6
Wireless Basics
D-Link AirPremier
TM
AG 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
AirPremier
TM
AG 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 to 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.
People use wireless LAN technology for many different purposes:
Mobility - Productivity increases when people have access to data in any location within
the operating range of the WLAN. Management decisions based on real-time information
can significantly improve worker efficiency.
Low Implementation Costs - WLANs are easy to set up, manage, change and relocate.
Networks that frequently change can benefit from WLANs ease of implementation.
WLANs can operate in locations where installation of wiring may be impractical.
Installation and Network Expansion - Installing a WLAN system can be fast and easy and
can eliminate the need to pull cable through walls and ceilings. Wireless technology
allows the network to go where wires cannot go - even outside the home or office.
Inexpensive Solution - Wireless network devices are as competitively priced as
conventional Ethernet network devices.
Scalability - WLANs can be configured in a variety of ways to meet the needs of specific
applications and installations. Configurations are easily changed and range from Peer-to-Peer
networks suitable for a small number of users to larger infrastructure networks to accommodate
hundreds or thousands of users, depending on the number of wireless devices deployed.