PW-MN427_34I
150Mbps Wireless N USB Module User Guide
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Appendix A: Glossary
802.11b -
The 802.11b standard specifies a wireless networking at 11 Mbps using
direct-sequence sp read-spectrum (DSSS) technology a nd operating in the unlicensed radio
spectrum at 2.4GHz, and WEP encryption for security. 802.11b networks are also referred to as
Wi-Fi networks.
802.11g -
Specification for wireless networking at 54 Mbps using direct-sequence
spread-spectrum (DSSS) technology, using OFDM modulation and operating in the unlicensed
radio spectrum at 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with IEEE 802.11b devices, and WEP
encryption for security.
802.11n -
802.11n builds upon previous 802.11 standards by adding MIMO (multiple-input
multiple-output). MIMO uses multiple transmitter and receiver antennas to allow for increased
data throughput via spatial multiplexing and increased range by exploiting the spatial diversity,
perhaps through coding schemes like Alamouti coding. The Enhanced Wireless Consortium
(EWC)
[3]
was formed to help accelerate the IEEE 802.11n development process and promote a
technology specification for interoperability of next-generation wireless local area networking
(WLAN) products.
Ad-hoc Network -
An ad-hoc network is a group of computers, each with a 150Mbps Wireless N
USB Module, c onnected a s an independent 8 02.11 wireless LAN. Ad-hoc wireless c omputers
operate on a peer-to-peer basis, c ommunicating directly with eac h other without the use of an
access point. Ad-hoc mode is also referred to as an Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) or as
peer-to-peer mode, and is useful at a departmental scale or SOHO operation.
Infrastructure Network -
An infrastructure network is a group of computers or other devices,
each with a 150Mbps Wireless N USB Module, connected as an 802.11 wireless LAN. In
infrastructure mode, the wireless devices communicate with each other and to a wired network by
first going through an access point. An infrastructure wireless network connected to a wired
network is referred to as a Basic Service Set (BSS). A set of two or more BSS in a single network
is referred to as an Extended Service Set (ESS). Infrastructure mode is useful at a corporation
scale, or when it is necessary to connect the wired and wireless networ
SSID -
A
S
ervice
S
et
Id
entification is a thirty-two character (maximum) alphanumeric key
identifying a wireless local area network. For the wireless devices in a network to communicate
with each other, all devices must be configured with the same SSID. This is typically the
configuration parameter for a wireless PC card. It corresponds to the ESSID in the wireless Access
Point and to the wireless network name.
