4 WLAN devices (select models only)

With a WLAN device, you can access a wireless local area network, which is composed of other computers and accessories linked by a wireless router or a wireless access point.

NOTE The terms wireless access point and wireless router are often used interchangeably.

●A large-scale WLAN, such as a corporate or public WLAN, typically uses wireless access points that can accommodate a large number of computers and accessories and can separate critical network functions.

●A home or small office WLAN typically uses a wireless router, which allows several wireless and wired computers to share an Internet connection, a printer, and files without requiring additional pieces of hardware or software.

NOTE To use the WLAN device in your computer, you must connect to a WLAN infrastructure (provided through a service provider or a public or corporate network).

Computers with WLAN devices may support one or more of four IEEE physical layer industry standards:

●802.11b, the first popular standard, supports data rates of up to 11 Mbps and operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz.

●802.11g supports data rates of up to 54 Mbps and operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. An 802.11g WLAN device is backward compatible with 802.11b devices, so they can operate on the same network.

●802.11a supports data rates of up to 54 Mbps and operates at a frequency of 5 GHz. NOTE 802.11a is not compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g.

●802.11n supports data rates of up to 270 Mbps and may operate at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, making it backward compatible with 802.11a, b, and g.

6 Chapter 4 WLAN devices (select models only)

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