Wireless Router

Router Functionalities54Mbps.
FirewallDSSS: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum use
Firewalls are ideal for home networks. They helpwideband signals that are not easy to detect and
in protecting home use computers by stalling theresists jamming attempts.
destructive efforts of other official websites andSecurity
potential hackers. This software or hardwareToday no home and office network is secure. To
device filters the information coming through thecounter the hacking efforts of hackers, look for
internet connection, flagging the information that isgood built-in security functionalities. These will
not to be allowed through. You can find someensure that your system doesn't slow down,
such models at:those within the range of your wireless are not
VPN Pass throughable to view your files, emails, instant messages,
VPN pass through feature of routers allows trafficusernames and passwords. Depending on the
between the endpoints and does not support onesecurity features you can also block spams, illegal
of the endpoints. This feature is ideal for routersactivities with your internet connection and
of home use or small office setups; they are lessprevent loading of dangerous software.
expensive than a router with full VPN thatThis however doesn't mean your network is
supports the endpoints.completely secure.
DHCP serverSome steps that can be taken are:
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)Enable WEP, wired equivalent privacy encryption
servers can be implemented for windows basedprovides security to WLANS. The WEP keys
system. The server automatically assigns an IPencrypt the data stream.
address to the computer's TCP/IP stackTurning on WPA encryption. The Wi-Fi protected
software.access adds on the authentication and encryption
Wireless Access Pointfeatures WEP explained above.
The performance of your network will depend onTKIP, Temporal Key Integrity Protocol covers up
signal strength of the wireless access point.for the encryption weaknesses of WEP.
Before you position it, find out the exact locationWPA2 protection is the latest one and provides
from where it will give the maximum networkhigh level of protection.
range.Enable wireless MAC Address filtering.
DSL ModemWEP Encryption length
Digital Subscriber Line modems are faster thanThe WEP encryption is based on a combination of
regular modems and can use the existing phonesecret user keys and system generated values.
lines. Both internet connection and phone lines forThe key encrypts and de-encrypts the data that
telephone calls can be used simultaneously.is transferred between the access points and the
Voice over IP gatewayclients. There are two versions:
VoIP routers have both wireless networkingThe earlier version supported 40-bit encryption;
feature and telephone terminal adapters. With thisthe key length was 40 bits and 24 additional bits
feature the network can access both Internetof system generated data, thus a total of 64 bits.
and voice communications.Easy decoding of 40 bit WEP encryption
Protocolsencouraged vendors to go in for 128-bit
These are formats for transferring data betweenencryption. 128-bit encryption has a key length of
the various devices. The protocols determine the104 bits.
various aspects of the data like compressionAntenna Type
types, delivery and retrieval by devices and errorThe omni directional antenna of routers broadcast
checking. The standard protocols differ in their360degrees around the router. Position them in
various features, so in order to communicate withsuch a way that you can make the most of the
other computers correct protocols must beradiating signals.
selected.External antennas can add strength significantly,
Internet Protocol (IP) enables unique addressingthus giving a wider range and increased network
for computers.performance when compared with the
When used with transport control protocol, it isperformance of in-built antennas.
referred as TCP/IP.Detachable antennas disable 802.11a lower band
The newer IP version 6 is referred as IPv6. Thiscommunications when detached. On attaching the
version addresses 16 bytes in length.antenna the lower band is enabled. Thus they can
DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocolbe screwed into the device and can be upgraded
assigns dynamic IP addresses to devices on aeasily.
network.The third type is the internal integrated antennas.
Routing ProtocolsThese antennas are built-in, and hence cannot be
The information packets have to be routed by achanged or directed.
series of routers to get to its destination. LatestBrand Name
routers automatically exchange route informationWireless routers are still evolving, and at this
with other routers through the use of routinginfant stage it will do good to stick to one brand.
protocols.Switching between brands can lead to
While configuring the router on your own, youcompatibility problems. Linksys and Netgear
have to choose what types of routing protocolwireless routers are among the few companies
you have to install and configure.that have the highest wireless router ratings a
RIP version-1: It is a dynamic protocol andcompany can get.
automatically figures routing tables on its own,Linksys
thus manual inputs are not required.Linksys wireless routers are easy to install and
Encryption Standardsare reputed to give good performance and signal
This feature configures the virtual privaterange. The various features that the router
network, encryption hardware advancedsupports are protection from hackers with NAT
integration modules and the network modules.technology, VPN pass through, and can encrypt all
Data Encryption Standard - applies 56-bit key towireless transmissions. Most of its models have
64-bit block of data. This is the most commonlyexcellent performance and extremely useful
used encryption standard. A single key is usedsupport features. Some of the features are the
which is very difficult to break.firewall and routing capabilities, MAC address
Triple DES (3DES) - applies 3 keys in successionfiltering and virtual server support. Most of the
making it more difficult to break the code.models are easy to configure with the
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) will be thebrowser-based configuration.
next encryption standard for commercialNetgear
transactions in the private sector.Netgear wireless routers have not only superior
MD5looks but also good signal strength and wider
SHA 1range. Security features are good and are taken
Modulationcare of with WPA-PSK, WEP (128-bit). Netgear
There are many standards of modulation. Themarkets wide range of wireless routers for home
most commonly used types are:networking as well as business networking. The
QAM: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation, aselling factors are ease of use, reliability, quality
dominant modulation technique for high speedand security.
digital signals.Apple
CCK: Complimentary Code Keying is a modulationCustomers loyal to this brand can go in for
scheme to operate in data speeds up to 11Mbpswireless routers of this brand; they are however
in the RF band.priced higher than models of other brands with
OFDM: Orthogonal Frequency division multiplexingsimilar features. Security and support features are
modulation is used for even higher speeds ofgood.