Appendix B

Wireless network terms and concepts

Specifying your network

SSID (Service Set Identifier) and channels

You need to configure the SSID and a channel to specify the wireless network you want to connect to.

SSID

Each wireless network has its own unique network name which is technically referred to as an SSID or ESSID (Extended Service Set Identifier). The SSID is a 32-byte or less value and is assigned to the access point. The wireless network devices you want to associate to the wireless network should match the access point. The access point and wireless network devices regularly send wireless packets (referred to as beacons) containing the SSID information. When your wireless network device receives a beacon, you can identify wireless networks within range of your device.

Channels

Wireless networks use channels. Each wireless channel is on a different frequency. There are up to 14

different channels that can be used when using a wireless network. However, in many countries the

B

number of channels available are restricted.

Security terms

Authentication and encryption

Most wireless networks use some kind of security settings. These security settings define the authentication (how the device identifies itself to the network) and encryption (how the data is encrypted as it is sent on the network). If you do not correctly specify these options when you are configuring your Brother wireless printer, it will not be able to connect to the wireless network. Therefore care must be taken when configuring these options.

Authentication and Encryption methods for a personal wireless network

A personal wireless network is a small network, for example using your printer in a wireless network at home, without IEEE 802.1x support.

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