HP 1320 HP LaserJet 1320nw - User Guide - Page 10

Infrastructure mode In infrastructure mode, the printer communicates with network computers through a wireless access point (WAP) or a base station. The access point acts as a central hub or gateway connecting wireless and, optionally, wired devices. (Most access points have an integrated Ethernet controller to connect to an existing wired-Ethernet network.) If your printer connects through a wireless residential gateway that provides access point functions, choose infrastructure mode. Ad-hoc mode In ad-hoc mode, which is sometimes called peer-to-peer mode, the printer communicates with your computer directly, rather than through an access point or base station. Each device on an ad-hoc network must have a wireless network adapter. The adapter enables each device to communicate with the other devices on the network. Ad-hoc mode is usually limited to simple, small wireless networks because performance degrades significantly after connecting too many network devices. This option is most often used if you are connecting only two network devices that are not sharing an Internet connection. Note For maximum performance, HP recommends connecting the printer to a network that communicates using the infrastructure mode. 4 Chapter 1 Networking basics ENWW