Chapter 5 Wireless Settings Screen
NWA1100-N User’s Guide
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5.3 What You Need To Know
BSS
A Basic Service Set (BSS) exists when all communications between wireless clients or between a
wireless client and a wired network client go through one access point (AP). Intra-BSS traffic is
traffic between wireless clients in the BSS.
ESS
An Extended Service Set (ESS) consists of a series of overlapping BSSs, each containing an access
point, with each access point connected together by a wired network. This wired connection
between APs is called a Distribution System (DS).
Operating Mode
The NWA can run in four operating modes as follows:
•
Access Point
. The NWA is wireless access point that allows wireless communication to
other devices in the network.
•
Bridge/Repeater.
The NWA acts as a wireless network bridge and establishes wireless
links with other APs. You need to know the MAC address of the peer device, which also
must be in bridge mode. The NWA can establish up to five wireless links with other APs.
•
AP+Bridge.
The NWA functions as a bridge and access point simultaneously.
•
Wireless Client.
The NWA acts as a wireless client to access a wireless network.
•
Multi SSID
. This mode allows you to use one access point to provide several BSSs
simultaneously.
Refer to
for illustrations of these wireless applications.
SSID
The SSID (Service Set IDentifier) identifies the Service Set with which a wireless station is
associated. Wireless stations associating to the access point (AP) must have the same SSID.
Normally, the NWA acts like a beacon and regularly broadcasts the SSID in the area. You can hide
the SSID instead, in which case the NWA does not broadcast the SSID. In addition, you should
change the default SSID to something that is difficult to guess.
This type of security is fairly weak, however, because there are ways for unauthorized wireless
devices to get the SSID. In addition, unauthorized wireless devices can still see the information that
is sent in the wireless network.
Channel
A channel is the radio frequency(ies) used by IEEE 802.11a/b/g wireless devices. Channels
available depend on your geographical area. You may have a choice of channels (for your region) so
you should use a different channel than an adjacent AP (access point) to reduce interference.
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