Q1 :  What variables may cause my wireless product not to receive signals at the maximum advertised distance?
A1 :
The number of walls, ceilings, and other objects that wireless signals must pass through will limit the range. Typical ranges vary depending on the types of materials and background RF noise in your home or business. The key to maximizing range is to follow these basic principles:

1. Keep the number of walls and ceilings to a minimum -
   Each wall or ceiling can rob your MICRODIA Airolinks Wireless product of 3-90 feet of range. Position your Access Points, Residential Gateways, and computers so that the number of walls or ceilings is minimized.
   
2. Be aware of the direct line between Access Points, Wireless Router, and Computers -
   A wall that is 1.5 feet thick, at a 45-degree angle, appears to be almost 3 feet thick. At a 2-degree angle it looks over 42 feet thick. Try to make sure that the Access Point and Adapters are positioned so that the signal will travel straight through a wall or ceiling for better reception.
   
3. Building Materials make a difference -
   A solid metal door or aluminium studs may have a negative effect on range. Try to position Access Points, Wireless Router, and Computers so that the signal passes through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.
   
4. Make sure that the antenna is positioned for best reception by using the software signal strength tools included with your product.
   
5. Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet) from electrical devices that generate RF noise, like microwaves, Monitors, electric motors, UPS units, etc.
   
6. If you are using 2.4GHz cordless phones or X-10 (wireless products such as ceiling fans, lights, and home security systems), your wireless connection will degrade dramatically or drop completely.
   

Q2 : How do I enable Encryption on my Airolinks wireless products?
A2 : For WLAN clients, you can enable WEP Encryption in the monitor tool to connect to WEP enabled Access Point or Wireless Router. You can enable WEP Encryption of Access Point or Wireless Router in the Administration page.

WEP and Speed
WEP will slow down your wireless network. Expect a 20-50% reduction in speed depending on the products you are using. The speed issue is the result of the added overhead to the data packets.

Encryption keys
Encryption comes in 64-bit and 128-bit key varieties. All your nodes must be at the same encryption level with the same key to operate. 40-bit and 64-bit encryption is the same thing; it's just a matter of how the manufacturer decided to label the product.

Q3 : What is WEP?
A3 : WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy . It is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard and uses the RC4 encryption algorithm. Enabling WEP allows you to increase security by encrypting data being transferred over your wireless network.

When WEP encryption is enabled, there are two options: 64-bit and 128-bit. 64-bit is the same as 40-bit WEP. The lower level of WEP encryption uses a 40-bit (10 character) "secret key" (set by the user), and a 24-bit "initialization vector" (not under user control). So lower level 40-bit and 64-bit WEP cards are equivalent in encryption strength and compatibility.

Q4 : What is an Access Point?
A4 : An access point is a bridging device for connecting a wired and wireless network together. Access points are typically wireless routers or stand-alone devices that plug into an Ethernet hub, switch, or router.

Q5 : Can the information be intercepted while transmitting?
A5 : WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, as Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology, it has the inherent security feature of scrambling. On the software side, WLAN series offer the encryption function (WEP) to enhance security and Access Control. Users can set it up depending on their needs.

Q6 : What is SSID?
A6 : SSID, or Service Set Identifier, is the workgroup name of your Wireless Network. All devices (Access Points, Wireless Routers, and Wireless Network Adapters) must all have the same SSID to communicate on the Wireless Network.

Q7 : What is ESS ID?
A7 : An Infrastructure configuration could also support roaming capability for mobile workers. More than one BSS can be configured as an Extended Service Set (ESS). Users within an ESS could roam freely between BSS's while served a continuous connection to the network wireless stations and Access Points within an ESS. They must be configured with the same ESS ID and the same radio channel.

Q8 : What is BSS ID?
A8 : A specific Ad hoc LAN is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). Computers in a BSS must be configured with the same BSS ID.

Q9 : What is Spread Spectrum?
A9 : Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communications systems. And Spread-Spectrum is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability, integrity, and security. In other words, more bandwidth is consumed than in the case of narrowband transmission, but the trade off produces a signal that is, in effect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the receiver knows the parameters of the spread-spectrum signal being broadcast. If a receiver is not tuned to the right frequency, a spread-spectrum signal looks like background noise. There are two main alternatives, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).

Q10 : What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences?
A10 : 
Frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) uses a narrowband carrier that changes frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver. Properly synchronized, the net effect is to maintain a single logical channel. To an unintended receiver, FHSS appears to be short-duration impulse noise.

Direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS) generates a redundant bit pattern for each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chipping code). Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmission, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the original data without the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appears as low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowband receivers.

Q11 : What is the ISM band?
A11 : WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, to an unintended receiver, DSSS appears as low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowband receivers. On the software side, WLAN series offer the encryption function (WEP) to enhance security and Access Control. Users can set it up depending on their needs.

Q12 : What is OFDM?
A12 : Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing is an FDM modulation technique for transmitting large amounts of digital data over a radio wave. OFDM basically splits the radio signal into multiple smaller sub-signals that are then transmitted simultaneously at different frequencies to the receiver. OFDM reduces the amount of crosstalk in signal transmissions. 802.11a and the upcoming 802.11g WLAN technology uses OFDM.

Q13 : What is IEEE 802.11 standard?
A13 : The IEEE 802.11 specification is a WLAN standard developed by the IEEE committee in order to specify an "over the air" interface between a wireless client and a base station or Access Point, as well as among wireless clients. The IEEE created the specification but they do not certify equipment, WECA certifies wireless LAN products.

Q14 : What is WECA?
A14 : Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance, an organization made up of leading wireless equipment and software providers with the mission of guaranteeing interoperability of Wi-Fi products and to promote Wi-Fi as the global wireless LAN standard across all markets. WECA recently changed their name to WiFi Alliance.

Q15 : What channel should I use on my 802.11b Wireless devices?
A15 : In the 802.11b (2.4Ghz) standard there are total 14 channels to choose from, all but three of those channels are overlapping channels. Channels 1, 6, and 11 are the only non-overlapping channels. The channels can be changed to avoid interference from other wireless devices that run on the 2.4 Ghz frequency range (I.E. 2.4Ghz cordless phones and X-10).