Wireless network examples
There are three common configurations for wireless networks:
Ad hoc networks
An ad hoc network is a type of wireless network in which devices directly communicate
with each other rather than through a
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
.
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For example, a simple ad hoc wireless network might consist of a laptop and a printer
communicating directly with one another.
Ad hoc networks are typically small and simple. Performance on these types of networks
can degrade if more than six devices are on the network.
Infrastructure networks
On an infrastructure network, devices, such as computers and printers, communicate
through a
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
. WAPs act as
routers
or
gateways
on small
networks.
For example, a simple infrastructure wireless network might consist of a laptop and a
printer communicating through a WAP.
Mixed wired and wireless networks
Wireless devices often exist on a largely wired network.
In this case, a
WAP
is connected to the main network by an Ethernet cable plugged into
the WAP's WAN port. The WAP acts as the go-between for the wired devices and the
wireless devices. The wired devices communicate with the WAP over the Ethernet cable,
while the wireless devices communicate with the WAP over radio waves.
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HP Deskjet 6980 series
For example, a mixed wired and wireless network can consist of the following:
●
Several desktop computers
●
A WAP connected to an Ethernet network
●
A printer connected wirelessly to the WAP
In order to use the printer, a desktop PC sends a print job over the Ethernet cable to the
WAP. The WAP then wirelessly transmits the print job to the printer.