Question
What is a Wireless LAN (WLAN)?
Answer
A WLAN is a type of Local Area Network (LAN) that uses high frequency radio waves rather than wires to communicate and transmit data among nodes. It is a flexible data communication system implemented as an extension to, or as an alternative for, a wired LAN within a building or campus.

Question
What are the benefits of using a WLAN instead of a wired network connection?
Answer

• Increased Productivity - WLAN provides "untethered", campus-wide network and Internet access. WLAN offers the freedom to roam and stay connected.

• Fast and Simple Network Set-up - There are no cables to install.

• Installation Flexibility - WLANs can be installed in places where wires can't, and they facilitate temporary set-up and relocation.

• Reduced Cost-of-Ownership - Wireless LANS reduce installation costs because there is no cabling; as a result, savings are greatest in frequently changing environments.

• Scalability - Network expansion and reconfiguration is uncomplicated, and users can be added to the network simply by installing a wireless LAN adapter to the client device.

• Interoperability - Customers can rest assured that other brands of compatible client and network-sided products will work with superior Xircom solutions.

Question
Is the installation and administration of a WLAN difficult?
Answer
No. A wireless LAN is simpler to install than a wired LAN, and the administration of the two network types is very similar. The client-side WLAN solution offers Plug-and-Play simplicity to connect to the network or other computers (peer-to-peer).

Question
What is IEEE 802.11b?
Answer
IEEE 802.11b is a technical specification issued by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) that defines the operation of 2.4 GHz, 11 Mbps, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). The 802.11b standard ensures that all wireless Ethernet networking products are compatible - that is, they can "talk" to one another. All of Xircom's wireless Ethernet products comply with this standard.

Question
Are WLANs secure?
Answer
Yes, WLANs are highly secure. Because wireless technology has roots in military applications, security provisions have long been designed into wireless devices and wireless LANs are typically more secure than most wired LANs. WLANs use Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) technology, which is extremely resistant to corruption, interference, jamming, and detection. In addition, all wireless users on your network can identify themselves with a system ID that prevents unauthorized users from gaining access. Users with particularly sensitive data can enable Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), which further encrypts the signal and verifies the data with an electronic "security key". In general, individual nodes must be security-enabled before participating in network traffic. 802.11b WLANs may use 40-bit and 128-bit encryption along with user authentication to provide a high degree of network security. It is virtually impossible for unintended receivers and eavesdroppers to listen in on wireless LAN traffic.

Question
What is the transmission range of WLAN products?
Answer
Radio Frequency (RF) range, especially in indoor environments, is a function of product design, including transmitted power and receiver design, interference, and propagation path. Interactions with typical building objects, including walls, metal, and even people, can affect how energy propagates, and thus what range and coverage a particular system achieves. Wireless LAN systems use RF because radio waves can penetrate many indoor walls and surfaces. The range or radius of coverage for typical WLAN systems varies up to 500 feet (164 meters) depending on the number and types of obstacles encountered. Coverage can be extended, and freedom of true mobility and roaming can be provided for a greater area through the use of multiple access points.

Question
What is WECA?
Answer
The Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) is a non-profit organization formed in 1999 and was officially and publicly launched on August 23, 1999 in Santa Clara, CA. WECA's mission is to certify interoperability of Wi-Fi?(IEEE 802.11b High Rate) WLAN products and to promote Wi-FiTM as the standard for wireless LAN deployments across all market segments.

Question
What is Wi-Fi?
Answer
Wi-Fi is the trademarked name that WECA uses to signify WLAN product interoperability. The name stands for "wireless fidelity." WECA performs elaborate tests on WLAN products; those that meet the interoperability standard are awarded the Wi-Fi logo.

Question
What is the data throughput speed of an 802.11b WLAN network connection?
Answer
802.11b WLANs operate up to speeds of 11 Mbps. WLAN users experience speed comparable to that offered by the wired network, and similar to the wired network, WLAN throughput speed depends on network topology, load, distance from the access point, etc. There is typically no perceived difference in performance compared to a wired connection.

Question
What is an Access Point?
Answer
An Access Point connects wired and wireless networks together and enables the sending and receiving of data between wireless clients and the wired network. Each Access point also increases total system capacity and range. Users can "roam" between access points without losing their connection similar to a cellular phone. It is a hardware device or software that used in conjunction with a computer serves as a communications hub for wireless clients and provides a connection to a wired LAN.

Question
When do I need an Access Point?
Answer
Access points are required for network access but not for peer-to-peer connections. A wireless network only requires an access point when connecting notebook or desktop computers to a wired network. Some important advantages make access points a valuable addition to your wireless network, with or without a wired network. First, a single access point can nearly double the range of your wireless LAN compared to a simple peer-to-peer (ad-hoc) network. Second, the wireless access point acts as a traffic controller, directing all data on the network, allowing wireless clients to run at maximum speed. Finally, an access point can be your central connection to the outside world, providing Internet sharing.

Question
How many users can a WLAN system support?
Answer
The number of users is virtually unlimited. The number of users can be expanded simply by adding network access points. By introducing overlapping access points, set at different frequencies (channels), the wireless network can expand to accommodate additional simultaneous users in the same area. Up to three overlapping channels can be used concurrently without interference, which effectively triples the number of supported network users. Similarly, the WLAN can support more users by installing additional access points in various locations in the building. This increases the total number of users and allows roaming throughout the building or across the campus.

Question
Why do WLANs operate on the 2.4 GHz Frequency range?
Answer
This frequency range has been set aside by the FCC, and is generally labeled the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band. A few years ago Apple and several other large corporations requested that the FCC allow the development of wireless networks within this frequency range. What we have today is a protocol and system that allows for unlicensed use of radios within a prescribed power level. The ISM band is populated by Industrial, Scientific and Medical devices that are all low power devices.

Question
Will Bluetooth and Wireless LAN (WLAN) interfere with each other?
Answer
No, both Bluetooth and WLAN can co-exist. Since Bluetooth devices use Frequency Hopping and most WLANs use Direct Sequence Spreading techniques they each appear as background noise to the other and should not cause any perceivable performance issues.

Question
Is WLAN technology only for notebook computers?
Answer
No. While WLAN systems are ideal for networking mobile computers they are equally useful for connecting desktop computers and a variety of emerging mobile platforms. WLAN solutions are designed to eliminate cables to networked devices thereby eliminating cabling costs and increasing connection flexibility and mobility.

Wireless LAN - FAQ