Dell TrueMobile 1300 User Manual page 44

Appendix: Dell TrueMobile 1180 Wireless USB Adapter User's Guide Page 1 of 3
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Appendix: Dell™ TrueMobile™ 1300 Wireless USB2.0
Adapter User's Guide
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network in one location. Users at that location can share files, printers, and
other services. In a LAN, a networked computer that requests services is called a client. A Wireless Local
Area Network (WLAN) is a type of LAN that uses high frequency radio waves rather than wires to
communicate and transmit data among the network clients and devices. It is a flexible data communication
system implemented as an extension to, or as an alternative for, a wired LAN.
In a WLAN, wireless adapters are installed in clients, also called wireless clients. The adapter allows the
wireless client to communicate with the WLAN without cables. Instead, wireless clients send and receive
information through a path in the air called a channel.
The standards for a WLAN are based on the IEEE 802.11b/g standard. All Dell TrueMobile 802.11b/g-
compliant devices interoperate with other 802.11b/g-compliant wireless devices from other vendors. The WiFi
certification logo indicates that the wireless device has been tested by an independent organization and is
802.11b/g-compliant.
A wireless client operates in either infrastructure mode or peer-to-peer mode.
Infrastructure Mode: A WLAN with Wireless Broadband Routers
In infrastructure mode, wireless clients send and receive information through one or more Wireless
Broadband Routers. Wireless Broadband Routers are strategically located within an area to provide optimal
coverage for wireless clients. Wireless Broadband Routers and wireless clients constitute a WLAN.
Wireless Broadband Routers can be connected to a LAN of wired or wireless clients. The Wireless Broadband
Routers send and receive information from the LAN through this connection.
An Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) is used to identify the wireless clients and Wireless Broadband
Routers in a WLAN. All wireless clients and Wireless Broadband Routers in the WLAN must use the same
ESSID. A Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) uniquely defines each wireless client and Wireless Broadband
Router.
Peer-to-Peer Mode (Ad Hoc): A WLAN without Wireless Broadband Routers
In peer-to-peer mode, wireless clients directly send and receive information to other wireless clients without
using a Wireless Broadband Router.
Identifying a WLAN
An ESSID and BSSID are both Service Set Identifiers (SSID) that identify and control the wireless client's
access to a given WLAN. The SSID is sometimes referred to as the network name. The SSID indicates what
WLAN you are referring to. In most cases, the user interface displays the SSID.
When installing a Wireless Broadband Router or wireless adapter in a wireless client, the installation program
asks you to enter the SSID.
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