Click here to return to the main page of this guide.

 

Wireless settings:

 

Before configuring your wireless settings, it is recommended that you update to the latest drivers for your wireless adapters (notebooks and PCs). Also do not try changing any of these settings until you have tested that the wireless clients can get online wirelessly with the default settings (i.e. with no security settings applied).

 

To connect a standard Windows XP system to the router, right-click on your wireless network icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the start menu, select ‘View Available Networks’. If you can not find this icon, open ‘Control Panel’ and go into ‘Network Connections’, then you can find the wireless icon here. If it’s not listed, either the wireless adapter is switched off, or it is not installed correctly.

 

Here are some basic tips for configuring your wireless router.

 

·        SSID: Default ‘TP-LINK’. This is the name of your wireless network that is broadcast out to all wireless devices. It is recommended that it is changed to something that can’t be used to identify your name or address as this may make it easier to figure out your network password.

·        Region: Set this to ‘Australia’ to avoid interference with other wireless devices.

·        Channel: Default is ‘6’. Change the selected channel if you find you are getting interference or losing wireless connection at times. Cordless phones, neighbouring networks, A/V senders and microwaves are all known to cause interference. Generally it is best to switch between channels ‘1’, ‘6’, and ‘11’ as these are non-overlapping frequencies.

·        Mode: Default is ‘54Mbps (802.11g)’. If you have a 108Mbps router, select ‘108Mbps Dynamic’ from the list. The other modes can be used where backwards compatibility is needed for older wireless clients.

·        Enable Wireless Router Radio: This is used to enable or disable the wireless function of the router. All other settings are ignored if it is set to disabled.

·        Enable SSID Broadcast: Leave this enabled so your wireless clients can easily connect to the router.

·        Enable Wireless Security: Default is disabled. Check this box to enable wireless security.

If you are not enabling wireless security at this point, skip to the next section.

·        Security Type: Choose either ‘WEP’ or ‘WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK’. WPA-PSK is a stronger form of security, however some older wireless adapters may not be compatible and will require the WEP format. There are different options for each Security Type.

WPA-PSK Options:

·        Security Option: Leave as ‘Automatic’ unless your wireless software requires a specific setting.

·        Encryption: Leave as ‘Automatic’ unless your wireless software requires a specific setting.

·        PSK Passphrase: Enter your chosen password into this field. This password is needed by any wireless client that wishes to connect to your network. Password must be between 8 and 35 characters long, using any kind of character.

·        Group Key Update Period: Leave at the default setting of ‘30’.

WEP Options:

·        Security Option: Leave as ‘Automatic’ unless your wireless software requires a specific setting.           

·        WEP Key Format:: You can select ‘ASCII’ or ‘Hexadecimal’ format. Hexadecimal format allows for any combination of hexadecimal digits (0-9, a-f, A-F). ASCII allows for any combination of keyboard characters.

·        WEP Key Settings: First, change your ‘Key Type’ for Key 1 to 64-bit or 128-bit. Then enter a password into the ‘WEP Key’ field – however note that the password must be a specific length depending on your options.
Hexadecimal 64-bit key – 10 characters. Hexadecimal 128-bit key – 26 characters.
ASCII 64-bit key – 5 characters. ASCII 128-bit key – 13 characters.

 

Double check your settings, and write down or save your password somewhere in case you forget it. If you have forgotten the password down the track, you can always log into the Web Configuration for the router using a wired PC and check your Wireless Security settings.

 

For more information:

Please see the TP Link User Guide section 5.5, page 21 for comprehensive instructions on configuring your wireless network. Or view the following site for an outline of what various settings do and how they affect your network: http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wirelessfaqs/

 

If you have followed the above guide and continue to experience difficulty in your set up, please call 1300-TPLINK.

Click here to return to the main page of this guide.