ZyXEL Communications P-334WT Support Notes page 44

c. Installation Flexibility:
Wireless technology allows the network to go where wire cannot go.
d. Reduced Cost-of-Ownership:
While the initial investment required for wireless LAN hardware can be higher than the cost of wired
LAN hardware, overall installation expenses and life-cycle costs can be significantly lower. Long-term
cost benefits are greatest in dynamic environments requiring frequent moves and changes.
e. Scalability:
Wireless LAN systems can be configured in a variety of topologies to meet the needs of specific
applications and installations. Configurations are easily changed and range from peer-to-peer networks
suitable for a small number of users to full infrastructure networks of thousands of users that enable
roaming over a broad area.
3. What are the disadvantages of Wireless LANs ?
The speed of Wireless LAN is still relative slower than wired LAN. The most popular wired LAN is
operated in 100Mbps, which is almost 10 times of that of Wireless LAN (10Mbps). A faster wired LAN
standard (1000Mbps), which is 100 times faster, becomes popular as well. The setup cost of Wireless
LAN is relative high because the equipment cost including access point and PCMCIA Wireless LAN
card is higher than hubs and CAT 5 cables.
4. Where can you find wireless 802.11 networks ?
Airports, hotels, and even coffee shops like Starbucks are deploying 802.11 networks so people can
wirelessly browse the Internet with their laptops. As these types of networks increase, this will create
additional security risk for the remote user if not properly protected.
5. What is an Access Point ?
The AP (access point also known as a base station) is the wireless server that with an antenna and a
wired Ethernet connection that broadcasts information using radio signals. AP typically act as a bridge
for the clients. It can pass information to wireless LAN cards that have been installed in computers or
laptops allowing those computers to connect to the campus network and the Internet without wires.
6. What is IEEE 802.11 ?
The IEEE 802.11 is a wireless LAN industry standard, and the objective of IEEE 802.11 is to make sure
that different manufactures' wireless LAN devices can communicate to each other.802.11 provides 1 or
2 Mbps transmission in the 2.4 GHz ISM band using either FHSS or DSSS.
7. What is 802.11b ?
802.11b is the first revision of 802.11 standard allowing data rates up to 11Mbps in the 2.4GHz ISM
band. Also known as 802.11 High-Rate and Wi-Fi. 802.11b only uses DSSS, the maximum speed of
11Mbps has fallbacks to 5.5, 2 and 1Mbps.