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A wireless network connects computers without using network
cables. Computers use radio communications to send data between each other.
You can communicate directly with other wireless computers, or connect to an
existing network through a wireless access point. When you set up your wireless
adapter, you select the operating mode for the kind of wireless network you
want. You can use your IntelŪ PRO/Wireless LAN Network Connections adapter
to connect to other similar wireless devices that comply with the 802.11b standard
for wireless networking.
Wireless LANs can operate with or without access points, depending on the number of users in the
network. Infrastructure mode uses access points to allow wireless computers to send and receive information.
Wireless computers transmit to the access point, the access point receives the information and rebroadcasts
it to other computers. The access point can also connect to a wired network or to the Internet.
Multiple access points can work together to provide coverage over a wide area.
Wireless LAN Overview:
PRO/Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter User's Guide
About Wireless LAN Technology
Choosing a Wireless LAN Mode
Peer-to-Peer mode, also called Ad Hoc mode, works without access points and allows wireless computers to send information directly to other wireless computers. You can use Peer-to-Peer mode to network computers in a home or small office or to set up a temporary wireless network for a meeting.
There are three basic components that must be configured
for an 802.11b wireless LAN to operate properly:
Depending on the size and components of a wireless LAN, there are many ways to identify a wireless LAN:
Conducting a site survey for your wireless LAN is
the most crucial step in the process of setting up a wireless network. It greatly
reduces the amount of troubleshooting you will have to do once you have the
wireless LAN set up and ready for connection testing. To conduct a site survey,
you will need the following tools:
Once you have the tools you need, you are ready to survey the
inside of the building. Launch the site survey software on the mobile
receiver laptop and carry it around in the intended wireless LAN area
to test the signal strength. Be sure to also check the signal strength
of each intended access point location. If you encounter problems
while surveying the site, make sure your transmitter laptop is not
located on a wall containing metal, such as an air-conditioning duct,
which will interfere with the range of your signal. Simply move the
transmitter and test the signal strength again. For users to have
seamless coverage when moving from access point to access point, the
signal levels at each point must overlap. There is software available
that will seamlessly hand off changing signal levels from one access
point to another.
Your building's infrastructure can sometimes interfere
with the microwave signal, but finding the location and cause of the interference
will allow you to figure out the best place to mount your access points for
optimal area coverage. Microwave signals travel in all directions, which means
there is one access point for a multi-floor building. However, the range is
highly dependent on the material used to construct the flooring, especially
metal materials. Once your signal strength is strong inside the building, you
are ready to check the strength outside the building. To do so, simply carry
the mobile receiver laptop as far down the street or around the building as
you can go without losing significant signal strength.
If possible, you should be aware of the types of networks being
used by the companies on the floors above and below you, so that you
can work together in harmony. With wireless networks, security is very
important and if you communicate with those around you, you are better
prepared to select the right channels, as well as the best location
for access points.
Although access points can transmit signals up to 60 feet away in an area with
many walled barriers or as much as 500 feet away in a large open area, the
range is affected by the following factors:
Taking these factors into consideration when you survey the site for your WLAN
is key to providing all of your users with undisturbed mobile connectivity.
Using multiple access points will, of course, reduce the impact of these factors
if your area has dividing walls throughout. A site survey is an in-depth examination and analysis of a proposed wireless LAN
site. The purpose of a site survey is to determine the number of access points
needed, the types of antennas needed, and the best placement for those access points and antennas.
Although the goal of a site survey is simple, the means of arriving at that
goal are not. Some of the steps involve taking measurements, but most
involve experience, trial and error, and a little guesswork rather than
numbers and figures.
Intel® recommends that you perform a site survey prior to installing a
wireless LAN. Site surveys are especially important when:
An effective site survey requires four elements. Failure to commit the appropriate
time, money, and energy to accomplish a proper site survey in advance may result
in greater expenditures of money and time later, when problems arise that require
repeated adjustments to the wireless configuration. The three elements of an
effective site survey are:
Identifying a Wireless Network
Surveying the Site of Your Wireless LAN
Factors Affecting Range
What is a Site Survey?
When to Perform a Site Survey
Elements of an Effective Site Survey
How many clients need a wireless LAN connection? What areas of the site require
wireless LAN connectivity? How many hours each day is wireless LAN connectivity
required? Which locations are likely to generate the largest amount of data
traffic? Where is future network expansion most likely?
A site blueprint provides a map of the site as well as the location of objects,
such as walls, partitions, and anything else that could affect the performance
of a wireless LAN. Examining the site blueprint prior to conducting the physical
walk-through helps you identify areas in which wireless equipment is likely
to perform well and areas where it is not. Many obstructions are not readily
visible and, in some cases, a room originally built for a specific purpose,
such as a radiology lab, might have been converted into something completely
different, such as a conference room. The blueprint may also show areas proposed
for future building expansion. To prepare for the next step of the site survey,
mark possible wireless device locations on the blueprint and refer to the
marked blueprint during the physical walk-through and inventory.
The primary purpose of the physical walk-through is to document any items
or materials near a proposed device location that may interfere with reception
or transmission and affect network performance. Document stock and inventory
levels, current environmental conditions and any materials that may interfere
with the wireless LAN.
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