Wireless Router/Modem

Provides all the functionality of a normal wired router, but also can handle wireless connections. Management and configuration of wireless security is also available through this device. Some ISP’s offer wireless cable or DSL Modems as well.

Wireless Access Point (WAP)

A device which allows you to extend your wireless capabilities by joining (by wire) to another wired/wireless router.

Wireless NICs

A network interface card that is wireless (not wired).

Wireless PCMCIA cards

A network interface card for a laptop that is wireless. (PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card Interface Adapter.)

SSID

This is the workgroup name of the wireless network.

Channel ID

Refers to the channel ID the wireless devices are communicating to each other on. For 802.11 standards the available channel IDs available in North America are from channels 1-11. This provides protection against wireless collisions with other wireless devices on the same GHz range (2.4 GHz), such as cordless phones.

Available networks

 A list of the available wireless networks in your range/area.

Preferred networks

 A list of the available wireless networks you have configured to connect to.

WEP key

The acronym for Wired Equivalent Privacy key. WEP is a secure protocol for wireless networks designed to provide the same level of security as a wired network. When using a WEP key on a wireless network, a device must enter the correct password before they are able to connect to the wireless network.

WEP can be setup in a 64-bit or 128-bit level (also referred to as 40-bits and 104-bits). A 64-bit WEP key allows for 10 hexadecimal digits, where a 128-bit allows for a 26 hexadecimal digits. Hexadecimal digits must consist of letters A-F and numbers 0-9.

WPA

The acronym for Wi-Fi Protected Access. WPA is a secure updated version of WEP with new key security features: Pre-Shared Key (PSK), Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP), and other features which help security and payload issues. Use of WPA is due to be implemented in the 802.11i standard, and was intended as an intermediate measure to take the place of WEP.