The Beacon interval defines the amount of time between transmitting beacon frames. Before entering power save mode, a station needs the beacon interval to know when to wake up to receive the beacon.

The Capability Information lists requirements of stations that want to join the WLAN. For example, it indicates that all stations must use WEP.

The Service Set Identifier (SSID).

The Basic Rate Set is a bitmap that lists the rates that the WLAN supports.

The optional Parameter Sets indicates features of the specific signaling methods in use (such as frequency hopping spread spectrum, direct sequence spread spectrum, etc.).

The optional Traffic Indication Map (TIM) identifies stations, using power saving mode, that have data frames queued for them.

Bridge

A connection between two local area networks (LANs) using the same protocol, such as Ethernet or IEEE 802.1x.

Broadcast

A Broadcast sends the same message at the same time to everyone. In wireless networks, broadcast usually refers to an interaction in which the access point sends data traffic in the form of IEEE 802.1x Frames to all client stations on the network.

Some wireless security modes distinguish between how unicast, multicast, and broadcast frames are encrypted or whether they are encrypted.

See also Unicast and Multicast.

Broadcast Address

See IP Address.

BSS

A basic service set (BSS) is an Infrastructure Mode Wireless Networking Framework with a single access point. Also see extended service set (ESS) and independent basic service set (IBSS).

BSSID

In Infrastructure Mode, the Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) is the 48-bit MAC address of the wireless interface of the Access Point.

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