Operation Manual

Introduction
ELSA LANCOM Wireless
1
English
Introduction
The advantages of wireless LANs are obvious: Notebooks and PCs can be set up where
they are wanted
— problems with missing connections or architectural alterations are a
thing of the past with wireless networking.
Network links in conferences or presentations, access to resources in adjacent buildings
and exchanging data with mobile units are only a few of the options available with a
wireless LAN.
The access point plays the central role in enabling these options in an existing wired
network. All stations in the wireless network access the LAN via the access point.
Your entire LAN is connected to the outside world via the integrated IP router and the
ISDN interface. Access to the Internet for the entire LAN or office functions such as fax
and answering machine at all workstations are only some of the advantages offered by
the ISDN router.
The use of radio frequencies in the 2.4 – 2.48 GHz range may be restricted or subject to
an application in some European countries. The list of national approvals is enclosed.
The basic functions of a wireless network
This chapter introduces the basic functional principles of a wireless network. The terms
used will be explained and the structure and possible applications of wireless networks
introduced. Detailed information on this and other topics can be found in the electronic
documentation on the CD.
Wireless net-
work adapters
WLAN
Wireless network adapters connect individual notebooks and PCs to a
L
ocal
A
rea
N
etwork (LAN). As the usual network cables have been replaced by a radio link in this
case, we also refer to this as a
W
ireless
L
ocal
A
rea
N
etwork (WLAN).
Access point
The access point forms the bridge between the LAN and the WLAN. It has a slot for a
wireless network adapter (
ELSA AirLancer MC-2 ) as well as a normal Ethernet
connection to exchange data between the two networks. In effect, the access point
extends a network cable to the mobile stations via a radio link.