Chapter 1: Introduction; Welcome - Linksys WAP54GPE - Wireless-G Exterior Access Point User Manual

Wireless-G Exterior Access Point

Chapter 1: Introduction

Welcome

Thank you for choosing the Wireless-G Exterior Access Point. This Access Point will allow you to network
wirelessly better than ever.
How does the Access Point do all of this? An access point allows for greater range and mobility within your
wireless network while also allowing you to connect the wireless network to a wired environment. In fact,
the Wireless-G Exterior Access Point can support communications on up to eight wireless networks, using
Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) technology.
The Wireless-G Exterior Access Point also offers the convenience of Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability,
so it can receive data and power over a single Ethernet network cable. And with the advantage of its weather-
resistant housing, you can mount the Access Point outside to extend your wireless networking range and
mobility to the outdoors. You can even connect wired networks in two different buildings, by using two
Access Points set to Wireless Bridge mode.
But what does all of this mean?
Networks are useful tools for sharing computer resources. You can access one printer from different
computers and access data located on another computer's hard drive. Networks are even used for playing
multiplayer video games. So, networks are not only useful in homes and offices, they can also be fun.
PCs on a wired network create a LAN, or Local Area Network. They are connected with Ethernet cables,
which is why the network is called "wired".
PCs equipped with wireless client cards or adapters can communicate without cumbersome cables. By
sharing the same wireless settings, within their transmission radius, they form a wireless network. This is
sometimes called a WLAN, or Wireless Local Area Network. The Access Point bridges wireless networks of
both 802.11g and 802.11b standards and wired networks.
Use the instructions in this Guide to help you connect the Access Point, set it up, and configure it to bridge
your different networks. These instructions should be all you need to get the most out of the Access Point.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Welcome
access point: a device that allows wireless-equipped
computers and other devices to communicate with each
other and with devices on a wired network. Also used to
expand the range of a wireless network.
network: a series of computers or devices connected
together.
lan (local area network): the computers and networking
devices that make up your local network.
poe (power over ethernet): a technology enabling an
Ethernet network cable to deliver both data and power.
ethernet: network protocol defined in IEEE 802.3
standard that specifies how data is placed on and
retrieved from a common transmission medium.
adapter: a device that adds network functionality to your
PC.
802.11g: a wireless networking standard that specifies a
maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an operating
frequency of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with
802.11b devices.
802.11b: a wireless networking standard that specifies a
maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an operating
frequency of 2.4GHz.
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