WG102: Product Information

1. What do I need to set up a Wireless 802.11g Network?

WG102 ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Access Point – Provides the connection between wireless nodes and standard Ethernet networks. Multiple Access Points can be used to extend the coverage of a wireless network.

802.11g Client adapter or NIC – Allows notebook PCs to connect to a wireless network. In combination with an Access Point, one can roam throughout the office or building while still having access to corporate e-mail and the Internet. 802.11b NICs will also work, but NETGEAR recommends 802.11g versions to optimize network performance. NETGEAR options include:

• WG511 802.11g 54 Mbps PC Card
• WG511T 802.11g 108 Mbps PC Card
• WG311 802.11g 54 Mbps PCI Adapter
• WG311T 802.11g 108 Mbps PCI Adapter
• WG121 802.11g 54 Mbps USB Adapter
• WAG511 802.11a/b/g 108 Mbps Dual Band PC Card
• WAG311 802.11a/b/g 108 Mbps Dual Band PCI Adapter

2. Is the WG102 802.11g compliant and compatible?

YES. The WG102 has passed the Wi-Fi certification pre-test and is designed and developed to the IEEE 802.11g standard. Final testing & certification will be completed in December 2005.

3. What is the difference between WG602 & WG102?

• The WG602 is a low cost basic entry level access point and does not include many of the sophisticated
  management and security features included in the WG102. Below is a sample of the major features that the
• WG102 has that are not in the WG602:
• SuperG Dynamic 108 Mbps speed – WG602 is limited to 54 Mbps
• SNMP for remote management and configuration
• Full WPA (WG602 has WPA PSK only, does not support 802.1x RADIUS Authentication)
• Plenum-rating for fire safety and the ability to place in plenum air spaces
• Integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE) support
• Sturdy blue metal case

4. What is the difference between the WG302 & WG102?

The WG302 is NETGEAR’s most featured access point. In Summary, the WG302 has more extensive
management features for higher end deployments that require these features. Below is an overview of the
differences:

• WG302 has 2 detachable 5 dBi antennas, WG102 has 1 detachable 5 dBi antenna
• WG302 has a one (1) Console Port (1) with standard RS-232C interface with DB-9 male connector
• WG302 has secure SSH Telnet & Secure Socket Layer (SSL) remote management login
• Wireless isolation enables peer-to-peer blocking so users may not access another user’s PC Adapter
• Various other management features available in product chart – on Website

5. When will the WG102 support WPA2 or 802.11i?

The WG102 will ship with WPA-Enterprise at launch. By Q204, WPA2 or 802.11i will be available via free firmware upgrade. At that same time, all WG102s will ship with WPA2

6. What is Power over Ethernet (PoE) and how do I use it?

Power over Ethernet is an IEEE 802.3af specification that enables the ability to use Ethernet cables to supply power to different nodes on the network, such as Access Points. If a switch, such as the NETGEAR FSM726P, has ports that support this standard, one can simply attach the AP to the switch with an Ethernet cable - no additional power supply is needed. This simplifies installation as there is no need for extra wires and no need to place an AP near a power outlet. If a switch does not have PoE ports, the WG102 can still be powered via the Ethernet cable, with an optional accessory from PowerDsine, called a midspan, to enable this feature.

7. Is the WG102 compatible with NETGEAR POE101 Power over Ethernet Module?

No. POE101 was designed before the IEEE 802.3af PoE specification was ratified (June 2003) and was optimized for NETGEAR’s 802.11b Access Point models ME102 and ME103 only.

8. Does NETGEAR provide a signal booster option similar to the ME103BDL1?

No. At this time, NETGEAR does not offer a signal booster option for the WG102, however, we do offer a
range extender or antenna options. All NETGEAR antennas are compatible with the WG102.

9. What are the antenna options for WG102?

ANT24O5 – 5 dBi omni-directional antenna for ceiling, desk or wall mount
ANT24D18 – 18dBi indoor/outdoor directional patch panel antenna - Includes lightning arrestor
ANT2409 – 9 dBi indoor/outdoor omni-directional antenna - Includes lightning arrestor
Cable required, sold separately ranging in sizes from 1.5m to 30 m

10. Will 802.11g replace 802.11a?

No. Each of these protocols has its own strengths and weaknesses. We expect that 802.11b-only, 802.11g-only & dual band 802.11a/g products will be available in the market throughout 2004. After that, we expect that 802.11g and dual band 802.11a/g products will represent the majority of demand from our customers until a new standard, IEEE 802.11n (100 Mbps in both 2.4-11b/g and 5-11a GHz frequency) ratification expected in late 2005.

Doc: N101431.asp Nov. 29, 2004