About Awe Units; Some System Applications; Making A Simple Wireless Bridge - Wi-LAN AWE120-58 Ultima3 Series User Manual

multi-code DSSS (MC-DSSS), multiple codes and spread patterns are employed. A spread spectrum receiver
reconstructs the signal and interprets the data.
Some advantages of DSSS are as follows:
• Resistant to interference: DSSS overcomes medium levels of interference and multipath problems.
• Security: There must be a decoder at the receiving end to recover data (an AWE can only talk to
another AWE). Data is transmitted at irregular time intervals.
• Low probability of detection: Due to a low amplitude signal and wide bandwidth.
• No license fee: A license fee is not required if used in the specified radio bands and the transmitter
power is limited.

About AWE Units

AWE 120-58 units can function as base stations, remote units or repeater bases.
Base Station: One unit in your wireless network must be a base station. A base station acts as the central
control unit of the wireless network. The base station polls all remote units and controls how traffic is routed
to and from remotes. The base usually connects to a major access point of the wired network. The antenna of
the base station must be capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals to and from all the remote units in
a system. If remotes are spread over a large area, an omni-directional antenna is usually required. See
Configuring a Base Station
Remote Units: Remote units receive and transmit wireless data to the base station. You need at least one
remote unit for each wireless link. Remotes can limit the amount of data passed by the remote (a function
called throttling), and they can filter data packets based on their IP address. If remote units communicate only
with the base station, their antennas can be more directional and have higher gains than base antennas. See
Configuring a Remote Unit, page 20 for information about setting up a remote unit.
Repeater Base: A base station can be configured as a repeater base. A repeater is needed when remote
units cannot communicate directly with each other, but direct transfers of data between them are necessary
(as in a true WAN). When configured as a repeater, the base station passes data packets between remote
stations based on the remote group status and a list of MAC (Media Access Control) addresses that the base
station automatically builds. A single repeater uses a method called "store and forward" to receive data from
the originating remote and to pass data to the destination remote. See
Station Only), page 105 for more information. Two units can also be employed as a dual unit repeater (back-to-
back) configuration that maximizes data throughput.

Some System Applications

You can build a wireless network from AWE units and various other components such as cables and antennas.
The following section shows some simple examples of AWE applications.

Making a Simple Wireless Bridge

The simplest example of using a AWE 120-58 is a point-to-point wireless bridge that connects two wired
network segments or LANs. Two AWE units are required: a base station and a remote unit.
JUN 2002 Rev 02
, page 17 for information about setting up a base station.
Some System Applications
Setting a Base to Repeater Mode (Base
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