Glossary
AT&T Plug&Share
™
Wireless USB Adapter 54 Mbps 6602G
36
Wireless LAN (WLAN)
Wireless LANs are local area networks that use
wireless communications for transmitting data.
Transmissions are usually in the 2.4 GHz band.
WLAN devices do not need to be lined up for
communications like infrared devices. WLAN
devices use routers which are connected to the
wired LAN and provide connectivity to the LAN.
The radio frequency of WLAN devices is strong
enough to be transmitted through non-metal walls
and objects, and can cover an area up to a
thousand feet. Laptops and notebooks use wire-
less LAN PCMCIA cards while PCs use plug-in
cards to access the WLAN.
WAN
WAN (Wide Area Network) is a communications
network that covers a wide geographic area such
as a country (contrasted with a LAN, which
covers a small area such as a company building).
WPA
WPA (WiFi Protected Access) is an enhanced
security specification to increase the level of
access control and data protection for wireless
data networks. WPA authentication requires that
an authentication server authenticate all client
adapters before being allowed access to a wire-
less network. This authentication mode is
designed for enterprise applications requiring
very high levels of security.
WPA-PSK
Authentication mode enables the user to
configure a type of client authentication used for
acquiring access to the wireless network. The
WPA-PSK mode has been designed for those
environments where high data security is desired,
but there is no authentication server. The client
initiates authentication by sending a password
called a passphrase to the wireless router. If the
passphrase is identical to the passphrase on the
wireless router, the wireless router allows the
client to access the network. The passphrase can
be between 8 and 63 characters.
