Introduction; About The Me103 802.11B Prosafe Wireless Access Point - NETGEAR ME103 - 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point User Manual

Chapter 1

Introduction

This chapter introduces the NETGEAR ME103 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point. Minimal
prerequisites for installation are presented in "System Requirements" on page 1-4.

About the ME103 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point

The ME103 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point is the basic building block of a wireless LAN
infrastructure. It provides connectivity between Ethernet wired networks and radio-equipped
wireless notebook systems, desktop systems, print servers, and other devices.
The ME103 provides wireless connectivity to multiple wireless network devices within a fixed
range or area of coverage, interacting with a wireless network interface card (NIC) via an antenna.
Typically, an individual in-building access point provides a maximum connectivity area with about
a 300 foot radius. The ME103 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point can support a small group
of users in a range of several hundred feet. Most access points are rated between 30-70 users
simultaneously.
The ME103 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point acts as a bridge between the wired LAN and
wireless clients. Connecting multiple ME103 Access Point via a wired Ethernet backbone can
further lengthen the wireless network coverage. As a mobile computing device moves out of the
range of one access point, it moves into the range of another. As a result, wireless clients can freely
roam from one Access Point to another and still maintain seamless connection to the network.
The auto-sensing capability of the ME103 802.11b ProSafe Wireless Access Point allows packet
transmission at up to 11Mbps, or at reduced speeds to compensate for distance or electromagnetic
noise interference.
Introduction 1-1