WiFi (Wireless Fidelity)
A term used generically when referring to any type of 802.11 network,
whether 802.11b/g, 802.11a, dual-band, or other. Any products tested and
approved as "Wi-Fi Certified" are certified as interoperable with each other,
even if they are from different manufacturers. Typically, however, any Wi-Fi
product using the same radio frequency (2.4 GHz for 802.11b or 11g; 5 GHz
for 802.11a) will work with any other Wi-Fi product, even if not Wi-Fi Certified.
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
A Wireless Access Point (WAP) is a device through which devices (for
example, computers and printers) on an infrastructure wireless network
communicate with one another. A WAP is also called a base station.
Wireless network adapter
Each node (computer or device) on the WLAN uses a wireless network
adapter into which a wireless transceiver, with a small, integrated antenna, is
built. Wireless network adapters might be internal (inserted in a computer or
device), external (housed in a separate case), or built-in.
Wireless profile
A wireless profile is a collection of wireless network settings that applies to a
particular wireless network. For example, a wireless LAN card can have one
profile for a home network and another profile for an office network. When
installing a device on a network, be sure to select the appropriate profile.
WPA
WPA (Wi-Fi protected access) provides security by encrypting data sent over
radio waves from one wireless device to another wireless device and by
controlling access to network resources through authentication protocols.
Only devices that share the same WPA settings as the printer will be able to
communicate with the printer. WPA uses encryption keys that change
frequently. WPA provides better security than WEP. WPA is also called TKIP.
46 Glossary ENWW
