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Why
Wireless?
Users can access shared information without looking for a conventional
Wire to plug in, and we can set-up networks without installing or
moving wires. Industries of the health-care, retail, manufacturing,
warehousing, and academia have profited from the productivity gains
of using terminals and notebook computers to transmit real-time information
to centralized hosts for processing. Today wireless LANs are becoming
more widely recognized as a general-purpose connectivity alternative
for a broad range of business customers.
The power and flexibility of Wireless LANs:
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Mobility supports productivity and services not possible
with wired networks. |
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Simplicity of installation can eliminate the need to pull
cable through walls and ceilings.
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Flexible installation allows the network to go where wire
cannot go.
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Less cost while the initial wireless LAN hardware can be
higher than the cost of conventinal network, cost savings are due
to the overall speed of installation and long-term reduction in maintenance
cost.
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Configurations are easily changed and range from a small
number of computers to full network enviroments.
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More productive because hand-held or notebook computers with
wireless LAN capability can deliver information instantly.
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Security provisions are built into wireless LANs using encryption
technologies.
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How Wireless
LANs Work
Wireless LANs communicate information from one point to another without
relying on any physical connection. Radio waves are often referred
to as radio carriers because they simply perform the function of delivering
energy to a remote receiver. In a typical wireless LAN configuration,
a transmitter/receiver (transceiver) device, called an access point,
connects to the wired network from a fixed location using standard
cabling. A single access point can support a small group of users
and can function within a range of up to several hundred feet. End
users access the wireless LAN through wireless-LAN card, which are
implemented as PC cards in notebook or computers.
Wireless LAN Configurations
Wireless LANs can be simple or complex. At its most basic, two PCs
equipped with wireless adapter cards can set up an independent network
whenever they are within range of one another. Installing an access
point can extend the range of an Adhoc network, effectively doubling
the range at which the devices can communicate. Since the access point
can be connected to a wired network each client would have access
to server resources as well as to other clients. Each access point
can accommodate many clients; the specific number depends on the number
and nature of the transmissions involved. Many real-world applications
exist where a single access point services from 15-50 client devices.
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