WiFly GSX
www.rovingnetworks.com
WiFlyGSX-um 9/16/2010
809 University Avenue
•
Los Gatos, CA 95032
•
Tel (408) 395-6539
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~ 53 ~
15.
Adhoc Networking Mode
15.1.
Infrastructure and adhoc comparison
There are two types of networks. The most common network is infrastructure in which an access point
(AP) is the common point linking all Wi-Fi devices. The access point keeps track of who’s on the local
network and directs IP packets. In many cases the AP is also a router and will forward packets from the
local network to other networks and the internet. It is also very common for the AP to be running a DHCP
server which tracks and assigns IP addresses.
Adhoc is considered a point to point network in that each Wi-Fi device is linked directly to every other Wi-
Fi device on the Adhoc network. There is no access point. All Wi-Fi devices on the adhoc network
participate in keeping the network alive and each keeps track of the other active devices on the network by
sending and receiving beacon and probe packets. In most cases IP addresses are assigned through Auto IP,
although one of the Wi-Fi devices can be configured as a DHCP server.
15.2.
Configuring adhoc mode
The WiFly GSX module can be configured to setup an adhoc network. This mode is useful for point to
point communications. The WiFly device is in Adhoc mode the device looks like access point for other Wi-
Fi devices to join.
NOTE:
Currently the WiFly only supports OPEN mode for creating adhoc networks.
Adhoc mode can be set via hardware or software commands.
To enable adhoc mode via hardware:
Set
PIO9
high (3.3V) at power up. On the RN-134 PIO9 is on J1 of the jumper block. When the module
powers up in adhoc mode the WiFly module creates an adhoc network with the following
SSID:
WiFly-GSX-XX where XX is the final two bytes of the devices MAC address
Channel:
1
DHCP:
OFF
IP address:
169.254.1.1
Netmask:
255.255.0.0
With the adhoc jumper in place the above settings override the current saved configuration settings.
To enable adhoc mode from software:
From command mode, the module is configured for adhoc mode using the join command. You will also
need to set the ssid and channel.
