanced Screen	98
9.6 Client List Screen	100
Network Address Translation	101
10.1 Overview	101
10.2 What You Can Do	102
10.2.1 What You Need To Know	102
10.3 General NAT Screen	103
10.4 NAT Application Screen	104
10.5 Technical Reference	106
10.5.1 NAT Port Forwarding: Services and Port Numbers	106
10.5.2 NAT Port Forwarding Example	107
Dynamic DNS	109
11.1 Overview	109
11.2 Dynamic DNS Screen	109
Firewall	111
12.1 Overview	111
12.2 What You Can Do	111
12.3 What You Need To Know	112
12.3.1 About the NBG-418N Firewall	112
12.3.2 VPN Pass Through Features	112
12.4 General Firewall Screen	112
12.5 Services Screen	113
Remote Management	115
13.1 Overview	115
13.1.1 Remote Management Limitations	116
13.1.2 Remote Management and NAT	116
13.1.3 System Timeout	116
13.2 WWW Screen	116
Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP)	119
14.1 Overview	119
14.2 What You Need to Know	119
14.3 Configuring UPnP	120
14.3.1 Using UPnP in Windows XP Example	120
14.3.2 Web Configurator Easy Access	122
System	125
15.1 Overview	125
15.2 What You Can Do	125
15.3 System General Screen	125
15.4 Time Setting Screen	126
Logs	129
16.1 Overview	129
16.2 What You Need to Know	129
16.3 View Log Screen	129
Tools	131
17.1 Overview	131
17.2 What You Can Do	131
17.3 Firmware Upload Screen	131
17.4 Configuration Screen	133
17.4.1 Backup Configuration	133
17.4.2 Restore Configuration	133
17.4.3 Back to Factory Defaults	134
17.5 Restart Screen	134
Sys OP Mode	137
18.1 Overview	137
18.2 General Screen	137
Language	139
19.1 Language Screen	139
Troubleshooting	141
20.1 Power, Hardware Connections, and LEDs	141
20.2 NBG-418N Access and Login	142
20.3 Internet Access	143
20.4 Resetting the NBG-418N to Its Factory Defaults	144
20.5 Wireless Problems	145
IP Addresses and Subnetting	147
Pop-up Windows, JavaScripts and Java Permissions	157
Setting Up Your Computer’s IP Address	167
Wireless LANs	195
Common Services	209
Legal Information	213

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Appendix D Wireless LANs

NBG-418N User’s Guide

207

Positioning the antennas properly increases the range and coverage area of a wireless LAN.

Antenna Characteristics

Frequency

An antenna in the frequency of 2.4GHz or 5GHz is needed to communicate efficiently in a wireless

LAN

Radiation Pattern

A radiation pattern is a diagram that allows you to visualize the shape of the antenna’s coverage

area.

Antenna Gain

Antenna gain, measured in dB (decibel), is the increase in coverage within the RF beam width.

Higher antenna gain improves the range of the signal for better communications.

For an indoor site, each 1 dB increase in antenna gain results in a range increase of approximately

2.5%. For an unobstructed outdoor site, each 1dB increase in gain results in a range increase of

approximately 5%. Actual results may vary depending on the network environment.

Antenna gain is sometimes specified in dBi, which is how much the antenna increases the signal

power compared to using an isotropic antenna. An isotropic antenna is a theoretical perfect antenna

that sends out radio signals equally well in all directions. dBi represents the true gain that the

antenna provides.

Types of Antennas for WLAN

There are two types of antennas used for wireless LAN applications.

•

Omni-directional antennas send the RF signal out in all directions on a horizontal plane. The

coverage area is torus-shaped (like a donut) which makes these antennas ideal for a room

environment. With a wide coverage area, it is possible to make circular overlapping coverage

areas with multiple access points.

•

Directional antennas concentrate the RF signal in a beam, like a flashlight does with the light

from its bulb. The angle of the beam determines the width of the coverage pattern. Angles

typically range from 20 degrees (very directional) to 120 degrees (less directional). Directional

antennas are ideal for hallways and outdoor point-to-point applications.

Positioning Antennas

In general, antennas should be mounted as high as practically possible and free of obstructions. In

point-to–point application, position both antennas at the same height and in a direct line of sight to

each other to attain the best performance.

For omni-directional antennas mounted on a table, desk, and so on, point the antenna up. For

omni-directional antennas mounted on a wall or ceiling, point the antenna down. For a single AP

application, place omni-directional antennas as close to the center of the coverage area as possible.