Wireless components
- 1. Wireless Adapters ◦ A wireless NIC (Network Interface Card) is the component that transmits and receives wireless signals ◦ They are frequently integrated into the motherboard of mobile devices – tablets and laptops ◦ Wireless Nic can also be added as a peripheral that is connected using: USB dongle (any device with spare USB port) PCI or PCIe (adds wireless to a desktop – will need to open case) PC card inserted into a PCMCIA slot – usually older laptops
- 2. Wireless Access Point ◦ Wireless clients within the signal range area can send messages to the Access Point which moves them onto the wired network ◦ Has wireless logical ports With Antenna Tx and Rx for transmitting and receiving wireless signals ◦ Has wired physical switchports IEEE 802.3 Ethernet switchports to connect wired hosts ◦ Accepts 802.11 frames from wireless clients and reframes as 802.3 frames The frames are sent on through wired switchports to other hosts on the LAN or to other networks via the gateway on the router
- 3. Business grade access points have removable antenna which an be upgraded Home/small office access points have fixed antenna There are 2 types of antenna: ◦ Omni-directional The signal is generated in all directions from the antenna in a donut shape with the access point in the centre Signal extends vertically as well but not as far as the horizontal range (about 1 floor above and below) Home/small office wireless routers are omni-directional ◦ Directional The signal is sent in one direction only More power is directed in only 1 direction so the signal extends for a longer distance You will make a directional antenna in the Diploma wireless course!
- 4. Have many functions integrated into 1 device ◦ Wireless Access Point function ◦ Wired Switch Function 4 * LAN switchports ◦ Routing function to route traffic between networks 1* WAN port to connect to upstream router or ISP ◦ Firewall function to control traffic flows Example: Linksys E-series Routers ◦ Linksys E4200 Wireless-N Router supports Wireless on 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, has 4 * 10/100/1000 Ethernet switchports, has 1 DSL internet port