9
The higher spectrum provides about 50 meters (164 feet) of coverage—about
half what 802.11b offers.
Consider 802.11a when you need high throughput in a confined space and
you are:
■
Running high-bandwidth applications like voice, video, or multimedia over a
wireless network that can benefit from a fivefold increase in data throughput
■
Transferring large files like computer aided design files, preprint publishing
documents or graphics files, such as MRI scans for medical applications, that
demand additional bandwidth
■
Supporting a dense user base confined to a small coverage area. Because
802.11a has a greater number of non-overlapping channels, you can pack
more access points in a tighter space.
N
ETWORK
C
ONFIGURATION
AND
P
LANNING
The wireless solution supports a stand-alone wireless network configuration as
well as an integrated configuration with 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LANs.
The wireless network cards, adapters, and access point can be configured as:
■
Ad hoc for departmental or SOHO LAN
■
Infrastructure for wireless LAN
■
Infrastructure wireless LAN for roaming wireless PCs
A
D
H
OC
W
IRELESS
LAN
An ad hoc wireless LAN consists of a group of computers, each equipped with a
wireless adapter, connected via radio signals as an independent wireless LAN.
Computers in a specific ad hoc wireless LAN must therefore be configured to the
same radio channel. An ad hoc wireless LAN can be used for a branch office or
SOHO operation.
