Configuration Parameters

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802.11a Software Parameters

The following configuration parameters are available for a Harmony 802.11a network adapter. Refer to Chapter 5 for instructions on how to change these configuration settings using the Harmony Utility.

Network Mode

Network Mode configures a Harmony 802.11a network adapter to operate in either Ad Hoc mode or Infrastructure mode.

When set to Ad Hoc, all Harmony 802.11a devices must have the same SSID, Channel, and WEP Keys (if WEP is enabled) to communicate. An Ad Hoc network is a wireless network that consists of only 802.11a client adapters (i.e., a network that does not have an Access Point).

Note: Products sold in Europe do not support Ad Hoc mode.

When set to Infrastructure mode, an 802.11a network adapter must have the same SSID and security settings as the Access Points on the network to communicate. An Infrastructure network is any network that includes one or more 802.11a Access Points. By default, the adapter operates in Infrastructure mode.

SSID

The SSID (Service Set ID), which is also referred to as the ESSID (Extended Service Set ID), is a text string that all members of the same 802.11a network share.

The SSID may be up to 32 alphanumeric characters long, including spaces. Also, when configured to “any,” a Harmony 802.11a network adapter can communicate with any available Access Point regardless of the Access Point’s SSID.

In an Infrastructure network, the SSID must match on all Harmony 802.11a Access Points and 802.11a clients (unless a client’s SSID is “any”). Devices that do not share the same SSID cannot communicate.

In an Ad Hoc network without an Access Point, each 802.11a device must have the same SSID to participate in the network. A node cannot use the “any” SSID to join an Ad Hoc network.

By default, an 802.11a adapter’s SSID is set to “any”.

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Harmony House manual 802.11a Software Parameters, Network Mode