Contents:
About the 802.11g Wireless Gaming Adapter and Ethernet Bridge
Accessing the Web User Interface and Site Survey
What is Wireless Networking?
Web User Interface and Security Configuration
802.11g Wireless Gaming Adapter and Ethernet Bridge User Guide
What is Wireless Networking and how does it work?
There are two types of wireless network set ups: Client Mode (infrastructure) and Ad Hoc Mode (peer-to-peer). Client Mode is an 802.11 networking framework in which devices communicate with each other by first going through a wireless router or access point. Wireless devices can communicate with each other or can communicate with a wired network. Generally, a majority of small businesses and home users operate in Client Mode because they require access to the wired LAN (usually from broadband or cable Internet providers) in order to use services such as file servers or printers. The graphic below depicts one example of an Client Mode network using a 5430 connected to a gaming console.
Ad Hoc (sometimes referred to as peer-to-peer), is a type of wireless network allowing a wireless adapter or other Ethernet-ready device to connect directly to another wireless adapter or Ethernet-ready device. The graphic below depicts one example of an ad hoc network.
Wireless Antenna Range Performance
If your 5430 is not maintaining a wireless connection to your network, you might be encountering interference from walls or other structures that is lowering your link quality. Try placing your 5430 at a higher location, such as a higher shelf, or repositioning it in a different area of your room or office. You may also be experiencing interference from other wireless devices such as cordless phones, baby monitors, security alarms, etc. Be sure other wireless devices are on different non-overlapping channels. It may also be necessary for you to move your 5430 away from major appliances such as TV’s, refrigerators, microwave ovens, etc.
Here’s why: Wireless antenna’s work off of radio waves. Radio waves don't travel the same distance in all directions. Walls, doors, elevator shafts, people, and other obstacles offer varying degrees of signal loss (attenuation), which cause the Radio Frequency (RF) radiation pattern to be irregular and unpredictable. Attenuation is simply a reduction of signal strength during transmission. Attenuation is registered in decibels (dB), which is ten times the logarithm of the signal power at a particular input divided by the signal power at an output of a specified medium. For example, an office wall that changes the propagation of an RF signal from a power level of 200 milliwatts (the input) to 100 milliwatts (the output) represents 3 dB of attenuation. The following provides some examples of the attenuation values of common office construction:
- Plasterboard wall: 3dB
- Glass wall with metal frame: 6dB
- Cinder block wall: 4dB Office window: 3dB
- Metal door: 6dB
- Metal door in brick wall: 12.4dB
Other factors that will reduce range and affect coverage area include concrete fiberboard walls, aluminum siding, pipes and electrical wiring, microwave ovens, and cordless phones.
