User Manual

4
The Gigaset USB Adapter 54
Gigaset USB Adapter 54 / English / A31008-E505-B104-1-19 / introduction.fm / 26.02.2004
The Gigaset USB Adapter 54
The Gigaset USB Adapter 54 is a 54 Mbps network adapter that is connected to your PC
or Notebook via the USB (Universal Serial Bus). You can use Gigaset data products to set
up a wireless local network (WLAN = Wireless Local Area Network) without having to lay
cables.
Your Gigaset USB Adapter 54 can be used to connect your computer to other computers
equipped with wireless network adapters (ad-hoc mode).
You can also connect your PC to a wireless router, e. g. to the Gigaset SE 505 dsl/cable,
for Internet access (infrastructure mode).
Since the PCs communicate with each other via radio, it does not matter where they are
located, as long as they are within range of the wireless network. Mobile PCs, such as
Notebooks, can connect to the WLAN even after changing location. This enables you to
use all the files and printers on the network. The Gigaset USB Adapter 54 works to the
IEEE 802.11g transmission standard and is backwards compatible with the older
standard IEEE 802.11b. For network security, wireless transmission can be encrypted
using 64/128-bit WEP or the newer WPA standard.
These operating instructions contain important information on how to set up a WLAN
and to configure your Gigaset USB Adapter 54.
Wireless LAN Basics
This section provides basic information on wireless LANs to show the role of the
Gigaset USB Adapter 54 in setting up a wireless network.
Local Area Network (LAN)
A LAN is a network that exists in a limited area. A network is two or more computers
which are connected together in order to share files as well as peripheral devices,
e. g. a printer.
Using the Gigaset USB Adapter 54 you can communicate with other computers without
having to lay network cable. Thus you can take your computer to another place and still
remain connected to the network.
You can use the Gigaset USB Adapter 54 in two different ways. On the one hand, you
can establish a connection to one or more PCs equipped with wireless network adapters.
This is an ad-hoc network. On the other hand, you can establish a connection to an
Access Point, which is used to obtain access to an already existing wired LAN
(infrastructure network).