Specifications

OmniAccess Reference: AOS-W System Reference
912 Part 031652-00 May 2005
802.11b*
International standard for wireless networking that operates in the 2.4 GHz
frequency range (2.4 GHz to 2.4835 GHz) and provides a throughput of up to
11 Mbps. This is a very commonly used frequency. Microwave ovens, cordless
phones, medical and scientific equipment, as well as Bluetooth devices, all
work within the 2.4 GHz frequency band.
802.11g*
Similar to 802.11b, but this standard provides a throughput of up to 54 Mbps.
It also operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band but uses a different radio
technology in order to boost overall bandwidth.
Access point*
A wireless LAN transceiver or “base station” that can connect a wired LAN to
one or many wireless devices. Access points can also bridge to each other.
There are various types of access points and base stations used in both
wireless and wired networks. These include bridges, hubs, switches, routers
and gateways. The differences between them are not always precise, because
certain capabilities associated with one can also be added to another. For
example, a router can do bridging, and a hub may also be a switch. But they
are all involved in making sure data is transferred from one location to another.
A bridge connects devices that all use the same kind of protocol. A router can
connect networks that use differing protocols. It also reads the addresses
included in the packets and routes them to the appropriate computer station,
working with any other routers in the network to choose the best path to send
the packets on. A wireless hub or access point adds a few capabilities such as
roaming and provides a network connection to a variety of clients, but it does
not allocate bandwidth. A switch is a hub that has extra intelligence: It can
read the address of a packet and send it to the appropriate computer station. A
wireless gateway is an access point that provides additional capabilities such
as NAT routing, DHCP, firewalls, security, etc.
Air Monitor
A wireless access point used to detect wireless devices within range of itself
for the purpose of determining the existence near the network and to monitor
their activity.
Application software*
A computer program that is designed to do a general task. For example, word
processing, payroll, Internet browsers and graphic design programs would all
be considered applications.