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Glossary
Access Point:
A hardware device that serves as a communication hub for 802.11b wireless PCs and
can also provide a connection to a wired network. An AP can double the range of wireless client PCs
and provide enhanced security.
Ethernet:
The most widely used network access method. Ethernet is defined by the IEEE802.3
standard. Ethernet networks operate at 10Mbps using CSMA/CD (Carrier-Sense Multiple Access) to
run over 10BaseT cables.
Gateway:
A network device that provides a bridge or entrance to another network. For example, a
residential gateway can allow a wireless network to connect to a phoneline or Ethernet network.
Infrastructure Mode:
A software setting for 802.11b wireless PC cards allowing connectivity to a
gateway or an access point (AP). The gateway or AP not only intermediate the wireless network traffic,
but also provides the communication with the networking.
MAC Address
-The MAC (Media Access Control) address is your computer’s unique hardware
number.
Peer to Peer mode (Ad Hoc mode):
A software setting for 802.11b wireless PC cards. This mode
allows independent peer to peer connectivity from one PC to another in a wireless network.
SSID:
Standard Set ID. To communicate with each other, all wireless devices on the same network
must use the same SSID. The SSID allows two or more wireless networks to function in the same
vicinity without interfering with each other. The SSID can be a word or a combination of letters and
numbers.
WEP
(Wired Equivalent Privacy): A data privacy mechanism based on a 64 bit shared key algorithm,
as described in the IEEE 802.11 standard.
