Introduction; About The Netgear Wg102 Prosafe 802.11G Wireless Access Point - NETGEAR WG102 - ProSafe Wireless Access Point Reference Manual

Chapter 2

Introduction

This chapter introduces the NETGEAR WG102 ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Access Point. Minimal
prerequisites for installation are presented in "System Requirements" on page 2-4.
About the NETGEAR WG102 ProSafe 802.11g Wireless
Access Point
The NETGEAR WG102 ProSafe 802.11g 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 WG102 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 NETGEAR WG102 ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Access Point can support a
small group of users in a range of several hundred feet. Most access points are rated between 30-50
users simultaneously.
The NETGEAR WG102 ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Access Point acts as a bridge between the
wired LAN and wireless clients. Connecting multiple WG102 Access Points 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 NETGEAR WG102 ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Access Point
allows packet transmission at up to 108 Mbps, or at reduced speeds to compensate for distance or
electromagnetic interference.
Introduction 2-1
202-10064-02, February 2005