User's Manual

Wireless Ethernet Bridge
5
Instant Wireless
®
Series
4
Unlike wired networks, wireless networks have two different modes in which
they may be set up: Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc. Choosing between these two
modes depends on whether or not the wireless network needs to share data or
peripherals with a wired network or not.
If the computers on the wireless network need to be accessible by a wired net-
work or need to share a peripheral, such as a printer, with the wired network
computers, the wireless network should be set up in the Infrastructure mode.
The basis of Infrastructure mode centers around an access point, which serves
as the main point of communications in a wireless network (see Figure 3-1).
Access points transmit data to PCs equipped with wireless network card, which
can roam within a certain radial range of the access point. Multiple access
points can be arranged to work in succession to extend the roaming range, and
can be set up to communicate with your Ethernet hardware as well.
Ad-Hoc versus Infrastructure Mode
Figure 3-1
Chapter 3: Planning Your
Wireless Network
Network Topology
A wireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each network device
in the LAN uses a Wireless Ethernet Bridge to connect to the network without
using wires. Computers in a wireless LAN must be configured to share the
same radio channel.
The Wireless Ethernet Bridge provides LAN access for wireless network
devices. An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure con-
figuration. A group of Wireless Ethernet Bridge users and an access point com-
pose a Basic Service Set (BSS). Each PC equipped with an Wireless Ethernet
Bridge in a BSS can talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the
Bridge.
An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of a Wireless Ethernet
Bridge to a wired LAN, and doubles the effective wireless transmission range
for two Wireless Ethernet Bridge PCs. Since the access point is able to forward
data within its BSS, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure LAN
is doubled.
The use of a unique ID in a Basic Service Set is essential.
The Wireless LAN infrastructure configuration is appropriate for enterprise-
scale wireless access to a central database, or as a wireless application for
mobile users.
Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. More
than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set (ESS). This con-
tinuous network allows users to roam freely within an ESS. All Wireless
Ethernet Bridge PCs within one Extended Service Set must be configured with
the same SSID.
Selecting a feasible radio channel and optimum access point position is rec-
ommended. Proper access point positioning combined with a clear radio signal
will greatly enhance performance.
Network Topology
Roaming