NETGEAR ME103 User Manual page 5

Wireless Access Point User Guide
Ad-hoc Mode
Ad-hoc mode does not require an Access Point or a wired (Ethernet) LAN. Wireless
Stations (e.g. notebook PCs with wireless cards) communicate directly with each other.
Infrastructure Mode
In Infrastructure Mode, one or more Access Points are used to connect Wireless Stations
(e.g. Notebook PCs with wireless cards) to a wired (Ethernet) LAN. The Wireless Stations
can then access all LAN resources.
Access Points can only function in "Infrastructure" mode,
and can communicate only with Wireless Stations which are
set to "Infrastructure" mode.
SSID/ESSID
BSS/SSID
A group of Wireless Stations and a single Access Point, all using the same ID (SSID),
form a Basic Service Set (BSS).
Using the same SSID is essential. Devices with different SSIDs are unable to
communicate with each other. However, some Access Points allow connections from
Wireless Stations which have their SSID set to "any" or whose SSID is blank ( null ).
ESS/ESSID
A group of Wireless Stations, and multiple Access Points, all using the same ID (ESSID),
form an Extended Service Set (ESS).
Different Access Points within an ESS can use different Channels. To reduce interference,
it is recommended that adjacent Access Points SHOULD use different channels.
As Wireless Stations are physically moved through the area covered by an ESS, they will
automatically change to the Access Point which has the least interference or best
performance. This capability is called Roaming. (Access Points do not have or require
Roaming capabilities.)
Channels
The Wireless Channel sets the radio frequency used for communication.
•
Access Points use a fixed Channel. You can select the Channel used. This allows you to
choose a Channel which provides the least interference and best performance. In the USA
and Canada, 11 channels are available.
•
If using multiple Access Points, it is better if adjacent Access Points use different
Channels to reduce interference. The recommended Channel spacing between adjacent
Access Points is 5 Channels (e.g. use Channels 1 and 6, or 6 and 11).
•
In "Infrastructure" mode, Wireless Stations normally scan all Channels, looking for an
Access Point. If more than one Access Point can be used, the one with the strongest signal
is used. (This can only happen within an ESS.)
•
If using "Ad-hoc" mode (no Access Point), all Wireless stations should be set to use the
same Channel. However, most Wireless stations will still scan all Channels to see if there
is an existing "Ad-hoc" group they can join.
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