TP-Link Router TL-WA501G User Manual

							TL-WA501G54M Wireless Access Point User Guide 
 
 
Figure 3-7 Wireless Mode Settings  
						

							TL-WA501G54M Wireless Access Point User Guide 
 
¾ Disable Wireless - The wireless of this AP can be enabled or disabled to allow wireless 
stations access. If disabled, wireless st ations will not be able to access the AP. 
) Note: 
AP provides five operational modes: Access Point, Client, Repeater,  Bridge (point to point), Bridge 
(point to Multi-point). 
¾  Access Point -  Access Point mode allows wireless stat ions including AP clients to access.   
•   Enable SSID Broadcast -  If you select the Enable SSID Broadcast  checkbox, the 
Wireless Access Point SSID will broadcast its name (SSID) on the air. 
¾  Client -  This mode allows one or more remote LA Ns connect with a central LAN, and thus 
creating an extended virtual LAN. In this way, any station of t he Remote LAN can successfully 
communicate with any station of  the central LAN, as if all of them belong to the same physical 
LAN. Wireless Stations can’t associate with AP Clients. 
•  Enable WDS -  The AP client can connect to AP with  WDS enabled or disabled. If WDS is 
enabled, all traffic from wired networks will be  forwarded in the format of WDS frames 
consist of four address fields. If WDS is dis abled, three address frames are used. If your 
AP supports WDS well, pleas e select the option. 
• SSID -  Enter the SSID of AP that you want to a ccess. If you select the radio before SSID, 
the AP client will connect to AP according SSID.   
•  MAC of AP -  Enter the MAC address of AP that you want to access. If you select the 
radio before MAC of AP, the AP client  will connect to AP according MAC address.
  
¾ Repeater -  A wireless repeater is an AP with its own BSS that relays data to a root AP, to 
which it is associated. The wireless repeater  relays signal between its stations and the root 
AP for greater wireless range. Please input the MAC address of root AP in the field of MAC of 
AP. 
¾  Universal Repeater  -  APs without WDS function can also be communicated with in this mode 
)  Note: 
If the available AP can’t support with WDS, you ma y select Client mode without WDS or Universal 
Repeater mode to associate with the AP. 
Here is an example of how to configure  wireless repeater. Please do the following: 
1.  Configure the Operating Mode of  the TL-WA501G Access Points.   
• Configure AP1 on LAN Segment  1 in Access Point mode. 
• Configure AP2 in Repeater mode with the MAC address of its root AP (AP1). 
• Configure AP3 in Repeater mode with the MAC address of its root AP (AP2).    
						

							TL-WA501G54M Wireless Access Point User Guide 
 
 
Figure 3-8 Wireless repeating 
2. Verify the wireless security parameters for all access points, if any.  
3.  Verify connectivity across  the LANs. A computer on any  LAN segment should be able to 
connect to the Internet or share files and printe rs with any other PCs or servers connected to 
any of the three WLAN segments. 
)  Note: 
You can extend this repeating by  adding up to 2 additional TL-WA501Gs configured in repeater 
mode. However, since Repeater c onfigurations communicate in half-duplex mode, the bandwidth 
decreases as you add Repeaters to the network. Also , you can extend the range of the wireless 
network with wireless antenna accessories. 
¾  Bridge (Point to Point) - This mode bridges the AP and another AP also in bridge mode to 
connect two wired LANs. Please i nput the MAC address of the other  AP in the field of MAC of 
AP. 
•  With AP mode:  If you select this option, you AP w ill also support AP mode when it is in 
Bridge (Point to Point) mode. 
Here is an example of how to configure Po int-to-Point Bridge. Please do the following:  
						

							TL-WA501G54M Wireless Access Point User Guide 
 
 
Figure 3-9 Point to Point Bridge  
1.  Configure the TL-WA501G (AP1) on LAN Segm ent 1 in Point-to-Point Bridge mode.   
2.  Configure the TL-WA501G (AP2) on LAN Segm ent 2 in Point-to-Point Bridge mode. AP1 
must have AP2’s MAC address in its MAC  Address field and AP2 must have AP1’s MAC 
address in its MAC Address field. 
3.  Configure and verify the following  parameters for both access points:   
• Both use the same Channel and security  settings if security is in use. 
• Verify connectivity across  the LAN 1 and LAN 2. A comput er on either LAN segment 
should be able to connect to the Internet or s hare files and printers of any other PCs or 
servers connected to LAN S egment 1 or LAN Segment 2. 
¾ Bridge (Point to Multi-Point) -  This mode bridges the AP and up to 6 APs also in bridge 
mode to connect two or more wired LANs. Pleas e input the MAC address of other APs in the 
field of MAC of AP1 to MAC of AP6. 
•  With AP mode:  If you select this option, you AP will  also support AP mode when it is in 
Bridge (Point to Multi-Point) mode. 
Here is an example of how to configure mu lti-point bridging. Please do the following:  
						

