4.4 An introduction to WiFi

WiFi (from 'Wireless Fidelity') is used to connect devices together in one of two network configurations known as 'ad hoc' and 'infrastructure'. We shall explain these terms shortly. (As a starting point, though, you could look up the terms 'ad hoc' and 'infrastructure' in your dictionary.)

In wireless LANs, nodes are usually referred to as stations – probably because each communicating device acts as a radio station with transmitter and receiver. These functions, and the necessary control functions, are provided by a wireless network interface card (wireless NIC) in a similar way to wired networks.