User's Manual
Table Of Contents
- User Manual for the NETGEAR 108 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WG111T
- Contents
- Chapter 1 About This Manual
- Chapter 2 Introduction
- Chapter 3 Basic Setup
- Chapter 4 Configuration
- Chapter 5 Troubleshooting
- Basic Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- General Questions
- Why do I see no more than 54 Mbps on the Configuration Utility status line?
- The WG111T Smart Configuration Utility keeps asking me to save my settings
- Ad Hoc mode is not working correctly
- How to know if the WG111T card has received a valid IP address from the Wireless Router/AP
- How to use XP’s own Wireless configuration utility that comes with Windows XP
- I cannot connect to the AP that I want from the Networks browser list
- New Hardware Wizard appears after installation has completed
- How to get a PDF copy of the Manual
- General Questions
- Appendix A Technical Specifications
- Appendix B Wireless Networking Basics
- Appendix C Preparing Your PCs for Network Access
- Glossary
- Index
User Manual for the NETGEAR 108 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WG111T
B-2 Wireless Networking Basics
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Ad Hoc Mode (Peer-to-Peer Workgroup)
In an ad hoc network, computers are brought together as needed; thus, there is no structure or fixed
points to the network—each node can generally communicate with any other node. There is no
access point involved in this configuration. This mode enables you to quickly set up a small
wireless workgroup and allows workgroup members to exchange data or share printers as
supported by Microsoft networking in the various Windows operating systems. Some vendors also
refer to ad hoc networking as peer-to-peer group networking.
In this configuration, network packets are directly sent and received by the intended transmitting
and receiving stations. As long as the stations are within range of one another, this is the easiest
and least expensive way to set up a wireless network.
Network Name: Extended Service Set Identification (ESSID)
The Extended Service Set Identification (ESSID) is one of two types of Service Set Identification
(SSID). In an ad hoc wireless network with no access points, the Basic Service Set Identification
(BSSID) is used. In an infrastructure wireless network that includes an access point, the ESSID is
used, but may still be referred to as SSID.
An SSID is a thirty-two character (maximum) alphanumeric key identifying the name of the
wireless local area network. Some vendors refer to the SSID as network name. For the wireless
devices in a network to communicate with each other, all devices must be configured with the
same SSID.
Wireless Channels
IEEE 802.11g/b wireless nodes communicate with each other using radio frequency signals in the
ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) band between 2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz. Neighboring
channels are 5 MHz apart. However, due to spread spectrum effect of the signals, a node sending
signals using a particular channel will utilize frequency spectrum 12.5 MHz above and below the
center channel frequency. As a result, two separate wireless networks using neighboring channels
(for example, channel 1 and channel 2) in the same general vicinity will interfere with each other.
Applying two channels that allow the maximum channel separation will decrease the amount of
channel cross-talk, and provide a noticeable performance increase over networks with minimal
channel separation.