User Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ Wireless PCI Adapter WPN311
3-2 Basic Setup
Observe Location and Range Guidelines
Computers can connect over 802.11g wireless networks indoors at a range which varies
significantly based on the physical location of the computer with the NETGEAR RangeMax™
Wireless PCI Adapter WPN311. For best results, avoid potential sources of interference, such as:
• Large metal surfaces
•Microwaves
• 2.4 GHz Cordless phones
In general, 802.11g wireless devices can communicate through walls. However, if the walls are
constructed with concrete, or have metal, or metal mesh, the 802.11g effective range will decrease
if such materials are between the devices.
Two Basic Operating ModesThe WPN311 Wireless PCI Adapter, like all 802.11b/g adapters, can operate in the following two
basic modes:
•Infrastructure Mode: An 802.11 networking framework in which devices and computers
communicate with each other by first going through an access point (AP). For example, this
mode is used when computers in a house connect to an AP that is attached to a router which
lets multiple computers share a single Cable or DSL broadband Internet connection.
•Ad-Hoc Mode: An 802.11 networking framework in which devices or computers
communicate directly with each other, without the use of an access point. For example,
Ad-Hoc Mode is used when two Windows computers are configured with file and print
sharing enabled and you want to exchange files directly between them.
Both of these configuration options are available with the WPN311 Wireless PCI Adapter.
Infrastructure configuration procedures for basic network connectivity are covered below.
Advanced infrastructure configuration procedures and ad-hoc configuration are covered in
Chapter 4, “Configuration” of this manual.
WPN311 Default Wireless Configuration SettingsIf this is a new wireless network installation, use the factory default settings to set up the network
and verify wireless connectivity. If this is an addition to an existing wireless network, you will
need to identify the wireless configuration and security parameters already defined.