| In this article we're going to begin to define what wifi is | | | | that Ad Hoc mode is just a set of 802.11 wireless |
| and just how it works.Relatively speaking, wifi is a new | | | | stations that communicate directly with each other |
| technology, created within the last couple of years at | | | | without using an access point or any connection to a |
| the time of this writing. However, the basis on which is | | | | network that is wired. This mode is great for quickly |
| created is not really new. Wifi is short for wireless | | | | and easily setting up a wireless network where a |
| fidelity as applied to connecting multiple computers. Or | | | | wireless infrastructure doesn't exist or is simply not |
| in other words, wireless networking.The reason this is | | | | needed for services. Some places where this would |
| not really new is because we've had wireless forms | | | | be true are hotel rooms, convention centers and |
| of communication for some time now. One needs to | | | | airports or any place where wired networks are |
| look no further than ones own hi fidelity stereo system. | | | | forbidden.While connected to a wireless network, you |
| The signal from the ration station transceiver travels | | | | can do most basic things that are not too intensive |
| wireless through the air until it reaches the antenna | | | | such as check email, browse the Internet, connect to |
| connected to your radio. This technology has been | | | | conferences, access your home directory, use |
| around for ages. But as applied to computers, yes, this | | | | programs such a network word processor and use |
| is something very new.So, how does wireless | | | | printing services. You should not use wireless |
| networking work?The 802.11 standard, on which | | | | networks for streaming audio or video, downloading |
| networks are based, defines two modes which are | | | | anything that is large or viewing web sites that are |
| infrastructure mode and ad hoc mode. With | | | | intense in graphics.Even though wireless networks are |
| infrastructure mode, the wireless network is composed | | | | nice to look at you will still get the best performance |
| of at least one access point which is connected to the | | | | and highest speeds from wired networks. Generally |
| wired network infrastructure which includes a set of | | | | speaking, a wireless connection works the same way |
| wireless end stations. This particular configuration is | | | | as an Ethernet connection. The speed of a wireless |
| called a Basic Service Set or BSS. An extended | | | | network is about 11 megabits per second. The problem |
| service set, or ESS, is a set of multiple BSS sets | | | | is that with a wireless network you have to share the |
| which form a single subnetwork. Because most | | | | bandwidth with all the users connected to the wireless |
| WLANs require access to a wired LAN for services | | | | network in a given network. This is what slows the |
| such as file servers, printers and Internet links, they | | | | network down and makes intensive operations difficult |
| usually operate in infrastructure mode.The difference | | | | to perform. It is because of this that wireless networks |
| between Ad Hoc mode and Infrastructure mode is | | | | will never be as fast as a wired Ethernet network. |