NETGEAR WPNT511 - Manual (Page 16)

User Manual for the NETGEAR RangeMax™ 240 Wireless Notebook Adapter WPNT511
3-2 Basic Setup
v1.0, October 2005
Observe Wireless Location and Range Guidelines
Computers can connect over wireless networks indoors at a range which vary significantly based
on the physical location of the computer with the NETGEAR RangeMax™ 240 Wireless
Notebook Adapter WPNT511. For best results, avoid potential sources of interference, such as:
• Large metal surfaces
• Microwaves
• 2.4 GHz Cordless phones
In general, wireless devices can communicate through walls. However, if the walls are constructed
with concrete, or have metal, or metal mesh, the effective range will decrease if such materials are
between the devices.
Infrastructure and Ad Hoc Modes
The WPNT511 Wireless Notebook Adapter, like all 802.11b/g adapters, can operate in the
following two modes:
• Access Point (Infrastructure): An 802.11 networking framework in which devices and
computers communicate with each other by first going through an access point (AP). For
example, this mode is used when computers in a house connect to an AP that is attached to a
router which lets multiple computers share a single Cable or DSL broadband Internet
connection.
• Computer-to-Computer (Ad Hoc): An 802.11 networking framework in which devices or
computers communicate directly with each other, without the use of an access point. For
example, Ad Hoc mode is used when two Windows computers are configured with file and
print sharing enabled and you want to exchange files directly between them.
The instructions in this chapter are for an Access Point (Infrastructure) installation. Wireless
security, advanced settings, and Computer-to-Computer (Ad Hoc) instructions are covered in
Chapter 4, “Network Connections and Wireless Security” of this manual.
WPNT511 Default Wireless Settings
If this is a new wireless network installation, use the factory default settings to set up the network
and verify wireless connectivity. If this is an addition to an existing wireless network, you will
need to identify the wireless network and wireless security settings that are already defined.