Wireless Basics - D-Link DWL-G700AP Manual

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 computer network that transmits and
receives data with radio signals instead of wires. WLANs are used increasingly in both
home and office 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 efficiently. Increased mobility and the absence of cabling and
other fixed infrastructure have proven to be beneficial 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 significantly improve worker efficiency.
Low Implementation
and relocate. Networks that frequently change can benefit from WLANs ease of
implementation. WLANs can operate in locations where installation of wiring may be
impractical.
Installation a nd N etwork E
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 office.
Scalability –
WLANs can be configured in a variety of ways to meet the needs of
specific applications and installations. Configurations are easily changed and range
from p eer-­to-­peer n etworks s uitable f or a s mall n umber o f u sers t o l arger i nfrastructure
networks t o a ccommodate h undreds o r t housands o f u sers, d epending o n t he n umber
of wireless devices deployed.
Inexpensive Solution -­
conventional Ethernet network devices.
Costs –
WLANs are easy to set up, manage, change
xpansion -­
Wireless network devices are as competitively priced as
6
I nstalling a W LAN s ystem c an b e f ast a nd