Belkin F5D6130 User Manual - Page 25

Wireless Networking Using 802.11b Infrastructure Mode The use of a WAP to connect a wireless LAN to a wired LAN is called Infrastructure. A WAP serves as a bridge between the wired and wireless network. Connecting the WAP to any port on the wired network will give wireless access to all wireless-equipped computers within its coverage area. A WAP is configured with a Service Set Identifier. This is a "name" that is given to the wireless network and is used by the wireless-equipped computers to access the wireless network. WAPs can also be configured to use encryption or grant access to computers with specific MAC addresses. A WAP also effectively doubles the distance that computers in the wireless LAN can be located from one another. This is because the WAP serves as a central point for routing of all the wireless network traffic between the wireless 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 will effectively double the distance between wireless-equipped computers in a BSS. Notebook Wireless Notebook Network Card Notebook with Wireless Notebook Network Card WAP Basic Service Set (BSS) PC with Wireless Desktop PCI Network Adapter 23