SENA LS100W - Manual (Page 23)

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3: Wireless LAN Configuration
3.1 Overview
IEEE 802.11, a Wireless LAN standard, is the basic network element used by this device. It requires
one or more nodes and a wireless LAN access point (hereinafter referred to AP). Often, the word
“node” refers to the notebook computers, personal computers, and PDA’s that use Wireless LAN
cards or LS100W products, in this section we will assume the “node” as LS100W, and describe further.
3.1.1 Infrastructure Mode and Ad-hoc Mode
An AP is most often used to connect the LS100W to the Ethernet. However, it can also be used to
connect to the Internet. This type of connection is referred as an “infrastructure mode.” On wireless
computer networks, ”ad-hoc mode”, also called “peer-to-peer mode”, is a method for LS100W devices to directly
communicate with each other without an AP. Ad-hoc mode can be very useful in replacing cables between
existing devices with a wireless connection.
3.1.2 Network Name: SSID (Service Set Identifier)
A Wireless LAN network can be configured under different names at depending on the AP’s
configuration. SSID is an ID value that distinguishes one wireless network from another. If a network is
configured in the infrastructure mode, users need to input and set the target AP’s SSID into LS100W
so that the LS100W can communicate with the target AP. Therefore, users need first to check the
target AP’s SSID. On the other hand, when using the ad-hoc mode, inter-communicating LS100Ws
should have the same SSID. The SSID can be set to a maximum length of 32 bytes, and it can be set
using ASCII characters or Hexadecimal numbers.
3.1.3 Channel
The LS100W searches for all accessible 802.11b Wireless LAN channels periodically to find other
AP’s. When the LS100W is first booted up, it searches for a preset AP (default value is ‘Default’).
When the AP is found, it accesses the AP automatically. The LS100W will use the channel belonging
to the network group in which it belongs. When using the infrastructure mode, the LS100W checks the
channel values being used in AP, and automatically sets the channel values to be identical to the AP
channels values. In ad-hoc mode, the two channels in LS100W should be given identical values.