26LongView Wireless Installer/User Guide

Appendix D: Understanding Wireless

Wireless technology is being used in many innovative ways to help people work and communicate more efficiently. Increased mobility and the absence of cabling and other fixed infrastructure have proven to be beneficial for many users.

People use wireless technology for many different purposes:

•Mobility – productivity increases when people have access to data in any location within the operating range of their Wireless Extender. Management decisions based on real-time information can significantly improve worker efficiency.

•Low Implementation Costs – Wireless Extenders are easy to set up, manage, change and relocate. Environments that change frequently benefit from the ease of implementing wireless. Wireless Extenders operate in locations where installation of wiring may be impractical.

•Installation and Network Expansion – installing a Wireless Extender 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.

Standards-based technology

The LongView Wireless transmitter and receiver utilize a proprietary design based on the 802.11a standard. The IEEE 802.11a standard is an extension of the 802.11b standard. It increases the data rate up to 54 Mbps within the 5 GHz band, utilizing OFDM technology.

This technology works by transmitting high-speed digital data over a radio wave utilizing OFDM technology. OFDM works by splitting the radio signal into multiple smaller sub-signals that are then transmitted simultaneously at different frequencies to the receiver. OFDM reduces the amount of crosstalk (interference) in signal transmissions.

Installation considerations

The LongView Wireless Extender allows you to access your computer using a wireless connection from virtually anywhere within its operating range. Keep in mind, however, that the number, thickness and location of walls, ceilings and other objects that the wireless signals must pass through may limit the range. Typical ranges vary depending on the types of materials and background RF (radio frequency) noise in your home or business.