Planning Your Wireless Network, Roaming

Instant WirelessTM Series

Figure 1-1

Package Contents

•One Instant WirelessTM Wireless Network Access Point

•One AC Power Adapter

•One Setup Wizard CD-ROM (with User Guide)

•Two Detachable Antennae

•One Quick Installation and Registration Card (not shown)

•One CAT 5 Ethernet Cable (not shown)

System Requirements

•A Windows 95, 98, Millennium, NT version 4.0, 2000, or XP PC

•Internet Explorer ver. 4.0 or higher

•One CD-ROM Drive

Wireless Network Access Point

Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

A wireless LAN is a group of computers, each equipped with one Instant Wireless™ Series adapter. Computers in a wireless LAN must be configured to share the same radio channel.

The Instant Wireless™ Series adapters provide access to a wired LAN for wire- less workstations. An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure configuration. A group of Instant Wireless™ Series adapter users and an Instant Wireless™ Wireless Network Access Point compose a Basic Service Set (BSS). Each Instant Wireless™ Series adapter PC in a BSS can talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the Instant Wireless™ Wireless Network Access Point.

An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of an Instant Wireless™ Series adapter PC to a wired LAN, and doubles the effective wire- less transmission range for two Instant Wireless™ Series adapter PCs. Since the Wireless Network Access Point is able to forward data within its BSS, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure LAN is doubled.

Roaming

Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set (ESS). This con- tinuous network allows users to roam freely. All PCs equipped with an Instant Wireless™ Series adapter must be configured with the same SSID and use the same radio channel.

Before enabling a network with roaming capability, choosing a feasible radio channel and optimum Wireless Network Access Point position is recommend- ed. Proper Wireless Network Access Point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance performance.