Netopia has just introduced a new line of Wireless Gateways utilizing 802.11x technology for complete interoperability and Wi-Fi compliance. Netopia 3-D Reach is superior to today's conventional wireless implementations by incorporating a wireless subsystem specifically designed for enhanced wireless range, coverage and performance.
The purpose of this Quick Guide is to outline configuration of the wireless LAN networking properties of the Netopia 3300 Series Residential Wireless Gateway incorporating WEP Encryption for your network security.
WEP, or Wired Equivalent Privacy, lets you configure the router to generate encryption keys to protect the transmission of data on the wireless network. When used in conjunction with the wireless network clients, or network cards, you can secure the computers which have access to your internet connection via your local area network (LAN) and those which can see and access LAN resources.
Click Here! for basic configuration of the Netopia Wireless Internet Gateway (without any wireless security).
Click Here! If you'd like to use MAC Authentication for additional network security. MAC Authentication can be used in conjunction with WEP Encryption.
This document assumes a properly working DSL internet connection.
Below is a list of hardware and firmware loads that this Technical Note is based upon:
| Hardware | Type | Firmware/Version |
| Netopia 3347W | ADSL Gateway | 7.2 R1 and later |
Click Here! if you have the 3347W/3387W Enterprise Series router.
- For the initial wireless configuration, make certain your computer is connected directly to the router's 10/100 BaseT Ethernet port.
- Out of the box, the Netopia router is a DHCP server. Make sure the computer's TCP/IP properties are set to obtain an IP address automatically from the router.
- Be sure to remove any Gateway IP's you have installed and disable DNS.
- Once you have obtained an IP address from the Netopia, you are ready to browse into the router.
PLEASE NOTE: The IP Addressing in this document is for illustrative purposes only. The public IP's provided by your ISP will be different and unique to your internet account. With Network Address Translation enabled, any private network addressing scheme can be used that is consistent with your LAN settings.
- Browse into the Netopia router's web interface at 192.168.1.254. (if unchanged from factory def.)
- If you did not obtain an address from the router dynamically, assign the workstation an address of 192.168.1.[x], [x] being any number between 1 and 253, and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. The gateway IP is 192.168.1.254, the default IP address of the Netopia LAN interface.
- Login using admin as the username and the admin level password. The factory default setting for the password is the router serial number. You should change this for better security. Only the administrator can save changes to the database.
- Verify you are in Expert Mode.
- Click on Configure.
- Click on LAN.
- Click on Wireless in the Other LAN Options box.
- Check the Enable Wireless checkbox.
- You can use the default SSID (Network ID) setting, or change to your own setting. This must match the Network ID that will be configured into the Wireless Network cards installed in the computer(s).
- Each router ships with a unique Network ID value.
- You can enter your own alpha-numeric string for this value up to 32 characters.
- Encryption (or Privacy) should be set to WEP - Automatic.
- Select the desired Encryption Key Size. 128 bit is recommended for enhanced level of security if this is supported by the wireless card.
- Click on Submit.
- Now, click on Advanced under Other Wireless Options. This window will expand.
- The Default Channel setting is preset at 6. This refers to radio frequency ranges within the 2.4 Ghz range and can be changed as long as the wireless network settings match.
- Enable Closed System Mode: is Unchecked by default. Check to enable Closed Mode.
- When unchecked, or in Open Mode, this ESSID will be broadcast as an available wireless network to any compatible WiFi Device within broadcast reach.
- When checked (enabled), or in Closed Mode, it will be necessary to enter the ESSID value into the client card configuration to permit access to the available network.
- In Closed Mode the Netopia wireless network is hidden from the scanning features of other wireless-enabled computers. The only clients allowed to access your network are those configured with the same ESSID value.
- Closed System mode is recommended for increased security from unauthorized access or unwanted detection of a wireless "hotspot".
- WEP Encryption (or Privacy) is WEP - Automatic.
- Enter a Passphrase to generate the key. In the example above, the Security Key has been generated off of the Passphrase Netopia-WiFi
- Once you have automatically generated an encryption key, that value should be transposed into the corresponding field of your wireless network card for the computer(s).
- The encryption key must match and be entered into the same slot (in this example, slot #1) of the wireless client. It is recommended that you cut and paste longer encryption strings to ensure accuracy.
- If you selected WEP - Manual, you will need to enter the encryption key in here that matches that in your wireless network card.
- Click on Submit.
- Click on MAC Authorization.
- Enable Wireless MAC Authorization should be Unchecked (by default).
- MAC Authorization can be left disabled, or you can further limit access to the network by configuring this option.
- Click Here! If you'd like to use MAC Authentication for additional network security. MAC Authentication can be used in conjunction with WEP Encryption.
- Click on Submit.
- Once you have input all necessary information, click on the
symbol in your upper right hand corner to validate the changes. - Validation passed, then click on Save and Restart.
Your Netopia router is now configured for both a wired and wireless LAN environment. The 10/100 Ethernet switch incorporated into the 3300 Wireless series router allows instant connectivity to your existing ethernet LAN, either directly plugged into the router's hub or to an external hub. The 3D Reach Wireless LAN will provide network access to 802.11b compliant devices on your network as well. Please consult the documentation provided with the wireless LAN card for individual manufacturers instructions and requirements.