Instant WirelessTM Series
Figure
Package Contents
•One Wireless PC Card (IEEE 802.11a)
•One Setup Utility
•One Quick Installation Guide
•One Registration Card
System Requirements
•
•64MB RAM Recommended
•One Available Type II or Type III PCMCIA CardBus Slot
•One
•Windows 98SE, 2000, Me, or XP
•5 Mb of free disk space for utility and driver installation
Wireless PC Card
Chapter 2: Planning Your Wireless Network
Network Topology
A wireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each computer in the LAN uses a Wireless PC Card to connect to the network through a wireless connection. Computers in a wireless LAN must be configured to share the same radio channel.
The Wireless PC Card provides LAN access for wireless workstations. An inte- grated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure configuration. A group of Wireless PC Card users and an Access Point compose a Basic Service Set (BSS). Each PC equipped with a Wireless PC Card in a BSS can talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the Access Point.
An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of a Wireless PC Card PC to a wired LAN, and doubles the effective wireless transmission range for two PCs equipped with a Wireless PC Card. Since the Access Point is able to forward data within its BSS, the effective transmission range in an infrastruc- ture LAN is doubled.
Roaming
Infrastructure mode also supports roaming capabilities for mobile users. More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set (ESS). This con- tinuous network allows users to roam freely within an ESS. All PCs that are equipped with an Wireless PC Card, and are within one ESS, must be config- ured with the same ESS ID.
Before enabling an ESS with roaming capability, it is recommended to select a feasible radio channel and optimum Access Point position. Proper Access Point positioning combined with a clear radio signal will greatly enhance perform- ance.
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