Technical information

Creating and Managing Network Profiles

Mode

This column displays two possible entries:

Indicates that this network is in infr

astructure mode. You will be

connecting to a network through a dedicated wireless access

point.

Indicates that this network is in ad hoc mode. You will

connecting directly to another PC through its wireless network

interface card.

BSSID

This is the MAC address of the Access Point’

s Wireless Network Interface

Card.

Channel

The channel on which the wireless network is broadcasting.

AP Vendor

The manufacturer of the wireless access point.

Encryption

Networks that are encrypted will have the

icon in this column. The

accompanying text indicates the encryption method. See How to access an

encrypted network for instructions on connecting to encrypted networks.

Signal Strength

Displays the strength of the signal being broadcast from each network.

Stronger signals tend

to produce more reliable connections.

Beacon Period

Wireless access points periodically broadcast a packet called a "beacon"

which helps to synchron

ize communications with connected systems. The

number in this column indicates how often (in milliseconds) the beacon is

transmitted.

USBw 100

FEB 2009