User's Guide Part 5

Glossary: Company 54g Wireless LAN (WLAN) User Manual
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Glossary: Company 54g Wireless LAN (WLAN) User Manual
access point A stand-alone wireless hub that allows any computer that has a wireless network
adapter to communicate with another computer and to connect to the Internet.
ad hoc (also known as computer-
to-computer network)
A communication configuration in which every computer has the same capabilities
and any computer can initiate a communication session.
available network One of the networks listed under Wireless Network Connection Properties. Any
wireless network that is broadcasting and is within receiving range of the
Company 54g enabled notebook appears on the list.
BER Bit error rate. The ratio of errors to the total number of bits being sent in a data
transmission from one location to another.
client computer The computer that gets its Internet connection by sharing either the host
computer's connection or the access point's connection.
dBm A unit of expression of power level in decibels with reference to a power of 1
milliwatt.
DBPSK differential-binary-phase-shift keying.
DQPSK differential-quadrature-phase-shift keying. A compression technique that transmits
only the differences between the values of the phase of the sine wave rather than
the full absolute value.
DSSS direct sequence spread spectrum. A type of radio technology used in wireless
local area networks. DSSS operates by spreading a signal over a wide range of
the 2.4-GHz band.
Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol (DHCP)
A mechanism for allocating IP addresses dynamically so that addresses can be
reused when hosts no longer need them.
file and printer sharing A capability that allows a number of people to view, modify, and print the same
file(s) from different computers.
GHz gigahertz. A unit of frequency equal to 1 000 000 000 cycles per second.
host computer The computer that is directly connected to the Internet via a modem or network
adapter.
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Internet Protocol (IP) address The address of a computer that is attached to a network. Part of the address
designates which network the computer is on, and the other part represents the
host identification.
LAN local area network
m meter
MHz megahertz. A unit of frequency equal to 1 000 000 cycles per second.
Mbps megabits per second. Transmission speed of 1 000 000 bits per second.
ns nanosecond. 1 billionth (1/1 000 000 000) of a second.
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