Package Contents; System Requirements; Planning Your Wireless Network; Network Topology - Linksys WCF11 User Manual

Package Contents

• One Instant Wireless™ Wireless Network CF Card
• One Setup CD-ROM with Drivers and User Guide
• One Registration Card (not shown)

System Requirements

• Windows 9x or higher PC with CD-ROM (to load drivers)
• PDA with available Type II CompactFlash Slot
• Windows CE
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Instant Wireless TM Series
Wireless Network CF Card

Planning Your Wireless Network

Network Topology

A wireless LAN is exactly like a regular LAN, except that each Personal
Digital Assistant (PDA) in the LAN uses an Instant Wireless™ Wireless
Network CF Card to connect to the network using no wires. PDAs in a wire-
less LAN must be configured to share the same radio channel.
The Instant Wireless™ Wireless Network CF Card provides LAN access for
PDAs. An integrated wireless and wired LAN is called an Infrastructure con-
figuration. A group of Network CF Card users and an Access Point compose
a Basic Service Set (BSS). Each PDA equipped with a Network CF Card in a
BSS can talk to any computer in a wired LAN infrastructure via the Access
Point also allows you to synchronize the PDA through wireless connection.
An infrastructure configuration extends the accessibility of a Network CF Card
PDA to a wired LAN, and doubles the effective wireless transmission range for
two Network CF Card PDAs. Since the Access Point is able to forward data
within its BSS, the effective transmission range in an infrastructure LAN is
doubled.
The use of a unique ID in a Basic Service Set is essential.
The Wireless LAN Infrastructure configuration is appropriate for enterprise-
scale wireless access to a central database, or as a wireless application for
mobile users.

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 Network CF
Card PDAs within one Extended Service Set must be configured with the same
SSID.
Selecting a feasible radio channel and optimum Access Point position is rec-
ommended. Proper Access Point positioning combined with a clear radio sig-
nal will greatly enhance performance.
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