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Appendix A - Wireless Basics
D-Link wireless products are based on industry standards to provide easy-to-use and compatible high-speed wireless
connectivity within your home, business, or public access wireless networks. Strictly adhering to the IEEE standard, the D-Link
wireless family of products will allow you to securely access the data you want, when, and where you want it. You will be able
to enjoy the freedom that wireless networking delivers.
A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a cellular computer network that transmits and receives data with radio signals instead
of wires. Wireless LANs are used increasingly in both home and office environments, and public areas such as airports, coffee
shops and universities. Innovative ways to utilize WLAN technology are helping people work, and communicate more efficiently.
Increased mobility and the absence of cabling and other fixed infrastructure have proven to be beneficial for many users.
Wireless users can use the same applications they use on a wired network.
Wireless adapter cards used on laptop and desktop
systems support the same protocols as Ethernet adapter cards.
Under many circumstances, it may be desirable for mobile network devices to link to a conventional Ethernet LAN in order to
use servers, printers or an Internet connection supplied through the wired LAN.
A Wireless Router is a device used to provide
this link.
Wireless Basics
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What is Wireless?
Wireless or Wi-Fi technology is another way of connecting your computer to the network without using wires. Wi-Fi uses radio
frequency to connect wirelessly so you have the freedom to connect computers anywhere in your home or office network.
Why D-Link Wireless
?
D-Link is the worldwide leader and award winning designer, developer, and manufacturer of networking products. D-Link
delivers the performance you need at a price you can afford. D-Link has all the products you need to build your network.
How does wireless work?
Wireless works similarly to how cordless phones work, through radio signals that transmit data from one point A to point B.
But wireless technology has restrictions as to how you can access the network. You must be within the wireless network range
area to be able to connect your computer. There are two different types of wireless networksl: Wireless Local Area Network
(WLAN), and Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN).
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
In a wireless local area network, a device called an Access Point (AP) connects computers to the network. The access point
has a small antenna attached to it, which allows it to transmit data back and forth over radio signals. With an indoor access
point the signal can travel up to 300 feet. With an outdoor access point the signal can reach out up to 30 miles to serve places
like manufacturing plants, industrial locations, university and high school campuses, airports, golf courses, and many other
outdoor venues.
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Appendix A - Wireless Basics
Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN)
Bluetooth is the industry standard wireless technology used for WPAN. Bluetooth devices in WPAN operate in a range up to
30 feet away.
Compared to WLAN the speed and wireless operation range are both less than WLAN, but in return it doesn’t use nearly as
much power. This makes it ideal for personal devices, such as mobile phones, PDAs, headphones, laptops, speakers, and other
devices that operate on batteries.
Who uses wireless?
Wireless technology as become so popular in recent years that almost everyone is using it, whether it’s for home, office, business,
D-Link has a wireless solution for it.
Home Uses/Benefits
• Gives everyone at home broadband access
• Surf the web, check email, instant message, etc.
• Gets rid of the cables around the house
• Simple and easy to use
Small Office and Home Office Uses/Benefits
• Stay on top of everything at home as you would at office
• Remotely access your office network from home
• Share Internet connection and printer with multiple computers
• No need to dedicate office space
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Appendix A - Wireless Basics
Where is wireless used?
Wireless technology is expanding everywhere, not just at home or office. People like the freedom of mobility and it’s becoming
so popular that more and more public facilities now provide wireless access to attract people. The wireless connection in public
places is usually called “hotspots”.
Using a D-Link Cardbus Adapter with your laptop, you can access the hotspot to connect to the Internet from remote locations
like: Airports, Hotels, Coffee Shops, Libraries, Restaurants, and Convention Centers.
Wireless network is easy to setup, but if you’re installing it for the first time it could be quite a task not knowing where to start.
That’s why we’ve put together a few setup steps and tips to help you through the process of setting up a wireless network.
Tips
Here are a few things to keep in mind, when you install a wireless network.
Centralize your router or Access Point
Make sure you place the router/access point in a centralized location within your network for the best performance. Try to
place the router/access point as high as possible in the room, so the signal gets dispersed throughout your home. If you have
a two-story home, you may need a repeater to boost the signal to extend the range.
Eliminate Interference
Place home appliances such as cordless telephones, microwaves, and televisions as far away as possible from the router/access
point. This would significantly reduce any interference that the appliances might cause since they operate on same frequency.
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Appendix A - Wireless Basics
Security
Don’t let your next-door neighbors or intruders connect to your wireless network. Secure your wireless network by turning on
the WPA or WEP security feature on the router. Refer to the product manual for detail information on how to set it up.
There are basically two modes of networking:
Infrastructure
– All wireless clients will connect to an access point or wireless router.
Ad-Hoc
– Directly connecting to another computer for peer-to-peer communication using wireless network
adapters on each computer, such as two or more DIR-880L wireless network Cardbus adapters.
An Infrastructure network contains an Access Point or wireless router. All the wireless devices, or clients, will connect to the
wireless router or access point.
An Ad-Hoc network contains only clients, such as laptops with wireless cardbus adapters. All the adapters must be in Ad-Hoc
mode to communicate.
Wireless Modes

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