ZyXEL Communications Parental Control Gateway HS100/HS100W - Manual (Page 88)

HomeSafe User’s Guide
Wireless Configuration and Roaming 6-3
6.2 Wireless LAN Basics
Refer also to the Wizard Setup chapter for more background information on Wireless LAN
features, such as channels.
6.2.1 RTS/CTS
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 (STA)
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 6-4 RTS/CTS
When station A sends data to the HomeSafe, it might not know that 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 is designed to prevent collisions due to hidden nodes. An RTS/CTS 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 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
permission to send it. The AP then responds with a CTS (Clear to Send) message to all other
stations within its range to notify them to defer their transmission. It also reserves and confirms
with the requesting station the time frame for the requested transmission.
Stations can send frames smaller than the specified RTS/CTS directly to the AP without the RTS
(Request To Send)/CTS (Clear to Send) handshake.
You should only configure RTS/CTS if the possibility of hidden nodes exists on your network
and the “cost” of resending large frames is more than the extra network overhead involved in the
RTS (Request To Send)/CTS (Clear to Send) handshake.
If the RTS/CTS value is greater than the Fragmentation Threshold value (see next), 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 size.
Stations A and B do
not hear each other.
They can hear the
HomeSafe.