Important IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g use the same radio frequency. IEEE 802.11a uses a different radio frequency than IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g. All wireless Ethernet components must use the same frequency. A combination of IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11b or IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g components will not work. Some wireless devices can broadcast and receive signals on both frequencies.

A mixture of IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g components will result in your network running at the speed of the slower IEEE 802.11b components.

Tips & Tricks When buying your access point, be sure the model includes

everything your network needs, including:

■ 802.11g support - for next-generation, high-speed wireless communications

■Internet security features - such as a firewall to protect your network from unwanted intruders

■Wireless security features - such as 128-bit WEP encryption

■4-port switch - to eliminate the need for additional network hardware

■DHCP server/dynamic IP address assignment - to automatically configure network and IP addresses

Determining if wireless Ethernet is already installed on your computers

To determine if wireless Ethernet is already installed on your computer:

1 Click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click Performance and Maintenance.

2 Click/Double-click System, click the Hardware tab, then click Device Manager. The Device Manager window opens.

3 Click the plus (+) in front of Network adapters. The wireless Ethernet device installed in your computer is listed. If one is not listed, you must install one.

 

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