Network Router User's Manual

CONNECT2AIR™ WLAN AP-600RP-USB Page 9 / 62
In this configuration, network packets are sent and received directly by the intended
transmitting and receiving stations. As long as the stations are within range of one another,
this is the easiest and least expensive way to set up a wireless network.
3.2.2 Infrastructure Mode
With a wireless AccessPoint, you can switch
the wireless LAN into infrastructure mode. It
provides wireless connectivity to multiple wire-
less network devices within a fixed range or
area of coverage, interacting with a wireless
node via an antenna.
In infrastructure mode, the wireless Access-
Point converts airwave data into wired
Ethernet data, acting as a bridge between the
wired LAN and wireless clients. Connecting
multiple AccessPoints via a wired Ethernet backbone can further extend the wireless net-
work coverage. As a mobile computing device moves out of the range of one AccessPoint,
it moves into the range of another. As a result, wireless clients can freely roam from one
AccessPoint domain to another and still maintain seamless network connectivity.
3.3 Service Set Identification (SSID)
The Service Set Identification (SSID) is a max. 32 position alphanumeric character string
that identifies the wireless local area network. Some vendors refer to the SSID as the net-
work name. For stations to communicate with each other, all stations must be configured
with the same SSID.
A wireless LAN consisting of nodes operating in an ad-hoc configuration without an Ac-
cessPoint is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). All nodes in a BSS must use the same Ba-
sic Service Set ID (BSSID).
In an infrastructure configuration with AccessPoints, multiple BSS can be configured to
form an Extended Service Set (ESS). In this configuration, the AccessPoints are config-
ured with the same Extended Service Set ID (ESSID). Wireless clients configured with the
same ESSID can freely roam from one AccessPoint domain to another and still maintain
seamless connectivity with the network