Wireless LAN FAQ

The Basics

Q: What is a WLAN?
A: WLAN stands for "Wireless Local Area Network," a type of Local Area Network (LAN) that uses high-frequency radio waves rather than wires to transmit data between nodes. This data communication system can be installed as an extension to, or as an alternative for, a wired LAN within a building or campus.

Q: Is WLAN technology only useful for laptops and notebook computers?
A: No. While WLAN systems are ideal for networking mobile computers, they are equally useful for connecting desktop computers and a variety of emerging mobile platforms. WLAN solutions help avoid cabling costs, expand mobility and increase connection flexibility.

Q: How many users can a WLAN system support?
A: This number can be expanded virtually without limit by adding overlapping network Access Points. If these devices are set at different frequencies (channels), the network can also accommodate more simultaneous users; up to three overlapping channels can be used concurrently, tripling the supported network population. Access Points placed in strategic locations can allow seamless roaming throughout the building or across the campus.

Q: Is it hard is it to install and maintain a WLAN?
A: No. Wireless LANs are easier to install than wired LANs thanks to the lack of cabling, and the administration is very similar. Client-side WLAN solutions often offer the ease of Plug-and-Play to connect to the network or other computers.

Q: What is the transmission range of WLAN products?
A: Interaction with structures, metal, and even people can affect any system. Wireless LAN systems use radio frequency (RF) because radio waves can penetrate many surfaces. Coverage radius for most WLAN systems ranges up to 500 feet (164 meters) depending on obstacles -- installing multiple Access Points can extend coverage and thus provide more mobility over a greater area.

Q: How secure are WLANs?
A: Yes. Thanks to a military application origin, wireless technology was been designed with security provisions from the ground up, making many WLANs more secure than most wired LANs. The DSSS technology used in WLANs is extremely resistant to interference, jamming, corruption, and detection. In addition, each user can be issued a personal ID to prevent unauthorized access. Particularly sensitive data can be protected by activating Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), which further encrypts the signal and verifies data with an electronic security key. On top of that, 802.11b WLANs may use 40-bit and 128-bit encryption plus user authentication.

Q: What is an Access Point?
A: An Access Point is a piece of hardware or software that serves as a communications hub for wireless clients, allowing data transfer between wireless clients and the wired network. Each Access Point increases system capacity and range; mobile users can roam between Access Point installations without losing connection.

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Presenting The WLAN To Your Customers

Q: Why should I recommend that my customers use a WLAN instead of a wired network connection?
A: A WLAN offers multiple benefits you can emphasize, including:

• Fast, Simple Network Set-Up -- No cables means less work to install and upkeep.
• Installation Flexibility -- WLANs can be installed in places where wires can't go; they are also suitable for temporary set-up and are easy to relocate.
• Reduced Cost Of Ownership -- Installation costs less because no cabling is necessary. These savings are even greater in frequently-changing environments.
• Scalability -- Network expansion and reconfiguration is basic; add new users to the network simply by installing a wireless LAN adapter into the client device.
• Increased Productivity -- WLAN provides "untethered" campus-wide network and Internet access, with freedom to roam while connected.
• Interoperability -- Most wireless solutions are compatible with products from other companies.

Q: Do my customers need Access Points?
A: Access Points are not required for peer-to-peer connections but are essential for today's network access. If your clients need to connect notebook or desktop computers to a wired network, they will require an Access Point. A valuable addition to any wireless network, (with or without a wired counterpart), an Access Point can:

• Provide Internet sharing, serving as the network's central connection to the outside world
• Act as a data traffic controller, letting wireless clients run at maximum speed
• Nearly double wireless LAN range over the range of a peer-to-peer (ad-hoc) network

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More Technical Questions

Q: Why do WLANs operate in the 2.4 GHz frequency range?
A: 2.4 GHz -- the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band -- was specifically set aside for those uses by the FCC; a few years back several corporations were granted permission to develop wireless networks within this frequency range. Today's protocol allows for unlicensed use of radios in this range within a prescribed low-power level.

Q: What is the data throughput speed of an 802.11b WLAN network connection?
A: 802.11b WLANs operate up to speeds of 11 Mbps -- comparable to that offered by a wired network. WLAN throughput speed depends on load, topology, Access Point proximity, etc., and there is typically no real difference in performance between a WLAN and a wired connection.

Q: Will Bluetooth and WLAN interfere with each other?
A: No. Since Bluetooth devices operate via "frequency-hopping" and most WLANs use direct sequence spreading techniques, each system registers as mere background noise to the other and thus should not cause any perceivable performance issues.

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Common Terms

Q: What does "DSSS" stand for?
A: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum.

Q: What does "IEEE" stand for?
A: The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.

Q: What is IEEE 802.11b?
A: IEEE 802.11b is a technical specification issued by IEEE that defines the operation of 2.4 GHz 11 Mbps DSSS WLANs. The 802.11b standard ensures that all wireless Ethernet networking products are compatible.

Q: What does "RF" stand for?
A: Radio Frequency.

Q: What is WECA?
A: The Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) is a non-profit organization formed in 1999 in Santa Clara, Calif. WECA's mission is to certify interoperability of WLAN products and to promote Wi-Fi as the universal standard for WLAN deployments.

Q: What is Wi-Fi?
A: Wi-Fi, which stands for "wireless fidelity," is the trademarked name that WECA uses to signify WLAN product interoperability. WLAN products that meet WECA's rigorous interoperability standard are awarded the Wi-Fi logo.

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