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Ad hoc networks are typically small and simple. Performance on these types of networks can degrade if more than six devices are on the network.

Infrastructure networks

On an infrastructure network, devices, such as computers and printers, communicate through a Wireless Access Point (WAP). WAPs commonly act as routers or gateways on small networks.

For example, a simple infrastructure wireless network might consist of a laptop and a printer communicating through a WAP.

Mixed wired and wireless networks

Wireless devices often exist on a largely wired network.

In this case, a WAP is connected to the main network by an Ethernet cable plugged into the WAP's WAN port. The WAP acts as the go-between for the wired devices and the wireless devices. The wired devices communicate with the WAP over the Ethernet cable, while the wireless devices communicate with the WAP over radio waves.

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