7 Utility Command Reference
This chapter explains all the controls in the Wireless Adapter Utility’s panels.
SSID
The SSID control is a text input box for typing the target network’s Service Set Identifier,
also known as the (wireless) network name (or ID), (wireless) domain name (or ID), or
Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID). All devices on a wireless network must use the
same SSID.
BSSID
The BSSID is an automatically assigned numeric identifier for the network. On an
infrastructure network, it is usually the medium access control (MAC) address of the
access point (AP); on an ad-hoc network, it is usually the MAC address of one of the
members. BSSIDs are shown in hexadecimal (base 16) notation.
Transmission Rate
The Transmission Rate control is a drop-down list box for selecting a communication
speed setting. The default setting is
Auto, that is, automatic speed detection and
adjustment.
Auto is the only setting allowed on an infrastructure network or a high-speed
ad-hoc network. When the setting of the
Transmission Rate control is fixed because of
the
Network Mode setting, it is shown in gray characters and the control is disabled.
When the
Network Mode control is set to 802.11 Ad-hoc, the Transmission Rate
control offers five settings:
Auto, 1 Mbps, 2 Mbps, 5.5 Mbps, and 11 Mbps.
Using a fixed, high speed throughout a network can improve security by reducing the
effective range. Fixed, low speeds may be necessary for interoperation with some pre-
802.11b devices. The
Auto setting lets the adapter adjust communication speed according
to signal quality; this setting thus offers the best combination of throughput, range, and
resistance to interference.
Network Mode
The Network Mode control is a drop-down list that offers three settings: 802.11 Ad-hoc,
Infrastructure, and High Speed Ad-hoc. You must choose the setting that agrees with
the actual operating mode of the network. High-speed ad-hoc mode can only be used by
devices in the same product family as your adapter.
Channel
Depending on which part of the world you are in, there can be up to 14 “channels” in the
radio frequency band used for wireless networking (2.4 to 2.4835 GHz in most countries).
A channel consists of 23 exact frequencies spaced 1 MHz apart for a total spread of 22
MHz. Such spreading is required by regulatory agencies to reduce interference among
devices operating in this band.
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