Installing a Wireless Network

Let’s say you just bought a wireless AP for your laptop to use to connect to the Internet. What’s next? Well, that all depends on the type of installation you want to create with your new toys. First, it’s important you understand where to place the AP. For example, you don’t want to place the AP on or near a metal filing cabinet or other obstructions. Once you decide on the AP’s placement, you can configure your wireless network.

There are two main installation types, ad hoc and infrastructure mode, and each 802.11 wireless network device can be installed in one of these two modes, also called service sets.

Ad Hoc Mode: Independent Basic Service Set

This is the easiest way to install wireless 802.11 devices. In this mode, the wireless NICs (or other devices) can communicate directly without the need for an AP. A good example of this is two laptops with wireless NICs installed. If both cards were set up to operate in ad...