Netgear Double 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card WG511U User Manual download pdf (Page 54)

User’s Manual for the NETGEAR Double 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card 32-bit CardBus WG511U

B-2 Wireless Networking Basics

August 2004

Ad Hoc Mode (Peer-to-Peer Workgroup)

In an ad hoc network, computers are brought together as needed; thus, there is no structure or fixed

points to the network - each node can generally communicate with any other node. There is no

access point involved in this configuration. This mode enables you to quickly set up a small

wireless workgroup and allows workgroup members to exchange data or share printers as

supported by Microsoft networking in the various Windows operating systems. Some vendors also

refer to ad hoc networking as peer-to-peer group networking.

In this configuration, network packets are directly sent and received by the intended transmitting

and receiving stations. As long as the stations are within range of one another, this is the easiest

and least expensive way to set up a wireless network.

Network Name: Extended Service Set Identification (ESSID)

The Extended Service Set Identification (ESSID) is one of two types of Service Set Identification

(SSID). In an ad hoc wireless network with no access points, the Basic Service Set Identification

(BSSID) is used. In an infrastructure wireless network that includes an access point, the ESSID is

used, but may still be referred to as SSID.

An SSID is a thirty-two character (maximum) alphanumeric key identifying the name of the

wireless local area network. Some vendors refer to the SSID as network name. For the wireless

devices in a network to communicate with each other, all devices must be configured with the

same SSID.

Wireless Channels

IEEE 802.11g/b wireless nodes communicate with each other using radio frequency signals in the

ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) band between 2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz. Neighboring

channels are 5 MHz apart. However, due to spread spectrum effect of the signals, a node sending

signals using a particular channel will utilize frequency spectrum 12.5 MHz above and below the

center channel frequency. As a result, two separate wireless networks using neighboring channels

(for example, channel 1 and channel 2) in the same general vicinity will interfere with each other.

Applying two channels that allow the maximum channel separation will decrease the amount of

channel cross-talk, and provide a noticeable performance increase over networks with minimal

channel separation.

The wireless frequencies used by 802.11a and 802.11b/g networks are different. These channel

frequency options are discussed below.

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Netgear Double 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card WG511U User Manual Page 54