Wireless Basics - D-Link DWL-700AP Manual

DWL-700AP User's Manual

Wireless Basics

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 access to 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 cellular 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.
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.
Inexpensive Solution - Wireless network devices are as competitively priced as conventional
Ethernet network devices.
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