							TL-WA501G54M Wireless Access Point User Guide 
 
 
Figure 3-10 Point to Multi-point Bridge 
1.  Configure the Operating Mode of  the TL-WA501G Access Points. 
• Because it is in the central location, c onfigure TL-WA501G (AP1) on LAN Segment 1 in 
Point-to-Multi-Point Bridge mode. The MA C addresses of AP2 and AP3 are required in 
AP1. 
•  Configure TL-WA501G (AP2) on LAN Segment 2  in Point-to-Point Bridge mode with the 
MAC Address of AP1. 
•  Configure the TL-WA501G (AP3) on LAN 3 in  Point-to-Point Bridge mode with the MAC 
Address of AP1. 
2.  Verify the following parame ters for all access points. 
• All TL-WA501G Access Points use the sa me Channel, and security settings if any. 
• All Point-to-Point APs must have AP1’s  MAC address in its AP MAC address field, and 
AP1 must have all All Point- to-Point APs’ MAC addresses. 
3. Verify connectivit y across the LANs. 
• A computer on any LAN segment  should be able to connect to the Internet or share files 
and printers with any other PCs or servers  connected to any of the three LAN segments. 
• Wireless stations will not be able to connect  to the TL-WA501G Access Points in the 
illustration above. If you require wireless stat ions to access any LAN segment, you can 
add TL-WA501G Access Points configured in Wireless Access Point mode to any LAN 
segment.  
						

							TL-WA501G54M Wireless Access Point User Guide 
 
) Note: 
You can extend this multi-point  bridging by adding additional TL-WA501Gs configured in 
Point-to-Point mode for each additional LAN s egment. Furthermore, you can extend the range of 
the wireless network with wireless antenna accessories. 
)  Note: 
To apply any settings you have altered on the page,  please click the Save button, and wait the AP 
reboot automatically. 
3.4.3 Site Survey 
After selecting a mode and pressing button  Survey on the Figure 3-7 , you can view all of APs 
around you on this page. 
 
Figure 3-11 Site Survey 
¾  SSID - The SSID of the AP. 
¾  BSSID -  The BSSID of the AP, usually  also the MAC address of the AP. 
¾  Signal -  The signal received from the AP. 
¾  Channel -  The channel the AP works in. 
¾  Security -  The AP communicates in privacy. 
¾  Choose - Choose one AP from list to connect to. 
Press one of  Connect in list to select an AP to connect to . Then the basic settings will show again. 
You can save settings and reboot to take effective. 
)  Note: 
If wireless is disabled, surveying can’t work. And  if Access Point mode is selected, there is no 
reason and no choice to connect to  another AP, as it showed below.  
						

							TL-WA501G54M Wireless Access Point User Guide 
 
 
3.4.4 Security Settings 
You can select one of the following security options:   
 
Figure 3-12 Wireless Securities 
¾  Disable Security -  The wireless security function can be enabl ed or disabled. If disabled, the 
wireless stations will be able to connect the  AP without encryption. It is recommended  
						

							TL-WA501G54M Wireless Access Point User Guide 
 
strongly that you choose one of following options to enable security. 
¾ WEP - Select 802.11 WEP security. 
•  
Type - You can select one of following types:  
1)  Automatic -
 Select Shared Key or Open System  authentication type automatically 
based on the wireless stations capability and request. 
2)  Shared Key -  Select 802.11 Shared  Key authentication. 
3)  Open System -
 Select 802.11 Open System authentication. 
•  
WEP Key Format -  You can select ASCII or Hexadec imal format. ASCII Format stands 
for any combination of keyboard characters in the specified length.  Hexadecimal format 
stands for any combination of hex adecimal digits (0-9, a-f, A-F) in the specified length. 
• WEP Key settings - Select which of the four keys  will be used and enter the matching 
WEP key information for your network in the selected key radio button. These values 
must be identical on all wireless  stations in your network.   
• Key Type - You can select the WEP key length (64-bit, or 128-bit, or 152-bit.) for 
encryption. Disabled means th is WEP key entry is invalid. 
1)   For 64-bit encryption -  You can enter 10 hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0-9, 
a-f, A-F, zero key is not permitted) or 5 ASCII characters.   
2)   For 128-bit encryption -  You can enter 26 hexadecimal di gits (any combination of 
0-9, a-f, A-F, zero key is not per mitted) or 13 ASCII characters.   
3)   For 152-bit encryption -  You can enter 32 hexadecimal digits (any combination of 
0-9, a-f, A-F, zero key is not per mitted) or 16 ASCII characters.   
) Note: 
If you do not set the key, the wireless security func tion is still disabled even if you have selected 
Shared Key as Authentication Type. 
¾  WPA/WPA2 -  Select WPA/WPA2 based on Radius Server. 
• Version - You can select one of following versions, 
1)   Automatic -  Select WPA or WPA2 automatica lly based on the wireless stations 
capability and request.   
2)   WPA -  Wi-Fi Protected Access.   
3)   WPA2 -  WPA version 2.   
• Encryption - You can select either Automatic, or TKIP or AES. 
•  
Radius Server IP -  Enter the IP address of the Radius Server. 
• Radius Port - Enter the port that radius service used. 
•  
Radius Password -  Enter the password for the Radius Server. 
¾ WPA-PSK/ WPA2-PSK -  Select WPA based on pre-shared passphrase. 
•  
Version - You can select one of following versions 
1)  
Automatic - Select WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK auto matically based on the wireless 
stations capability and request. 
  
