Appendix A - Wireless Basics
D-Link DSL-2751 User Manual
105
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
In a wireless local area network, a device called an Access Point (AP) connects computers to the network. The access point has a small antenna
attached to it, which allows it to transmit data back and forth over radio signals. With an indoor access point as seen in the picture, the signal can
travel up to 300 feet. With an outdoor access point the signal can reach out up to 30 miles to serve places like manufacturing plants, industrial
locations, college and high school campuses, airports, golf courses, and many other outdoor venues.
Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN)
Bluetooth is the industry standard wireless technology used for WPAN. Bluetooth devices in WPAN operate in a range up to 30 feet away.
Compared to WLAN the speed and wireless operation range are both less than WLAN, but in return it doesn’t use nearly as much power which
makes it ideal for personal devices, such as mobile phones, PDAs, headphones, laptops, speakers, and other devices that operate on batteries.
Who uses wireless?
Wireless technology as become so popular in recent years that almost everyone is using it, whether it’s for home, office, business, D-Link has a
wireless solution for it.
Home
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Gives everyone at home broadband access
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Surf the web, check email, instant message, download multimedia files.
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Gets rid of the cables around the house
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Simple and easy to use
Small Office and Home Office
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Stay on top of everything at home as you would at the office
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Remotely access your office network from home
•
Share the Internet connection and printer with multiple computers
•
No need to dedicate office space
Where is wireless used?
Wireless technology is expanding everywhere not just at home or office. People like the freedom of mobility and it’s becoming so popular that more
and more public facilities now provide wireless access to attract people. The wireless connection in public places is usually called “hotspots”.
