User's Manual

Back to Contents Page
Wireless LAN Overview: Intel(R)
PRO/Wireless 2200BG User's Guide
About Wireless LAN Technology
● Choosing a WLAN
● Configuring a WLAN
● Identifying a WLAN
● Surveying the Site of Your WLAN
● Factors Affecting Range
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 wireless adapter to connect to
other similar wireless devices that comply with the 802.11 standard for wireless
networking.
Choosing a Wireless LAN
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.