NETGEAR WAG102 manual Chapter Introduction

Chapter 2

Introduction

This chapter introduces the NETGEAR WAG102 ProSafe Dual Band Wireless Access Point. Minimal prerequisites for installation are presented in “System Requirements” on page 2-4.

About the WAG102 ProSafe Dual Band Wireless Access Point

The WAG102 ProSafe Dual Band Wireless Access Point is the basic building block of a wireless LAN infrastructure. It provides connectivity between Ethernet wired networks and radio-equipped wireless notebook systems, desktop systems, print servers, and other devices.

The WAG102 provides wireless connectivity to multiple wireless network devices within a fixed range or area of coverage, interacting with a wireless network interface card (NIC) via an antenna. Typically, an individual in-building access point provides a maximum connectivity area with about a 300 foot radius. The WAG102 ProSafe Dual Band Wireless Access Point can support a small group of users in a range of several hundred feet. Most access points are rated between 10-30 users simultaneously.

The WAG102 ProSafe Dual Band Wireless Access Point acts as a bridge between the wired LAN and wireless clients. Connecting multiple WAG102 Access Points via a wired Ethernet backbone can further lengthen the wireless network coverage. As a mobile computing device moves out of the range of one access point, it moves into the range of another. As a result, wireless clients can freely roam from one Access Point to another and still maintain seamless connection to the network.

The auto-sensing capability of the WAG102 ProSafe Dual Band Wireless Access Point allows packet transmission at up to 108 Mbps, or at reduced speeds to compensate for distance or electromagnetic interference.

Introduction 2-1

v1.0, September 2005