Linksys WPC54GR Network Card User Manual


 
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Appendix A: Troubleshooting
Frequently Asked Questions
Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with RangeBooster
the right frequency, a spread-spectrum signal looks like background noise. There are two main alternatives,
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).
What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences?
Frequency-Hopping Spread-Spectrum (FHSS) uses a narrowband carrier that changes frequency in a pattern that
is known to both transmitter and receiver. Properly synchronized, the net effect is to maintain a single logical
channel. To an unintended receiver, FHSS appears to be short-duration impulse noise. Direct-Sequence Spread-
Spectrum (DSSS) generates a redundant bit pattern for each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip
(or chipping code). The longer the chip, the greater the probability that the original data can be recovered. Even if
one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmission, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can
recover the original data without the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appears as low
power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowband receivers.
What is WEP?
WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a shared key algorithm, as described in the
802.11 standard.
What is WPA?
WPA is Wi-Fi Protected Access, a wireless security protocol that can be used in conjunction with a RADIUS server.
What is RADIUS?
RADIUS is Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service, which uses an authentication server to control network
access.