Reference Guide for the Model MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card
Installing the MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card
2-3
Two Basic Operating Modes
The MA401 PC Card, like all 802.11b adapters, can operate in the following two
basic modes:
•
Infrastructure Mode: An 802.11 networking framework in which devices
and computers communicate with each other by first going through an Access
Point (AP).
For example, this mode is used when computers in a house connect to an
Access Point that is attached to a router which lets multiple computers share a
single Cable or DSL broadband Internet connection.
•
Ad-Hoc Mode:
An 802.11 networking framework in which devices or
computers communicate directly with each other, without the use of an
access point (AP).
For example, Ad-Hoc Mode is used when two Windows computers are
configured with file and print sharing enabled and you want to
exchange files directly between them.
Both of these configuration options are available with the MA401 PC Card.
MA401 Default Wireless Configuration Settings
If this is a new wireless network installation, use the factory default settings to set
up the network and verify wireless connectivity. If this is an addition to an
existing wireless network, you will need to identify the wireless configuration and
security parameters already defined.
Note:
All NETGEAR, Inc. 802.11b wireless access products use the same factory
settings as the MA401 and will work without any configuration changes.
Your MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card factory default basic settings are:
•
SSID:
Wireless
Note:
In order for the MA401 PC Card to communicate with a wireless access
point or wireless adapter, all devices must be configured with the same SSID.
•
Mode (Infrastructure or Ad Hoc):
Infrastructure
MA401.book Page 3 Tuesday, October 8, 2002 4:08 PM
