Wireless Lan Topology - Black Box LW0050A Manual

APPENDIX C: Wireless LAN Concepts
C.1.2 W LAN T
IRELESS OPOLOGY
Wireless LANs allow workstations to communicate and to access the network using
radio propagation as the transmission medium. Wireless LANs can be connected to
existing wired LANs as an extension, or can form the basis of a new network. While
adaptable to both indoor and outdoor environments, wireless LANs are especially
suited to indoor locations such as office buildings, manufacturing floors, hospitals,
and universities.
The basic building block of the wireless LAN is the cell. This is the area in which
wireless communication takes place. The coverage area of a cell depends on the
strength of the propagated radio signal and the type and construction of walls,
partitions, and other physical characteristics of the indoor environment. PC-based
workstations and notebook or pen-based computers can move freely in the cell.
10BASE-T
Hub
LW0050A
LW0051A
LW0051A
LW0054A
LW0051A
LW0051A
LW0054A
Figure C-2. The Basic Wireless LAN Cell.
113