7.11 Technical Reference
This section discusses wireless LANs in depth. For more information, see
7.11.1 Wireless Network Overview
Wireless networks consist of wireless clients, access points and bridges.
• A wireless client is a radio connected to a user's computer.
• An access point is a radio with a wired connection to a network, which can connect with numerous
wireless clients and let them access the network.
• A bridge is a radio that relays communications between access points and wireless clients, extending
a network's range.
Traditionally, a wireless network operates in one of two ways.
• An "infrastructure" type of network has one or more access points and one or more wireless clients.
The wireless clients connect to the access points.
• An "ad-hoc" type of network is one in which there is no access point. Wireless clients connect to one
another in order to exchange information.
The following figure provides an example of a wireless network.
Figure 100 Example of a Wireless Network
The wireless network is the part in the blue circle. In this wireless network, devices A and B use the access
point (AP) to interact with the other devices (such as the printer) or with the Internet. Your Zyxel Device is
the AP.
Chapter 7 Wireless
DSL
VMG/XMG Series User's Guide
165
Appendix B on page
385.