AWU254
54M Wireless USB Adapter User Guide
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Appendix B: Glossary
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802.11b - The 802.11b standard specifies a wireless networking at 11 Mbps using
direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS) technology and operating in the unlicensed
radio spectrum at 2.4GHz, and WEP encryption for security. 802.11b networks are
also referred to as Wi-Fi networks.
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802.11g - specification for wireless networking at 54 Mbps using direct-sequence
spread-spectrum (DSSS) technology, using OFDM modulation and operating in the
unlicensed radio spectrum at 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with IEEE 802.11b
devices, and WEP encryption for security.
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Ad-hoc Network - An ad-hoc network is a group of computers, each with a wireless
adapter, connected as an independent 802.11 wireless LAN. Ad-hoc wireless
computers operate on a peer-to-peer basis, communicating directly with each other
without the use of an access point. Ad-hoc mode is also referred to as an Independent
Basic Service Set (IBSS) or as peer-to-peer mode, and is useful at a departmental
scale or SOHO operation.
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DSSS (Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum) - DSSS generates a redundant bit pattern
for all data transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chipping code). Even if one
or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmission, statistical techniques
embedded in the receiver can recover the original data without the need for
retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appears as low power wideband
noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowband receivers. However, to an
intended receiver (i.e. another wireless LAN endpoint), the DSSS signal is recognized
as the only valid signal, and interference is inherently rejected (ignored).
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FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) - FHSS continuously changes (hops)
the carrier frequency of a conventional carrier several times per second according to a
pseudo-random set of channels. Because a fixed frequency is not used, and only the
transmitter and receiver know the hop patterns, interception of FHSS is extremely
difficult.
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Infrastructure Network - An infrastructure network is a group of computers or
other devices, each with a wireless adapter, connected as an 802.11 wireless LAN. In
infrastructure mode, the wireless devices communicate with each other and to a wired
network by first going through an access point. An infrastructure wireless network
connected to a wired network is referred to as a Basic Service Set (BSS). A set of two
or more BSS in a single network is referred to as an Extended Service Set (ESS).
Infrastructure mode is useful at a corporation scale, or when it is necessary to connect
the wired and wireless networks.
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Spread Spectrum - Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency
technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical
communications systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability,
