User's Manual

No Wires Needed
User manual Swallow 1100 PC Card Page 11 of 44
3 Wireless LAN basics
Wireless LAN (Local Area Networks) systems offer a
great number of advantages over a traditional, wired
system. Wireless LANs are more flexible, easier to setup
and manage and often more cost effective than their
wired equivalence.
Using radio frequency (RF) technology, WLANs transmit
and receive data over the air, minimizing the need for
wired connections. Thus, WLANs combine data
connectivity with user mobility, and, through simplified
configuration, enable movable LANs.
With wireless LANs, users can access shared information
without looking for a place to plug in and network
managers can set up or augment networks without
installing or moving wires. Wireless LANs offer the
following productivity, convenience and cost advantages
over traditional wired networks:
• Mobility - Wireless LAN systems can provide LAN
users with access to real-time information
anywhere in their organization. This mobility
supports productivity and service opportunities not
possible with wired networks.
• Installation Speed and Simplicity - Installing a
wireless LAN system can be fast and easy and can
eliminate the need to pull cable through walls and
ceilings.