Specifications

Wireless Networking Terms
802.11a: An IEEE standard for wireless Ethernet
networking that operates in the 5 GHz radio band
(ISM frequency band) and uses the IP protocol.
Maximum transmission speed is 54Mbps and
approximate wireless range is 25-75 feet indoors.
802.11b: An IEEE standard for wireless Ethernet
networking that operates in the 2.4 GHz radio band
(ISM frequency band) and uses the IP protocol.
Maximum transmission speed is 11Mbps and
approximate wireless range is 100-200 feet indoors.
802/11g: An IEEE standard for wireless Ethernet
networking that operates in the 2.4 GHz radio band
(ISM frequency band) and uses the IP protocol.
Maximum transmission speed is 54Mbps and
approximate wireless range is 100-200 feet indoors.
Access Point: A wireless Access Point is used to
connect PC's with wireless adapter cards to a wired
Ethernet network. Access points can support
several or all of the three most popular IEEE
WLAN standards including 802.11a, 802.11b and
802.11g. Sometimes people may refer to an Access
Point as a Wireless Hub.
Adapter: A wireless adapter or NIC (Network
Interface Card) that is used to connect to a laptop
or PC to a wireless LAN (Local Area Network).
Ad-hoc: An Ad-hoc wireless network is made up of
a group of PC's and/or laptops connected as an
independent wireless LAN.
Encryption: Encryption is used to hide or mask the
data being sent through wireless transmissions. There
are several popular and widely used encryption
methods used today including WEP (Wired
Equivalent Privacy, and WPA (Wi-Fi Protected
Access).
Hot Spot: A wireless Hot Spot is a public area
where wireless laptops can connect to WLAN and
receive Internet access. Recently many coffee shops
and airports have added this capability for their
customer's convenience.
Infrastructure: A Wireless Infrastructure is
comprised of both wired and wireless LAN's.
Typically this type of configuration is found in
SOHS and Enterprise environments where there
are many user groups or divisions requiring access
to shared resources.
ISM Band: The ISM (Industrial, Scientific and
Medical) band, which is controlled by the FCC in
the US, generally requires licensing for various
spectrum use. To accommodate wireless LAN's, the
FCC has set aside bandwidth for unlicensed use
including the 2.4Ghz spectrum where many WLAN
products operate.
Roaming: The ability to use a wireless device and
be able to move from one access point's range to
another without losing the connection.
Router: A wireless router is a protocol dependent
device that is used to connect sub networks or
different independent WLAN's together. Routers
provide security as they can be configured to only
allow certain users access to different services such
as the Internet and file servers when connecting a
WLAN to the Internet a router is required.
SOHO (Small Office/Home Office): Is a widely
used acronym, which defines applications or
products that are used in homes or in small offices.
SSID: The SSID is the unique name shared among
all devices on the same wireless network
WIFI: Wi Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity and is used
to define any of the IEEE 802.11 wireless standards.
The term Wi-Fi was created by the Wireless
Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA). Products
certified as Wi-Fi compliant are interoperable with
each other even if they are made by different
manufacturers.
Wireless Networking Terms > Networking and Other Equipment 195
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Up to 54 Mbps Up to 11 Mbps Up to 54 Mbps
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Incompatible with 801.11b Compatible Compatible
and 802.11g with 802.11g with 802.11b
What is a Wireless Network?
A wireless network is very similar to the wired network in that all the same pieces are still
required, a wireless NIC, Access Point (similar to a wired network Ethernet Switch) and a
wireless router.The only thing that's missing is the cables.
First you will need to determine if your desktop or Laptop PC already has a wireless NIC
built in. Again, check your users guide to confirm this.Once your wireless NIC is installed
you will need to configure the SSID (service set identifier) on each of the PC's to use the
same name.Also,you need to make sure all the wireless NICs are configured to be on the
same channel and set levels of encryption if desired.Your wireless access point or router
should come with detailed explanation of how to configure the SSID and security features
such as encryption and access lists.Many of today's wireless routers come with the access
point functionality built right in.
The diagram below shows a typical business wireless LAN.
The diagram below shows a simple wireless network set up.
Internet
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Wireless
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Laptop
Internet
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Wireless
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Barcode
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