[Broadcom] Frequently Asked Questions

What types of security features should I use?
All Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products include a variety of wireless security features. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is the best security feature for the majority of home networks. It provides a sufficient security with "access control" (limiting network access to those with the correct password) and "encryption" (encoding or scrambling data to prevent eavesdroppers from intercepting it). In addition to enabling WPA, there are a few other things you can do to secure your wireless network, including:

• Change the factory defaults on your router (SSID and administrator's password)
• Set your router so that it does not broadcast its SSID
• Use MAC filtering, which lets you specify a list of client MAC addresses that are allowed to access the network
• If you only use one or two PCs on your wireless network, consider providing them with static IP addresses and disabling DHCP on your router
• Install a network firewall or VPN software
• Disable file and print sharing on your computer

What equipment is needed to send music wirelessly from my computer to my stereo?
You can easily transmit music (MP3, MVA, ACC, etc.) from a PC to a stereo or other audio device over a Wi-Fi network using a wireless media adapter. Your PC communicates with the wireless router, which sends the music to the wireless media adapter that is physically connects to your stereo (using RCA cable or a mini stereo plug). A number of manufacturers, including Linksys and Apple, offer wireless media adapters that utilize 54g technology.

What is the difference between a wireless router, a wireless gateway and an access point?
In general, access points, routers and gateways do the same thing: they function as base stations connecting various wireless laptops and desktop computers, ensuring that wireless data gets shared and transmitted among them as needed. There are a few important differences, as outlined below:

A wireless gateway is an access point with NAT routing (which stands for Network Address Translation and enables your Wi-Fi gateway to share a single Internet connection among all the computers in your home or business) and DHCP server (which stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol and enables your network to use TCP/IP to connect different devices). Most homes and small offices use wireless gateways because they need the NAT routing and DHCP server that enables them to share a single Internet connection among all the computers in the home or office.

An access point is a wireless gateway without NAT routing and DHCP server. It essentially extends the functionality of an existing wired network to wireless users. Most large businesses use access points, not gateways, because their wired network (their "backbone") already has NAT and DHCP server supplied by an industrial strength router or hub. Many access points also have extra network management and advanced user functions and security capabilities built into them.

Wireless routers provide the same functionality as access points, but include the added features of allowing multiple users to share a wide area connection to a broadband modem-providing multiple IP addresses, firewall capabilities, and hub and switching functionality.