Components of a Wireless 
        Components of a Wireless 
                 (Wi-Fi) Network
                  (Wi-Fi) Network
     Wireless                    Wireless 
       Wireless                    Router
      Router
       Router
     Wireless                                    Wire
       Wireless 
      network                                      To
       network 
      interface card                            Internet
       interface card 
      (WNIC)
       (WNIC)
     Ethernet cable 
       Ethernet cable 
      to connect AP                      Wireless 
       to connect AP 
      to Internet                           NIC
       to Internet
                                                         2
     Wireless Router
     Wireless Router
      Wireless Router 
       Wireless Router 
       receives and sends 
       receives and sends 
       radio signals
       radio signals
      It also connects to the 
       It also connects to the 
       Internet with an 
       Internet with an 
       Ethernet cable
       Ethernet cable
      It bridges the wireless 
       It bridges the wireless 
       network with the wired 
       network with the wired 
       network
       network
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                     Wi-Fi NICs
                      Wi-Fi NICs
     To connect to a Wi-Fi network, you need a 
      To connect to a Wi-Fi network, you need a 
      Network Interface Card (NIC)
      Network Interface Card (NIC)
     The most common type is the PCMCIA 
      The most common type is the PCMCIA 
      card
      card
        Designed for laptop 
         Designed for laptop 
         computers
         computers
                                                        4
           USB and PCI Wi-Fi NICs
           USB and PCI Wi-Fi NICs
     USB
       USB
        Can be used on a 
          Can be used on a 
          laptop or desktop PC
          laptop or desktop PC
     PCI
       PCI
        Installs inside a 
          Installs inside a 
          desktop PC
          desktop PC
                                                              5
      Wireless Network Standards
      Wireless Network Standards
     802.11b
      802.11b
        Max. speed 11 megabits per second
         Max. speed 11 megabits per second
        Range 100 to 150 feet
         Range 100 to 150 feet
     802.11g
      802.11g
        Max. speed 54 megabits per second
         Max. speed 54 megabits per second
        Range 100 to 150 feet
         Range 100 to 150 feet
     802.11a
      802.11a
        Max. speed 54 megabits per second
         Max. speed 54 megabits per second
        Range 25 to 75 feet
         Range 25 to 75 feet
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