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Wireless Networking Using 802.11b
Infrastructure Mode
The use of a Wireless Access Point(WAP) to connect a wireless LAN to a
wired LAN is called the Infrastructure Mode. A WAP serves as a bridge
between the wired and wireless network. Connecting the Access Point to
any port on the wired network will give wireless access to all wireless-
equipped computers within its coverage area. An access point is
configured with a Service Set Identifier, a “name” given to the wireless
network and used by the wireless-equipped computers to access the
wireless network. Access points can also be configured to use encryption
or they can grant access to computers with specific MAC addresses. They
effectively double the distance that computers in the wireless LAN can be
located from one another. This is because the unit serves as a central
point for routing of all the wireless network traffic between the wireless-
equipped computers. Wireless-equipped computers networked together in
Infrastructure Mode form a group called a Basic Service Set (BSS). Up to
64 individual computers can exist at a single time in a BSS. This is due to
the ability of the WAP to handle no more than 64 clients. The diagram
below illustrates how the WAP works to increase the covered area range
of your wireless network.
Notebook with Wireless
Notebook Network Card
Notebook Wireless
Notebook Network Card
PC with Wireless Desktop PCI
Network Adapter