Lesson 5 - Chapter 2: Installing and Configuring Wireless Networking

Question 1

How simple are wireless and wired networks to install?

Answer 1

Simple! They’re Plug and Play (handles the rest). Just need to install any supplies driver when prompted.

Question 2

How are WAPs configured?

Answer 2

through browser-based setup utilities by entering the WAP’s default IP address to bring up the configuration page

Question 3

What is a channel?

Answer 3

a narrow range of frequencies within a band that the network operates on (like 2.4 GHz)

(frequency band cut into a slice = a channel)

Question 4

What can you use to find the “quietest” channel where you intend to install the WAP?

Answer 4

use a wireless analyzer (to find a channel that can prevent interference from other WAPs)

Question 5

Channels in older WiFi networks are numbered…

Answer 5

1 to 13

Question 6

If you are setting the 2.4 GHz channel manually (usually automatic), what’s a good rule to remember?

Answer 6

use only channels 1, 6, or 11 because those don’t overlap

Question 7

Should you also manually choose a 5 GHz channel?

Answer 7

No, stick with the automated channel selections because the options are much greater than with the 2.4 GHz band

Question 8

How much channel configuration does a home network need?

Answer 8

you can leave the channel/frequency of the WAP at the factory defaults

Question 9

When would you want to manually configure channels?

Answer 9

when the Wi-Fi signals overlap, you’ll want to adjust either the channel or frequency or both

Question 10

How do you adjust the channel?

Answer 10

find the “Channel” option in the WAP configuration screen (browser)

Question 11

What can you enable to increase security even more?

Answer 11

MAC filtering

Question 12

What is MAC filtering?

Answer 12

You add the MAC address of a wireless node you want to have access to the network (or deny access)

Question 13

With MAC filtering enabled, how do you set up encryption to boost security even more?

Answer 13

setting the security mode on the WAP and generating a unique security key/password and configuring all connected wireless nodes with the same credentials

Question 14

What are 2 ways to set up WPA/WPA2 encryption? Which is common for small/home networks?

WPA/WPA2 = small or home networks

Answer 14

1. Personal/Pre-shared Key (PSK)`
2. Enterprise

Question 15

In what situations is Enterprise encryption used?

Answer 15

in the most serious and secure wireless networks

Question 16

WPA2 Personal means the same as what other 2 things you might see under the Security Mode drop-down menu?

Answer 16

1. PSK
2. Pre-Shared Key

Question 17

If you have the option, which encryption should you choose for the WAP? What’s the next-best choice?

Answer 17

Choose WPA3 encryption with AES for the WAP and NICs in the network
Next-best is WPA2

Question 18

How does Enterprise mode enable authentication?

Answer 18

by using a RADIUS server

Question 19

What is Mixed Mode?

Answer 19

allows a WPA2-encrypted WPA to also support WPA

Question 20

What does a RADIUS server do?

on A+

Answer 20

it’s a way of identifying users in an enterprise-level network

Question 21

A site survey can consist of either:

Answer 21

1. Using a laptop to look for existing SSIDs in the area
2. Hire specialists to make careful plans about where to put the WAPs and which channels to use

Question 22

To make sure a wireless signal goes where you want it to go, it needs to have the right….?

Answer 22

antenna

Question 23

What is a dipole antenna?

Answer 23

a stick-shaped omnidirectional antenna

Question 24

What does antennas strengthen?

Answer 24

strengthen and focus RF output

Question 25

How do we measure the ratio of increase? What’s another word for “increase”?

Answer 25

increase = gain

we measure the gain in decibels (dB)

Question 26

Many WAPs (some NICS too) have small removable antenna with a gain of __ dB

Answer 26

2 dB

larger = more improvements

Question 27

What is polarization?

Answer 27

orientation (in a physical space)

Question 28

Reception is best when the signal and receiving antenna have the same?

Answer 28

polarization (orientation)

[45 degree angles]

Question 29

What can you use to find out whether a local cafe, airport, public place has a hotspot?

Answer 29

use a Wi-Fi locator/analyzer (it’s the size of a car remote and lights up when in range of a Wi-Fi access point)

Can also be an app on your phone!

Question 30

If you’re using Bluetooth to set up a PAN, you’ll also need to set the network connection up within…

Answer 30

your OS

Question 31

How simple is cellular configuration?

Answer 31

Just plug in the card and install the software (into your computer via USB usually and launch setup program)

[the cards usually have required software/drivers built into the cards]