						

							TL-WA501G54M Wireless Access Point User Guide 
 
2) WPA-PSK - Pre-shared key of WPA.  
3)  
WPA2-PSK - Pre-shared key of WPA2.  
•  
PSK Passphrase -  You can enter a passphrase bet ween 8 and 63 characters long. 
•  
Group Key Update Period -  Specify the group key update interval in seconds. The value 
can be either 0 or at least 30. Enter 0 to disable the update.
 
Be sure to click the  Save button to save your settings on this page. 
) Note: 
The AP will reboot automatically after you click the  Save button. 
3.4.5 MAC Filtering 
The Wireless MAC Filtering for wireless networks is set on this page,  Figure 3-13: 
 
Figure 3-13 Wireless MAC address Filtering 
The Wireless MAC Address Filtering feature allows  you to control wireless stations accessing the 
AP, which depend on the stations MAC addresses. 
¾  MAC Address  -  The wireless stations MAC address that you want to access. 
¾  Description -  A simple description of the wireless station. 
¾ Privilege  -  Allow  means allowing the station to access the AP.  Deny means denying the 
station to access the AP.  64-bit, or 128-bit,  or 152-bit  means assigning a unique WEP key to 
access the AP. 
¾  WEP Key  -  Specify a unique WEP key (in Hexadecimal format) to access the AP.  
¾ Status  -  The status of this entry, either  Enabled or Disabled. 
To disable the Wireless MAC Address F ilters feature, keep the default setting, Disable. 
To set up an entry, click  Enable, and follow these instructions: 
Step1 ：First, you must decide whether  the unspecified wireless stations can or cannot access the 
AP. If you desire that the unspec ified wireless stations can access the AP, please select  
						

							TL-WA501G54M Wireless Access Point User Guide 
 
the radio button Allow the stations not specified by any enabled entries in the list to 
access , otherwise, select the radio button  Deny the stations not specified by any 
enabled entries in the list to access . 
Step2 ：To Add a Wireless MAC Address filtering entry, click the Add New…  button. The “Add or 
Modify Wireless MAC Address Filtering entry  page will appear, shown in Figure 
3-14: 
 
Figure 3-14 Add or Modify Wireless MAC Address Filtering entry 
To add or modify a MAC Address Filtering entry, follow these instructions: 
1.  Enter the appropriate MAC Address into the  MAC Address field. The format of the MAC 
Address is XX-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX (X is an y hexadecimal digit). For example: 
00-0A-EB-B0-00-0B.  
2.  Enter a simple description of the wireless station in the  Description field. For example: 
Wireless station A. 
3.  Privilege -  Selects the privileges for this entry, one of Allow  / Deny  / 64-bit  / 128-bit  / 
152-bit.  
4.  WEP Key -  If you select  64-bit, 128-bit or 152-bit  in the Privilege  field, enter any 
combination of hexadecimal digits (0-9, a-f, A- F) in the specified length. For example: 
2F34D20BE2.  
5.  Status -  Select Enabled  or Disabled  for this entry on the  Status pull-down list. 
6. Click the  Save button to save this entry. 
To add additional entries, repeat steps 1-6. 
)  Note: 
When 64-bit, or 128-bit, or 152-bit is selected, WEP Key will be enabled\
. 
To modify or delete an existing entry: 
1. Click the  Edit or Delete button in the  Modify column in the MAC Address Filtering Table. 
2.  Enter the value as desired in the  Add or Modify Wireless MAC Address Filtering entry  
page, and click the Save button. 
You can click the  Enable All  button to make all the entri es effective, click the Disable  All  button to