D-Link DWL-800AP+ [8/58] Wireless basics

3. Wireless Basics

D-Link AirPlus 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. The D-Link AirPlus

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. WLANs 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.

Under many circumstances, it may be desirable for mobile network devices

to link to a conventional Ethernet LAN in order to use servers, printers or an

Internet connection supplied through the wired LAN. A Wireless Access

Point (AP) is a device used to provide this link.

People use WLAN 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, both physically and logically,

can benefit from a WLAN’s 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.