Wireless Basics - D-Link DWL-2700AP User Manual

Wireless Basics

D-Link wireless products are based on industry standards to provide easy-to-use and compatible high-speed wireless
connectivity within your home, business or public access wireless networks. D-Link wireless products will allow
you to access the data you want, when and where you want it. You will be able to enjoy the freedom that wireless
networking brings.
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a computer network that transmits and receives data with radio signals
instead of wires. WLANs are used increasingly in both home and office environments, and public areas such as
airports, coffee shops and universities. Innovative ways to utilize WLAN technology are helping people to work and
communicate more efficiently. Increased mobility and the absence of cabling and other fixed infrastructure have
proven to be beneficial for many users.
Wireless users can use the same applications they use on a wired network. Wireless adapter cards used on laptop
and desktop systems support the same protocols as Ethernet adapter cards.
People use WLAN technology for many different purposes:
Mobility - Productivity increases when people have access to data in any location within the operating range of the
WLAN. Management decisions based on real-time information can significantly improve worker efficiency.
Low Implementation Costs - WLANs are easy to set up, manage, change and relocate. Networks that frequently
change can benefit from WLANs ease of implementation. WLANs can operate in locations where installation of wiring
may be impractical.
Installation and Network Expansion - Installing a WLAN system can be fast and easy and can eliminate the need to
pull cable through walls and ceilings. Wireless technology allows the network to go where wires cannot go - even
outside the home or office.
Inexpensive Solution - Wireless network devices are as competitively priced as conventional Ethernet network devices.
The DWL-2700AP saves money by providing multi-functionality, configurable in one of three different modes.
Scalability - WLANs can be configured in a variety of ways to meet the needs of specific applications and installations.
Configurations are easily changed and range from Peer-to-Peer networks suitable for a small number of users to
larger Infrastructure networks to accommodate hundreds or thousands of users, depending on the number of
wireless devices deployed.
D-Link DWL-2700AP User Manual 9