ZyXEL Communications G-220 User Manual

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ZyAIR G-220 User’s Guide 
Wireless LAN Network 
 
2-5 
•  Enter the WEP keys manually. 
Your ZyAIR allows you to configure up to four 64-bit, 128-bit or 256-bit WEP keys and only one key is 
used as the default key at any one time. 
2.3 Fragmentation 
Threshold 
Fragmentation Threshold is the maximum data fragment size (between 256 and 2432 bytes) that can be 
sent in the wireless network before the ZyAIR will fragment the packet into smaller data frames. 
A large Fragmentation Threshold is recommended for networks not prone to interference while you 
should set a smaller threshold for busy networks or networks that are prone to interference. 
If the Fragmentation Threshold value is smaller than the RTS/CTS Threshold value (see previously) 
you set then the RTS (Request To Send)/CTS (Clear to Send) handshake will never occur as data frames 
will be fragmented before they reach RTS/CTS Threshold size. 
2.4 RTS/CTS 
Threshold 
A hidden node occurs when two stations are within range of the same access point, but are not within range 
of each other. The following figure illustrates a hidden node. Both stations are within range of the access 
point (AP) or wireless gateway, but out-of-range of each other, so they cannot “hear” each other, that is 
they do not know if the channel is currently being used. Therefore, they are considered hidden from each 
other. 
 
 
Figure 2-6 RTS Threshold 
When station A sends data to the AP, it might not know that the station B is already using the channel. If 
these two stations send data at the same time, collisions may occur when both sets of data arrive at the AP 
at the same time, resulting in a loss of messages for both stations. 
RTS/CTS Threshold is designed to prevent collisions due to hidden nodes. An RTS/CTS Threshold 
defines the biggest size data frame you can send before an RTS (Request To Send)/CTS (Clear to Send) 
handshake is invoked.  
When a data frame exceeds the RTS/CTS Threshold value you set (between 0 to 2432 bytes), the station 
that wants to transmit this frame must first send an RTS (Request To Send) message to the AP for