D-Link DWL-7100AP [6/52] Wireless basics

Wireless Basics

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AG wireless products are based on industry standards to provide

easy-to-use and compatible high-speed wireless connectivity within your home, business

or public access wireless networks. Strictly adhering to the IEEE standard, the D-Link

AirPremier

AG wireless family of products will allow you to securely access the data

you want, when and where you want it. You will be able to enjoy the freedom that

wireless networking delivers.

A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a cellular computer network that transmits and

receives data with radio signals instead of wires. Wireless LANs are used increasingly

in both home and office environments, and public areas such as airports, coffee shops

and universities. Innovative ways to utilize WLAN technology are helping people to work

and communicate more efficiently. Increased mobility and the absence of cabling and

other fixed infrastructure have proven to be beneficial for many users.

Wireless users can use the same applications they use on a wired network. Wireless

adapter cards used on laptop and desktop systems support the same protocols as

Ethernet adapter cards.

People use wireless LAN technology for many different purposes:

Mobility - Productivity increases when people have access to data in any location

within the operating range of the WLAN. Management decisions based on real-time

information can significantly improve worker efficiency.

Low Implementation Costs - WLANs are easy to set up, manage, change and relocate.

Networks that frequently change can benefit from WLANs ease of implementation. WLANs

can operate in locations where installation of wiring may be impractical.

Installation and Network Expansion - Installing a WLAN system can be fast and

easy and can eliminate the need to pull cable through walls and ceilings. Wireless

technology allows the network to go where wires cannot go - even outside the home or

office.

Inexpensive Solution - Wireless network devices are as competitively priced as

conventional Ethernet network devices.

Scalability - WLANs can be configured in a variety of ways to meet the needs of

specific applications and installations. Configurations are easily changed and range

from Peer-to-Peer networks suitable for a small number of users to larger infrastructure

networks to accommodate hundreds or thousands of users, depending on the number of

wireless devices deployed.